Building Information Modeling Users Research Articles

Challenges and Opportunities for Building Information Modeling in Facility Management: A Case Study from Egypt

The objective of this study is to evaluate the obstacles encountered when using Building Information Modeling (BIM) in Facility Management (FM) within the context of Egypt. The research methodology employs a case study approach, using a single case study to investigate the phenomenon of interest. A comprehensive literature review was conducted, resulting in the identification of 42 challenges to BIM usage in FM. These challenges were classified into five primary groups and formed the basis for a five-point Likert scale questionnaire, which was utilized to collect insights from FM professionals in Egypt. The survey participants included facilities and maintenance managers, as well as BIM employees. The data collected were also analyzed deploying the Impact Effect Index (EI) method. Furthermore, the EI findings indicated that the primary difficulties were the integration of building system design with BIM, the establishment of handover requirements, the integration specifications between the FM and BIM, and securing accurate and reliable data. The category with the highest EI was challenges related to BIM implementation in FM. The research identifies the significant challenges affecting BIM adoption in FM in Egypt, thereby promoting the development of BIM implementation strategies. Consequently, the findings hold practical importance for various stakeholders within the construction sector in Egypt.

Quantity Surveying and its Association with Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Digital Twin (DT)

Quantity surveyors (QS) have many roles in the construction industry, and one of such roles is preparing bills of quantities that mainly entails taking measurements and pricing of construction work. They also develop schedule of project work, engage in construction project management, arbitration as well as dispute resolutions. Quantity take-off was their original role during 1820s when QS profession first came into existence. Critical observations brought criticisms that the profession would not survive if a tool could be developed that substituted QS roles in construction. Contingent to that criticism has seen the emergence of Building Information Modeling (BIM) that has specific attributes where the BIM technology can be used to quantify building works and produce schedule of works including cost loaded schedule in a 4D and 5D model interface respectively. Thus far, has the BIM technological innovation posed threats to the QS roles and/or to the profession? What of digital twin (DT)? The aim of this research was to investigate the QS and its association with BIM and DT innovation in the construction industry and to evaluate their future in the industry. Are they a bane or boon to the QS profession? Specific objectives were to determine the extent of BIM usage by QS, the level of the current usage and the future of QS considering BIM growth in the construction field. Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat (SWOT) analysis was conducted about BIM usage. Survey questionnaire was administered to investigate the use of BIM and DT, current usage and future standing in construction. The results showed that BIM and DT were opportunities that added to the progress of QS. It was concluded that QS needed to embrace BIM technology more with integration of digital twins for full benefits in the construction industry.

Review of cost estimation practices for building projects using BIM

Cost management remains one of the key challenges in architectural, engineering and construction (AEC) projects. Building information modeling (BIM) has gained popularity amongst AEC industry professionals due to its better visualization and clash detection abilities. The present study therefore attempts to review the cost estimation practices for building projects using BIM. The objective of the present study is to find answers to the research questions viz., 1) What are the various methodologies adopted for estimating building cost using BIM? and 2) Is BIM popular tool amongst cost management professionals? The literature review is divided into four parts. The first part of the literature review deals with general observations addressing issues and challenges of using BIM for cost estimation. The second part of the literature review covers different types of models and framework developed by researchers for estimating cost of building projects using BIM. The third part of the review investigates the key observations by various associated stakeholders on the usage of BIM for estimating building cost. The interpretation through various case studies is discussed in the last part of the literature review. Keywords: Cost estimation; Cost management; BIM

Investigation of the driving power of the barriers affecting BIM adoption in construction management through ISM

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a rising digital medium that is gaining popularity in the construction sector. Although BIM usage has been mandated in the public construction sector in Saudi Arabia, its adoption remains limited. This paper aims to investigate the driving power of the barriers affecting BIM adoption in construction management through Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM). A literature review and expert meetings were conducted to identify the potential barriers faced by contractors and consultants in BIM usage in the construction management sector. Two different techniques were utilized to rank the identified barriers to adopting BIM in construction management. The first technique, the Relative Importance Index (RII), evaluates and assesses the barriers from both the contractors and consultants' perspectives. The second technique, Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM), identifies the driving power of barriers and understands the correlations among them. A total of sixty-nine responses were analyzed using the RII. Cronbach's alpha was utilized to assess the collected data's reliability. The findings from the ISM were validated by experts to establish relationships among the identified barriers. The ISM reveals that the top driving barrier to BIM adoption is the “Lack of skilled and experienced personnel”, followed by “Lack of awareness”, “Communication issues” and “Longer setup time”. The findings of this study could assist local authorities develop an incentive program to encourage contractors and consultants to adopt BIM in construction management.

Dual Transition of Net Zero Carbon and Digital Transformation: Case Study of UK Transportation Sector

The UK Government’s Building Information Modelling (BIM) mandate has encouraged the utilisation of BIM within the Transportation Sector (TS), with research demonstrating positive effects of BIM. However, BIM processes are incipient to TS project implementation across the UK. This paper is carried out to understand the current BIM usage within the UK’s TS and how BIM practises and workflows contribute towards the government’s NZC approach. We used research questions derived from the population, intervention, comparison and outcome (PICO) system and inclusion and exclusion criteria to screen irrelevant information from a Systematic Literature review with 18 pieces of literature. We identified six key drivers: carbon reduction and BIM, BIM in transportation design, BIM uptake and usage in transportation, BIM in transportation construction and Digital Twins and BIM. It was identified that, with the integration of the Carbon Calculator Tool into Civil 3D, structural and material data can be obtained and areas of Embodied Carbon hotspots can be identified to contribute to reduce overall carbon across a project, which requires further collaboration between software providers and industry leaders for further streamlining the process. A limitation of this research is the requirement for wider study of differing disciplines within the TS, more qualitative research and a lack of information regarding other Carbon Calculator Tools and how compatible they are with Civil 3D.

The mediating effect of BIM application on the link between organizational support and BIM user satisfaction

ABSTRACT Building information modeling (BIM) is considered to be the most promising technological innovation in the construction industry, and its widespread application is an inevitable trend. The satisfaction level of employees using BIM serves as a crucial indicator of the success of BIM implementation. Therefore, it is imperative to enhance users’ satisfaction. While some researchers have explored the impact of organizational support, there has been a dearth of in-depth studies on the specific mechanisms underlying its influence. Previous research has identified both emotional and instrumental dimensions of organizational support, however, the specific mechanisms through which these two forms of support affect BIM user satisfaction have not been thoroughly explored. This study investigates the effects of organizational support on BIM user satisfaction in construction companies and proposes the mediating role of exploitative and exploratory applications in their relationship from the perspective of dual innovation theory. Drawing data from 151 valid questionnaires, regression analysis is conducted to examine the relationship between organizational support and user satisfaction. Additionally, the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM) is established to verify the mediating role of explorative and exploitive applications. The findings show that: (1) instrumental support and emotional support both increase BIM user satisfaction; (2) both exploitative and exploratory applications mediate the effect of emotional support on BIM user satisfaction; (3) only exploratory application mediates between instrumental support and BIM user satisfaction. These findings explain the mechanism through which organizational support influences BIM user satisfaction and offer insight for managers to improve the satisfaction level.

Analysis of Critical Factors and Strategies for Implementing and Using BIM in the Public Sector

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a widely adopted technology in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AECO) sector, with a commercial applicability of over 20 years. However, it has not yet reached all sectors and professionals within the industry. Given this reality, this work aims to identify successful strategies and critical factors reported in global public sector experiences of BIM implementation and usage, to pinpoint the necessary approaches for its development. A systematic literature review was conducted with a qualitative-quantitative approach to achieve this. The results highlight that factors related to cultural change and training are the most critical, along with integrating technology into processes, the lack of BIM standardization, and a lack of government incentives. In light of these findings, it is understood that BIM is predominantly used for modeling, and there are still gaps in understanding the technology's use for information management. This research also presents correlations between the factors identified by authors, associating them with suggested or implemented strategies in successful experiences. These contributions can serve as the basis for further studies on maturity diagnosis or assist in formulating future BIM implementation strategies.

Life cycle cost modelling using 6D BIM in construction: A comparative study

Life Cycle Costing (LCC) and Building Information Modelling (BIM) are among the important current trends in the construction industry. LCC contributes to the objective management and measurement of costs during the entire lifetime of a building and BIM represents one of the digitalization efforts related to the Construction 4.0 initiative. Because life cycle cost modelling using 6D BIM has the potential to bring significant positive effects such as cost savings and reduced environmental burden, this paper aims to study the development of this concept in the Czech Republic and Austria. The legislative environment, the actual usage of LCC and BIM in practice, as well as problems faced by the Czech and Austrian construction industries, are discussed in this comparative study. The results show that the practical level of use is still relatively low in both countries, yet specific differences were identified, for example those related to the definition of legislative requirements and the availability of standards and specifications.

BIM implementation in the middle east construction: Evaluating the prospects and challenges

This research explores the potential benefits and challenges associated with the implementation of Building Information Modelling (BIM), a rapidly evolving global trend, within the construction industry of the Middle East. The study is underpinned by a comprehensive literature review on the global and Middle Eastern usage of BIM. A methodical empirical survey was employed to collect quantitative data, comparing the perspectives of Clients, Contractors, and Consultants. Key impediments to BIM adoption in the Middle East were identified as a scarcity of BIM-skilled subcontractors, the lack of industry standards, substantial initial costs, and organizational structures that do not support BIM. On the other hand, the advantages of BIM include improved construction planning, enhanced project quality, an elevated organizational image, and streamlined communication. The study provides crucial recommendations for local governments, policymakers, construction companies, and stakeholders to encourage comprehensive BIM adoption and its utilization in construction projects, while also discussing the practical implications of the findings.

Development and Challenges of BIM in the Construction Industry in China and Australia

This article examines the application and development of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the construction industries of China and Australia. The visual, coordination, simulation, and optimization characteristics of BIM provide a foundation for project management. In China, BIM has been widely adopted in major engineering projects, but it still faces challenges such as inactive design institutes, inconsistent data standards, and a shortage of BIM talent. BIM usage in Australia is relatively low, partially due to the lack of government enforcement. It is recommended to promote wider BIM application in various fields through training, resource support, establishing industry standards, and providing incentives. In summary, BIM technology holds significant potential for the future development of the construction industry, but overcoming various challenges is necessary to achieve its maximum benefits.

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.

Developing a structural model of stakeholders’ behavior toward BIM adoption in construction enterprises

Building Information Modeling (BIM) has been recognized as a potential technology for revolutionizing the design, construction and operational management of projects. Its success depends on the functions and quality of BIM, as well as the needs, behaviors, and attitudes of users. The process of innovation adoption is presented as a series of phases, from initiation to the decision to adopt and the implementation of the innovation. This study develops a comprehensive model based on the innovation adoption process to describe the relationships between the enabling factors and technology use behaviors that address fundamental problems in adopting BIM in construction companies. The proposed model is then evaluated using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results reveal that there are the interrelationships between the enabling factors. It is also found that economic viability positively affects behavioral intention to use BIM, while economic viability, company business vision, and intention to use BIM positively influence BIM usage behavior. The study findings can be used for organizations in building strategies to improve user readiness and satisfaction, ultimately increasing BIM usage in the future. This research provides a scientific foundation for construction companies to enhance workplace efficiency and promote project commercialization.

Analisis Pengaruh Faktor-Faktor Building Information Modeling (BIM) terhadap Tingkat Penerapan dan Kinerja Proyek Pada Proyek Design and Build

In this research, an analysis was conducted on the influence of Building Information Modeling (BIM) factors on the level of implementation and project performance in Design and Build projects. The objective of this study is to analyze the factors affecting BIM implementation and project performance in Design and Build projects. The research method used is a quantitative method employing observation through questionnaires. The variables studied consist of dependent variables, namely the level of BIM implementation and project performance (cost, quality, time), as well as independent variables, namely BIM users, communication and coordination among stakeholders, 3D modeling, 4D field scheduling, 5D volume calculation, and project value. The research findings indicate that the use of BIM (X1) does not have a significant influence on the level of BIM implementation (Y). However, communication and coordination among stakeholders (X2) have a positive but non-significant influence on the level of BIM implementation (Y). The creation of 3D models (X3) also has a positive but non-significant influence on the level of BIM implementation (Y). On the other hand, 4D field scheduling (X4) has a positive but non-significant influence on the level of BIM implementation (Y). 5D volume calculation (X5) has a positive and significant influence on the level of BIM implementation (Y), while the value of the projects undertaken (X6) has a positive but non-significant influence on the level of BIM implementation (Y). Therefore, this research provides an understanding of the factors influencing the level of BIM implementation and its impact on the project performance in Design and Build projects.

Toward Improving BIM Acceptance in FM: A Conceptual Model Integrating TTF and TAM

Substantial research has been performed on Building Information Modeling (BIM) in various topics, for instance, the use and benefit of BIM in design, construction, sustainable environment building, and Facility assets over the past several years. Although there are various studies on these topics, Building Information Modeling (BIM) awareness through facilities management is still relatively poor. The researcher's interest is increased in BIM study is based heavily upon the perception that it can facilitate the exchange and reuse of information during various project phases. This property and others can be used in the Iraqi Construction industry to motivate the government to eliminate the change resistance to use innovations in the Iraqi construction industry. Even though many scholars and practitioners agree on the potential application and benefits of BIM in construction/ Facilities Management FM, it is yet unknown why BIM is used and what criteria facilitate BIM achievement in O&M. As long as the actual usage and acceptance of BIM in the Operation and Maintenance phase is still a central issue in practice, therefor depending on the extensive well ground literature review a conceptual acceptance model is proposed in this paper by applying the technology acceptance theories such as Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Task Technology Fit (TTF) to explore how the extent of facilities management staff going to accept and adopt the new international technology (BIM).

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.

BIM Adoption for effective interface management in Indian construction industries

The contribution of the construction industry towards the development of the economy of an economy is inevitable. Building Information Modelling (BIM) is an emerging information tool that supports interface management in construction projects based on intellectual digital illustration that provides a maximum number of benefits throughout the lifecycle of projects. A country like India has recently adopted the BIM tool, but it is not widely adopted by construction companies. Therefore, comprehensive and systematic analyses are essential for determining the factors influencing BIM adoption. In this study, a proposed model is employed using seven significant factors, namely, Organizational support (OS), Information Quality (IQ), System Quality (SQ), Service Quality (SRQ), usage (U), User Satisfaction (US), and Net Benefits (NB), to analyse the influence of these factors on BIM adoption. An experimental analysis was conducted based on the developed success model and the fitness of the model was estimated. The results of this model suggest that system quality plays a major role in BIM usage. Furthermore, a hypothesis test was performed to analyse the impact range of each independent factor over the dependent factors.

Readiness and Challenges of the Construction Industry in Implementing Building Information Modelling (BIM)

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is one of the innovative approaches that has been developed and widely accepted in the construction industry. In Malaysia, BIM usage is still low and not many firms have taken full advantage of its potential despite theinvestment in BIM being proven to be well worth the cost of implementation to organizations. Therefore, this study has been conducted to identify the current status of BIM implementation in Malaysia. This study uses a qualitative approach with an explanatory research design to explore the phenomenon of BIM implementation in the construction industry. This study was aimed to identify the readiness and challenges in BIM implementation from twelve (12) participantsfrom consultants and contractors in Malaysiawho have already implemented and not have implemented BIM where the researcher used purposive sampling technique with snowballing sampling. In obtaining the data from participants, the researcher has conducted a semi-structured interview data collection technique. The data were then analyzedusing thematic analysis to identify patterns and themes among the research questions in two categories of participants. This study finds that the rate of BIM implementation in construction industry is very low and the most factors influence companies’ readiness in BIM implementation from both categories of participants are client, enforcement from authority and lack of project that needs BIM. This study also found that the most challenges faced in BIM implementation areBIM exposure, cost implementation and others. In addition to that, this study proposing effective strategies for enhancing the BIM implementation in Malaysia such as introducing of BIM in university curriculum, BIM enforcement from the authority and others.

A Study of Prospective Barriers, Benefits and Measures for Building Information Modeling (BIM) Adoption in Nepalese AEC Industry

The construction industry needs modern construction methodology and technology to improve sustainability and production performance. Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology supports improving the quality of products by reducing design and construction defects, risks to the health and safety of workers, and reduce overall project cost and delivery time. The BIM has capabilities, but it is still undiscovered and unable to exploit the full scale of its benefits in the Architectural Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. There is a trend to adopt the BIM level 1, which is limited to 2D and only in a few cases 3D models uses in the design and construction of residential and commercial buildings, particularly in Nepal. Hence, this paper focuses on providing insight into the BIM benefits and identifies the potential barriers while adopting BIM Level 3 in Nepal. This was accomplished by developing a 4DBIM model of a multi-story residential building in Nepal and conducting the industry survey via focus group with the AEC professionals based on the developed 4DBIM model. A comprehensive literature review was conducted and presented the findings of the BIM benefits and barriers while adopting BIM. The study found that commercial and governmental projects can immediately be adopted BIM technology. It is concluded that the unavailability of skilled BIM users and the lack of proper policies for BIM adoption are key barriers in Nepal. Hence, the new policy is required to achieve and exploit the full scale of the BIM benefits and improve the project delivery in terms of quality, cost and time including the health and safety of workers and the sustainability of the AEC industry.

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.

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.