BIM implementation cuts construction time by 50%!? Innovative technology that produces dramatic effects

In recent years, the term BIM has been heard more and more in the construction industry. This technology, attracting attention as a trump card for improving productivity in building projects and DX (digital transformation), raises the question: what exactly is so revolutionary about it? As the title of this article suggests, there are surprising claims such as “BIM implementation cuts construction time by 50%!?”, but can BIM really halve construction schedules?

In this article, we will explain in detail the basics of BIM (Building Information Modeling), the dramatic effects including schedule reduction, and the key points for successful implementation. Understand the innovative benefits BIM brings and the background behind them, and let’s look together at the future it will bring to construction sites.

What is BIM?

BIM (Building Information Modeling) is a method that represents a building as a three-dimensional model and links various additional information such as component specifications, costs, and schedules to that “digital building model.” Interferences between structures and complex junctions that were difficult to grasp on traditional 2D drawings can be intuitively visualized on BIM’s 3D model. From the design stage through construction and maintenance, it is revolutionary that stakeholders can reduce misunderstandings and mistakes by sharing information using a single 3D model as a common foundation. BIM is not merely a drawing creation tool; it enables unified management and utilization of data across the entire lifecycle of a construction project, and its adoption is rapidly spreading worldwide.

In Japan as well, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced a policy in 2020 to “in principle apply BIM/CIM to all public works excluding small-scale projects by 2023,” and public–private BIM adoption has accelerated in response. From 2025, BIM use for building confirmation applications will begin in some regions, and in 2029 full-scale introduction of confirmation applications using BIM data nationwide is planned. In this way, BIM is no longer limited to a few advanced projects; it is shifting toward becoming the industry standard.

Why BIM can shorten construction schedules

How does implementing BIM lead to shorter construction schedules? Let’s look at specific points highlighting differences from conventional methods.

• Reduction of design-stage errors: BIM’s clash detection features allow discovery of design mistakes such as a column colliding with piping in advance. As a result, rework (redoing work or on-site improvisation) during construction is greatly reduced, preventing interruptions and delays in the work.

• Schedule optimization through 4D construction simulation: By combining time information (4D) with a BIM model, construction progress can be simulated in virtual space. You can verify machine placement sequences and material delivery timing in advance and establish optimal schedule plans, eliminating unnecessary waiting time and bottlenecks in the process. This leads to an overall shortening of the construction period.

• Smoother information sharing: The BIM model serves as a single source of truth that everyone from designers to contractors and equipment suppliers can reference. Communication errors such as misreading drawings or circulating outdated plans decrease, and decision-making speeds up. If a problem does occur, stakeholders can immediately check the situation on the same model and consider countermeasures, shortening the time required for discussions and coordination.

• Promotion of prefabrication and modularization: Based on the precise design information provided by BIM, it becomes easier to adopt prefabrication methods that pre-manufacture columns, walls, and equipment units in factories. On-site work can be reduced to assembly only, greatly shortening labor time. For example, in one reinforced concrete building project, precasting parts of beams and floors and managing their design and construction with BIM resulted in the structural work schedule being reduced to about 1/2 (half) compared to the conventional approach. BIM supports the realization of such new methods, contributing to shorter schedules by reducing the amount of on-site work itself.

• Accurate quantity calculation and planning: Since quantities and materials can be automatically aggregated from the BIM model, estimate accuracy improves and delays in material procurement can be prevented. Necessary materials can be ordered at appropriate times, reducing the risk of “work stopping because materials are insufficient” during construction. Also, because work quantities for each process are visualized, it becomes easier to create realistic and efficient staffing plans, leading to more efficient site operations.

As described above, by utilizing BIM the processes from design to construction can be streamlined, and as a result it is possible to significantly shorten overall construction schedules. Even if each individual improvement achieves only a few percent, accumulated effects can often lead to schedule reductions on the order of weeks to months for the entire project.

Case studies of dramatic effects from BIM utilization

What level of effect has actually been achieved at sites that introduced BIM? From domestic and international cases, here are some concrete examples of schedule reductions and productivity improvements.

• 50% reduction in rework in a Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism model project: In a BIM utilization project conducted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, it was reported that rework tasks such as design changes that used to occur on site were reduced by up to 50%. Inconsistencies and ambiguities between drawings were resolved in advance, leading to a large reduction in redo and adjustment work during construction. As a result, the risk of schedule delays was also reduced.

• 45% fewer design changes and 25% shorter on-site coordination in a domestic case: In a project by a major domestic general contractor, BIM reduced the number of design changes by 45%, and on-site coordination time associated with those changes was shortened by 25%. This was due to construction personnel performing clash checks with the BIM model from the design stage and resolving issues at the drawing stage. This dramatically cut rework on site, resulting in schedule reductions and cost savings.

• 15% schedule reduction with 4D simulation: In another construction project, use of 4D construction simulation (BIM-based schedule visualization) for demolition planning shortened the construction period by about 15%. By optimizing the timing of heavy equipment deployment and work procedures in advance, the project was completed several weeks earlier than usual. Such advanced construction planning with BIM is especially powerful for projects involving complex procedures.

• UK: national strategy aiming to halve construction schedules: Looking overseas, the UK government set a bold target to cut construction project delivery times by 50% by 2025. By mandating BIM for public works and promoting construction DX across government, industry, and academia, the initiative achieved cost savings of about ¥460 billion in efforts from 2011 to 2015. The UK has become a model case for productivity improvements through BIM, and many countries are accelerating BIM adoption following its success.

• 30% schedule reduction in Kenyan public housing: BIM’s effects have also appeared in emerging-country projects. For example, a public housing construction project in Nairobi, Kenya, achieved a 30% reduction in construction time and a 20% reduction in construction costs through BIM utilization. This is an excellent example of BIM’s power to efficiently deliver housing with limited budgets and personnel. In Brazil’s urban redevelopment projects, participatory BIM design increased resident satisfaction dramatically, and such benefits of BIM adoption have been demonstrated worldwide.

As these cases show, effective use of BIM can produce dramatic results such as shorter schedules, cost reductions, and quality improvements. However, to achieve these outcomes it is not enough to simply introduce software; operational adjustments and organizational efforts are also essential. Next, let’s look at key points for successful BIM implementation.

Key points for successful BIM implementation

BIM is not a magic tool that produces results automatically once implemented. To reap maximum benefits, solid preparation and strategy are required both technically and operationally. Below are the main points to keep in mind for successful BIM implementation.

• Phased introduction starting with small projects: Rather than implementing BIM across the entire company at once, start with pilot implementations on small projects to accumulate success experiences. Building up small achievements makes it easier to gain internal understanding and cooperation, and you can gradually expand the scope of BIM use.

• Human resource development and skills acquisition: If there is a shortage of personnel who can handle BIM, consider internal training or hiring specialists. It’s not enough to know how to operate BIM software; an understanding of design and construction workflows using 3D models is required. Establishing a BIM promotion team within the company to accumulate know-how and continuously support employee skill development is important.

• Collaboration between design and construction and organizational culture reform: To maximize BIM’s effects, it is essential that design and construction departments not be separated but cooperate from the early stages. Replace the traditional vertical silos of “designers do design, site management does construction” and cultivate a culture in which the entire project team shares and communicates via the BIM model. Company-wide awareness reform, including top management, is the driving force behind BIM adoption.

• Standardization and establishment of a data-sharing platform: For smooth use of BIM models within and outside the company, standardization of information and preparation of a sharing environment are also important. For example, standardizing attribute input items and naming rules, and defining procedures for checking consistency between drawings and models helps maintain high-quality data. Introducing a common data environment (CDE) on the cloud to share the latest models between design offices and contractors ensures everyone always has access to up-to-date information and smoothes coordination.

• Top management commitment and long-term perspective: BIM implementation requires investment in software and hardware, but its effects should be viewed from a long-term perspective. Top management should position BIM as part of their DX strategy and actively support initial costs. Utilizing government and municipal BIM promotion subsidies can reduce the financial burden. With strong top-down commitment, the field can confidently take on new initiatives.

By considering these points and preparing and operating properly, you can maximize the effects of BIM implementation. BIM is a tool, and what makes it effective are the “people” and the “systems.” By simultaneously building organizational structures and developing personnel, you can connect BIM’s potential to project success.

Conclusion: BIM utilization required in the construction DX era

The construction industry is now undergoing major transformation. Amid chronic shortages of skilled workers and long working hours, BIM utilization is expected to be the key to a productivity revolution. As introduced in this article, implementing and utilizing BIM enables far more efficient project management than before, and in some cases the dramatic result of halving the construction schedule has become realistic.

Of course, not all projects will uniformly see a 50% schedule reduction, but by leveraging digital technologies centered on BIM, significant efficiency gains once thought impossible are being realized one after another. BIM adoption is becoming a standard practice rather than a point of differentiation from competitors. In the coming era, whether you can master BIM may well determine a project’s success or failure.

Furthermore, to maximize BIM’s benefits it is important to accurately reflect actual on-site measured data in the model. One approach to utilize here is the new method of simple surveying using LRTK. For example, by using LRTK, attaching a small high-precision GNSS receiver to a smartphone allows a single person to perform surveying with centimeter-level accuracy (cm level accuracy (half-inch accuracy)). Without the need for specialized equipment or large teams, you can quickly obtain coordinate positions of points you want to measure on site, enabling easy incorporation of terrain data and as-built (post-construction shape) information into the BIM model. Tasks that previously required time-consuming site surveying and as-built management can be completed quickly with LRTK, seamlessly linking BIM and the actual site.

Combining innovative technologies such as BIM and LRTK connects digital data from planning through construction and maintenance, promising further schedule reductions and quality improvements. This is truly the essence of construction DX. If you are considering introducing BIM to your construction projects, take the step sooner rather than later. When you do, consider the easy surveying method using LRTK as a way to make the most of your BIM model—this will help accelerate on-site DX more smoothly.

Make BIM’s dramatic effects your ally and succeed in projects with unprecedented speed and efficiency. The key to shaping the industry’s future is in your hands.