The Support of Continuous Information Flow Through Building Information Modeling (BIM)

Abstract

The lack of mechanisms to manage construction project information using traditional documentation methods leads to information waste. Building information modeling (BIM), as one of the recent developments in the architect, engineering, and construction industry (AEC) has revolutionized the process of managing information among project stakeholders. BIM is advocated as an effective platform that digitizes and accommodates all essential project information that can be extracted, networked and shared among project stakeholders to foster effective decision making and construction operations. Despite the significant role of BIM in supporting lean construction principles, there is little evidence on how BIM leverages continuous information flow in construction projects. This study aims to find the mechanisms through which BIM facilitates continuous information flow. A desktop study on secondary data was conducted to identify those mechanisms. The results of the secondary data analysis suggest that the key aspects of BIM in storing and transferring project information such as effective exchange of information, early involvement of project stakeholders, information accuracy and real-time access to project information can enhance information flow in construction projects.