Building Information Modelling Adoption Research Articles

Developing an MCDM Model for the Benefits, Opportunities, Costs and Risks of BIM Adoption

Building information modeling (BIM) offers various deterministic and uncertain benefits and costs. Although there are similarities between such costs and benefits in developed and developing countries, these factors should be analyzed carefully for each region/country due to differences in economic and technical status as well as available policies and regulations. Numerous studies have demonstrated the benefits and shortcomings of BIM adoption around the globe; however, there is scarce comprehensive research focusing on Iran with unique financial circumstances. The aim of this research is to investigate the benefits, opportunities, costs and risks (BOCRs) offered by BIM implementation in Iran as a developing country with high potential in but less adoption of BIM in construction projects. After identifying the BOCRs of BIM adoption from the literature, the Interval-Valued Fuzzy Delphi Method was used to identify the BOCRs while a novel multi-criteria decision-making approach (i.e., fuzzy parsimonious analytic hierarchy process) was employed to analyze BOCRs, respectively. The results showed that 4 out of 46 BOCRs gathered from the literature were not significant for Iran and should be omitted from further analysis, while one cost factor was added to the list. Also, it was revealed that “Facilitates project communication among stakeholders”, “Integrating life-cycle assessment dimensions to the decision-making process”, “Cost/efforts required to personnel training” and “Lack of national standard, procedures and guidelines” were the most significant BOCRs, respectively. These findings contributed to filling the research gap in BIM adoption in Iran using a novel methodology that provides deep insights into BIM adoption for practitioners and can be used as a basis for developing theoretical and conceptual research frameworks. The findings of this study are built upon the opinions of experts within the context of Iran and should be considered as a snapshot of the BOCRs of the adoption of BIM in Iranian construction projects while these are not futureproofed.

An Exploratory Investigation of Implementation of Building Information Modeling in Nepalese Architecture–Engineering–Construction Industry

Building Information Modeling (BIM) has gained a lot of traction in Nepal lately due to many AEC firms’ desire to improve their productivity. This research explores the current state and potential of Building Information Modeling in the Nepalese context. The main objective of this research was to gain a holistic view of the digital design and construction approach in the AEC sectors and identify the current state of practice, future trends and opportunities, and challenges for the wider adoption of BIM in the AEC sector. A systematic survey was conducted among various AEC stakeholders; based on their responses, the status of BIM maturity is presented in this paper. We found that the lack of standards and guidelines slows stakeholders’ efforts to unify BIM implementation in projects. However, the survey results show that AEC stakeholders are eager to learn, explore, and implement BIM in their workflows of design and construction practices. The wider implementation of BIM can improve the productivity of design and construction in developing countries such as Nepal. The contributions of this research are methodological and practical. It is demonstrated in this study that qualitative and quantitative data can be integrated in different ways to allow for different avenues of analysis. The logistic regression model deployed in this study identifies the determinants of BIM use and the intensity of their effects on the future use of BIM in the Nepalese AEC industry. The findings of this study can help to formulate BIM standards and training materials that are specific to the Nepalese AEC industry.

Building information modelling based ground modelling for tunnel projects – Tunnel Angath/Austria

The trend for digitalization in geotechnics and tunnelling of the past decade has been spearheaded by developments in building information modelling (BIM) within these disciplines. While many advances have been achieved, BIM ground modelling remains a challenge since the inherent heterogeneity and uncertainty of the underground are difficult to describe and to model. This paper presents a new concept and framework for ground modelling in BIM. A split of the BIM ground model into several “sub models” is proposed: the “factual data model”, a “geotechnical model” and the “geotechnical synthesis model”. The proposed BIM ground modelling concepts are based on – and in line with current international developments (e.g., DAUB / German ITA branch, or IFC Tunnel) and should serve as an example of how to approach BIM ground modelling for future projects. After presenting this theoretical context, the case study of the Austrian Tunnel Angath is given where state of the art BIM ground modelling was done in the planning phase of the project. Although the modelling for this project is seen as a success, it has highlighted several deficits that hamper the industry wide adoption of BIM in ground modelling: e.g., permanent data storage, editable model transfer and easy visualization of BIM ground models. It is nevertheless concluded that BIM ground modelling is beneficial for the tunnelling industry as it contributes towards more standardized and comprehensible working processes and an enhanced base for decisions.

Building Information Modeling Execution Drivers for Sustainable Building Developments

The need for continuous global improvement in the construction industry’s current state is inevitable. This pursuit for advancement is to benefit all concerned stakeholders in the construction industry, and innovation has been acknowledged as this improvement measure. Interestingly, Building Information Model (BIM) is a typical example of such innovation in the construction industry. It circumvents human errors, lessening project costs, strengthening productivity and quality, and reducing the project delivery time. This analysis investigates the factors influencing BIM implementation in construction in developing nations. A comprehensive literature review was performed to determine what factors contribute to BIM adoption. These drivers were categorized using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was also used with a questionnaire survey of 100 Nigerian building engineering professionals. Findings from the model highlight the most critical drivers of sustainable BIM deployment. The study’s conclusion will serve as a guideline for policymakers in developing nations that want to finish successful projects by avoiding BIM implementation drivers and improving the accomplishment of building projects via the usage of BIM.

Building Information Modelling (BIM) Adoption for Cost Engineering Consultant; Case Study of Southern China

Digital construction has paved its way into the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industries with the technological revolution, which significantly change the design, construction, and management processes. The use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) presents a valued collaborative technology that eliminates most communication related challenges of the industry. The Chinese government has emerged as a major force promoting BIM adoption, by implementing policies and promoting efforts with government support. Yet, the adoption rate is still unsatisfactory particularly for China cost engineering industry. This paper examines the drivers and barriers of BIM adoption and consequently review its impact on the current BIM implementation processes. This study also investigated their awareness and acceptance level of BIM adoption. The main respondents are the cost engineering practitioner specifically in the area of Guangxi. The UTAUT and TAM model are adopted, to analyse on individual intention and behaviour by distributing online questionnaires. This analysis reveals that the practitioners have poor awareness of BIM and have no willingness to learn new BIM knowledge independently. At present, the proportion of BIM actual use in projects is relatively low, and no single post-construction maintenance project applied BIM technology. The main influencing factors for BIM adoption are measured based on the Performance Expectation, Effort Expectation, Generation Gap, Social Influence, Managerial Attitude and Facilitating Conditions. This paper contributes to the strategic suggestions that puts forward the role of user, consultants, governments that may facilitate the advantages of BIM technology adoption. This paper identified that successful implementation include the role of consultants on their readiness and acceptance, followed by adequate technology education and training.

Adoption of Building Information Modelling In Libyan Construction Firms: A Technological, Organizational, and Environmental (TOE) Perspectives

Building information modelling (BIM), a recent information technology (IT) innovation in virtual design and construction, has been regarded as the most critical technology in the construction industry over the last decade. As a result, BIM adoption is rapidly increasing; however, this new phenomenon is not spreading as rapidly as it is in emerging regions such as Libya. The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that affect BIM adoption at the organizational level by integrating the diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory, the technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework, and the institution theory. The data was gathered through a survey of 411 Libyan construction firms. Partial least squares were used for data analyses and to test the hypotheses. The results demonstrated that the (Perceived Relative Advantage and Compatibility) related positively to BIM adoption, while complexity related negatively to BIM adoption will top management support positively with Coercive Pressure on the adoption of BIM. The study’s findings provide significant insight into crucial factors that might increase the level of BIM adoption.

BIM-CAREM: Assessing the BIM capabilities of design, construction and facilities management processes in the construction industry

BIM adoption has accelerated worldwide since it is an important enabling technology for digitalisation in the construction industry. Adopting BIM requires transforming the traditional building life cycle stages (planning, design, construction and facilities management) into BIM-integrated project deliveries. Assessing the BIM capabilities of these stages helps organisations to identify gaps in their BIM uses and improve them. There is a lack of a comprehensive model in the literature for assessing the BIM capabilities of individual building life cycle stages and their processes. Existing assessment models focus on assessing the BIM maturity of construction projects and organisations which do not inform the required BIM improvements for individual stages and their processes. Hence, we iteratively developed the Building Information Modelling (BIM) Capability Assessment REference Model (BIM-CAREM) and demonstrated its usability through multiple explanatory case studies performed with two international design and engineering companies and two general contractors in Turkey. We assessed the BIM capabilities of design, construction and facility management processes of various buildings i.e. residential, stadiums, hospitals and airports. The results showed that the BIM capability levels of design, construction and facility management processes vary within and across the companies.

Inhibitors to the Adoption of Building Information Modelling in Modular Construction: A Case Study of the Nigerian Construction Industry

Building information modelling (BIM) adoption transforms how construction projects are delivered. Modular construction (MC) is a modern construction method that drives continuous improvement and value addition globally. BIM and MC offer enormous benefits in enhancing project delivery and attaining sustainable construction. This is a major driving force causing the drift from traditional methods to a more digitised approach anchored on technology. Despite these benefits, the level of sophistication in project delivery and the application of these innovative methodologies are low and housing construction projects are delivered with poor performance outcomes in developing countries like Nigeria. This study assessed the inhibitors to the use of BIM in driving MC and the measures for improving the adoption of BIM in MC project deliveries in Nigeria. A well-structured quantitative questionnaire was administered to construction experts using Snowball sampling techniques via electronic means to collect data. With a response rate of 70% and a reliability index of above 0.80, the collected data were analysed using frequencies, percentages and mean item scores. It was found that the level of BIM and MC was high, but BIM adoption in MC was low. The inhibitors to this low adoption level are the high cost of investment in hardware and software, the comfort with the existing methods and resistance to change, the lack of management support, the complexity of BIM software, the lack of interest in sharing information among stakeholders, the problems with collaboration and the legal issues with multiple designs and fabrication. It is recommended that collaboration between construction and technology firms be encouraged to improve BIM application in MC for better productivity and project outcomes. The government should support the use of modern methodologies in the delivery of projects to help improve infrastructure provision, value addition and citizens’ well-being.

Building information modelling (BIM) and knowledge management in implementation for con-struction projects

The widespread use of knowledge management in a wide range of applications aids in professionally and wisely streamlining the procedure to produce improved outcomes and deliverables. Knowledge management is essential in the construction sector due to the considerable investment, extended deadlines and the need for higher performance efficiency and quality. The usage of BIM in construction projects has simplified the procedures required in building construction. The fundamental motivation behind the creation of BIM was the need to apply knowledge management approaches to make projects more sustainable and compliant with green building requirements. There are various limitations and risks associated with using BIM in construction projects, such as issues with file sharing and data security. This research examines numerous BIM benefits and drawbacks from a variety of angles, providing information and various measures for building the program. BIM adoption in construction projects includes a wide range of benefits as well as drawbacks. The relationship between the variety of information and outcomes was explored using different findings from numerous scientific studies that looked at the use of BIM in the construction sector. Due to the wide range of data that is available in the BIM sector, numerous areas were also found in this study. A thorough analysis was undertaken to present a variety of author viewpoints from various articles. This report's strengths and weaknesses have been noted. It has been demonstrated that BIM has additional benefits, including meeting client expectations, reducing design errors, and achieving project sustainability. However, there are also drawbacks to BIM, including user skill gaps, ambiguous standards and protocols, and transfer data problems. A few studies have addressed some of the research gaps and limitations in some of the domains. Additionally, these regions were thoroughly addressed from many authors' points of view.

EXPLORING THE IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES OF ADOPTING BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING (BIM) IN ABUJA, NIGERIA

Nigeria's construction industry is facing significant challenges such as low productivity, high costs, and poor quality of buildings, and adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) can address these issues, but its adoption has been very slow in Nigeria. This paper aimed at investigating the level of awareness and usage of BIM, factors affecting the adoption, socio-economic benefits of its adoption and barriers and challenges affecting the adoption of BIM in Abuja, Nigeria. 363 structured questionnaires were administered on civil, mechanical & electrical engineers, quantity surveyors, architects and builders in Abuja, out of which 249 valid responses were received and the data obtained was carefully analyzed using descriptive analysis, relative importance index, and mean item score. While 87.95% of the respondents claim that they have heard the BIM concept before, only 19.27% rate their usage and knowledge of BIM as high or very high, this shows that most of the respondents currently do not use BIM in their day-to-day activities. The study shows that BIM education, affordability, ability to gain competitive edge, vision from management and ease of use as some of the most important factors affecting the adoption of BIM in Nigeria. It also highlighted the improvement of visualization & design review, reduction in risk level, improvement of quality, productivity, client satisfaction and project documentation as the most important benefits derivable from the use of BIM. The paper also shows that high cost of training, lack of government support, lack of education, information, investment, ICT infrastructure, power supply and demand from clients as the most important challenges hindering its adoption in Nigeria. The Nigerian construction industry may realize the benefits of BIM in terms of improved project outcomes, increased productivity, and increased efficiency by overcoming these barriers and encouraging a collaborative approach. Key suggestions for enhancing BIM adoption in Nigeria were made in this paper, including but not limited to incorporating BIM into curricula for the built environment, providing professionals with awareness programs and training and establishment of national BIM standards by the government.

Investigation Toward the Adoption of Building Information Modelling in Algeria from Architects’ Perspective

This study attempts to identify and assess the individual perceptions of building information modelling (BIM) benefits and implementation barriers in the construction industry in Algeria from architects’ perspective. An investigation was carried out through survey questionnaires distributed to Algerian architects with different profiles. A total of 100 questionnaires were used for the study. A subgroup analysis was conducted to investigate the differences in the individual perception of the different groups of architects segmented according to the respondent’s work type, organisation size, experience length and computer-aided design (CAD) and BIM knowledge. The findings of the study revealed that the most important barriers to BIM implementation were people and policy factors. The subgroup analysis revealed that the architects working for design firms were more aware and had more readiness for adopting BIM compared to those working for project owners and contractors. Moreover, there were differences in the BIM maturity level between the large and small organisations in Algeria. It was concluded that at the actual BIM maturity level, BIM implementation would not occur without the implication of local authorities and policymakers, as they have a significant impact on promoting and accelerating BIM adoption in the country.

ANALYSIS OF BIM MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATION PROCESSES IN SLOVAKIA

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is one of the main tools of digitization and enables the achievement of higher process efficiency, introducing new procedures to which companies on the market must adapt. There is a need for new professions that will ensure correct procedures and control mechanisms within the scope of defining, executing, and handing over BIM projects. This article focuses on the analysis of the rate of BIM adoption in Slovakia, especially in the field of BIM management and coordination in order to monitor the situation regarding the operation of specialized positions such as BIM managers and coordinators, based on data from industry research performed in the form of anonymous on-line survey.

BIM Methodology in Structural Design: A Practical Case of Collaboration, Coordination, and Integration

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a methodology focused on the centralization and sharing of project information among all experts involved. The use of BIM platforms allows professionals to improve coordination, collaboration, and integration along with the development of all disciplines and tasks required in a complete building project. Currently, the construction industry has witnessed a growing adoption of BIM, mainly caused by the constant technologic achievements, contributing to the improvement of the integration capability of the available software. However, concerning structural design, BIM implementation still presents some difficulties, especially in the interoperability of BIM-based systems. In the present study, a structural design case was considered, using Revit as the modeling software and Robot as the structural system. A bidirectional exchange of information between the two systems was required and the interoperability capacity was evaluated. In the process, the main identified remarks concern the fundamental aspects of information sharing, collaboration, integration, and interoperability. Despite the limitations found, essentially related to the software interoperability, the BIM approach presents significant advantages in a structural project, supported by 3D visualization, model overlapping, easy accessibility to the model database, streamlined coordination, and enhanced collaboration.

Building information modelling adoption for construction waste reduction in the construction industry of a developing country

PurposeThis paper aims to present the result of an assessment of the potential effect of building information modelling (BIM) adoption on the reduction of construction waste (CW) from a developing country's perspective. This was done with a view to reducing the waste generated in construction projects particularly at the design and pre-contract stages.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a post-positivism philosophical approach, which informed the use of a quantitative research design and a questionnaire as instrument for data collection. The data gathered from construction professionals in the Nigeria construction industry were analysed using an array of statistical tools such as frequency, percentage, Kruskal–Wallis H-test, Kendall's coefficient of concordance, chi-square and exploratory factors analysis.FindingsThe study revealed five major groups of factors causing CW at the design and pre-contract stages that can be avoided or minimised through BIM implementation. These are; (1) errors in design and documentation, (2) specification and quality factors, (3) estimating and site condition factors, (4) planning of work factors and (5) procurement related factors.Practical implicationsThe findings of the study offer practical insight for industry participants on the need for BIM implementation to reduce CW by identifying the diverse areas responsible for these waste generation.Originality/valueWhile there has been significant literature on BIM implementation, contributions on the effect of this technology in reducing waste generation particular at the design and pre-contract stages in developing countries has been almost non-existent. This study strives to fill in this gap by showcasing the major waste generating activities that can be avoided through the use of BIM.

FACTORS AFFECTING THE ADOPTION OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING IN CONSTRUCTION CONSULTING FIRMS

This paper aims to identify factors affecting the adoption of knowledge management (KM) and building information modelling (BIM) in construction consulting firms. To achieve this, both qualitative and quantitative research methods are used. From the qualitative in-depth interviews with experts in the research field and experts in construction consulting firms, a final questionnaire with 30 observed variables has been developed. Next, a quantitative survey has been conducted, with the final sample including 150 participants. The research results indicate that there are five main factors affecting the adoption of knowledge management and building information modelling, including organizational readiness, organizational factors, economic factors, technological factors, and client/customer-related factors. The assessments of the importance of these factors are different according to different groups of respondents in terms of gender, age, occupation and income. organizational readiness (OR) and technology factors (TF) have the strongest effects on KM and BIM adoption intention in construction consulting firms.

A proposal to facilitate BIM implementation across the South African construction industry

The value of Building Information Modelling (BIM) has been noted by the global construction industry, and several countries are facilitating BIM through national strategies and initiatives. However, the South African Construction Industry (SACI) lacks widespread and effective BIM implementation. Therefore, this study presents a proposal to facilitate BIM implementation across the industry. A qualitative, exploratory methodology was followed involving semi-structured interviews with nine BIM experts. The interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. An understanding was gained of the challenges associated with BIM implementation across the construction industry. Possible solutions were found in terms of initiatives and strategies to facilitate and promote BIM implementation locally. Key role-players responsible for facilitating BIM implementation in the SACI were identified. Finally, a proposal is made to facilitate BIM implementation across the local industry, which comprises three key concepts, namely leadership, strategy, and roles and responsibilities. This research contributes to BIM adoption and implementation in the SACI and can be used for future research on national BIM implementation strategies.

Bim-based energy analysis and optimization using insight 360 (case study)

Building information modeling (BIM) is a modern data information platform and management tool that promotes the development of green buildings. In Pakistan, the building sector consumes more than 50 % of total energy consumption and it is growing at annual rates of 4.7 % and 2.5 % in household and commercial sectors, respectively. The energy problem is the biggest single economic drag on Pakistan, the Pakistan BIM Council (PBC) is attempting to implement BIM adoption in the construction industry. Using Autodesk Insight 360 and Green Building Studio, an energy analysis and optimization case study of A-Block COMSATS Abbottabad, Pakistan is chosen. This study explores the energy performance of an academic building as a case study in order to optimize energy use by rotating the building 360 degrees at 45-degree intervals and utilizing BIM to install energy-efficient construction materials. Existing academic buildings have lower energy use and annual cost savings. The annual energy and financial savings are 585.10 kWh and 550 $, respectively. Applying factors to energy analysis can result in improved conceptual design with good environmental effectiveness, thus assisting in the pursuit of environmental sustainability.

Building Information Modelling in quantity surveying practices: current state and future challenges in Hong Kong

The use of building information modelling (BIM) in recent years has accelerated the performance and productivity of the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. BIM can promote lean management, with enhanced control over budget and cost. However, the application of BIM for quantity surveying (QS) practices has not been extensively explored. Thus, this study examined the current situation and future challenges of BIM adoption in QS practices in Hong Kong. Questionnaire surveys and semi-structured interviews were administered to obtain insights from AEC industry practitioners in Hong Kong. Sixty survey respondents and nine interviewees participated in this study. The participants were quantity surveyors from developers, consultancy firms, and contractor companies. Results suggest that quantity surveyors are increasingly adopting BIM in Hong Kong. However, the low quality of BIM models and improper implementation of BIM often limit BIM adoption in QS practices. Another critical challenge is the absence of well-recognised BIM standards. Moreover, the shortage of skilled BIM professionals jeopardises the development and adoption of BIM in QS practices. The findings highlight the current achievements and barriers associated with BIM adoption in QS practices in Hong Kong. Prerequisites for successfully applying BIM in QS practices are suggested herein.

Factors Affecting BIM Adoption in the Yemeni Construction Industry: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach

The construction sector is one of Yemen’s most important economic pillars. Building information modelling (BIM) is a new information technology implementation that can create an intelligent digital design of buildings to support a variety of tasks and provides a wide range of benefits throughout the project life cycle. However, BIM is not widely embraced in Yemeni construction firms. Compared with other countries, Yemen presents a unique case for BIM adoption due to the ongoing war in the country, which will assist in rapid rebuilding processes. Thus, a complete and systematic investigation of the factors affecting BIM adoption in the Yemeni construction industry is required. This study utilises five categories of impacting factors: Technology, Process, Policy, People, and the Environment to model the strategic implementation for BIM in the Yemeni construction industry. A random sample was used to achieve homogeneity and increase the consistency and quality of data. Purposive sampling was used to choose participants for the framework validation. The data were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM), and the key factors influencing BIM adoption were determined and modelled. The results show multivariate results indicate a high correlation within the measurement model for all factors affecting BIM adoption in Yemen. In addition, the developed model was deemed to fit because the analysis result of the model’s coefficient of determination test (R2) is BIM adoption having 0.437, Environment at 0.589, and People having 0.310, demonstrating high acceptance. Moreover, the results reveal a high correlation between policy and people (>0.50), while the environment significantly affected BIM adoption (0.304). Overall, the model illustrated how various factors influence BIM adoption. The created framework highlights the importance of understanding BIM adoption concepts and challenges in the Yemeni construction industry. It is believed that this study highlights the BIM implementation in developing countries such as Yemen and the possibility of implementing the proposed method in other countries to develop their own BIM implementation strategy.

The co-movement effect of managers' psychological factors on the BIM adoption decision in SMEs: a study based on fsQCA

PurposeGiven the complexity of building information modeling (BIM) adoption decisions in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry, understanding BIM adoption decision-making through the net effect of a single factor on BIM adoption decisions alone is limited. Therefore, this paper analyzed the co-movement effect of managers' psychological factors on the BIM adoption decisions from the perspective of managers' perceptions. The purpose is to let managers have a deep understanding of their BIM adoption decisions, and put forward targeted suggestions for the AEC industry to promote the adoption of BIM by SMEs.Design/methodology/approachData from 192 managers in SMEs collected by the questionnaire were used in a fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). Due to the limitations of fsQCA in making the best use of the data used, as a complement to fsQCA, necessary conditions analysis (NCA) was used to analyze the extent to which necessary conditions influenced the outcome.Findings(1) NCA analysis shows that high perceived resource availability (PRA) and high performance expectancy (PE) are necessary conditions for high BIM adoption intention (AI). (2) fsQCA analysis shows that high PE is the single core condition for high AI. fsQCA analysis identifies three configurations of managers' psychological factors, reflecting three types of managers' decision preferences, namely benefit preference, loss aversion and risk avoidance, respectively. Different decision preferences may lead to different BIM adoption strategies, such as full in-house use, partial in-house/outsourcing and full outsourcing of BIM processes. (3) High perceived risk (PR) and low perceived business value of BIM (PBV) are the core conditions for low AI.Originality/valueThis paper expands on the application of fsQCA to context of BIM adoption decisions. Based on the results of fsQCA analysis, this paper also establishes the relationship between managers' decision-making psychology and BIM adoption strategy choice and analyzes the impact of different decision biases on BIM adoption strategy choice. It concludes with suggestions for encouraging managers to adopt BIM and for avoiding decision-making bias.