BIM Quantity Take Off Estimation Accuracy and Value Guide
An incorrect estimate will negatively affect your business. When the cost is underestimated, money is lost, but when the cost is overestimated, the bid may fail.
Poor estimation affects the entire project, even if the contractor is the direct victim of this issue in traditional fixed price contracts.
Importance of BIM Quantity Take Off (BOQ)
To visualize the construction of 2D drafting, the surveying team must take many days since quantity take-offs from 2D drafting aren't dynamically linked to the BOQ. It is a resource intensive and costly schedule for the BOQ industry.
BOQ's hierarchical structure does not include it. At different levels of detail, cost codes and resource schedules can be estimated in different ways.
BOQs or schedules are not the best structures for controlling and capturing costs. Nevertheless, a third structure should be mapped to these two in order to control and capture costs.
Estimating Process
Definition
Cost estimation is the process of estimating the costs associated with various stages of the development of a project. A cost engineer or estimator estimates an amount based on the available data at a particular stage. The most commonly used cost estimation method is the Bill of Quantities Unit cost. Bills of quantities assign unit costs to each component or task.
Calculation
The total cost of the project can be calculated by adding the quantities multiplied by the corresponding unit costs. A simple arithmetical principle underpins the unit cost method, which is extremely accurate. However, it is crucial to apply this calculation method properly. In order for this method to be successful, three key factors need to be taken into account.
- The construction process should be defined by a well defined framework, commonly known as a standard method of measurement or a work breakdown structure.
- A Bill of Quantity or BOQ must be accurate, which is the first and most important factor. There should be a series of tasks with quantities assigned to them in the framework.
- The third factor is the estimation tool. These tools can calculate cost accurately based on work breakdown structure and BOQ and report the expected estimates in client defined formats.
How to Create BIM Quantity Takeoff Accurately
Building Information Modeling is the best way to obtain an accurate BOQ. Projects that use BIM processes and technology have a minimal chance of making common BOQ errors.
Rather than providing several drawings, BIM represents a single, accurate design model. By having the intelligence to know what each building element is made of, a BIM model can create a BIM quantity takeoff automatically. A BOQ will also be updated if any changes are made to a model's design.
Benefits of Integrated BIM Solutions
- Architects and project managers can provide their services to their clients using this technology.
- Bill of quantities software packages are becoming more and more available every day. Building information modeling services can produce bills of quantities. Information from any construction model can perform this task.
- Owners can take a hands-on approach to manage investors, stakeholders, and contractors when they use Building Information Modeling services.
- Consultants can provide a range of services, including cost planning, energy analysis, and procurement.
- Contractors benefit from BIM when amending revaluations.
- Construction industry clients, owners, consultants, project managers, and contractors, benefit from integrated BIM solutions.