5D BIM

5D BIM is one of the dimensions of BIM that brings benefits to cost managers – whether they’re estimators or quantity surveyors. 5D BIM is about estimation and cost analysis, and it includes cost planning (how much?) and quantity take-off (how many?). You add 4th dimension to your building information model when you add scheduling data to different model components (4D BIM is about scheduling, time and construction). 5D BIM is the next step – you produce accurate cost estimates from the components of the building information model. With these 4th and 5th dimensions added, you can track predicted and actual spend over the course of your project, which is really useful for monthly cost reporting and budgeting.

As 5D BIM refers to a particular way of linking data to a building information model, the quality of the cost estimate is directly linked to the quality of produced model. Not everything in a building information model is going to be right. So BIM managers can get quantities based on model components, but cost managers (estimators or quantity surveyors) are essential for validation. In a BIM process, they are engaged right from the outset and are an equal player in the project team. Quantity surveyors can take quantities directly from design authoring software or they can use specialized software for 5D BIM which are more efficient options.