Building Information Modeling: Awareness Across the Subcontracting Sector of Saudi Arabian Construction Industry

Abstract

Studies related to BIM implementation status, awareness level, and implementation challenges and barriers in selected GCC have been well reported. Despite the vast Saudi Arabian economy and the volume of construction projects being undertaken in the Kingdom, there is no clear evidence for any such study conducted within the local construction industry. Thus, the authors make a pioneering attempt to first examine the level of subcontractors’ awareness and preparedness for BIM implementation in construction projects in the Saudi Arabian construction industry. This is necessary because the subcontracting sector, which comprises mainly of the small- and medium-scale construction companies greatly outnumber the big construction companies in the local construction industry. Thus, industry wide survey was conducted to this effect. Findings of the study reveal a widespread lack of BIM knowledge across subcontracting sector of Saudi Arabian construction industry. Most of the subcontractors lack some basic understanding of the functions of BIM in the feasibility, construction and maintenance management stages of construction project. Other findings suggest reluctance among the subcontracting companies toward implementing BIM in construction projects. Thus, to maximize full advantages of BIM and to facilitate full adoption of BIM among the subcontracting sector, valuable recommendations were highlighted. It is anticipated that the findings of this paper could be valuable to regulators of the Saudi Arabian Construction Industry and serve as basis for urgent preparation of guidelines and policies to improve the general level of BIM adoption and expertise within the industry.