A case study of time/cost analysis for aged-housing renovation using a pre-made BIM database structure

To successfully execute the construction project, many efforts have been made to apply 3D-based Building Information Modeling (BIM). In practice, however, a data storage and retrieval system has yet to be developed because an extensive database structure is required in time/cost analysis for a particular project. This study is aimed to develop a generic BIM database structure and customize it for an aged-housing remodeling project. Throughout the Vicosoft’s Constructor software, the pre-made BIM database structure has been developed. The case study has shown the efficacy and usability of BIM-based project management practice. The complete set of 378 pre-made recipe types have been defined with 55 methods and 47 resource items. The proposed BIM application process has been proven to be a useful tool for efficient project management by identifying work items and recognizing the relationships among activities. The advantages of using the pre-made BIM database to the time/cost analysis hare twofold: human error reduction and work efficiency. The limitations in and barriers against using the BIM database have also been discussed.