Architecture, Engineering And Construction Industry Research Articles

Ameliorating the profound gender wage gap in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry among the APEC members: The could and should

This research aims to discover the challenges and propose effective strategies to empower women by ameliorating the gender wage gap in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry among the APEC members. The study applied document review analysis and conducted focus group discussions, where thirty female professionals in the AEC industry from APEC participated. The results report four challenges contributing to the gender wage gap, namely gender bias and stereotyping, work-family conflicts, physical strength and lack of transparency. Based on the challenges, the study suggests several key strategies focusing on women's participation in the AEC industry, encouraging gender-friendly workplaces, healthy and safe workplaces, and fair career development opportunities to reduce the gender wage gap effectively. The findings suggest that by increasing awareness of the value of women's involvement in the AEC industry, pragmatic policies should be formulated for APEC members to break down the barriers to the gender wage gap.

A phenomenological inquiry of Building Information Modelling macro-adoption in Uruguay

Building information modelling (BIM) application in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) sectors has received attention, particularly in most Global North countries. However, there is a dearth of literature on its application in the Global South context. This research explores insights into the uptake and use of BIM in the Uruguayan AEC sector and proposes recommendations for accelerating its adoption. This study adopted the phenomenological research design. Through interviews with experts, this study relies on phenomenological analysis of a purposely sampled group of (n = 7) experts in BIM in the Uruguayan AEC industry. The discoveries and findings confirm that BIM is still at an early stage of maturity, and many practitioners still need to be convinced of its benefits. Therefore, pilot projects and the development of BIM guidelines are essential to align industry procedures and demonstrate the benefits of implementing BIM to convince hesitant professionals and increase levels of adoption. Furthermore, organisations’ main implementation drivers are external forces such as client requirements or the need to acquire a competitive advantage. This study’s findings imply that BIM diffusion dynamics in Uruguay are more aligned with a top-down approach, thus highlighting a design for ‘push’ by authorities such as the government. Overall, this study fills a research gap in the Uruguayan AEC industry and provides an academic reference background for policymakers for future actions. The paper is of value, as it contributes to the current state-of-the-art BIM research by drawing insights from the AEC industry in a typical developing country context.

Our Common Gulf Cities: agenda for equitable AEC industries for sustainable urban development

PurposeThis paper delves into the critical role of women in the domains of architecture, engineering, construction and urban planning, particularly within the context of the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) and the imperative of achieving gender parity. Concentrating on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, this paper explores the profound importance of women as essential contributors to urbanisation and sustainable development. It scrutinizes the existing gender disparities within the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industries; evaluates prevailing women empowerment indices in diverse sectors; and presents a strategic framework for harnessing women’s engagement to cultivate inclusive and sustainable urban cultures in the GCC. This conceptual paper introduces an actionable framework that can serve as a guiding agenda for empowering women in the AEC sectors by incorporating their socio-cultural, economic and ecological contributions towards creating sustainable cities.Design/methodology/approachCentring its focus on Gulf Cities, this paper employs a comprehensive approach to examine the current gender disparities within the architecture, engineering and construction sectors. It probes potential barriers and advocates for leveraging women’s participation to foster inclusive and sustainable urban development in the GCC. The study introduces the Women’s Empowerment Index (WEI) for the Gulf AEC industry elucidating how these measures are translated into a tailored framework.FindingsThe paper presents a practical framework that provides actionable guidance for engaging various stakeholders, including governments, academia and industry players, to empower women within the AEC industries. An “Agenda for equitable AEC industries for sustainable urban development: Our Common Gulf Cities” is culminated in a Women Empowerment Index for the AEC Industry (WEI-AEC) designed to serve as a guidance tool to monitor progress within industry, governments and academia.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research endeavours could advance the framework by conducting institutional support analyses, multi-stakeholder collaboration studies and practical testing of the framework within real-world scenarios.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study can guide and influence a diverse range of initiatives, including policy development, educational strategies, corporate endeavours, awareness campaigns, capacity-building programs, skill enhancement initiatives and knowledge exchange among the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.Originality/valueThis conceptual paper introduces a practical framework that can serve as a roadmap for implementing the study’s potential to shape policies, educational programs and corporate initiatives aimed at advancing both gender equality and the development of sustainable cities.

Linking education and practice gaps for inclusive architecture in the AEC industry

PurposeThis study explores the opportunities for a gender-inclusive architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry, focussing on the gap between architectural education and practice. This study focusses on three research questions: (1) What factors influence women architects' career retention and advancement in the AEC industry? How can practice outcomes be linked with educational approaches for gender inclusion in the AEC industry? (3) What critical factors can enable structural changes in architecture education, including AEC-related subjects and practice/career pathways towards gender equity?Design/methodology/approachThis paper is based on a systematic literature review (SLR). The established timeframe for selecting papers in this study considered the last 20 years, as various seminal studies in feminism and gender inclusion in architecture emerged in the early 2000s through the definition of keywords used in two prestigious databases. The academic articles selected were filtered through a process of inclusion and exclusion, following criteria for suitability and relevance using a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) diagram.FindingsThis study revealed key trends in the literature review consistent with the research questions, including (1) the disproportionate struggles women face at individual, interpersonal and organisational levels and the gender-based bias from entry and progression in the AEC industry that also requires multi-level interventions; (2) traditional architecture education affects female students and educators who find networking, social capital and leadership opportunities to challenge gender-based stereotypes and promote workplace equity, and finally, (3) observe enablers for fostering equity in architecture and education, which should not be limited to policy-driven interventions but structural transformations through transparency, mentorship, leadership, awareness raising and empowerment of women and men, promoting inclusivity and gender equity in the AEC industry.Research limitations/implicationsThis study considers a global understanding of gender equity in the AEC industry, regional and country-specific analysis needs to be considered in future studies. The study's focus is on women’s inclusion, acknowledging the limitations of conventional binary gender concepts; future studies need to include the experiences of LGBTI + communities and other underrepresented groups. The literature review considers only academic articles; future research should also consider industry reports, government initiatives and organisational documents for a broader understanding of diversity efforts in business.Originality/valueThis paper observes the issues for gender-inclusive architecture within the context of a male-dominant AEC industry through linking architectural education and practice. Studies rarely focus on this link and address workplace issues. This study highlights this link and extends the discussion through the critical literature review, providing a new ground for geographic-specific or intersectional studies.

Digital technology-enabled AEC project management: practical use cases, deployment patterns and emerging trends

PurposeDespite extensive academic research related to digital technologies (DT), their integration into architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) projects lags in practice. This paper aims to discover DT deployment patterns and emerging trends in real-life AEC projects.Design/methodology/approachA case study methodology was adopted, including individual case analyses and comparative multiple-case analyses.FindingsThe results revealed the temporal distribution of DT in practical AEC projects, specific DT products/software, major project types integrated with digital solutions, DT application areas and project stages and associated project performance. Three distinct patterns in DT adoption have been observed, reflecting the evolution of DT applications, the progression from single to multiple DT integration and alignment with emerging industry requirements. The DT adoption behavior in the studied cases has been examined using the technology-organization-environment-human (TOE + H) framework. Further, eight emerging trend streams for future DT adoption were identified, with “leveraging the diverse features of certain mature DT” being a shared recognition of all studied companies.Practical implicationsThis research offers actionable insights for AEC companies, facilitating the development of customized DT implementation roadmaps aligned with organizational needs. Policymakers, industry associations and DT suppliers may leverage these findings for informed decision-making, collaborative educational initiatives and product/service customization.Originality/valueThis research provides empirical evidence of applicable products/software, application areas and project performance. The examination of the TOE + H framework offers a holistic understanding of the collective influences on DT adoption. The identification of emerging trends addresses the evolving demands of the AEC industry in the digital era.

3D VISIBILITY ANALYSES USING BIM & GIS INTEGRATION

Abstract. Visibility is a significant parameter for defining, developing, and evaluating space in the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) Industry. Therefore, visibility is considered when designing visually comfortable buildings. Visibility is also a significant parameter in building appraisal. Therefore, in this study, visibility was examined through 3-dimensional (3D) isovists, which are thought to represent the human perception of vision. Visibility was examined regarding spatial openness and mathematically calculated “visual openness indexes” were developed for building valuation. The analysis area was selected in Istanbul, and the urban model was created by using Geographic Information System (GIS) data in Building Information Modelling (BIM) software. Due to, economic reasons affecting different stakeholders in building valuation, it is necessary to create an accurate urban model. For this reason, in the study, the process of obtaining current and accurate GIS data covering the world from open sources is preferred. Then, the process of correctly transferring GIS data to BIM is explained. A sufficient urban model for analysis is created. To calculate the openness indexes, the dormitory in the Golden Horn was modelled in BIM, and different rooms' openness indexes were calculated. Some solutions have been presented to ensure the modelling process with large file sizes and in the calculation of visibility factors. To allow different AEC stakeholders to calculate these indexes, modelling, and calculation is done within BIM. Eventually, it was calculated how much the building users cognitively perceive the openness of the view, and a mathematical comparison of the different rooms' openness indexes was provided.

Maturity of BIM Implementation in the Jordanian AEC Industry

Purpose: The Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry in Jordan is continually evolving and integrating new methods and technologies. However, the implementation of BIM workflows and digitised processes has been very slow. This research aims to provide an assessment of the current status of BIM implementation and use within the AEC industry in Jordan. Design / methodology / approach: AEC professionals in Jordan were surveyed using a questionnaire and perceptions of BIM was obtained by followup structured interviews with experienced AEC professionals. Findings: This research evaluates the maturity of BIM understanding and implementation in Jordan and identifies three critical areas for the improvement and optimisation of BIM implementation in Jordan. Originality / value: This research provides a current view of the status of BIM implementation within the AEC industry in Jordan, identifies progress to date towards raising awareness of the benefits of BIM adoption, makes the needed information available for policy makers and project stakeholders, and proposes potential initiatives to support the implementation of BIM across Jordan.

Novel framework for BIM interoperability for sustainability and green buildings - an application for concrete structures

The construction industry has a great impact on the environment, therefore sustainable construction presents itself as a growing requirement of society. However, the concern with green buildings must not only be considered during the construction stage, but also during the entire life cycle of the building, integrating all stages from the design up until the demolition. Ensuring that the information permeates this lifecycle without data losses is vital. This way, efficient interoperability can support sustainability, allowing data to feed the process, and promoting the creation of more sustainable buildings. BIM (Building Information Modeling) arises as a means to support interoperability improvements in the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) industry, by sharing models through open formats and enabling communication amongst actors. This paper presents a framework for BIM interoperability, with the goal to support knowledge organization and aid users in the decision-making processes. It will allow users to track sustainability concepts throughout the entire green BIM lifecycle and to improve processes in the construction industry toward more interoperable processes, minimizing data loss, and improving communication and efficiency. The framework is presented through process mapping techniques to analyze and integrate sustainability concepts using BIM throughout the lifecycle of a building. This framework considers not only data interoperability but also other aspects such as process, business, and service interoperability. Also, an application of the framework is described, using the case of cast-in-place concrete structures. Research findings identified the critical data points in the lifecycle of concrete structures which can influence sustainability.

Penerapan Building Information Modeling (BIM) untuk Pengestimasian Biaya Proyek Pembangunan Pos Jaga di SD dan SMP Terpadu Balikpapan Selatan

With the development of the AEC (Architecture, Engineering and Construction) industry, currently a lot of software has been developed to meet the needs of the construction industry with the aim of minimizing human error due to conventional data processing. This study aims to analyze the results of volume and cost comparisons using the 5D Building Information Modeling (BIM) concept with conventional methods in the New School Unit construction project for integrated Elemntary School and Junior High School development in the South Balikpapan sub-district. By using Revit, the 2D image obtained from the consultant is modeled back into 3D form so that the material volume requirements become more detailed. It can be seen from the consultant's calculation of 961.46kg from the Autodeks Revit 621.34kg software that there is a difference of 340.12kg or 35%, for the volume of concrete work from The consultant's calculation has a volume of 17.65m3 from the Autodeks Revit software which has a volume of 12.01m3, a difference of 5.64m3 or 32%. For concrete work costs from consultants amounting to Rp14,787,292.87 from Autodeks Revit software Rp9,549,377.76, which has a difference of Rp5,237,915.11 or 35%, for concrete work costs from consultants amounting to Rp19,373,381 from Autodeks Revit software, the cost is Rp13,078,977, which has a difference of Rp6,294,404.07 or 32%. This illustrates that using the 3D BIM concept supported by Revit software is able to provide detailed material take-off results so as to reduce wasted material and support the 5D BIM concept in supporting cost estimation calculations.

The use of AI algorithms in architecture, engineering and construction: A tool for crisis prevention? The uncertainty perspective

Within the Architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) sector we see movements toward greater use of industrial robots, machine learning, algorithms, and other artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Yet, the AEC industry, despite being one of the largest fields on a global scale, is known for being the slowest to digitalize and innovate. Factors such as unrecognizing the value of digitalization by the decision-makers and making safety-related decisions under high levels of uncertainty, appear to be critical in preventing successful large-scale digitalization. This situation raises multiple questions from a risk science perspective. How, among other things, might the expansion of AI and more specifically AI algorithms usage in the AEC field affect uncertainties, and could AI be considered a tool for preventing crises? To obtain responses to these questions, we conducted 21 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with AEC employees who are currently using AI and AI algorithms or will soon be doing so in their everyday work. Our findings show potential for wider use within the AEC field, subject to overcoming knowledge gaps. Moreover, although having the potential to reduce some uncertainties, the increased use of AI and AI algorithms appears to be introducing an entirely new set of uncertainties. As a result, although AI may effectively prevent certain crises and be regarded as crisis prevention tool, its inadequate implementation could potentially create new risks.

Pemodelan 3D Jembatan Lengkung, Studi Kasus Jembatan Bukit Sulap, Menggunakan Software Autodesk Revit

Infrastructure is an essential sector in a country, and infrastructure development reflects the country's progress. Infrastructure development is a priority, but the implementation of infrastructure projects needs to pay attention to time, costs and quality. Building Information Modeling (BIM) has the potential to minimize errors and increase efficiency. BIM is a method that was originally applied to the AEC (Architecture, Engineering and Construction) industry. BIM technology makes it possible to create 3D building models that contain information, analysis of work volume calculations, scheduling, and cost calculations. There is several software that applies BIM technology such as Autodesk Revit, Autodesk Advanced Steel, Tekla Structures and Navisworks. BIM technology has been widely applied in construction projects in Indonesia, be it buildings, roads or bridges. In this research, modelling of a steel truss bridge with an arch type was carried out using Autodesk Revit software. This research was conducted to determine the capabilities and limitations of Autodesk Revit software in modelling arch-type steel frame bridge structures. The modelling in this research uses DED (Detailed Engineering Design) image sources for the Bukit Sulap Bridge project, which were obtained from the PUPR Department of Lubuklinggau City. The modelling carried out is in the form of steel frames, bracing, girder beams and bridge connections.

Implementing responsible sourcing in the architecture, engineering and construction sector

The last decade has witnessed an urgency to adopt integrated and sustainable practices within construction manufacturing processes. With this in mind, this study examines individuals’ experiences of the sector’s uptake of BES 6001 to determine themes and propose methods for improving the process driving towards a sustainable future. Using a phenomenological methodology and a strategy for purposive sampling of architecture, engineering and construction industry professionals involved in the certification of products under the BES 6001 framework, semi-structured interviews (n = 6) were used to collect ‘lived-experience’ data. The key benefits of implementation include (a) management belief; (b) BES 6001 providing automated, transparent and accountable reporting; and (c) BES 6001 providing assurance to stakeholders. Meanwhile, the key barriers include (a) the complexity and cost of administration of the assessment; (b) access for small and medium-sized enterprises/small supply chain members being challenging; and (c) the perception of value. Based on the findings, the following recommendations are proposed: (a) there should be consultation and assessment of planned future revisions of the BES 6001 standard; (b) there should be analysis of evidence production for BES 6001 accreditation, with a view to provide in-depth support to organisations – such as a guidance manual or similar; and (c) a clear and integrated approach to responsible sourcing should be explored, considering multiple third-party accreditations.

Research on Influencing Factors and Driving Path of BIM Application in Construction Projects Based on the SD Model in China

The BIM (building information model), as an innovative architectural technology, has received sufficient attention in the AEC (architecture, engineering, and construction) industry, providing many possibilities for improving building management. Therefore, exploring the factors influencing of how BIM technology is applied has strong practical significance for promoting the application of BIM technology. Based on previous research, this article identified 16 factors that affect the application of BIM and established a relationship function between the influencing factors based on the current actual situation. A system dynamics (SD) model was constructed to analyze the mechanism of these factors and explore the key influencing factors of BIM application. The research results indicate that BIM technology maturity, the difficulty level of BIM software operation, and the degree of collaboration among various departments within an enterprise are key influencing factors. This article conducts an empirical analysis of a large project in China. Based on the research results, targeted improvement measures are proposed to improve the current level of BIM technology application and promote further development of BIM technology. However, due to the rapid development of BIM technology, the effects and weights of the influencing factors in different eras may not be consistent. The reference effect of this study’s results on era period of ten years or even longer is weakened, and scholars will need to continuously update this article in the future.

Understanding the perception differences on BIM adoption factors across the professions of AEC industry

Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry lags behind other industries in terms of digitalization and technology adoption. On the other hand, Building Information Modeling (BIM) is seen as an important tool that can enhance AEC industry. However, BIM adoption might not at the desired level taken into the account of perception differences on BIM use benefits across the professions of AEC industry. Studies on the BIM adoption of construction organizations show that one of the most fundamental factors affecting the adoption is BIM users. Although studies in literature generally aim to measure how BIM adoption can be increased in different countries, none of these studies investigated whether there is a perspective difference on BIM use between BIM users according to occupational groups. In this context, this study has an attempt to develop a better understanding of architects and civil engineers’ perspective on BIM adoption factors in AEC industry. In line with the purpose, main factors affecting the BIM adoption in AEC industry were identified. Then, a survey was conducted with the participation of a total of 150 BIM users. Mean score and independent t-test were performed to explore rankings of BIM adoption factors and the perception differences between architects and civil engineers respectively. According to the analysis results, majority of the perception differences on BIM adoption factors heap together under the triggering variables rather than internal and behavioral intention variables.

Field Trips and Their Effect on Student Learning: A Comparison of Knowledge Assessment for Physical versus Virtual Field Trips in a Construction Management Course

Teaching through field trips has been very effective in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) disciplines as it allows students to bridge the gap between theory and practice. However, it is not always feasible to take a large class on field trips due to time, safety, and cost limitations. To adequately prepare future professionals in the AEC industry, it is imperative that institutions adopt innovative methods of providing the field trip experience. One such approach is using virtual reality (VR) technology. Creating 3D VR construction environments and immersing students in that virtual world could provide an engaging and meaningful experience. Although researchers in AEC schools have developed and deployed many virtual field trips (VFTs) in education, little is known about their potential to provide the same knowledge base. For that reason, a VR app was created to teach students about the design and construction of steel structures, called the Steel Sculpture App (SSA). The SSA served as a VFT, and the location of the steel frame structure served as the actual field trip (AFT). The research was conducted in structure-related courses in the spring, summer, and fall of 2021 and the spring and fall of 2022 semesters. Each semester, students were split into groups, one being the control group and the other being the experimental group. The control groups learned through AFTs, whereas the experimental groups learned through VFTs. A knowledge test was administered at the end of each treatment to collect quantitative data on the students’ performance, understanding, and knowledge retention. The results indicated that the students learning from VFTs scored higher than those learning from AFTs. The paper discusses student assessment results and student feedback about replacing AFTs with VFTs in times of need.

Understanding the effects of service innovation capability on firm performance in AEC industry: mediating role of business model

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine whether service innovation capability can affect firm performance in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) context, and, if so, how.Design/methodology/approachThis study developed a theoretical framework illustrating the performance impacts of service innovation capability through the business model in the AEC sector. An empirical study was conducted to test the hypotheses using 374 valid questionnaires using structure equation model (SEM).FindingsThe results verify that service innovation capability positively influences firm performance mediated by the business model. As to the direct effect, service innovation capability is positively associated with firm performance.Originality/valueThis study highlights how service innovation capability affects performance and reveals the underlying mechanism.

Improved building facade segmentation through digital twin-enabled RandLA-Net with empirical intensity correction model

The Architectural Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry can benefit from accurate building facade segmentation, which can provide valuable insights into building maintenance, urban planning, and security efforts. Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors are effective in recognizing building facade components from (three-dimensional) 3D point clouds by registering 3D spatial coordinates and radiometric information, which reveal the spectral property of a scanned surface. Although the radiometric information (i.e., intensity feature) can be used for segmentation, its accuracy may be reduced by factors such as scanning geometry and external factors that affect the object’s radiometric information. To address this issue, this study proposes a robust and automated method for segmenting building facade components using LiDAR point cloud data and an empirical-based intensity correction model to ensure proper segmentation. The proposed method employs RandLA-Net, a deep learning model capable of effectively processing large-scale point cloud data, to classify building facade components based on their spatial features combined with corrected intensity features. By incorporating the proposed method into a digital twin, it is possible to perform accurate building facade segmentation and generate valuable insights into the building’s physical condition, energy efficiency, and aesthetic value in real-time. The effectiveness of the proposed method was experimentally validated using a school building facade, which demonstrated significant improvements in the recognition of facade components and highlighted the potential of digital twin-enabled building facade segmentation for the AEC industry.

IMPROVING CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND REDUCING RISK BY USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Architectural, engineering and construction (AEC) industry has large amounts of data, the analysis of which can predict risks such as project delays, project budget overruns, low resource use efficiency, environmental damage, reduced safety, and the like. Research has shown that 98% of construction projects are realized with the contracted budget and deadline exceeded. This paper aims to show the significant potential and possibilities of applying artificial intelligence (AI) in the AEC industry, pointing out the benefits and obstacles faced by the AEC industry during the implementation of AI. The benefits of applying AI in the AEC industry relate to increasing efficiency, reducing costs, increasing productivity, increasing safety, better planning and providing timely and accurate information. The key obstacles that hinder the implementation of AI in practice are high implementation costs, incomplete data, job loss due to automation, mistrust of AI technology, cyber vulnerability, and lack of understanding field of AI.

A Multivariate Analysis of the Variables Impacting the Level of BIM Expertise of Professionals in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) Industries of the Developing World Using Nonparametric Tests

Building information modeling (BIM) mandates are becoming more widespread because BIM allows design and construction teams to operate more productively and also enables them to collect the data they generate during the process for use in operations and maintenance tasks. As a result, professionals in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industries are expected to possess excellent BIM expertise. Despite the fact that the developing world has largely not adopted BIM, many studies have been conducted on BIM usage, awareness, drivers and barriers with a focus on the developing world. Numerous studies have pointed to the professionals’ lack of BIM expertise in the developing world’s AEC sector as a major barrier to BIM deployment. Nevertheless, no research has been conducted to assess the variables impacting the level of BIM expertise among professionals. After a detailed review of the literature, the study developed five study hypotheses and created a conceptual model to help assess the variables impacting the level of BIM expertise of professionals in the AEC industry in the developing world. After that, a questionnaire survey was carried out to collect data from 103 seasoned professionals in the Ghanaian construction industry. Nonparametric tests, such as the Kruskal–Wallis, pairwise post hoc Dunn, Mann–Whitney, Pearson’s correlation and the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS SEM) tests, were adopted to assess the relationships between the level of BIM expertise of professionals (BE) and the following variables: (1) profession (P), (2) the frequency of BIM use by professionals (BF), (3) the highest dimension of BIM adopted by AEC firms and companies (BD), (4) professionals’ perception of BIM (PB) and (5) the BIM implementation barriers (BIMIBs). P, BF, BD and PB were found to have a substantial impact on the level of BIM expertise acquired by professionals. With regards to professionals’ perception of the BIM software and process, only one (PB3–BIM is not useful to our company at the moment) out of ten of them was found to have a significant impact on BE, highlighting the impact of employers on the level of BIM expertise of professionals. In addition, the study discovered that any resolution made in an attempt to tackle the lack of/insufficient level of BIM expertise among professionals would prove futile without significant effort from the higher education sector (HES) of the developing world and the entire world at large. The study’s conceptual, empirical, managerial and theoretical implications and findings would serve as a roadmap for researchers, professionals and academics in developing nations as they endeavor to seek more ways of increasing BIM expertise among their professionals and to encourage BIM usage throughout the project lifecycle.

Fostering Critical Collaborative Thinking through Digital Platform: An Empirical Study on Interdisciplinary Design Project

This study addressed an increasing need for collaborative skills for architecture graduates in the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) industries and fill in the gap of studies in collaborative engagements in architecture schools where most of the studies had focused on the creative collaboration in the design process to increase collaborative teamwork within architecture students. The study was conducted as a project-based interdisciplinary course for 4th-year undergraduate programs which involves engineering departments: Civil and Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Physics, and Interior Design. The aim of the study is to critically evaluate the experience gained in the collaborative and interdisciplinary courses, as well as a valuable lesson learned based on students' perspectives. The results showed that an innovative pedagogy must be provided to foster collaborative works, through a concurrent-integrative approach. Another finding is the digital platform potentially increases students’ engagement in interactive discussion and teamwork when appropriately implemented. This was confronted with several challenges, specifically the legacy of a conventional mono-discipline pedagogy and the liberation of critical collaborative thinking among the students.