Daniel Segraves   •   over 10 years ago

Cost Simulation via RSMeans database link

We have analysis engines, plugins, softwares for everything from solar to circulation; but nothing for construction cost. We rely on wisdom, intuition and leave it a mystery until bids come back (imagine if that were the approach for structural reactions!). Why not make a simulator that takes materials / make-ups and quantities from a BIM model and searches the RSMeans database to estimate total cost. This would empower a designer with much more intelligence earlier in the design process (would have helped Zaha not lose the Tokyo Olympic Stadium, maybe!).