BIM is certainly redefining the roles and responsibilities of quantity and cost experts in the construction industry. Quantity Surveyors, Cost Estimators, or Cost Planners can leverage 5D BIM through automatic quantity generation by spending more time on other QS services for the client.
The existing structure of construction that embraces automation & digitization should not be considered a threat, but an opportunity. The adoption of BIM has sharpened the role of cost experts like Quantity Surveyors and Cost Estimators. The challenges Quantity Surveyors face with a traditional approach includes tight project deadlines.
They work under extreme pressure to generate accurate cost estimates, BOM’s, etc. In the pre-contract phase, Quantity Surveyors are challenged to prepare precise BOQ’s based on the received designs. The use of drawings provided by Architects and Engineers for Quantity Surveyors are used to create detailed BOM’s.
If a single detail is missing in the drawings provided, these assumptions have to be factored in to prepare cost reports based on assumptions. These assumptions can create cost overruns and inhibit a quantity surveyor's ability to make informed decisions.
A large healthcare project was outsourced to TrueCADD, a BIM service provider. The client was based in Egypt, and required specific BIM deliverables viz. a coordinated and clash-free 3D BIM model. The team at TrueCADD was able to create a fully coordinated and clash-free 3D BIM model in Revit. This model enabled the client to streamline work processes, extract accurate material quantities, save on rework, and influence better ROI.
Furthermore, the adoption of BIM has enabled quantity surveyors with tools to upload, share, and manage information from a centralized data core. This can be leveraged to create better preliminary estimates, cost plans, feasibility studies, BOM preparations, etc.
Working on a live BIM model also helps QS’s plan accurate orders for procurement activities for as-built models. The need to have experts intervene in the 5D process with modern BIM tools only augments the entire project performance and progress
