OpenBIM in the global architecture engineering and construction industry: a literature review of academic research

Abstract

Much has been said to promote openBIM. However, little has been done to articulate its past, present, and future prospects. This paper aims at reporting a critical review of academic research on openBIM in the global architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Through a systematic filtering process, we selected articles that are relevant, comprehensive, and with clear definitions of openBIM. Non-academic publications and studies with insufficient details were excluded. This process allowed for an initial review of 335 publications, narrowed to 49 academic journal articles published from 2009 to 2024. We discovered that in the past 15 years the openBIM literature has been expanding steadily along with openBIM industry applications. However, we identified four limitations of this expansion: (1) lack of interoperability, (2) library readiness, (3) domain knowledge gaps, and (4) lack of liability issues. Continuous improvement of the openBIM domain is needed, including standardizing codes, training talents, and exploring potential collaborations with other technologies.