Abstract
Purpose
Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a field of study where new dimensions are continually discovered and improved. Research on evaluating project performance using Earned Value Management technique (EVM) in BIM-based projects is limited.
Study
To this end, using a system’s thinking approach, the study explores the integration of BIM with the EVM technique for exploring the predictive power of BIM for effective project control.
Methodology
The study was experimental in nature and adopted a case-study based approach for two live commercial projects using Autodesk Revit Architecture to generate 3D model, 4D time-liner simulation and 5D quantity take-off. Data sources included site documents, drawings and specifications. The outputs in 4D BIM were iterated with planned and actual dates in Autodesk Navisworks Manage software which was cross-verified with Earned Value Analysis (EVA) computations and validated further with project team through qualitative interviews.
Findings
4D BIM time-liner simulation visually identified and predicted the schedule slips, project delays and budget overruns for both the projects as was evident through EVM analysis and metrics. The findings also highlighted software limitations in displaying delays with associated cost parameters when experimented with planned, actual and planned against actual schedules.
Originality / Value
The insights showcase the predictive power of the BIM tool for EVM depiction. The study advocates integrating digital visualization tools with powerful monitoring techniques to move beyond traditional manual tracking towards more proactive project control. The findings highlight the applicability and the limitations of the Navisworks software with respect to BIM-EVM integration which is novel.
Research Limitations:
The results are based on two commercial live projects. More studies across different project types will enable generalization of the findings. Future research can also focus on social aspects of EVM implementation in BIM based projects and identify the level of criticality of activities to prioritize them for effective project management and control.
Practical/Theoretical implications
The systems thinking approach served as a starting point to integrate the EVM concepts in BIM based commercial projects to visualize and predict the project delays and budget overrun. Such predictive analysis can act as an effective tool for mitigating delays in projects and aide practitioners. The findings across the project cases confirm that this digital integration acts as a powerful early warning system for stakeholders. The study also provides a conceptual framework for BIM-EVM integration adding value to theory and practice.
Keywords
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