This research presents a novel method for predicting construction project cash flow by integrating 5D Building Information Modeling (5D-BIM) with a Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) to account for complex, interrelated risk factors and uncertainties.
Cash flow can make or break a construction project. While a fancy new building rises from the ground, poor cash planning can sink everything beneath it. But what if we could predict the financial future of a project — not with guesswork, but with technology that’s aware of risk, time, and cost?
This is exactly what a team of researchers has done by combining two cutting-edge tools: 5D Building Information Modeling (5D-BIM) and the Bayesian Belief Network (BBN). Let’s break this down into simple ideas, learn what they did, and see why it matters for the future of construction.
Did you know? Over 60% of construction company failures happen due to poor cash flow. Often, it's not because the project lacks funding, but because the flow of that money isn’t managed correctly.
Traditionally, companies try to predict cash flow manually. But manual processes are:
And here’s the kicker: most tools don’t consider how real-world risks impact cash flow. For instance:
Ignoring such risks can turn a “profitable” project into a financial nightmare.
Here’s the twist. The researchers introduced a hybrid model that combines:
Together, they built a next-gen risk-aware cash flow calculator.
Think of 5D-BIM as the digital twin of your construction project — but with the power to simulate time and money.
BBNs act like a brain that predicts how risks affect your costs. It uses expert knowledge and probabilities to figure out how likely each risk is and how bad its impact could be.
Let’s simplify the process:
The team listed 31 risk factors grouped into:
Using expert input and some clever math, they:
The BBN processes all that risk info and predicts:
Result:
Now, they blend the BBN’s predictions with the 5D-BIM’s cash flow model. By simulating hundreds of scenarios (like a weather forecast but for finances), they get a range of possible outcomes instead of one rigid prediction.
Without risk:
Profit as it was planned at project end
With risk:
Cash flow might go as low as a 130% swing — from making money to losing big
Even the best-case scenario after risks is barely profitable.
The model was tested on a mass housing project in Iran with 16,080 units. It used:
They even built a Navisworks plugin to automate the whole process.
To show how useful their system is, the researchers ran 3 “what if” scenarios:
MS2 was the clear winner — a balanced focus on financial and managerial risks gives the best outcome.
This model is a game-changer in how we approach financial planning in construction. But there’s more work to do:
This paper solves a real, painful problem in the construction world:
“How do we plan money flows realistically — especially when the future is full of risk?”
By combining 5D-BIM automation with BBN-powered risk modeling, the researchers:
Contractors can now avoid nasty financial surprises and confidently negotiate contracts, plan liquidity, and manage risk like pros.
It’s time for an upgrade — If you're still forecasting cash flow using spreadsheets and ignoring risks. Let’s build smarter, not just stronger.
5D-BIM (5D Building Information Modeling) - A digital model of a construction project that includes 3D design, time (4D), and cost (5D) — like a virtual building that tells you what it looks like, when it’s built, and how much it costs.
Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) - A smart math model that shows how different risks are connected and uses probabilities to predict how likely things (like cost overruns) are to happen.
Probabilistic Cash Flow - Instead of guessing just one number, this means calculating a range of possible cash flow outcomes based on how different risks might play out.
Fuzzy Logic - A way to deal with human uncertainty — like turning vague opinions ("this risk is kinda high") into numbers that computers can work with.
DEMATEL (Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory) - A technique that maps out how different factors (like risks) influence each other — who causes what in a network of issues.
Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) - A method used to organize complex factors into a hierarchy — showing which risks are root causes and which ones are effects.
Quantity Takeoff (QTO) - The process of measuring how much material, labor, and equipment is needed for a construction project — like a shopping list for builders.
Monte Carlo Simulation - A technique that runs many “what if” scenarios using random numbers to predict the range of possible outcomes — like spinning a wheel hundreds of times to see all the results. - For more understanding, use the calculator "Monte Carlo Stock Price Simulation: Predicting the Unpredictable in Finance".
Cost Overrun - When a project ends up costing more than expected — often because of delays, mistakes, or unexpected problems.
Ranked Node Method (RNM) - A shortcut technique used in BBNs to reduce the number of expert inputs needed — making it faster and easier to build the model.
Madihi, M.H.; Tafazzoli, M.; Shirzadi Javid, A.A.; Nasirzadeh, F. Probabilistic Cash Flow Analysis Considering Risk Impacts by Integrating 5D-Building Information Modeling and Bayesian Belief Network. Buildings 2025, 15, 1774. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15111774
From: Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST); Georgia Southern University; Deakin University.
