2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Building Information Modeling (BIM) has emerged as a pivotal tool in modern construction projects, offering improved coordination, design visualization, and project management. However, the feasibility of implementing BIM is often assessed using simplistic metrics, such as square meters of construction or overall project scope, which fail to provide an in-depth understanding of its impact on project outcomes. This paper proposes a methodology that utilizes comprehensive Project Execution Planning (PEP) metrics to evaluate BIM's feasibility and financial implications, particularly for educational and learning purposes.

The methodology centers around applying the BIM Project Execution Planning (BEP) framework, where students and professionals are guided to move beyond traditional scope-based feasibility metrics and consider financial output histograms. These histograms illustrate cumulative financial outflows related to BEP implementation compared to core-and-shell construction phases, enabling a direct assessment of BIM’s financial viability. The proposed approach emphasizes that the cost-effectiveness of integrating BIM should be measured by project size or scope and by the financial alignment of BEP implementation with overall project budgets and timelines.

To implement this methodology, students are introduced to financial planning tools incorporating BEP costs into the project’s cash flow projections. By analyzing the financial outputs over time, participants gain insights into the potential impact of BIM on project liquidity and the timing of investment returns. This deeper level of analysis encourages students to consider how BEP-driven investments can be justified in terms of project efficiency and cost savings, thus bridging the gap between theoretical learning and practical application.

The study results reveal that incorporating financial considerations into BEP evaluation helps students and professionals identify critical points where BIM adoption may generate financial constraints or benefits. This approach shifts the learning focus from basic project feasibility metrics to a holistic view that integrates financial strategy into the planning process. As a result, future engineers and project managers are better prepared to make informed decisions.