Uptake Of Building Information Modelling Research Articles

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.

BIM Policy Trends in Europe: Insights from a Multi-Stage Analysis

This study offers a detailed analysis of building information modelling (BIM) policy and implementation across Europe, significantly contributing to the sector’s digital transformation. By collating data from governmental, academic, and industry sources, it identifies key trends and evaluates the effectiveness of BIM policies in advancing technology within construction. A systematic literature review and text mining across major databases revealed an increasing focus on sustainability, particularly “life cycle assessment” and “energy efficiency”, aligning with the Industry 5.0 initiative. The research shows that 35% of European countries have or plan to introduce BIM mandates, highlighting BIM’s crucial role in enhancing construction practices and influencing policy frameworks. Insights from this study are valuable for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, guiding the adoption and operationalization of BIM and emphasizing the need for thorough market preparation, including funding, training, and standardization. Additionally, the study suggests a correlation between a country’s economic development and its propensity to enforce BIM mandates. Future research could explore regional policy variations and delve into the theoretical aspects of policy adoption and innovation diffusion to further understand BIM uptake dynamics.

Exploring the Legal and Contractual Impediments in BIM-based Application: A Systematic Literature Review

Building information modelling (BIM) has been theoretically proven to enhance the integration of design, construction, and operation processes, hence improving the holistic delivery of a construction project. Despite the many initiatives provided by the government across various countries to increase the uptake of BIM in project implementation, previous studies have discovered the many barriers to successfully applying BIM, among which are legal and contractual issues. Hence, the present study explores and reviews the current legal and contractual impediments that have restricted BIM-based applications in the construction industry. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) were employed as a standard protocol for reviewing the current research in the existing literature. The overall search process resulted in a total of 44 articles, which were then thematically analysed to disclose the findings. The review derived eight key aspects, namely procurement method, contract documentation, time and cost, quality, coordination, liability, security and law and regulation and their respective subcomponents as the basis of legal and contractual impediments that could challenge the success of BIM application in construction projects. The study extends the existing knowledge of BIM application and the implications arising from its utilisation and offers some practical insights for design and construction practitioners to improve their roles, obligations, and compliance with BIM contractual requirements. Several recommendations are also made for future research on BIM functionalities for contract administration.

Beyond barriers – exploring resistance towards BIM through a knowledge infrastructure framework

Building information modelling (BIM) is a digital tool that offers the possibility to collect and share a multitude of data about a building and increase collaboration across professional borders. However, the uptake of BIM in the construction industry has been relatively slow, and previous research has shown how BIM creates tensions in the workplace. In this article, we explore the impact of BIM on socio-technical knowledge practices, to understand how these are enabled or restricted by the use of BIM. Through a qualitative case study in Sweden, this article analyses BIM through a knowledge infrastructure framework to explain the relatively slow uptake of BIM in a new light. The results show that BIM lacks embeddedness in governmental and corporate practices and regulations and that it sometimes leads to the marginalization of some professions through changed organizations and the slow process of changing complex knowledge infrastructures. This suggests that a critical discussion of the role of BIM in relation to professional flexibility, construction project process organization and power over technological development is vital for the future development of the construction sector.

Rethinking digital construction: a study of BIM uptake capability in BIM infant construction industries

PurposePractitioners have reported a minimal and non-use of building information modelling (BIM), especially in small and medium-sized organisations and BIM infant construction industries. This development calls for a reappraisal of organisations’ strength in capabilities required for BIM uptake towards the target of global construction digitalisation. This study aims to assess the BIM Level 2 uptake capability of organisations in a BIM infant construction industry and identify the underlying interactions between the capability criteria.Design/methodology/approachThe study used a multivariable analysis of fifteen descriptors identified from the people, process, policy, finance and technology domain. Data collection was done in the BIM infant construction industry in Nigeria. Verification of the descriptors and an evaluation of BIM uptake capability in organisations was done. Seventy-three responses were received within the selected context, and data analysis was done with mean weighting and exploratory factor analysis. Maximum Likelihood extraction and Direct Oblimin rotation were used.FindingsFactor analysis revealed three factors that explained 53.28% of the total variance in the BIM Level 2 uptake capability of construction organisations. The factors are workforce capacity and continuous development, an affinity for innovation and strength in physical and operational facilities.Research limitations/implicationsThis study provides an overarching and insightful discussion on BIM uptake capability and construction digitalisation with evidence from a BIM-infant construction industry.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study are a piece of valuable empirical evidence on Level 2 BIM uptake capability. This empirical situation analysis will inform the advocacy for the advancement of BIM and enhanced utilisation of building information. Evidence on the capability performance of the BIM infant industry has been revealed.Originality/valueThe outcome is expected to stir debate on the preparedness of organisations to further exploit the benefits of BIM in the BIM infant construction industry. Examination of the capability for a particular phase of BIM is scanty in the literature.

Motivating immersive BIM uptake through user attitude: analysis of initial solution using design science approach

PurposeBeyond a mandated use, rationales behind executive choice to accept or reject building information modelling (BIM) are ambiguous. BIM acceptance is complex for organisations, and existing decision-making models are impractical to make realistic choices. A practical solution must assist a holistic reflection of internal and external BIM success factors. Nevertheless, extant literature is largely focused on software use and awareness. Thus, this paper aims to suggest a novel framework for assessing firm readiness, aimed at facilitating BIM uptake.Design/methodology/approachExtant explanatory studies are inadequate in assessing the soft nature of BIM uptake. Thus, a design science research was employed as an alternative methodology. A means-end analysis was utilised for solution incubation, and cross-disciplinary reasoning, the strategy to establish valid solutions on firm readiness. Previous studies were reviewed on BIM, technology acceptance (generally) and complexity.Findings“Technology attitude” is presented as involving more holistic variables than a simplistic reliance on software use to mirror BIM acceptance. Technology acceptance model (TAM) is appropriate to explain BIM attitude attributes, but its current use is sub-optimal. Selective information processing and unconscious thought theory were integrated into TAM to explain attitude formation from multiple perspectives, resulting in a novel BIM attitude scale (BIMAS). Upon verification, the proposed framework will facilitate an objective authentication of biases that associate with BIM acceptance.Originality/valueWhilst BIM readiness is assessed largely with a primary focus on theory building, practical relevance must be at the forefront of BIM development. This study articulates that design science research can enhance the practical relevance of BIM adoption models. BIM acceptance attitude must be assessed through a verified scale contrary to the assessment of self-biases of executives in literature. BIMAS suggests a testable solution for this. Theory building research must be the future focus to enhance the relevance of this initial solution.

Lessons learned from building information modelling uptake in water infrastructure construction project: a case study of River Rejuvenation Project

The study promulgates the lessons learned by introducing the building information modelling (BIM) as a part of the virtual design and construction (VDC) strategy for a water treatment plant construction of a River Rejuvenation Project. A case study-based method comprised a combined literature review followed by a qualitative study. The semi-structured interviews engaged five specialised experts. A BIM steering head of the project team was deployed to recognise the critical lessons learned and the challenges involved while implementing the application of BIM as a part of the VDC execution policy in the firm. The study examined the adoption of BIM in terms of its pros and cons by analysing qualitative data through a theoretical lens of the P3 model (people, process and product) framework using Nvivo. This study investigates one of the digital transformation initiatives of the construction organisation.

BFO-based ontology enhancement to promote interoperability in BIM

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a process for managing construction project information in such a way as to provide a basis for enhanced decision-making and for collaboration in a construction supply chain. One impediment to the uptake of BIM is the limited interoperability of different BIM systems. To overcome this problem, a set of Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) has been proposed as a standard for the construction industry. Building on IFC, the ifcOWL ontology was developed in order to facilitate representation of building data in a consistent fashion across the Web by using the Web Ontology Language (OWL). This study presents a critical analysis of the ifcOWL ontology and of the associated interoperability issues. It shows how these issues can be resolved by using Basic Formal Ontology (ISO/IEC 21838-2) as top-level architecture. A set of competency questions is used as the basis for comparison of the original ifcOWL with the enhanced ontology, and the latter is used to align with a second ontology – the ontology for building intelligent environments (DOGONT) – in order to demonstrate the added value derived from BFO by showing how querying the enhanced ifcOWL yields useful additional information.

Modelling the Impact of Building Information Modelling (BIM) Implementation Drivers and Awareness on Project Lifecycle

The Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operations (AECO) industry is generally slow in adopting emerging technologies, and such hesitance invariably restricts performance improvements. A plethora of studies have focused on the barriers, Critical Success Factors (CSFs), lifecycle and drivers independently, but none have explored the impact of BIM drivers and awareness on the project lifecycle. This study empirically explored the impact of BIM drivers and awareness on the project lifecycle using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). Initially, a conceptual model was developed from an extensive literature review. Thereafter, the model was tested using primary questionnaire data obtained from 90 construction professionals in Lagos, Nigeria. Emergent findings indicate that Building Information Modelling (BIM) drivers have a high impact on BIM awareness at the operation stage of the project lifecycle. The SEM model has an average R2 value of 23% which is moderate. Consequently, this research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by providing invaluable insight into the impact of BIM drivers on BIM awareness in the project lifecycle. Knowledge acquired will help industry stakeholders and government to develop appropriate policies to increase BIM uptake within contemporary practice.

Formulating a Strategic Plan for BIM Diffusion within the AEC Italian Industry: The Application of Diffusion of Innovation Theory

The importance of digital skills diffusion in fostering the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry has been highlighted for more than a decade. The extent to which this objective can be achieved depends on several factors. An augmented building information modelling (BIM) adoption stems from, but is not restricted to, government policies and initiatives. This study aims to assess the diffusion of digital skills, specifically through BIM adoption and to establish feasible strategies for such adoption within the Italian AEC industry, taking into account institutional, organisational and project-related factors. This purpose is achieved through an initial investigation of the most significant hurdles in BIM uptake and various BIM-promoting policies adopted at an international level. Moreover, a rigorous review of recent developments in the diffusion of innovation theory is presented. Based on findings and combining the experiences of various authors in BIM-related research an exploratory online survey was conducted, resulting in identification of the clients' lack of knowledge as the most critical challenge to BIM adoption in the Italian AEC industry. Following this finding, the study suggests five strategies to leverage BIM benefits to their full extent, to increase the perception of BIM benefits and to bridge the current gap between the industry and academia.

4D BIM for Construction Logistics Management

This study presents an investigation into the extent to which emerging building information modelling (BIM) can be applied to construction logistics management (CLM). Given the specialist nature of the domains, the study employed an in-depth qualitative interview, whereby six experts were interrogated about their experiences of BIM for CLM. The study found the main applications of BIM on CLM to be the creation of three-dimensional (3D) site layout plans and four-dimensional (4D) coordination of site processes and common user plant, updating the 4D logistics plan as the project progressed and collaboration in BIM-based logistics coordination. Furthermore, there was a consensus amongst interviewees on improvement in site safety, comprehension of logistics information, efficiency on site, and effectiveness of layout planning as the main benefits. Lastly, the lack of training with implications on understanding was one of the main barriers to applying BIM to CLM. The findings from this study have the potential to stimulate the uptake of BIM by construction logistics practitioners. By so doing, the performance construction project delivery can be improved, and waste can be minimised or eliminated.

Building Information Modelling Feasibility Study for Building Surveying

Despite the advancements in digital technologies, the current building design examination practice is 2D and paper-based, and a large number of 2D plans and drawings need to be collated and interpreted to examine if the proposed designs comply with building regulations. Subsequently, it is prone to human errors that make sustainable and consistent design difficult. Although Building Information Modelling (BIM) is recognised as a means to transform the current practice into a more sustainable and productive practice, BIM has rarely been adopted in building design examination. This research aims to identify the reasons for the low uptake of BIM and to examine the feasibility of BIM for building design examination through a focus group interview and workshop. A lack of proper BIM training is identified as the most critical barrier to adopting BIM. Building design examiners indicate that BIM adoption requires consistent efforts with empirical errors, since the existing work processes are not flexible enough to embrace BIM instantly without proper BIM training. An average of three days can be saved by using BIM for a building regulations check. This research revealed that BIM is feasible for building regulation checking, and the low uptake is mainly caused by a lack of awareness of the BIM capabilities.

Building information modelling for building services engineering: benefits, barriers and conducive measures

PurposeMandating the use of building information modelling (BIM) in building projects has sprawled, but the uptake of BIM in building services engineering (BSE) remains sluggish. The purpose of this paper is to explore how to achieve wider adoption of BIM in BSE.Design/methodology/approachThrough an extensive literature review, the benefits of, barriers to and measures conducive to, using BIM for BSE were identified and classified. Built upon the review and a focus group meeting, a questionnaire was devised for an industry-wide survey in Hong Kong and the survey data were processed by statistical analyses.FindingsOn the ranking of the benefits, strong agreements existed between the BSE and non-BSE respondent groups; yet no significant agreement was found between the two groups on the rankings of the barriers or the conducive measures. The top conducive measure, according to the BSE group, is “Allow enough time in project programme for BIM model development”.Research limitations/implicationsThe data collection and analysis methods of this study may be used for similar BIM studies in other places.Practical implicationsThe priority of the conducive measures, which aid policy or decision makers in formulating how to get BIM effectively implemented in BSE, are useful information in the pursuit of a more productive and sustainable built environment.Originality/valueThis BIM study is specifically on BSE rather than the other disciplines (e.g. architecture, structural engineering) that have been widely studied.

BIM adoption and implementation: focusing on SMEs

Purpose To reach its full potential, Building Information Modelling (BIM) should be implemented throughout the supply chain. The purpose of this study is to explore BIM implementation and adoption among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the UK Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) sector. The paper addresses two key issues: the slow rate and lack of homogeneity of BIM adoption in the SME sector. Design/methodology/approach The study uses qualitative and quantitative methods to investigate BIM uptake and test for correlations between organisational features and BIM aspects. The sample includes data from SMEs based in the South East of England, which are then analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings The results show that, although SMEs have some understanding of BIM-related concepts, their familiarity with existing BIM software support systems is particularly low. Limited financial capacity is identified as the primary barrier to BIM adoption while knowledge exchange initiatives are the most useful measure in facilitating further implementation. The variations of SMEs in the adoption and implementation of BIM are mostly affected by company size, professional discipline and offered services. The paper also demonstrates that a one-size-fits-all approach to BIM implementation in the AEC sector has limited potential. Originality/value The heterogeneity of SMEs in the AEC sector has been considered to a very limited extent. This paper considers the nature, characteristics and core business areas of SMEs as factors affecting BIM adoption and implementation.

Facilitating Building Information Modelling (BIM) using Integrated Project Delivery (IPD): A UK perspective

The Construction industry is a major player in the UK economy and is in need of continuous improvement. In an attempt to do so, in 2011 the UK government made Building Information Modelling (BIM) level 2 a mandate for all public projects by 2016. Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) is a project delivery approach closely attributed to BIM. However, it does not seem to have received proportionate level of attention and uptake in the UK. The research into reciprocal impacts of BIM and IPD are few and far between and non-existent in the UK construction context. This research investigates if and how IPD can facilitate BIM implementation in the UK. Capitalizing on relativist ontology, the study uses a mixed methodology to gauge industry experts' perception of the barriers to BIM implementation and uptake and the barriers to what constitutes IPD principles based on what has been found in the literature. The research findings support the hypothesis that IPD does help overcome barriers to collaboration, improve early involvement of the key participants and enhance the level of trust among key stakeholders; thereby helping eliminate the barriers to implementation of BIM. The research has also identified the main barriers to implementing IPD, which if overcome, could improve construction performance in terms of cost, time, efficiency and productivity in the UK by defragmenting parties through its multi-party agreement structure, facilitating BIM, enhancing parties’ early involvement and collaboration through its inherent BIM contractual principles. The findings suggest that IPD can facilitate better and wider uptake of BIM in the UK construction industry.

Perceived benefits of and barriers to Building Information Modelling (BIM) implementation in construction: The case of Hong Kong

BIM has experienced an increasing appeal in its adoption and implementation in the built environment worldwide in recent years. The current research study aims to identify and assess the perceived benefits of and barriers to BIM implementation in the Hong Kong construction industry. The study adopted a quantitative research design using a structured empirical questionnaire survey. Also, a comparative analysis of the perceptions of the respondents’ groupings was conducted. The major barriers to BIM adoption are related to the inherent resistance to change by construction stakeholders, inadequate organizational support and structure to execute BIM, and lack of BIM industry standards in Hong Kong. Meanwhile, the key benefits include better cost estimation and control, efficient construction planning and management, and improvement in design and project quality. Practical and insightful recommendations were suggested for policymakers, local authorities, construction firms, and other key stakeholders to increase the uptake of BIM in construction projects as well as to aid them in the quest for full adoption of BIM in the built environment. The practical implications of the research findings were also presented and discussed.

Building Information Modelling Uptake: Tool Training in Nigeria

Computer Aided Design software and their kind are generally considered as Building Information Modelling (BIM) tools; moreover the sophistication level of one determines its maturity level. Education and research are the background to innovation while training is a window to continuity in skills transfer. The BIM uptake in the developing countries is significantly lagging behind; amongst various reasons is the lack of trained professionals. Experts are evolving from the industry professionals who are first trained in the university. This study determined the capacity of Nigerian universities in providing BIM tools training for BIM adoption in Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC). The study is quantitative in nature, with the primary data collected through a structured questionnaire survey within the built environment and engineering schools of Nigerian universities. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The institutions are physically ready with relatively sufficient hardware, however technically not ready due to insufficiency of up to date software. There is a significant correlation between software availability and proficiency level of training, while no correlation between academic qualification and the training proficiency. More than 70% of the students are graduating on ‘file based collaboration’ – 2D and 3D CAD knowledge with proficiency level between limited and practical application. However, the collaborative software training received proficiency level of basic to practical application; a 13% trained on collaboration software is very little to providing experts for the industry. This reveals a clear setback in the tools training to carter for the BIM uptake in the country.

A critical analysis of Building Information Modelling systems used in construction projects

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is now a global digital technology which is widely believed to have the potential to revolutionise the construction industry. This has been mainly a result of worldwide government initiatives promoting BIM uptake to improve efficiency and quality in delivering construction projects. This push has been accompanied by the release of a tremendous amount of BIM software systems which are now available in the market. Although this can be seen as a positive development, one cannot ignore how it has overwhelmed many professionals who cannot easily distinguish between the uses of these software systems. Previous studies about different BIM systems have generally been limited in scope focusing predominantly on operational issues. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive and critical appraisal of a wide range of BIM software systems currently being used in managing construction project information. To achieve this, five main methods are adopted. These include a systematic review of the literature, a structured questionnaire survey, action learning, focus group discussions and email surveys. It has to be noted that, although it is impossible to examine the totality of BIM systems, the study adopts a holistic approach looking at most of the major BIM system categories and 122 application examples which are common in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry.