Costs and Benefits Data Mapping of BIM Laser Scan Integration: A Case Study in Australia

Abstract

Building information modelling (BIM) has been increasingly popular in the utility industry due to substantial benefits of cost and time savings, and improved performance and asset management during the operations and maintenance (O&M) phase. With the recent addition of point cloud from laser scanning, the level of details opted BIM 3D models from ‘as-designed’ to ‘as-constructed’ which paves the way for more benefits to other stakeholders during the O&M phase. This research identified and developed the cost benefit elements of the laser-scan integrated BIM as part of a case study research project of a water treatment plant (WTP) in Queensland, Australia. The costs elements from stakeholder’s perspective are predominantly BIM supporting software, hardware, labour and training. Whereas, the benefits are categorised based on communication, asset, data and risk management elements for the WTP stakeholders. This research evaluated the costs and benefits through 3D modelling, including asset input, of a WTP study section, site surveys and interviews. The research developed an association mapping between all costs and benefits elements for the WTP case selected.