Consequences in cost and time in construction projects due to the low level of BIM methodology use

Abstract

BIM (Building Information Modeling) methodology has established itself as an essential tool in the construction industry. Despite this, in Ecuador the implementation of BIM is lagging behind, and although there are some initiatives in private companies, its use is still limited. The purpose of this research is to identify the consequences in cost and time in construction projects due to the low level of use of BIM methodology in 30 projects of private companies in Ecuador. In order to achieve this, the BUA (BIM Use Assessment) tool was used to evaluate the level of BIM use in each project during the planning and design phases. Subsequently, cost and schedule data were collected for the evaluated projects. The results show that the main consequences of the low level of BIM usage are associated with the increase in cost and schedule. It is concluded that promoting the use of BIM is essential to improve the performance of the construction industry in Ecuador.