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Construction management in depth

4D/5D construction simulation in depth

What 4D and 5D mean, how we link building model, schedule and cost, and what the simulation delivers during construction.

1From 3D to 4D and 5D

2Approach

  1. Check and structure the model

    Check the IFC model for completeness, structure elements by storey, element class and section.

  2. Link elements and activities

    Rule-based assignment instead of manual one-by-one linking, traceable and quick to update.

  3. Simulate and check plausibility

    Check sequence, takt, crane and site setup over time; reveal spatial-temporal conflicts.

  4. Assign and analyse cost

    Attach resources and prices per activity and derive cost curves over the construction period.

34D: seeing the sequence

Fig. 1 4D construction simulation of a building project with weekly progress.Source: rheonda
Structural model with colour-coded element classes
Fig. 2 Structural model by element class as the basis for linking activities.Source: rheonda
Bar chart with linked building model
Fig. 3 Schedule and building model in a 4D environment.Source: rheonda

45D: cost over time

Once the schedule carries resources and cost rates, the cost curve follows directly from the construction sequence. It shows when which costs arise and is the basis for cash-flow planning, liquidity control and valuing schedule deviations.

Cost per month

Labour, plant and material cost from the resource-loaded schedule, spread over working days

€0.0€50.0k€100.0k€150.0kFeb 26AprJunAugOctDecFebAprJunAugOct
Show values as table
MonthCostcumulativelabour hours
February 2026€31,652€31,652166
March 2026€147,133€178,7851,883
April 2026€113,021€291,8062,003
May 2026€96,470€388,2761,597
June 2026€96,089€484,3651,730
July 2026€104,622€588,9871,795
August 2026€69,555€658,5421,179
September 2026€77,203€735,7451,224
October 2026€77,986€813,7311,238
November 2026€71,814€885,5451,223
December 2026€65,200€950,745981
January 2027€54,766€1,005,511837
February 2027€49,659€1,055,170780
March 2027€61,284€1,116,454957
April 2027€59,069€1,175,523912
May 2027€52,484€1,228,007772
June 2027€54,034€1,282,041879
July 2027€59,713€1,341,754908
August 2027€57,042€1,398,796851
September 2027€54,598€1,453,394908
October 2027€28,062€1,481,456443
Fig. 4 Cost per month.Source: rheonda, example project

Cumulative cost (cost curve)

Running total of the monthly values, the typical S-curve of cash outflow

€0.0€500.0k€1.0m€1.5mFeb 26AprJunAugOctDecFebAprJunAugOct€1.5m
Fig. 5 Cumulative cost curve over the construction period.Source: rheonda, example project

5Quality and documentation during construction

The 4D model also accompanies construction. If daily reports are captured on the model (activities, staff and plant per element), the result is complete, spatially referenced documentation.

It supports progress control, valuation and quality assurance: inspections, acceptances and defects can be assigned to the element concerned and tracked to completion.

Daily report with activity list and highlighted elements in the model
Fig. 6 Model-based daily report with its linked elements.Source: rheonda
Our service4D/5D construction simulationWe link your building model with schedule and cost. The construction sequence becomes visible, verifiable and economically measurable before work starts on site.