# Building Information Modeling Impact on Cost Overrun Risk Factors and Interrelationships
## 5 Conclusions  
Construction projects suffer from change orders, scheduling conflicts, and cost overruns that result in additional project costs. These issues are attributed to several risk factors for which experts and academics have identified BIM technologies as innovative solutions [44]. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the extent to which implementation of BIM technology mitigates the main risk factors related to cost overruns in Saudi construction projects. To do so, a survey study was conducted, collecting 30 valid and completed questionnaires from professionals in the construction industry. Collected quantitative data was analyzed using PLS-SEM to identify and examine significant risk factors and their interdependencies. It is important to note that this research focused only on examining the impact of BIM on the top 10 risk factors related to Experience, Finances, and Time, as comprehensively identified within the context of the Saudi construction industry, e.g., ([PERSON] et al. [14]). Overall, the synthesis of the literature review and survey analysis findings showed that BIM significantly reduces cost overruns in construction projects compared to conventional construction processes. This positive influence is due to various benefits of BIM technology that help mitigate influential risk factors and consequent project cost overruns. This result aligns with existing studies, e.g., [25; 45]. The main results revealed that BIM utilization substantially reduces the impact of risk factors associated with awarding contracts to the lowest bidder. This effect is evident in the decrease in its ranking from first to third place. Moreover, BIM is highly effective in minimizing the influence of risk factors related to change orders, significantly dropping its ranking from second to tenth place. Moreover, the study sheds essential light on interrelationships among several cost overrun risk factors concerning Experience, Time, and Finance. For example, it has been found that experience-related risk factors have a more significant influence on finance-related risk factors than finance does on experience. To the best of our knowledge, this paper is the first attempt in BIM literature to examine the cause and effect of BIM technology on risk factors linked to construction project cost overruns in general and the interrelationship influence between those factors using specific statistical analysis techniques (PLS-SEM). Moreover, it is difficult to understand the difference between the two processes, BIM and non-BIM. Therefore, this study helps to draw a line of comparison between the two processes by presenting the main risk factors associated with cost overruns that have been affected by BIM implementation. For example, BIM reduces the influence of change orders during the construction stage (FIN4) on cost overrun, compared with the low influence of BIM on Unqualified/inexperienced laborers (EXP3). Study results are consistent with BIM literature, which shows that BIM decreases the number of change orders during the construction phase (e.g., Azhar, [44]). Regardingpractical implications for practitioners and decision-makers, this study concludes that BIM technology is a better option for managing construction costs. This study acknowledges the limitations inherent in relying on self-reported survey data, which is potentially subject to respondent bias. Moreover, the study could benefit from triangulating its findings with objective data or alternative statistical methods. Based on conclusions previously identified, the results of this research, and comments from interviews and questionnaire responses, the following points can be recommended. Comparative studies across diverse regions are advised to enhance the applicability of results beyond Saudi Arabia. Improving research validity and reliability can also be achieved by integrating objective data sources and employing various data collection techniques.