Time, Scope, and Quality

These factors may seem like a no-brainer, but it can be easy to forget how much they will affect the overall cost. Excellent quality work will not be so affordable, but it may as well be a sacrifice to consider when reducing rework and repair costs.

When you give your specialist a minimal timeframe to complete the work, they’ll have no choice but to increase prices to account for working overtime and other sacrifices. 

Finally, the project’s scope, such as what services the specialist offers, what LOD, what dimension, etc., will influence the project’s cost. Usually, when the specialist takes on a manager role for the project, you may need to pay them considerably more. 

There are various Levels of Development (LOD) that a BIM model can be, based on the client’s requests. LOD creates an industry standard so clients can accurately express how much detail they want to include in their model. Take note that as LOD increases, so does cost.

LOD 100 – Concept Design

Parameters like area, height, volume, location, and orientation are defined in this stage, and the information is represented on an elementary level. Symbols may represent elements but not their precise location, shape, or size.

LOD 200 – Schematic Design

This LOD is slightly more detailed, where different features are more accurately represented in their final shape and size. There may be placeholders to represent elements; however, the information from this stage is still only approximate.

LOD 300 – Detailed Design

In this stage, the quantity, size, shape, location, and orientation of elements can be observed from the model directly without referring to notes.

LOD 350 – Construction Documentation

The parts necessary for certain elements to interact with other nearby features are modeled (supports and connections). This is in addition to all aspects being of accurate size and shape.

LOD 400 – Fabrication & Assembly

This stage includes a model that is sufficient in detail and accurate in size and shape. The majority of the model is developed before the construction begins.

LOD 500 – As-Built

This model stage is a field verified representation of the project in terms of size, shape, location, quantity, and orientation. 

Dimension

BIM is a very complex software with varying levels of features. There are between 2 to 7 dimensions that all provide different information. Figure out which size you need for your project, but remember, the more detailed the model, the more it will cost.

2D BIM

2D BIM is a two-dimensional construction drawing consisting of an x and y-axis. These drawings are critical, but this will most likely not be the only dimension requested by the client.

3D BIM

3D BIM represents the geographical structures of the building on an X, Y, and Z-axis. 3D BIM is the most popular category of BIM since it allows for pretty accurate visualization, especially with growing virtual reality/virtual w