Available online at www.CivileJournal.org Civil Engineering Journal Vol. 6, No. 1, January, 2020 34 Cost Comparison of a Building Project by Manual and BIM Usman Haider a* , Usama Khan b , Asif Nazir b , Muhammad Humayon c a Department of Mechanics, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Republic. b Department of Technology, Branch of Civil Engineering Technology, The University of Lahore, Pakistan. c Parsons Transportation Group,3577 Parkway lane, Peachtree Corners, GA, USA. Received 16 August 2019; Accepted 20 November 2019 Abstract This article focuses on comparison between Manual/Traditional and Building Information Modelling (BIM) software based approaches for cost comparison. Centre line method for manual and Revit software for BIM based approaches are used in this research. The principal objectives of this research are to calculate quantities by Manual Centre line method, then to make the cost estimation fast, accurate, efficient, and errorless by using BIM software Rivet, and finally the comparison study of manual based and BIM / Software based estimation. For manual approach, quantities are calculated by multiplying the measurements of length, breadth, and height. Then to get the total quantities the deduction is subtracted from the quantities and final BOQ is prepared for which estimated cost of building is calculated. For BIM based approach, 3D model from 2D floor plan of building is prepared in Revit software, then to estimate the cost of building structure elements, sheets of quantities are generated in the schedule option of the view tab in the software. The Percentage difference between Manual and BIM / Revit Software estimation in brick work, RCC Slab, Plaster Work, PCC for Flooring, Floor Tile Work, Skirting, Paint Work, False Ceiling, Doors and Aluminum Work is 4.57, 2.61, 7.58, 3.27, 1.87, 6.73, 8.03, 1.87, and 0.00% respectively. The total cost difference between manual and BIM based estimation approach comes out to be 4.8%. It is thus concluded that the BIM-assisted estimates have better performance over traditional/manual estimating methods. Keywords: Cost; Manual; Building; Revit Software; Estimate; BIM. 1. Introduction Cost estimation is initial stage for any construction project; it helps to evaluate project feasibility, cost controls, and tendering process [1, 2]. There are two types of cost estimation rough cost estimation and detailed cost estimation. Rough cost estimate can be an approximate estimate to find an approximate cost of a task based on plinth area rates very quickly and therefore it permits the competent authority worried to consider the financial aspects of the scheme for administrative authorization to the design [3]. Whereas, detailed cost estimation includes the specific particulars of the quantities, rates, and costs of all items for according technical sanction, tendering, and for satisfactory completion of a project [4]. There are two types of cost estimation method according to their generation, Manual and Building Information Modelling (BIM) [5]. In Manual detailed estimation approach, center line method is used for estimation in buildings where cross wall are not provided. In this method first we have to find the total length of the wall and then multiply it with the width and its height to get the volume [6]. In order to prepare a detailed manual estimate, the estimator must have the drawings of the work such as plans and sections for taking measurements, identification of the nature of materials specifications to be used, and their rates at which the different items of work are carried out as per the Market Rate System (MRS) of the Finance Department, Government of the Punjab [7] to obtain the Bill of Quantities (BOQ). In order to prepare a * Corresponding author: usmanhaider6886@gmail.com http://dx.doi.org/10.28991/cej-2020-03091451 © 2019 by the authors. Licensee C.E.J, Tehran, Iran. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).