Cost-benefit analysis for the use of BIM in building construction

Within the scope of this research project, the cost-benefit relationship of BIM with regard to selected benefit categories will be investigated - monetarily and quantitatively - on the basis of case studies for selected use cases. In doing so, a robust tool for a criteria-based and quantifiable assessment of the benefits of BIM will be developed.

Motivation

The gradual introduction of the BIM method in the planning, execution and operation of structures and facilities has kept the private sector and the public sector in Germany on tenterhooks for quite some time. At the latest with the last stage of the Federal Ministry for Digital ad Transport's step-by-step plan, which since the end of 2020 has issued an emphatic BIM recommendation for the planning of all publicly tendered infrastructure projects, dealing with the topic of BIM has become a necessity for all market participants. The topic of BIM is accompanied by a variety of expectations, e.g. for existing and new software, collaborative working methods, but also fears in the individual implementation of projects using new tools and following new procedures. First and foremost, users face the legitimate question of the added value of BIM application in monetary and quantitative terms. A fundamental problem in quantifying the overall benefit of BIM lies in the real estate industry practice, in which real estate projects are each unique in their location, construction time, their external as well as internal framework conditions, and their structure and the framework conditions of the participants. Two identical projects are usually not implemented and still have an individual character due to manifold dependencies.  In addition, the benefits of BIM are different and individual due to the different BIM maturity of the parties involved, as well as highly individual strategic orientation.

Objective

Against this background, this research project commissioned by the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development at the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning  aims to evaluate the costs and benefits of the BIM method, specified in 3 to 5 use cases (UC). The outcome of the project will thus contribute to the promotion of transparency of the BIM planning method for all current and future stakeholders with regard to the BIM methodology. To this end, the project aims to investigate the costs and benefits of sub-aspects of the BIM methodology in the form of a representative case study. The comparatively designed case study is to quantify the benefits "of BIM" for building construction in two comparative cases - status quo and an idealized use case - compare and classify the values determined, show the possibility of transfer to other AwF and tap into advantages, disadvantages and potentials of BIM for the stakeholders.