BIM Cost Calculator: Contract Costing of Building Information Modeling Services Using Parametric Estimates for BIM-Based Projects in the Philippines

This study aims to develop a web-based tool for cost estimation that will simplify the process of estimating contract price for design projects utilizing BIM technologies. It becomes a highly complex matter when financial issues influencing contracts are at stake. This research will concentrate on the BIM aspects of the services, scope, and procurement that are involved in a project and how they affect contract price. This initiative also aims to provide a framework that can be used as a basis in the Philippines for contract pricing of BIM-related services and will focus on BIM design and pre-construction or tender stage costs. A quantitative survey was used to gather data from BIM professionals of local and international companies based in the Philippines which involved in projects that utilized BIM into construction. The findings of this study have concluded the key parameters that are significant contributors to the overall cost estimation and determined the average project duration and manpower for each project type for different Level of Development of BIM services. Considering high level of accuracy and appropriateness, the researchers discovered that parametric cost estimating is commonly used. These parameters were then utilized in the development of web-based costing tool. Similarly, the BIM Cost Calculator produces consistent findings, and the underlying indicators reveal that it is effective. It was suggested that the construction industry in the Philippines may consider the use of the developed framework and the BIM Cost Calculator tool to support for their costing need.