EFFICIENCY OF QS IN BIM-BASED QTO AND COST ESTIMATING

Abstract

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is one of latest and most promising developments in the architectural, engineering, construction and operation (AECO) industry which encourages collaboration and integration between project stakeholders as it aims to achieve better design solutions with higher quality at reduced cost and time. Quantity surveyor (QS), as one of the BIM end users, relies on the information in the BIM that was received to perform quantity take-off (QTO) and cost estimating. These two tasks are important in determining the financial status and outcome of a project and are carried out throughout the design and construction stages. However, QS has been lagging behind other disciplines in the adoption of BIM despite its promised benefits as information is inadequately provided. It is therefore important to investigate the impact that information quality has on the accuracy of BIM-based QTO and cost estimating. This study focuses on the importance of the quality of information in BIM and how it can affect the efficiency of QS. Data and information are gathered from reviews of literature and questionnaires. A questionnaire survey was carried out to collect data from the Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers (SISV)-registered QSs in Singapore and 35 responses were obtained. 20% of the respondents have indicated utilizing BIM infrequently or in a limited fashion with constrains producing cost estimates. One sample t-test was performed and it was established that information quality in BIM has significant impact on the efficiency of QS and in producing accurate QTO and cost estimates. Pearson’s Correlation was used to examine the information required at various levels of detail and the factors which will improve the information quality, and to develop a framework for BIM-based QTO and cost estimating.