Using Change Orders to Measure the Impact of Building Information Modeling: A Case Study

While the added value of Building Information Modeling (BIM) has been demonstrated by several studies, measuring the added value of using BIM on a specific project is a challenging task. The use of key performance indicators (KPIs) is necessary for what is important to choose as the best indicators to achieve reliable results: change orders are one of these indicators. Change orders are defined as events resulting in a modification of the original scope, execution time or cost of construction work. Due to the importance of their impact on project performance, change orders are known as one of the most used performance indicators in the construction industry. The research work reported in this paper aims at proposing an innovative evaluation approach, based on metrics from a single BIM project and the feedback from the client. The results suggest that for the construction management method to be effective, it is important to clearly identify the BIM requirements at the very start of the project and but above all, to integrate them into contracts with the various stakeholders to create a solid foundation.