BIM AND COST ESTIMATING

Simon Lovegrove MRICS, AAIQS

Estimating Solutions Director
Exactal Technologies Pty Ltd
Level 2, Toowong Tower
9 Sherwood Road
Toowong
QLD 4000
Australia
email: slovegrove@exactal.com

Abstract
BIM refers to the process of virtual Building Information Modelling based on digital
information exchange. In addition to 2D and 3D graphics, CAD software which supports
BIM uses a database driven library of intelligent objects to build a central digital model of
the building which can be shared amongst the project team to allow a collaborative
integrated approach to building design. CostX is unique estimating software which is able
to view these CAD files and utilise the database information to automatically generate
quantities. This paper will show how Estimators and Quantity Surveyors can use this new
technology to leverage better drawing file intelligence to improve productivity.
Keywords: Building Information Modelling (BIM), Quantities, Estimating, Object-based
CAD.

1.0 INTRODUCTION
BIM provides a means to achieve a knowledge based, integrated approach to building design,
procurement and ownership. The ability to combine and share centralised model-based data, which
has traditionally been separated amongst multiple disciplines, engenders greater collaboration which
in turn produces better building solutions.
The leveraging effect of collaboration is embodied in an approach to building procurement called
Integrated Project Delivery which is defined by the American Institute of Architects as:
IPD is a project delivery method that integrates people, systems, business structures and practices
into a process that collaboratively harnesses the talents and insights of all participants to optimize
project results, increase value to the owner, reduce waste, and maximize efficiency through all phases
of design, fabrication, and construction.
Key benefits of BIM-enabled IPD are seen as:

Improved decision-making
Improved documentation and co-ordination to lessen the incidence of variations
Improved pre-construction estimating with greater certainty of cost outcomes
Improved procurement and scheduling to shorten timescales
Improved cost efficiency

The discipline of Cost Management is central to satisfying these owner demands, and yet has been
slow to exploit advances in technology and participate in the new paradigm of digitally-based
collaborative workflows. This situation is now changing because interoperable estimating software
tools are available which allow the seamless transfer of digital information between designers and
estimators. These allow fast and extremely simple extraction of cost geometry and building
dimensions from CAD files and BIM models to provide faster, more accurate take-offs for estimating,
analysis and options resolution.
However, shared software platforms are only part of the story. Inherent in the principle of a
collaborative team process is the reliance on knowledge integration to leverage the collective
expertise and experience of the extended project team to optimise project outcomes. This means that
regardless of the software platform used, data needs to be presented in an understandable way, and
configured to assist team workflows. The data should effectively inform and facilitate the
collaborative team effort.
Estimators receive data in a variety of media, usually basic 2D raster or vector PDF files, sometimes
2D or 3D CAD formats and occasionally 3D object-based BIM models. In all cases, the file data is
often not configured in a way to best suit the measurement process and quantity extraction. This
represents a missed opportunity.
This paper describes how CostX estimating software can leverage better drawing-file intelligence in
a way that can dramatically improve productivity, such that work that traditionally could have taken
days to complete can be done in hours to the benefit of the collaborative team effort.

2.0 2D RASTER IMAGES (INCL. RASTER PDFs)

CAD programs are based on vector graphics, however the drawings are often published and issued in
one of the raster image formats which means that the inherent resolution and intelligence is lost. Often
the drawings are difficult to read but cannot be enlarged without further loss of resolution.
The estimating software can deal with both formats but uses different modes of measurement for
each, reflecting the nature of the image data available. Raster mode is basically a measurement
overlay on top of the drawing, whereas vector mode attaches to the vector lines within the drawing. In
this way, vector data improves the speed and accuracy of measurement, is able to exploit drawing
intelligence, and can detect changes in drawing revisions.

Figure 1: Raster Mode length measurement

Figure 2: Vector Mode length measurement

3.0 2D VECTOR BASED PDFs

A commonly issued output from CAD programs is a PDF file which contains vector co-ordinates but
little else of the embedded intelligence of the CAD files from which it is generated. This means that
measurement can be done in vector mode but advanced measurement tools which rely on CAD
intelligence are not available. Hence a vector PDF is preferable to a raster image but still not as useful
as a CAD file. If there is no choice but to use vector PDF files instead of CAD files, a PDF export (in
preference to plotting to a PDF printer) which includes Layer Information (refer item 4.1 below for
explanation of usage of layers) is preferable.

4.0 2D CAD FORMATS

The 2D CAD formats (DWG, DWF, DXF) are capable of being rich in content and the estimating
software (which is read-only, and cannot edit the drawing file) can exploit this intelligence with
various advanced measurement tools. These include:
4.1 Layers
If layers are enabled in PDF and CAD files, the estimating software can filter the display to make
viewing and measurement much quicker and easier, by 1) eliminating unwanted data to reduce clutter
and 2) isolating data for measurement. Hence it is very helpful if layers are configured in a logical
manner, for example:

Having different building elements on different layers.

Having like items within an element on the same layer, or distributed logically onto a series of
layers.

Figure 3: Wall layers isolated for measurement purposes

4.2 Blocks
A block is a pre-defined grouping of lines, arcs and circles to depict a typical object, eg. a door, or a
collection of objects such as a typical furniture layout. The estimating software can make use of
blocks by counting all instances of a typical block with a single keystroke.

Figure 4: A single click multiple Block count

Hence it is very helpful if blocks are included in drawing files and are configured in a logical manner.

4.3 Polylines
Simply put, CAD drawings are made up of multiple lines and arcs. The polyline command allows a
series of lines or arcs to be combined into a single continuous entity, for example to define a room
area. Polylines can be made up of any combination of lines and arcs to create highly complex shapes,
and if polylines have been used, the estimating software is able to read them and automatically return
the area and perimeter of the shape, no matter how complex, with a single keystroke which is clearly a
very powerful function.

Figure 5: A single click Polyline area measure planting area

5.0 3D BIM MODELS

It is important to understand the difference between BIM models and 3D Drawings.

5.1 3D Drawings
The geometry within CAD programs uses vector graphics to replicate the human process of drawing
on paper. Vector graphics is the use of geometrical primitives such as points, lines, curves and shapes
or polygons, which are all based on mathematical equations, to represent images. This is distinct from
raster graphics, which is the representation of images as an array of pixels as is typically used for the
reproduction of photographic or scanned images.
Regardless of whether it is rendered in 2D or 3D, a vector based CAD drawing like the following
example of an AutoCAD DWG file is simply a collection of lines, arcs and text.

Figure 6: 2D Plan View

Figure 7: 3D View

5.2 BIM Models

BIM refers to the process of virtual Building Information Modelling based on digital information
exchange. In addition to 3D vector graphics, CAD software which supports BIM uses a database
driven library of intelligent objects to build a central digital model of the building. The objects are
intelligent because the database contains parameters which determine the properties of the object
and its behavioral relationship with other objects. A door knows that it is a door, and when it is placed
into a wall the wall knows it has to have an opening to suit that particular door. The parametric
properties are inter-related. If the door size is changed, the wall opening will change to suit.
All of the physical and functional characteristics of the building model are held in the central
database. As the model changes, all of the objects within it parametrically adapt themselves to the
new design. Since the database holds all the information for each of the model objects, it will always
represent the latest iteration of the design plus, as a database, it is capable of being interrogated in
various ways to extract differing types of data. Hence, the more data that is added to it, the wider the
range of analyses such as building performance, schedules and costs that can be leveraged from it.
Designers can respond to this change by increasing the amount of object data held in the database.

Issue of data-rich models enables the QS or estimator to participate in the collaborative BIM team
effort by utilising the database information to automatically generate quantities, which enables a very
fast response time. This feedback actively supports options resolution and encourages the pursuit of
more efficient and sustainable designs.
Of course, the quality of the output is reliant on the parametric coding of the objects within the
database, and for estimating or scheduling purposes it will generally be necessary to augment the BIM
data with additional measurement from 2D or 3D drawing views, particularly with early design intent
models.

5.3 BIM Model Structure

When creating their libraries, designers usually categorise their object (also called element) data in a
hierarchical structure of Categories, Families, and Types. This data is referred to as Type parameters.
When placed into a building model, the occurrence of the object within the model is called an
Instance. Data about the particular instance is referred to as Instance Parameters.
The following extract from the Revit Architecture 2010 Users Guide overviews the classification
system.

Figure 8: Family Hierarchy

The way the family structure is configured will directly impact on the way that data extracted from the
model into CostX gets presented, and is therefore a key aspect of BIM collaboration.

5.4 Import BIM Dimensions

CostX has the ability to automatically extract BIM Object properties, including quantities, from 3D
BIM Models. The Import Dimensions from BIM Properties function will automatically map the
model parameters by using a proprietary BIM Template to extract the dimensions.

Figure 9: Automatic Quantities Extraction

In order to identify and categorize the quantities extracted from the model, the BIM Template makes
use of the models family category, name and type structure to automatically create measurement
folders. Therefore, use of a more descriptive family naming convention by the Designer will greatly
improve communication.

Figure 10: Default naming convention

Figure 11: Descriptive naming convention

5.5 Model Mapping

An Import Dimensions Using Model Maps function tool will automatically create dimension groups
and generate quantities from a 3D model by using a user defined Model Map to customize the data
extraction, instead of relying on the default BIM Template.

5.6 Model Revisions

CostX has full revisioning capabilities for imported BIM dimensions. When a 3D model is revised,
the quantities are updated automatically and a schedule of the changes is provided.

Figure 12: Model comparison tool to visually identify changes

Figure 13: Automatic Revision Log

5.7 Additional Parameters

Designers can add parameters to provide additional detail for estimating and measurement purposes.
For example, instead of using the family naming convention to categorise quantities, new parameters
can be created to automatically sort quantities into any desired categories, eg. Uniformat or Elemental.

Figure 14: Example shared parameter called QSID to categorise quantities into building elements