A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Automated system for high-accuracy quantity takeoff using BIM
Abstract Reliable construction project cost estimation relies on accurate quantity takeoffs (QTOs), traditionally done with error-prone 2-D drawings, but the emergence of Building Information Modeling (BIM) has improved QTO speed, accuracy, and reliability. However, the quality of BIM models can influence quantity accuracy, an aspect often overlooked in research on automating QTO with BIM. This paper develops an integrated framework to automatically extract and visualize construction quantities from BIM models. The system includes a Quantity Precision Check (QPC) module for automating more accurate QTO outputs. These outputs are then automatically transferred to an external database and visualized through a user-friendly dashboard on the Microsoft Power BI platform. This dashboard allows for comparisons between 2-D and BIM quantities and helps track changes in quantities over time due to design changes. The system was successfully validated in an infrastructure construction project in Canada, where it identified a 39% inconsistency in wall elements' material quantities and reduced steel quantity by 10% due to design changes. Overall, the system offers a speedy, reliable, and efficient tool for construction estimators, site managers, and cost control teams to provide accurate quantities to the procurement team and make swift decisions in response to design change impacts on construction costs.
Highlights This study introduces an automated QPC/QTO system for architectural and structural BIM models. A QPC/QTO system workflow was developed to automatically calculate their quantities and check their accuracy in the BIM model. The Data Extraction and Analysis Module was developed to automatically calculate, and check the accuracy of the quantities of each category. The Data Visualization Module was developed to visualize the final QTO results and inconsistencies in BIM parameters after each update. The system can be used as a fast and reliable tool for construction estimators to provide accurate quantities to the procurement team.
Automated system for high-accuracy quantity takeoff using BIM
Abstract Reliable construction project cost estimation relies on accurate quantity takeoffs (QTOs), traditionally done with error-prone 2-D drawings, but the emergence of Building Information Modeling (BIM) has improved QTO speed, accuracy, and reliability. However, the quality of BIM models can influence quantity accuracy, an aspect often overlooked in research on automating QTO with BIM. This paper develops an integrated framework to automatically extract and visualize construction quantities from BIM models. The system includes a Quantity Precision Check (QPC) module for automating more accurate QTO outputs. These outputs are then automatically transferred to an external database and visualized through a user-friendly dashboard on the Microsoft Power BI platform. This dashboard allows for comparisons between 2-D and BIM quantities and helps track changes in quantities over time due to design changes. The system was successfully validated in an infrastructure construction project in Canada, where it identified a 39% inconsistency in wall elements' material quantities and reduced steel quantity by 10% due to design changes. Overall, the system offers a speedy, reliable, and efficient tool for construction estimators, site managers, and cost control teams to provide accurate quantities to the procurement team and make swift decisions in response to design change impacts on construction costs.
Highlights This study introduces an automated QPC/QTO system for architectural and structural BIM models. A QPC/QTO system workflow was developed to automatically calculate their quantities and check their accuracy in the BIM model. The Data Extraction and Analysis Module was developed to automatically calculate, and check the accuracy of the quantities of each category. The Data Visualization Module was developed to visualize the final QTO results and inconsistencies in BIM parameters after each update. The system can be used as a fast and reliable tool for construction estimators to provide accurate quantities to the procurement team.
Automated system for high-accuracy quantity takeoff using BIM
Valinejadshoubi, Mojtaba (author) / Moselhi, Osama (author) / Iordanova, Ivanka (author) / Valdivieso, Fernando (author) / Bagchi, Ashutosh (author)
2023-10-24
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
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