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Working in A 5D BIM Environment - A Manual
Working in A 5D BIM Environment - A Manual
Ta b l e O f C o n t e n t s
Introduction 2
BIM dimensions 4
BIM Levels 6
BIM standards 9
Conclusion 23
List of literature 24
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Working in a 5D BIM environment: A Manual
Introduction
The use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) has improved the quality of construction projects,
enabled accurate quantity estimation, and improved planning, therefore reducing project costs
and risks. The need for a new and more ef cient work ow in the construction industry has
accelerated the promotion and demand for the BIM work ow. Although BIM as a process is
mentioned since the seventies, due to the accelerated development of technology and increased
complexity of construction projects, the full use of BIM is gaining importance only at the
beginning of the 21st century (Building The Digital, 2018). Since the complexity of construction
projects is constantly increasing, it is essential to provide automated BIM models that are able to
update any changes made during the construction process. De ning the work ow for creating an
optimized 5D BIM model is still a large challenge in the construction sector. Therefore, the
purpose of this manual is to provide guidelines and de ne an optimal work ow for creating 5D
BIM models.
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Working in a 5D BIM environment: A Manual
its life cycle. It uses processes that include a combination of a 3D model and related structured
data, such as information about the project, construction method, and handover information. BIM
has been a popular topic in modern design and construction for many years. This technology
does not only include a virtual model of the building, but also a comprehensive digitized
representation of the physical and functional characteristics of the building (Jurčević, 2017). BIM
takes into account not only the construction phase but also all the equipment and other elements
important for building management. This means that it also considers information about
maintenance or repair processes. When used to its full potential, BIM covers the entire life cycle
The acronym BIM has multiple meanings (Jurčević, 2017): Building Information Model, Building
is one of the characteristics of BIM, which is directly related to Building Information Modeling and
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Working in a 5D BIM environment: A Manual
BIM dimensions
The basis of BIM technology is a 3D model on which additional dimensions are added and
developed, such as time (4D), costs (5D), sustainability and energy consumption (6D), and
building management and maintenance (7D) (Jurčević, 2017). The features of each BIM
3D 4D 5D 6D 7D
Quantities of Construction Real-time modeling Conceptual analysis of BIM strategy for the
the elements planning and and cost planning energy efficiency construction life cycle
tracking
Element/ Just In Time Detailed cost Detailed energy BIM plan for
material element estimation using the efficiency analysis construction
properties submittal element quantities management
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Working in a 5D BIM environment: A Manual
3D BIM is the most familiar form of BIM, and it is a process of gathering graphical and non-
graphical information to build a 3D model and distribute information in the Common Data
Environment (CDE).
3D BIM software solutions are popular because of their ability to: 2D views and reports for
individual elements can be easily generated from the 3D model, collision analysis can be used to
obtain locations of the element collisions, and data integration can be used to allow the different
project shareholders to work from a single centralized data source (3D Repo, 2021).
Adding a time dimension allows the design team to better visualize how the construction will
unfold. Time is a unique non-material element in construction projects that can be shown from
different perspectives, including time-spatial collisions of the elements and visualization of the
construction plan.
shareholders),
Logistics on the construction site (4D simulation makes the organization of the construction
site easier),
The early estimation of project costs is the main driver of construction decisions, but it is also the
basis for the project's nal budget. The 5D BIM model is created by adding the cost dimension to
the BIM model and is of great importance because then is it easier to prevent problems such as
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Working in a 5D BIM environment: A Manual
The procedure for creating the costs directly from the information model is shown in the image
below.
Scheme of procedure for the creation of a budget for construction works derived from the
BIM Levels
BIM is a process that helps the construction industry to move forward through a streamlined
process with clear and identi able milestones, which are de ned in the form of BIM Development
Levels. That development process is de ned by the BIM maturity model, and it is described in four
development levels (Levels 0, 1, 2, 3) (Jurčević, 2017). The image and table below show the
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Working in a 5D BIM environment: A Manual
Information delivery Project shareholders use Project shareholders The unified BIM model that is
with 2D drawings the Common Data use 3D modeling used in a cloud environment
using the CAD Environment software to deliver
technology information
Data is shared Project development is 3D models are shared Everybody, who is involved in
digitally as different made using a using the common the project, has access and
information sources combination of 2D and data types (IFC) can add project information
3D CAD drawings
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Working in a 5D BIM environment: A Manual
of development of the BIM model elements. The level of development is a metric used to
describe the amount of information that is contained in the model elements at different stages of
the BIM model development. The primary purpose of the LOD is to provide project stakeholders
with clear information about what is expected of them when developing the BIM model during
According to the USA classi cation the LOD consists of 2 elements (BibLus, 2022):
The data attached to the objects of the BIM model – LOI (Level of Information).
LOD 500 = a speci c well-de ned object, with additional information such as supplier
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Working in a 5D BIM environment: A Manual
BIM standards
The standard that guides the implementation and use of BIM in construction projects and
organizations is called the BIM standard. Like traditional CAD standards, BIM standards are used
to support the creation and sharing of BIM models. Standards can in uence productivity and
enable the sustainability of the entire BIM implementation at two levels: national and
organizational/individual. Countries that have implemented BIM at the national level, that is, as
part of their regulations, have developed national BIM standards. One of the most famous is the
buildingSmart standards
buildingSMART is an international organization with the objective to improve the exchange of
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Working in a 5D BIM environment: A Manual
British Standards
The British Standard Institute (BSI) is the author of a set of BS standards for the application of
BIM Level 2. Three signi cant standards are issued by the British Standards Institute (Scottish
BS 1192 - 4: 2014: Collaborative production of information. Ful lling employer’s information
BS 8536 - 1: 2015: Brie ng for design and construction. Code of practice for facilities
BS 8536 - 2: 2016: Brie ng for design and construction. Code of practice for asset
In BIM, the Public Available Speci cations (PAS) is a self-regulatory document issued by the
British Standards Institution (BSI). The main difference between the British Standard (BS) and the
self-regulatory document (PAS) is in consensus. PAS 1192 is a set of documents that provides the
framework for information and work processes, and it is used in the implementation of BIM Level
2.
The standards are also covered by the manual PD 19650 - 0, which is a national annex for the
implementation of the ISO standard in Great Britain. It is intended for the British construction
sector, which is undergoing a business transition from British Standards to national standards (BSI
Group, 2021). The image below shows the transition from British standards to international ISO
standards.
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Working in a 5D BIM environment: A Manual
The transition from BS and PAS standards to national ISO standards (BSI Group, 2019)
ISO standards
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an international body composed of
representatives of various national bodies with the objective of setting international industry
standards. With the aim of standardizing BIM in the construction industry, the international
standards ISO 19650-1, ISO 19650-2, ISO 19650-3, and ISO 19650-4, have been issued.
The ISO 19650 series de nes construction processes for the effective management of information
during the construction and use phase. It re ects the approach and concepts consolidated during
the years of use of BIM technology, such as information requirements, information management
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Working in a 5D BIM environment: A Manual
everything that is contained and everything that needs to be described in the BIM project through
the entire design and construction process. Classi cation is related to categorization, in other
words, classi cation is a categorization process by which all objects are recognizable,
Two systems adapted for use in the BIM environment were developed: Omniclass and Uniclass.
Omniclass is an American classi cation system, while Uniclass is British. In order to be used in a
BIM environment, classi cation systems must comply with the ISO 12006-2 standard. Many
classi cation systems, including Omniclass and Uniclass, have undergone various changes in
Both systems consist of several tables (Uniclass has 15, Uniclass2015 has 11, Omniclass has 15)
that serve for the correct classi cation of each BIM element. Classes are generally a combination
of a class name (short description/name) and a class value (a code that describes the position of
the class within the hierarchy). From a design point of view within the United Kingdom, the
Uniclass system from NBS is the most widespread method of classi cation during the design
phase (Hrvatska komora arhitekata, 2022). It should be noted that this classi cation system is
focused only on the design aspect and at this moment there is no speci c requirement for the
integration of cost classi cation mechanisms within the BIM environment. This leads to the
limited implementation of 5D BIM due to unclassi ed and unintegrated classi cation systems.
Standardization of classi cation systems needs to be integrated into BIM processes from the
early design phase in order to ensure the quality, accuracy, and reliability of data, and in this
way to support cost estimation throughout the entire project life cycle (Heesom, 2020).
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Working in a 5D BIM environment: A Manual
major challenge in the construction industry, which consists of architecture, engineering, and
construction (AEC). In order to take advantage of the potential bene ts of the BIM model
implementation, BIM models need to be rich in information and contain reliable and accurate
data. Rich information improves the accuracy of 4D and 5D simulations at different stages of the
project. In many projects, imprecise and inaccurate data reduces the usefulness of the BIM
model. There are many reasons for this, such as additional nancial resources needed to input
additional information during the design process, and the question of whether the BIM team
possesses the required time and knowledge needed to input the additional information into the
model (Smith, 2015). Below the process of connecting the model, time, and costs, is described
possible, it is necessary to develop a realistic time schedule that includes the project activities
and the dates of their early start (ES) and late start (EF) (Montaser and Moselhi, 2015).
The WBS (Work Breakdown Structure) is the basis for the development of the time plan and the
foundation for the 4D BIM model. With the WBS, the project is hierarchically organized and
continuously broken down into smaller and more manageable units for better control. PMBoK
(Project Management Body of Knowledge) de nes WBS as a "grouping of project elements that
organize and de ne the overall working scope of the project". By that, it is clear that the WBS is
a key element of the project and therefore a key element of the planning process (Projektura,
2018).
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Working in a 5D BIM environment: A Manual
Transparent identi cation of speci c project activities, setting the basis for the formation of
Help in determining the resources needed for the execution of each activity
The objects of the 3D BIM model are evenly linked to the activities of the project's time plan, and
in that way, different groups of 3D BIM objects are assigned to the corresponding activities. Apart
from the unique ID that each object has, BIM objects also have two important characteristics, the
object family and type. The object family represents the main description of the object, such as a
wall, door, window, etc., while the type represents a speci c type of object, such as a re-
resistant wall or an oak wooden door. It is recommended that 4D BIM implementation is done by
project members who are familiar with the 3D BIM model of the project and its time plan, such
The image below shows the usual procedure for linking a 3D BIM model to the project time plan.
The procedure starts by grouping the BIM elements into a selection set in order to ensure
compatibility with all the activities of the time plan (e.g., grouping together the concrete walls at
the ground level, to correspond to the activity "execution of the concrete walls of the ground
level"). The groups of BIM elements are then renamed in accordance with the names of the
corresponding activities. After that, it remains to connect the groups of elements with the
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Working in a 5D BIM environment: A Manual
Procedure for linking a 3D BIM model to a time plan (Montaser and Moselhi, 2015)
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Working in a 5D BIM environment: A Manual
Once the process of connecting the BIM elements to the activities of the time plan has nished,
it is possible to start the simulation process in the 4D BIM integration software. The software,
according to the current date makes a set of classi cation decisions for each group of objects. It
distinguishes whether a group of objects belongs to the completed activity, the activity in
progress, or to the activity that will be executed in the future. The automated procedure
compares the current date with the ES and EF dates of the object group and, accordingly, control
the visibility of the corresponding object group. Future activities, those that have not started yet,
are hidden in the simulation. For nished activities, the software checks whether each group of
objects has been reviewed and nished (Montaser and Moselhi, 2015).
When choosing software for creating a 4D BIM model, it is necessary to take into account the
1. Importability of 3D/BIM documents and les – What geometry, BIM formats, element types,
and their data can the user load in 4D BIM software? Some software can only load
geometry, geometry names, and element hierarchy. In certain phases of the project, this
data is suf cient for basic 4D model creation, but the lack of other data reduces the
ef ciency of the 4D simulation and impairs the user to review the properties of the building
import?
3. 3D BIM model merging/editing - Can the user merge more les into one model and update
the elements or the whole model? For example, if the project is made up of several
different models, created on different platforms, and using different software, the 4D
software must have the ability to import and merge all the models into one.
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Working in a 5D BIM environment: A Manual
4. Possibility to reorganize data - Can the user reorganize the data after it has been imported
into the software? Software that supports the simple reorganization of model components
5. Possibility of importing temporary components - Can the user add and remove temporary
components of the project, such as scaffolding, warehouses, and cranes? In some cases,
users model temporary components in other software and import them into 4D software.
6. Animation capability - When selecting the software for the 4D model integration, it is
important to check its animation capability. Can the software show simulations of the
construction process?
7. Possibility to carry out analyses – Can software carry out speci c analyses, for example,
8. Data export options - What are the available exporting options? Can the user export video
animation of the planned and executed activities? Can the user export simulations and
data from the 4D model in a format that allows collaboration in the BIM environment?
9. Automatic linking - Is it possible to automatically link the model elements to the time plan
activities?
4D BIM software has the ability to simulate the execution of a construction project before any
real construction has started, and that raises the level of accuracy in terms of quantity and
quality. The construction process can be demonstrated in real-time scenarios and in that way the
manual analysis of activities and phases is greatly reduced (Montaser and Moselhi, 2015).
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Working in a 5D BIM environment: A Manual
Structure (CBS) which plays a great role in the cost prediction process and can be used as a basis
for managing construction contracts. The CBS identi es all relevant costs in all phases of the
The cost prediction potential grows as the LOD of the BIM model increases, which is logical
because the more detailed elements contain more cost components. The ultimate goal of 5D BIM
design is to create a cost-integrated model that can be connected to the building maintenance
system, and have the ability to store even more data, such as replacement and repair costs,
replacement and repair date, expected equipment lifetime and estimated maintenance costs
(Smith, 2015).
Most of the existing BIM models are not designed with the intention of further integration of the
model with the project costs. For successful 5D automation and simulation, rst, it is necessary
to rebuild the WBS of the model. This process is related to the separation and grouping of
construction works and elements using several methods: using the appropriate commands for
drawing the elements, the correct separation of elements according to the building levels,
assignment of correct attributes and properties (material, thickness, type of work) to the
elements, etc. This is important for three reasons. The rst reason is better automation and
higher accuracy when creating the Quantity Take-Off (QTO). The QTO is a key component for the
cost estimation because it determines the quantity and the measurement unit for the cost of
construction works and equipment. The second reason for adding attributes and properties to the
elements is to enable them to be linked to the corresponding cost items and in the end obtain
accurate cost estimation (Klanšek, 2014). The third reason is the possibility of creating selection
sets of elements that can later be linked to the activities of the construction time plan.
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Working in a 5D BIM environment: A Manual
The image below shows the recommended work ow for creating the automated 5D BIM
simulation. The rst step is to restructure the BIM model for the reasons mentioned earlier. After
that, the work ow splits into two directions, connecting the time plan with the elements and
connecting the costs with the elements. Quantity Take-Off is generated by automated extraction
from the BIM model and based on that, cost items are created that are structured and connected
in the bill of quantities. After that, the cost items are linked to the BIM elements. In the other
direction, the custom work breakdown structure and selection sets are created, with the role of
grouping individual elements. In the time plan, the project zones and the relations between
selection sets and the activities of the time plan must be de ned. After that, by interconnecting
all components, a nal 5D BIM model is created, which is later optimized (Klanšek, 2014)
Proposed work ow for automated generation of optimized 5D BIM simulations (Klanšek, 2014)
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Working in a 5D BIM environment: A Manual
recommended that the hierarchical structure of CBS descends from the project to the cost item
itself. There are ve important hierarchical levels (Fernandez, 2020). Project refers to the type of
construction, while Phase refers to the phase of the project. Category and Element refer to the
category and type of element to which the cost item belongs (e.g. load-bearing elements - walls
– RC walls – RC wall with a thickness of 10 cm). The cost item is the total cost of all resources
required for the execution of the cost item, including all direct and indirect costs. The use of
compatible classi cation systems is essential when creating 5D BIM models. All BIM elements and
cost items must be correctly classi ed because only in this way the elements, costs, and time
When implementing costs in a BIM model, there are many problems that can arise (Smith, 2015).
Quantity surveyors are provided with simpli ed models developed by other project members and
are expected to perform their tasks using those models. Therefore, the rst important task of
quantity control is to review the model for accuracy and quantity of information. Many cases
have been recorded where the model does not have the essential information needed to create
the Quantity Take-Off. Models are also susceptible to frequent change in a BIM environment. In
such an environment, quantity control can provide better cost estimation to the clients thanks to
the automated processes, but frequent changes can easily disrupt their work ow (Smith, 2015).
industry. The interdependence between planning and costing is obvious because they are linked
in terms of the control process. They share common data, such as costs, resources, and
quantities. However, in practice, they often remain as two separate functions that are performed
independently of each other and use two different hierarchical structures: WBS and CBS (Fan,
2015).
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Working in a 5D BIM environment: A Manual
The use of classi cation systems is essential for the integration of the project structure, and only
in this way can the time plan and cost items be linked. When integrating CBS and WBS, various
problems can occur, and the most common problems during integration arise when the time plan
depends on WBS and costs on (separate) CBS (Fernandez, 2020). The difference in the level of
detail used by each structure creates a fundamental difference in how costs and plan data are
interpreted (Fan, 2015). An appropriate WBS must serve as a basis for monitoring the project and
must include integrated costs. However, the items in the WBS are mostly designed to record and
compare the costs created during the initial forecasting, so the project monitoring process is far
more complex because the WBS and CBS do not match, and are dif cult to connect (Fan, 2015).
Therefore, the goal of the digital construction sector is to develop an object-oriented BIM model
that connects BIM elements with cost items and plan activities, therefore automatically
integrating cost items with plan activities. So, the basis for connecting costs and time in the BIM
environment is the 3D BIM model that determines the method of data breakdown in WBS and
The image below shows the recommended way of linking the components of a 5D BIM model. In
order to make the integration process possible, a BIM model, a time plan, and a CBS are required.
It is important to note, that they must be developed in accordance with all the guidelines de ned
in the previous two chapters. The BIM model, the time plan and the CBS then need to be
implemented in the software that supports 5D BIM integration. The recommended software is
Bexel Manager, Vico Of ce, and Autodesk Navisworks. Then, the BIM elements have to be
manually linked to the corresponding activities of the time plan and to the corresponding cost
items. Also, when linking, it is important to apply the guidelines de ned in the manual. The 5D
BIM model is then created and 5D simulation can be performed (Fan, 2015).
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Working in a 5D BIM environment: A Manual
The recommended way of linking the components of a 5D BIM model (Fan, 2015)
By linking the cost items and the time plan activities to the BIM elements in the way described
above, the integration of cost and time plan is simpli ed, and the complex integration process is
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Working in a 5D BIM environment: A Manual
Conclusion
BIM technology plays a major role in the planning and control phases of construction projects. It
represents a powerful tool that the project manager can use to manage the project, thus
achieving maximum project delivery ef ciency. Ultimately, the application of BIM technology
results in lower costs, reduces safety risks and execution time, which bene ts all project
shareholders as well as the entire construction industry. Such a level of automation and workload
reduction, as well as the integration of information within a single source, is a signi cant step
forward for the construction industry, which, due to its complex nature, has always had a hard
time keeping up with the digitization rate of other sectors. 5D automated simulation is a
productive tool for the planning process, but it must be adaptable to the different needs of the
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Working in a 5D BIM environment: A Manual
List of literature
3D Repo (2021) What Are BIM Dimensions? [Online], available:
https://3drepo.com/resources/news-and-events/what-are-bim-dimensions/
BibLus (2022) What are LOD and LOIN in BIM and what are they for? [Online], available:
https://biblus.accasoftware.com/en/what-are-lod-and-loin-in-bim-and-what-are-they-for/
is-iso-19650/
BSI Group (2019) Introducing the new international standard for BIM, ISO 19650, [Online],
iso19650-introduction.pdf
bsi/media-centre/pressreleases/2002/12/What-is-a-PAS/
BSI Group (2021) ISO 19650 Building Information Modelling (BIM) , [Online], available:
https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/iso-19650-BIM/
Building The Digital (2018) BIM for Beginners: 6 key terms you need to know about BIM
technology [Online], available: https://www.buildingthedigital.com/blog/bim-beginners
https://technical.buildingsmart.org/standards/bcf/
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Working in a 5D BIM environment: A Manual
https://www.buildingsmart.org/users/services/buildingsmart-data-dictionary/
https://technical.buildingsmart.org/standards/information-delivery-manual/
available:https://technical.buildingsmart.org/projects/information-delivery-speci cation-ids/?
sfw=pass1661886843
https://technical.buildingsmart.org/standards/ifc/mvd/
Designing Buildings (2022) BS 8536:2022 design, manufacture and construction for operability,
[Online],available:https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/BS_8536:2022_design,_manufactur
e_and_construction_for_operability
consultancy.com/lod-lod-loi/
Fan, S., Hun, C. i Wu, C. (2015) Integration of Cost and Schedule Using BIM, Tamkang University,
Taiwan.
Fernandez, A., Mateo, M., Navarez, A. i Perez, P. (2020) Integration of Cost and Work Breakdown
Structures in the Management of Construction Projects, University of Puerto Real, Spain
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Working in a 5D BIM environment: A Manual
Hrvatska komora arhitekata (2022) LOD (Level of Development) – Stupanj razrađenosti projekta
hka.hr/hr/bim/klasi kacija/
Jurčević , M., Pavlović, M. i Šolman, H. (2017) Opće smjernice za BIM pristup u graditeljstvu,
Kiviniemi, AO. i Laakso, M. (2012) The IFC standard: A review of History, development, and
standardization, Information Technology, University of Salford, Manchester, UK
Klanšek, U., Pučko, Z i Šuman, N. (2014) Building Information Modeling Based Time And Cost
Planning In Construction Projects, University of Maribor, Slovenia
Mordue, S. (2015) Opportunities and threats: De nition on BIM – ACE., National BIM Library, UK
https://www.thenbs.com/knowledge/what-is-the-pas-1192-framework
NSB (2021) BIM dimensions – 3D, 4D, 5D, 6D BIM explained [Online], available:
https://www.thenbs.com/knowledge/bim-dimensions-3d-4d-5d-6d-bim-explained
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Working in a 5D BIM environment: A Manual
https://www.mirakul.hr/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Planiranje-projekta-Doseg-projekta.pdf
Scottish Futures Trust (2019) New BIM Standards – ISO19650 [Online], available:
https://bimportal.scottishfuturestrust.org.uk/page/new-international-bim-standards
Smith P. (2015) Project cost management with 5D BIM, 29th World Congress International Project
TechnologyHQ (2022) BIM Dimensions: 3D, 4D, 5D, 6D & 7D BIM Explained [Online], available:
https://www.technologyhq.org/what-are-bim-dimensions/
United BIM (2017) BIM Maturity Levels Explained- Level 0, Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 [Online],
available:https://www.united-bim.com/bim-maturity-levels-explained-level-0-1-2-3/
Vitasek, S. i Zak, J. (2018) Cost estimating and building information modelling (BIM) in road
construction, Creative Construction Conference 2018, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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