An Overview of BIM Adoption in the Construction Industry: Benefits and Barriers

Abstract

Purpose Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a revolutionary innovation in the construction industry to virtually design and mange projects throughout the building lifecycle. Although Estonia is one of the foremost countries in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, BIM adoption in the Estonian construction industry is still lagging behind other countries. This paper is part of doctoral research that aims to determine the barriers to BIM adoption and develop a framework for effective implementation of BIM in the Estonian construction industry. The purpose of this paper is to examine the status of BIM adoption, BIM benefits and common barriers to BIM adoption in the construction industry worldwide. Design/Methodology/Approach The methodology used in this study is a literature review of journal articles, conference proceedings and published reports from various sources. Findings This study showed BIM benefits through building lifecycle phases and explored the BIM adoption rate in the construction industry of various countries. Eighteen barriers to BIM adoption were also identified. Research Limitations/Implications The study presented is limited to a literature review – some related literature may have been missed. Practical Implications The main practical significance of this study is that the findings can be used to inform a further survey to model the barriers to BIM adoption in the Estonian construction industry. Originality/Value This study offers information on BIM adoption in the construction industry and will form the basis of further research.