Valuing BIM Data: Accounting for Digital Assets

As the construction industry embraces digital transformation, one question is rising to the surface: What is the value of BIM data, and can it be reflected on a company’s balance sheet? 

BIM data is increasingly recognised for its role in reducing operational costs and improving efficiency in facility management. But while its business value may be clear, its financial value—and whether it qualifies as an asset—is far less obvious. 

 

Why BIM Data Matters to Asset Owners 

When a building (or any kind of asset) is delivered, its accompanying BIM dataset can be a powerful enabler for efficient operations and maintenance. Many asset owners are asking whether such data can be recognised as an intangible fixed asset in their financial accounting. The potential motivation is simple: while tax rules increasingly limit building depreciation, separating the digital dataset might offer new accounting opportunities. 

Accounting rules, regulations and best practices vary in different countries, and this article is in no way intended to be read as accounting advice. 

The International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) IAS 38: Intangible Assets, provides a good starting point for the accounting technicalities. 

What this article aims to do is begin to address the fundamental issue:  how do you determine the value of BIM data? 

 

When Can BIM Data Be Capitalized? 

BIM data may qualify as an intangible asset when: 

  • It was acquired in a transaction or developed at measurable cost and is separable from the tangible asset.
  • It contributes to business processes over multiple years (e.g., asset management) and generates future economic benefits.
  • It represents a significant investment relative to the project. 

However, accounting standards typically require a reliable cost basis and identifiable value. Since BIM data is not easily traded or liquidated, this makes valuation—and justification on the balance sheet—a complex challenge. 

 

Business Value vs. Accounting Value 

Even if BIM data does not meet the strict requirements for capitalization, understanding its business value remains essential. For example: 

  • If facility management is undertaken with the aid of traditional 2D drawings, the associated operational costs might be significantly higher, for example due to incomplete or less precise information leading to errors. 
  • If the same activities can be done more efficiently with BIM, the cost savings over time represent the economic value of the dataset. 

This value might never be recorded on a balance sheet, but it should inform strategic decisions. 

 

Valuation Scenarios 

Here are a few practical scenarios that illustrate how BIM data might be valued: 

  • Purchased dataset: If the data is acquired separately, the purchase price is its accounting value. 
  • Included at delivery: If the BIM dataset is transferred at project handover, it could be invoiced separately to justify balance sheet recognition. 
  • Incomplete or unusable BIM: If the dataset needs rework to be useful, the cost of making it usable could determine its value to the asset owner. 
  • No transaction cost: If the dataset was provided for free, a replacement-cost approach may be used, although this might be difficult to justify in formal accounts. 
  • BIM developed by the end user: If the dataset was developed by the asset owner, the cost of its development could be used to determine its value. This cost may be hard to determine if it was incurred alongside costs of the design and engineering of the asset itself, but may include elements such as specialised BIM personnel or subcontractors and software purchased specifically for the BIM model. 

 

A Way Forward 

Many questions remain unresolved. Most companies lack internal guidelines for valuing BIM data, and financial auditors are unfamiliar with these assets. To address this, the industry is experimenting with benchmarks based on actual datasets. These include: 

  • Level of detail in geometry 
  • Number of objects per square meter 
  • Use of type objects and classification 
  • Number and quality of properties per object 

This approach combines technical metrics with practical expert judgment to estimate values for specific use cases, such as asset management. 

 

Conclusion 

Valuing BIM data is not just a question of accounting—it’s a strategic business consideration. Regardless of whether it is or not recorded on the balance sheet, the real value of BIM lies in its ability to improve decisions and reduce long-term costs. 

As the construction industry evolves, digital assets deserve clearer recognition—not only in operational workflows, but also in financial terms. 

 

Published on the 3rd of June 2025
Authors: Claire Whittaker & Léon van Berlo

Posted in Blog