5D BIM Modeling – Its foray into BIM modeling

Posted on: January 25, 2019, By: Divya Dave

5D BIM is defined as the addition of the 5^th dimension to virtual modeling: COST. It allows integration of the costing parameter with the model geometry and the schedules or timeline. However, the rate of utilization of this feature is very low compared to its other features.

We all know the definition of Building Information Modeling and how it evolved. It is very important for all to understand that BIM is a technology and not a software or an application. Technology always continues to evolve with something bigger and better; similar to 5D which marched its way in the virtual construction arena.

Benefits of 5D BIM

Firms in the AECO industry have to implement this technology to avail the benefits of virtual construction modeling. 5D BIM Services benefit all the stakeholders in the industry whether it is a construction unit or an Architectural firm. Some of them are:

• It is an excellent technology and offers an exceptional way of handling the cost element of any construction phase. This improves output capacity and implements the collaboration model easily.
• The technology for the addition of the fifth dimension to the 3D model evolved much after the industry embraced other dimensions of Virtual Construction Modeling. While 3D modeling is now commonly being used by industry and 4D modeling has paved a way through, 5D BIM is slowly gaining a foothold.
• The best part of implementing 5D is that one can integrate this with a parameter to the 3D or 4D model to determine the total costing of the building construction. This dimension enables the integration of the design, a 3D and 4D model with estimating, costing and Bill of Quantities. This works seamlessly across multiple design, development, and team of the site installation team.
• Adding the cost to the virtual model offers clients and end-user platform to evaluate multiple and unique scenarios like presenting design changes related to cost, provide budget and cost planning, how a change will impact the costing etc.
• Since this modeling works on an integrated delivery model, one can make changes in the central model and work on the existing model. This means any changes in the geometry of the existing model or materials etc. will automatically reflect on the cost and calculations of the construction project. You can extract the bill of quantities which are updated already.
• It will be much easier to provide the team with resource requirements, cash flow reports, forecasts for project costing, risk analysis etc. for subcontractors.
• It will be easier to eliminate a lot of irrelevant changes that impact the budget
• It has been seen that estimating construction cost reduces up to 50% with the intervention of 5D virtual simulation and up to 80% reduction in time taken to generate a cost estimate.

Utilization of 5D BIM worldwide

Governments across the globe have either mandated VDC or are mulling to provide incentives that increase the acceptance and usage of virtual design and construction in construction projects. UK is a world leader and has made BIM Level 2 mandatory since 2016. Scandinavian countries are also following the suite. It is estimated that the end-to-end implementation of 5D Cost Estimating Services will bring in an exceptional change in the costing of a project and bring about optimum utilization of resources.

Written By:
Divya Dave

Divya Dave is a Senior Manager with Tesla Outsourcing Services. An engineer and management graduate, she has been working with the outsourcing industry now for more than a decade. With a passion for writing, she writes on topics that provide an insight into CAD, BIM, and 3D Visualization services for the Architectural, Structural, and MEP disciplines. Her focus is to enable architects and engineering professionals in the AEC industry to adopt the right technology so as to increase their efficiency and profitability.