Barriers to the Adoption of Building Information Modeling in the Jordanian Building Industry

Abstract

In the last decade, construction industry has witnessed a huge transformation in term of the use of digital technologies, and particularly Building Information Modeling (BIM). BIM is a revolutionary digital technology and process that is reshaping the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. Though, internationally, BIM has gained a great reputation for boosting productivity in AEC industry, but it holds undeveloped possibilities for providing and supporting AEC industry in Jordan. This study aims at exploring the adoption of BIM within the Jordanian construction industry. To achieve this objective, the research commenced by carrying out an intensive literature reviews on the implementation of BIM world-wide and in Middle East, which was utilized to identify the benefits and challenges of BIM in construction industry. An exploratory study was then conducted using an on-line survey to identify the current level of BIM experience, and to define the perceived benefits and challenges facing BIM implementation. Findings reveal that the adoption of BIM in Jordan is still in a very primitive phase and it faces numbers of critical barriers such as, but not limited to, the absence of government incentives, the lack of BIM standards, lack of BIM awareness, lack of BIM need, cost and resistance to change. Similarly, the study identified the main perceived potential benefits of BIM that were: “clash detection”, “minimizing conflicts and changes” and “reducing rework”. This research represents a first step towards understanding the current situation of BIM implementation in Jordan. It can help AEC practitioners in Jordan recognize potential areas in which BIM can be useful in AEC practice. However, it provides a benchmark for future studies that should tackle several other avenues further.