5D Process Guidance

CCM | Tag to Quantify

Updated April 2019

Definitions: Terms Explained

• AEC - Architectural, Engineering and Construction: the AEC (UK) organisation supports
improvement process of design information production, management and exchange. Initially
addressed CAD layering conventions, later it expanded to cover other aspects of des ign data
production and information exchange.

• AIM - Asset Information Model: an AIM is a maintained information model used to manage,
maintain and operate an asset.

• BEP - BIM Execution Plan: agreed document which summarizes the agreed uses for BIM on a
project and describes the execution of BIM within a project throughout its complete lifecycle.

• BIM - The processes and collaborative behaviours associated with the creation and sharing of
object orientated databases of an asset in its environment, relevant to all stages of the asset’s
life cycle including design, construction and operation.

• BIM Protocol - The Arcadis Building Information Modelling Protocol (referred as the BIM
Protocol) governs the rights and obligations of Arcadis when working with BIM for an employer.
This document contains all legal aspects regarding the BIM process.

• BIM Use - A BIM Use is defined as a method of applying Building Information Modelling during
an assets lifecycle to achieve one or more specific objectives (Uses of BIM - Penn State 2013).
E.g. Monitoring, Simulation and Prescribe.

• BS 1192 - British Standard (BS) PAS1192-2. (Publicly Available Specification) is the Specification
for information management for the capital/delivery phase of construction projects using
building information modelling. PAS1192-2 is promoted to a British standard, hence the name
BS1192.

• CAFM - Computer Aided Facilities Management

• CDE - Common Data Environment: a CDE is a single source of information for any given project.
It is used to collect, manage and disseminate all relevant approved project documents for multi -
disciplinary teams in a managed process.

• Client - The person or organisation who assigns the project. Can be the same as employer.
• COBie - Construction Operations Building Information Exchange (COBie): is a data format for
the publication of a subset of building model information focused on delivering building
information, not geometric modelling.

• EIR - Employers Information Requirements: A document used for setting out the information to
be delivered, and the standards and processes to be adopted by the supplier as part of the
project delivery process.

• Employer - The person or organisation that owns the project. Can be the same as client.

• Federated model - A federated model is an assembly of several individual models to create a

holistic model of an asset or project.

• FM platform - A federated model platform is software to create, view and manage a federated
model for an asset or project.

• GIS - Geographic Information System.

• IFC - Industry Foundation Classes (IFC): an open and neutral data format for openBIM. The IFC
specification is developed and maintained by buildingSMART International as its "Data standard".
(http://www.buildingsmart-tech.org/specifications/ifc-overview).

• IDP - Information Delivery Plan is an appendix to the Employers Information Requirements.

• Legacy data - Information stored in an old or obsolete format or computer system that is,
therefore, difficult to access or process.

• Lifecycle - The consecutive phases of an assets life, starting from conception, to design and
ending with demolition.

• LOMD - The Level of Model Development is the combination of the Level of Detail and the Level
of Information.

• LOD - The Level of Detail is essentially how much detail is included in the model element, from a
graphical perspective.

• LOI - Level of Information: all data that can be added to every model element (specifications,
technical documents from suppliers, performances, …)

• MPDT - Model Production and Delivery Table: is an overview of the different models that must
be created within the project at a certain work stage.

• MIDP - Master Information Delivery Plan (MIDP): is the primary plan for the preparation of the
project information required by the employer's information requirements. It lists information
deliverables, and sets out when project information is to be prepared, by whom, to what LOD
and LOI and using what protocols and procedures for each stage of the project.

• Model - E.g. 3D model, 4D model, Systems Engineering model, Information model, Functional
model, etc. Used in multiple ways: - 1) A digital object oriented representation of a part of the
physical and/or functional characteristics of the Project. - 2) A simplified representation of a
system or phenomenon, to describe the system or explain the phenomenon.
 • Originator - PAS 1192-2 refers to model originators rather than authors. The originator must
have accountability for the contents of a model and responsibility for its authoring.

• PIM - The Project Information Model or PIM is a progressively developed model that is the
single source of information for a project. Upon completion of construction, the PIM is
developed into an Asset Information Model. See AIM.

• Process - A series of activities or steps taken in order to achieve a particular goal.

• RACI - RACI, is a method to describe the participation by various roles in completing tasks or
deliverables for a process. It is especially useful in clarifying roles and responsibilities in cross -
functional/departmental projects and processes. Further explained in section 6. 3.

• Requirement - A requirement is a singular documented physical and/or functional need that a

particular design, product or process must be able to perform.

• SE - System Engineering: is an interdisciplinary way of engineering management that evolves

and verifies an integrated, life-cycle balanced set of solutions that satisfy customer needs (refer
to Arcadis SE Whitepaper).

• Stakeholder - A person, group or organisation that has interest or concern in the project.
Stakeholders can affect or be affected by the actions, objectives and policies regarding the
project.

• TIDP - TIDP (Task Information Deliverables Plan) Summary with a distinctive description of all
deliverables for each work stage / milestone per task team. The deliverables can be models,
drawings, schedules, clash detections, etc.

• Validation - The check if something meets the needs of the stakeholder. Checking if the choices
made are valid.

• Verification - The evaluation of something complies with a regulation, requirement,

specification, or imposed condition.

• Work stage - A time frame in a certain period, in which a specified number of tasks need to be
completed.

1. Process Steps
0. Define scope and work packages to be quantified.

1. Utilise BIM models within CostX.

2. Extract automatic quantities from the BIM model within CostX.

3. Group automatic quantities into NRM codes.

4. Live link the automatic quantities to a cost plan within CostX.

5. Create a rate library and link it to a cost plan within CostX.

2. Guidance
Define scope and work packages to be quantified
• Discuss and confirm with the designer which work packages will be quantified from the model.

• Review the contract documents with the designer, and ensure the following requirements are
understood and confirmed:

- A parameter called ‘QSID’ to be added to the model and populated for relevant work
packages

- The provision of required file types (Rvt, DWFx and IFC

Utilise BIM models within CostX

• Import a DWFx File from Revit

This file type should include the whole drawing set, including both 2D and 3D outputs. The floor plans
and elevations can be used to validate the quantities generated by the 3D model. Within CostX, the
drawings can be made into a drawing set; highlighting measured quantities in the 3D model will
highlight corresponding elements in the 2D drawings.

Please note the drawing sets can be done before or after quantities have been extracted however it
would be best practice to do this first.It is important to note that when the Revit files are exported into a
DWFx or IFC format - the procedure should follow Exactal’s ‘CostX drawing file optimisation guide’. E.g.
include rooms/spaces as part of the DWFx export – this requires a tick box checked during the export
process.

CostX Training is available here:

https://arcadiso365.sharepoint.com/teams/CostXUK/SitePages/Training-Manuals.aspx

Uploading a 3D BIM Model onto CostX

To add the DWFx file to CostX go to the Drawings tab and click ‘Add’.
A pop-up box will appear allowing you to locate the relevant file, once located select the file and click
‘Open’.

For DWFx files, another popup window will appear with a list of the associated drawings in the file.
These will include a 3D model along with a number of 2D drawings such as elevations, floor plans and
sections. To make a separate file for the 3D model select only the ‘3D model/3D view’ and click ‘OK’.
A popup window will appear, the ‘Name’ will automatically populate however this can be amended as
needed, the ‘Folder’ name should be filled in manually this can be named as desired. As can be seen
below if the ‘Folder’ name includes a ’\’ this will create a subfolder.

The subfolder created can be seen here, in the folder you will find the 3D model that has been uploaded,
double click the file name to view the model.
Once the 3D model has been successfully uploaded the 2D drawings can be uploaded. Again go to the
Drawings tab, click ‘Add’ and select the same file. A popup window will appear, select the 2D drawings
you would like to upload. To highlight more than one drawing hold down ‘Ctrl’, or to highlight a
selection of drawings, e.g. from Area Plan down to Structural Plan, select ‘Area Plan’, hold down the
‘Shift’ button and select ‘Structural Plan’. Click ‘OK’.

A popup window will appear, the ‘Name Prefix’ will automatically populate however this can be
amended as needed, the ‘Folder’ name should be filled in manually this can be named as desired and
again subfolders can be created using ‘\’ as needed.
The drawings can then be located in the relevant folder, double click the drawing to view.

Creating a Drawing Set

Once the 3D and 2D drawings from DWFx file have been uploaded, they can be made into a drawing set.
Select the ‘Drawings’ tab and click ‘Drawing Sets’.
A popup window will appear click ‘Insert’ to create a new drawing set.

Name the drawing set as desired and select ‘All Drawings’.

Select the relevant drawings for the set, e.g. select all the rev. 5 architectural drawings including 2D
drawings and 3D drawings. Once all the relevant drawings have been selected click ‘Update’. The
drawing set will then be created.

Extract automatic quantities from the BIM model within CostX

• Quantities can easily be extracted from all modelled elements in BIM model using the ‘Import
Dimensions Using BIM Template’ button.

• Depending on the maturity of the model and what is required in the IDP, some elements won ’t
be modelled yet. It would be ideal if designers can help identify elements that are not yet in the
model (i.e. rain water goods, reinforcement, paint, drop ceilings, etc.) to provide transparency
on what needs to be allowed in respect to cost.

• The quantities are extracted in multiple units of measurement including count, length and area.

• The BIM template standardises the unit of measurement displayed for all components however
sometimes a different unit of measurement may be required – this can easily be found by
 hovering the mouse over the measurement, and when creating cost plans you can easily select
the required unit of measurement.

• One of the main considerations with extracting automatic quantities from the model is ensuring
that the quantities are accurate. Generally spot checks should still be done by taking off from
the 2D drawings using CostX.

Extracting Automatic Quants from the Model

The process of extracting quants from a BIM model is simple. Once the model has been uploaded open
the model and go to the Dimensions tab, select Import > Import Using BIM Template.

The first time you use a template you will need to locate the correct file, this can be foun d at: This PC
> OS (C) > Program Data > Exactal > CostX > BIM Templates > BIM Import Revit General Select ‘BIM
Import Revit General’ and click ‘OK’, you will only need to find this folder once, once you have used this
before it will automatically take you to this folder.
A popup window will appear as the quantities are being extracted, this will show the percentage
completed, this should take around 1 – 2 minutes depending on the size of the project.

Once the extracted quantities are 100% complete the dimensions will appear on the left hand side in the
‘Dimensions Group’ section. Generally these will be grouped into components, such as walls, floors ,
doors etc. For the architectural model it should also include ‘Rooms’ provided the DWFx has been
exported correctly and the ‘Rooms, spaces and areas in a separate boundary layer’ has been ticked on
the ‘DWF Properties’ tab.

Quantities from the structural model can also be extracted in the same way, these will also appear on
the left had side in the ‘Dimensions Group’ section, which will be grouped into components such as
structural columns, structural foundations and structural framing.

Key Features
Navigating the model/Viewing quantities on the model

Once the automatic quantities have been extracted you can view the components that have been
measured on the model, this is best viewed in ‘Transparent Mode’ which can be selected on the ‘Home’
tab. Below the walls component has been selected and all walls that have been measured are
highlighted in green.
It is possible to select a component within walls, such as internal walls as seen below.

It is also possible to see the individual measure of each component via the dimension tab as shown in
the below example showing the measure for the internal walls.

All internal walls measured are highlighted in green, if you then click on an individual measure it will be
highlighted in blue, allowing you to see exactly where each measure has come from.
It is possible to isolate a component by selecting the ‘Layers’ tab.

In order to view all components in the model again, right click on the model and select ‘Show all objects'.
Quantities linked by drawing sets
As discussed earlier; 3D and 2D drawings can be connected through a drawing set, once connected any
quantities taken from the model can also be viewed on the corresponding 2D drawing. Below you can
see the doors are highlighted on the 3D model.

As shown below the doors that have been counted and quantified are also highlighted on the
corresponding 2D drawing.
Viewing different units of measurement
When quantities are automatically extracted using a BIM template, the quantities are extracted in a
number of different units of measurement, these include count, length and area. (length can represent a
single length or the perimeter depending on the type of component)

When the quantities are extracted using a BIM template, the template will standardise the unit of
measurement displayed in the ‘Dimensions group’ tab.

As can be seen below the standard unit of measurement for rooms is set to area, however if you hover
the mouse over a measurement a box will appear that displays the quantity in count, length and area.

It is also possible to view the quantities by hovering the mouse over a component on the model, a
measurement box will appear which displays the level, count length and area.
If you need to change the unit of measurement that is displayed in the ‘Dimensions Group’ tab, right
click on the component and select ‘Edit Dimension Group Properties’. For example the perimeter of a
room may be needed in order to calculate the cost of the skirting in the room.

A popup window will appear, select the desired unit of measurement from the dropdown menu on
‘Default Display’ and click ‘Update’.
When creating a cost plan the unit displayed on the cost plan can be changed as required, to add a
quantity to a cost plan or workbook you can drag and drop a component into the workbook.

A popup window will appear which gives the option to amend the unit displayed, click on the ‘Quantity
Type’ dropdown menu and select the desired unit. Click ‘Update’.
As shown below the quantity displayed now appears as a length (perimeter) as opposed to an area and
the unit of measurement is in linear m rather than m2. This is useful within a cost plan as to calculate a
floor finish the area of the room would be required, however the perimeter would also be required to
calculate the skirting.

Similarly when dragging and dropping a selection of quantities, the unit of measurement for the full
selection can be amended in the same way. Select the components required and drag and drop as
before.
A popup window will appear, click on the ‘Quantity Type’ dropdown menu and select the desired unit.
Click ‘OK’.

Group automatic quantities into NRM codes

• Quantities can be grouped into NRM codes in order to classify objects and relate them to the
standard method of measurement, this will improve efficiency of producing a cost plan.

• NRM codes can be added to an Access database which contains all the model data, the model
will then be updated with these codes by the designer.

• Extracted quantities can then be grouped into NRM codes within CostX easily following the
same method as discussed in the previous section.
Add NRM Codes to Access Database
After extracting the automatic quantities from the model, a key step in the process will be to assign
NRM codes to all components within the model. [Please note further details of this process will follow].

Extract Automatic Quantities Grouped into NRM Codes

Once all NRM codes have been populated within the Access database, the data will then be imported
back into the model by the designer or architect via a DB link and an updated DWFx file will be shared
containing the NRM codes.

The quantities will then be extracted for the second time using the ‘BIM Import Revit by QSID or
ELEMENT CODE’ template. Quantities will then be displayed grouped into NRM codes as show below.
This will improve efficiency in producing the cost plans, full steps for this process will follow shortly.
Live link the automatic quantities to a cost plan within CostX
• Once the quantities have been extracted, either grouped into NRM format or into components,
the quantities can then be used to produce a cost plan.

• Cost plans can be produced by dragging and dropping extracted quantities and descriptions into
the cost plan which will create a live link.

• In addition to using the base quantities, formulas can be used in combination with the live linked
quantities where necessary.

• This process is most efficient when quantities are already grouped into NRM codes, however
cost plans can also be produced when quantities are grouped into components.

Creating a cost plan

To create a cost plan go to the ‘Workbooks’ tab and click ‘Add’.

A popup window will appear, manually fill in ‘Name’ as desired and select the desired rate library from
the dropdown menu, click ‘Insert’.
This will create a blank cost plan to be populated, the cost plan can be located in the Workbooks section.

Adding NRM codes to the cost plan

To add an NRM code to the cost plan select ‘Phraseologies’ on the left hand side, and then click 'NRM1
Phraseology' which will have a dropdown list of all the NRM1 codes and phrases.
Select the necessary code, and drag and drop it into the cost plan.

Continue to drag and drop the descriptions into the cost plan up to the level of detail required.
Adding quantities to the cost plan
Adding quantities to the cost plan can be done in the same way by dragging and dropping the quantities
and descriptions into the cost plan.

The end result within CostX, once all of the NRM codes and quantities have been dragged and dropped
into the cost plan in shown below.
Adding formulas in the cost plan
In defining the approach on how to calculate the (derived/secondary) quantities in CostX - project
requirements and timescales should be considered.

The easiest approach is to compose the cost plan is via dragging-and-dropping operation of extracted
quantities. Then (derived/secondary) quantities dependent on those items can be calculated using
formulae referenced to those items. The workbook in CostX functions similar to an Excel spreadsheet,
however, the formulae available are basic functions only.

Another approach is to build the formula in the ‘Dimension Group properties’. For now there are three
custom calculations that may be included. Setting up the dimension group this way enables items to b e
dragged-and-dropped as well.

Another approach is to build calculations in an Excel spreadsheet and paste it back in CostX. The
improved efficiency is dependent on the user’s skill level in using Excel. However, it is advised that this is
used as a workaround as not all functions might import corrected back in CostX.

Create a rate library and link it to a cost plan within CostX

• Rate libraries can be created manually or can be imported into CostX, this is a useful feature as it
makes production of a cost plan much easier when rates are readily available.

• Rates, like quantities, can also be dragged and dropped into the cost plans.

• Rate libraries can be created in accordance with NRM coding making the process of locating the
necessary rates much more straight forward.

• In the future time will be invested into building the rate libraries to support future projects to be
delivered inside CostX.

• It is found that complex designs will need an extensive rate library to support pricing.
 • Further work will consider including a cost code parameter which will allow cost plans to be
automatically linked to rates within a cost library.

• To enable rates/prices to be integrated back in the BIM models, additional shared parameters
should be configured in the model. Attribute to track the SMM code (i.e. NRM1), and depending
if costs are needed to be summarised in schedules – attributes to store rates and amounts.

Create a rate library

To create a rate library you need to have superuser access to view the ‘System Administration’ feature.
(Please contact IT service available in your region to raise your access permission). Click on the CostX
button in the top left hand corner and select ‘System Administration

A popup window will appear, select ‘Costing’ from the bottom left hand corner, and select ‘Rate
Libraries’ from the option along the left hand side of the window.

Click ‘Insert’ in the right pane.

A popup window will appear, requiring at least the ‘Name’ to enable it to be added by clicking ‘Insert’.

Confirm action by clicking ‘Yes’.

 Please note that volume upload of rates is easier built by organising data using CSV file. This involves
opening the CSV files in Excel and work on a familiar spreadsheet environment. Workflows are now
being developed to demonstrate this feature and will be included in the next update.

Link the rates to the cost plan

Once the rate library is built, the rates can either be dragged-and-dropped (similar to the workflow in
pulling quantities to the workbook).

Workflows are now being developed to automate the integration of cost using the rate library. This
includes lining up QS codes or Cost codes to populate the rate.
APPENDIX A - Workflow to Enable 5D BIM

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