A bim-database-integrated system for evaluating building life-cycle costs using a multi-parametric model

Abstract

Life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) has become an essential requirement of the sustainable procurement for many construction projects. Conventional building LCCA methods are extremely complex and time-consuming due to repetitive works, numerous required data, scattered data inputs, and various regulatory requirements, which subsequently lead to inaccurate building life-cycle costs (LCC). Building information modeling (BIM) offers a revolutionary information technology, which can overcome the asperities of the conventional building LCCA. This research develops the BIM-database-integrated system for evaluating building life-cycle costs using a multi-parametric model (BIM-BLCC). The BIM-BLCC consists of four interrelated modules. The relational database management module collects and organizes the required data for the BIM model. The visualized BIM-integrated module generates 3D visualization along with the LCCA and facilitates complex calculations such as the thermal coefficients for estimating the energy cost. The multi-parametric estimation module automatically calculates all cost categories of the building LCC through multi-parametric simulation. The BIM-integrated report module reports the analysis results from the multi-parametric model in the form of spreadsheets. The efficacy and practicality of the BIM-BLCC were verified through applying it to an actual office building. The manual calculation was conducted and its results were compared with those provided by the BIM-BLCC. Based on the similar results from both approaches and the experts’ verification, it can be concluded that the BIM-BLCC can be efficiently used by the project participants to evaluate the building LCC in actual building projects.