Perceptions of the influence of BIM digital models in cost overrun management: A construction education perspective

• BIM is perceived as an effective tool for reducing cost overruns. • 4D planning is perceived as the most influential BIM Use for managing cost overruns. • Incorporating BIM in education enhances skills for managing cost overruns. • BIM significantly influences the mitigation of cost overruns caused by activity delays. • Integrative projects using BIM foster the development of cost overrun management skills. Cost overruns are a critical challenge in construction management, with severe implications for the economic stability of projects. The Building Information Modeling (BIM) methodology has demonstrated considerable potential to mitigate the factors contributing to cost variances, highlighting the importance of robust academic training to enable its effective implementation. Despite the growing integration of BIM into construction management education curricula, there remains a gap in the literature regarding students' perceptions of its effectiveness in key construction management areas, with few studies exploring how future professionals view BIM's role in addressing cost overruns. This study aims to fill this gap by examining undergraduate and graduate students' perceptions of BIM's potential to help reduce cost overruns in residential construction. Using a specifically designed questionnaire and analysing an integrative project, data were collected from 45 undergraduate and 30 graduate students. The results reveal a varied perception of BIM's influence on managing cost overruns, emphasising its effectiveness in the early stages and its limitations in external contexts. The findings contribute to reviewing and adapting university curricula to improve the integration of cost management knowledge and BIM training. This would improve future construction managers' professional competence and enhance BIM's effectiveness as a critical tool in reducing cost overruns.