Towards integrated working arrangements for optimizing potential overall benefits from building information modeling

Information and communication technology (ICT) has changed and continues to change almost every aspect of our daily lives. Our personal lives, social interactions, educational systems, business atmosphere, and corporate culture-everything has changed in one way or another due to advances in the field of ICT. The construction industry is no exception. ICT provides an unprecedented opportunity as well as enormous challenges to the construction industry.

Background: Implementation of Building Information Modelling (BIM) has proven to deliver major performance improvements in Program efficiency, design quality, constructability, waste reduction, environmental performance, and capital & operational cost management of built environment projects. Yet BIM implementation in low BIM maturity markets, such as the UAE, is limited to technology applications which fail to deliver the full potential of BIM benefits to client originations. Objective: The purpose of this paper is to investigate BIM implementation from a client’s perspective and to present a case study that exhibits a level 2 BIM implementation process in a traditional procurement environment. Methods: The study has used a case study approach combined with a literature review. A critical appraisal of relevant literature is presented to highlight key issues hindering BIM implementation for client organizations, especially in developing BIM markets, such as the UAE. The research is collected using an action research approach within a case study, including project document audit, participation in project collaboration meetings and extensive communication with the project stakeholders. The case study is presented in a practice-oriented research format describing the project details, procurement approach, BIM development & management process and benefits achieved for the project client. Results: The paper presents a structured approach to strategically introduce BIM within a low BIM maturity market, creating partnering relationships, empower the supply chain partners and achieving significant BIM benefits with minimum disruption to existing work practices. The paper highlights that although BIM requires a step-change in the work practices of the construction industry, yet it is possible to successfully implement BIM with traditional procurement settings, which may be a critical feature in a certain market or a client requirement. Conclusion: There is a need for case study based, practice-oriented research work within the domain of BIM implementation. Construction clients in low maturity BIM markets are concerned about the perceived benefits of BIM and its practical implementation within existing business practices, which is addressed in this paper. Overall, the findings of this study are useful for construction industry clients and academia in redefining the existing work practices to incorporate BIM-enabled processes and applications.

BIM compatibility and its differentiation with interoperability challenges as an innovation factor

BIM (Building Information Modeling) is a new radically different emerging approach to design, construction and facilities management. BIM promises to better facilitate the building development, construction and building operation. In this thesis the domain of small architectural practices is considered and how BIM can be implemented to address the problems both of operational and product efficiency and effectiveness.
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\nResearch has indicated that guidance on how small architectural practices should implement BIM is lacking (Jung et al 2010). This lack of guidance is one of the reasons why small architectural practices are disinclined to adopt BIM. There is a growing need for more knowledge on how BIM technology and processes can be and should be adopted and what happens when BIM technologies and processes are implemented and used in the practice of architecture.
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\nThe aim of this thesis is to develop a BIM implementation strategy framework for small architectural practices.
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\nTo identify of the problems and issues of BIM implementation in a small architectural practice, a two years of case study using action research was undertaken. This involved instigating, participating and observing the implementation of BIM within a small architectural practice. Both the internal and external benefits to the architectural practice were considered. The findings of this BIM implementation research were then recorded and reviewed providing a structured approach to BIM implementation. From this process of review and reflection a revised improved framework and suggested methods for BIM adoption was developed and documented. At each stage of the BIM implementation recommendations are made.
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\nThe research was undertaken as part of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership between the University of Salford, John McCall Architects (a small architectural practice) and the researcher and author of this thesis. Though being actively involved in the BIM implementation it was possible to understand the issues and document the actions that were taken as part of the BIM adoption. The major limitation of this research is the focus on a single company as the source of evidence and research.
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\nThis enhanced BIM implementation framework and the suggested working methods represents the primary contribution to knowledge made by this thesis. This framework should be of value to other small architectural practices embarking on BIM implementation.

This paper examines the implementation of building information modeling (BIM) in construction industry. Various initiatives and approaches are used in different countries to promote the BIM implementation in their construction industries. The real implementation and use of BIM remains a major concern of the construction industry. This study investigates the implantation of BIM globally, in developed countries and the percentage of implementation of BIM in constriction industry of Sindh, Pakistan. This research demonstrates 131 responses from BIM users regarding BIM implementation whose collaboration aspects produce the highest positive impact. The adopted methodology is an online questionnaire survey and literature review which was conducted to find out the implementation of BIM in construction industries of developed countries. This research reveals that BIM implementation is increasing continuously over the past few years. A Number of developed countries are emerging successful BIM implementation strategies, United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France are generally leading the way. However, according to our study findings, only 11% of industries have implemented BIM in Sindh, Pakistan.

PurposeThe Nigerian construction industry, like in most emerging economies has been slow with technological advances such as building information modeling (BIM). More so, the application of BIM among Nigerian practitioners is rather limited to architects’ usage for schematic design and presentation of drawings. The purpose of this study is to enhance BIM’s uptake, this study explores the drivers for the implementation of BIM within the Nigerian construction industry.Design/methodology/approachAn interpretivist epistemological design was adapted to extensively manually review and search the literature on BIM implementation drivers. Based on 14 drivers for BIM implementation drivers identified, a survey questionnaire was used to collect data from the Nigerian construction practitioners. The data obtained is then subjected to descriptive, inferential statistics and multivariate techniques such as factor analysis.FindingsThe study, through factor analysis, categorized the 14 drivers to BIM implementation into four principal factors. The factors are construction related-drivers; process digitalization and economic-related drivers; sustainability and efficiency-related drivers; and visualization and productivity-related drivers.Practical implicationsTo effectively adopt BIM in the construction industry, it is necessary to identify the BIM implementing drivers, which can act as catalysts of change and, thus leading to sustained adoption of BIM. Therefore, the identified drivers and categorization of principal factors could provide managerial implications for better execution and adoption of BIM, as well as the creation of the required change for the BIM implementation.Originality/valueThe research provides insights into the implementation drivers of BIM in lesser studies in a developing country such as Nigeria. The study further contributes to this research sphere by using factor analysis to customize and contextualize the drivers that were previously identified.

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is one of the methods that can be used to enhance project effectiveness. However, its implementation in Indonesia is relatively low. This issue is attributed to various inhibiting factors. This research aims to identify the BIM implementation barriers and the mitigation steps that need to be taken. A survey was conducted using both closed-ended questionnaire and open-ended questionnaire. The intended respondents were stakeholders stakeholders who have understandings of BIM, and have previously applied BIM in construction projects. The analysis of closed-ended questions was performed using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method to identify the levels of influence of inhibiting factors on BIM implementation. Meanwhile, open-ended questions were analysed to gather opinions regarding solution approaches to the barriers to BIM implementation. The result of this study indicate that software and hardware costs are the major barrier to implementing BIM in construction projects. Additionally, factors such as lack of knowledge and understanding of BIM, difficulty in changing or transitioning work culture, investment costs and profits uncertainty of BIM, and a lack of awareness of the BIM benefits are other obstacles that need attention. To promote the realization of BIM implementation, steps such as socialization, training and certification, as well as government support in facilitating BIM implementation in construction projects, are expected to be realized.

PurposeThis paper aimed to identify critical success factors (CSFs) of building information modeling (BIM) implementation among architectural, engineering and construction (AEC) firms in Malaysia using quantitative statistical methods.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire survey was conducted on the population of all AEC firms in Malaysia to rank the relative importance of 15 success factors (SFs) for BIM implementation in the firm on a 5-point Likert scale. The sampling frame consisted of all members registered with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) from which 184 responses were received. The distinction between SFs and CSFs was achieved by a normalized mean cutoff value. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to determine the relative groupings of the CSFs and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used to examine the underlying relationships between the CSF groupings.FindingsResults of this study validated 11 previously identified CSFs for successful implementation of BIM among Malaysian AEC firms. Non-technical factors such as management, leadership and coordination were found to have higher relevance compared to technical factors such as software and hardware. Ranking analysis of the CSFs found internal coordination factors to have more importance compared to external coordination factors. PCA revealed 4 principal components (PCs) from the 11 CSFs. Together, these four PCs explain 74.3% of the variance in the data. Also, six hypothesized relationships between these groupings were supported using PLS-SEM.Research limitations/implicationsThis study found an interaction between internal and external coordination factors for the implementation of BIM. Future research could explore the dynamics of both intra- and inter-firm coordination, which may create an environment suitable for BIM implementation.Practical implicationsThis study provides Malaysian AEC firms with a general strategy on how to approach the implementation of BIM within the firm. In addition, government initiatives should focus on increasing BIM competency of graduates entering the workforce. This can be achieved through the development of a national BIM curriculum. Apart from that, the implementation of BIM requires a radical shift in the traditional building delivery process, not just simply acquiring new software and hardware.Originality/valueThis study revealed that the interactions between different firms at the industry level can influence successful implementation of BIM at the firm level. CSFs for BIM implementation at the firm level have been extensively studied. However, few studies exist which explore the inter-firm collaborations at the industry level that facilitate successful BIM implementation.

Since 2015, a 13-week core course “Integrated Building Project Development (IBPD)” was launched annually for final year students of all undergraduate programmes of the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering of the City University of Hong Kong. These undergraduate programmes cover most disciplines of the construction industry—architectural studies, civil and structural engineering, building services engineering, surveying, and construction engineering and management. From 2018 onwards, students are required to use Building Information Modelling (BIM) across all disciplines in the project development process of this course. A BIM project execution plan on Client’s BIM requirements, the scope of BIM implementation and the required BIM deliverables in this course is provided to students. A BIM server that supports in-campus and remote access was built for students to store, retrieve and archive their digital files so that they can practise BIM communication and data exchange on a centralised platform. This paper shares the successful execution of the BIM project execution plan, under the framework of the interdisciplinary BIM (iBIM) implementation and the BIM server architecture, by the students.KeywordsUndergraduate programmesIntegratedMultidisciplinaryBuilding Information Modelling (BIM)

The term of Building Information Modelling (BIM) has become ubiquitous in construction industry of China. The purpose of this study is to investigate implementation of BIM in construction industry in China, including the BIM strategy, the BIM standards, and the projects that utilized BIM and so on. The methodology for this paper is based on a literature review of the strategy, the standards in relation to BIM and a detailed case study of 30 BIM implementation projects in construction industry in China. A range of key factors that affected the BIM implementation and the initiatives to accelerate the BIM development in China were found in this paper, such as the BIM standards system, the BIM commercial model, BIM contribution to sustainability and so on. From the research findings, some conclusions and recommendations were drawn to explore effective ways to promote the BIM implementation in China.

Decentralization and a lack of integration in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry are some of the main challenges for project management in green building construction. To address this problem, many construction companies have attempted to use building information modelling (BIM) to coordinate and optimize the management of green building projects. However, the research on successfully adopting and using BIM in interdisciplinary teams working on green building projects is limited; moreover, comprehensive comparisons across different countries and regions are lacking. Therefore, this study conducts a novel investigation of the key factors affecting the use of BIM in project management for green building construction through case studies in the UK and China. This study uses semi-structured interviews, Python-based term frequency analysis and thematic analysis to identify five key themes, namely, communication, data environment, motivation, project members and policy, which influence the adoption and implementation of BIM. In addition, based on gained insights, the impacts of different green building certification levels on BIM project management during the construction phase must be fully considered. These findings provide practical recommendations for BIM management in green building construction projects and contribute to the field of construction management.

The development of information and communication technology is increasing every year, contruction sector indeed. The rapid increase in technology in the construction sector has forced all AEC actors in Indonesia to follow these developments as an effort to increase work productivity. The breakthrough that can support infrastructure development to follow the digitalization era is the use of various technologies and applications of Building Information Modeling (BIM) which have many benefits. However, for the implementation of BIM in Jambi City itself still relatively low, from the maturity level of BIM based on the model (Succar, 2010) obtained a value of 0.719 at the non-existence level, which means that the use of BIM in construction companies in Jambi City has not yet been implemented. the discovery of the potential use of BIM, even seen from the optimism of the implementation of BIM in the company, not all informants have high optimism. Therefore, a study was conducted on the inhibiting factors that hindered the implementation of BIM in construction companies in Jambi City, using interview techniques to determine the actual obstacles. The 5 highest barriers factors were identified, that is Lack of understanding of BIM and its benefits, Lack of government support, Requires high hardware specifications, High investment costs for BIM official licenses, Lack of market demand (Clients). With this research, it is hoped that the application of BIM can be better and provide maximum benefits to construction companies in Jambi City.

Building information modelling (BIM) enables firms in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry to transform the construction value chain into a technologically enhanced construction process. One of the fundamental concerns to emerge related to BIM adoption is how to implement BIM successfully. Thus, it is considered crucial to identify the key factors (KFs) that influence the success of BIM initiatives. This study is conducted to find the influence factors and also undertake an analysis in order to identify the KFs that would facilitate successful BIM adoption and implementation in Singapore. The research concluded that improved coordination, better accuracy in a faster timeframe, fewer on-site clashes and fewer change orders are the important benefits of BIM adoption. The research findings should help AEC firms to ensure the realisation of BIM adoption and implementation in the project life cycle. It should also help Singapore’s government agencies to plan properly for supporting BIM adoption and implementation in the life cycle of construction projects.

Building information modelling (BIM) enables firms in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry to transform the construction value chain into a technologically enhanced construction process. One of the fundamental concerns to emerge related to BIM adoption is how to implement BIM successfully. Thus, it is considered crucial to identify the key factors (KFs) that influence the success of BIM initiatives. This study is conducted to find the influence factors and also undertake an analysis in order to identify the KFs that would facilitate successful BIM adoption and implementation in Singapore. The research concluded that improved coordination, better accuracy in a faster timeframe, fewer on-site clashes and fewer change orders are the important benefits of BIM adoption. The research findings should help AEC firms to ensure the realisation of BIM adoption and implementation in the project life cycle. It should also help Singapore’s government agencies to plan properly for supporting BIM adoption and implementation in the life cycle of construction projects.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) emerges as one of the megatrends that will modernize the Malaysian construction industry due to its vital role in collaboration, coordination and communication in real-time among construction industry stakeholders. In 2019, the government of Malaysia has mandated the use of BIM technology for public projects worths more than 100 million. However, less than half of the construction projects in Malaysia is currently using the BIM system. In order to encourage the implementation of BIM, there is an important need to educate the construction industry players with realistic information on BIM technology. Based on previous literature, disruption of BIM toward the traditional practice of construction activities can be managed through exposure and incremental of BIM knowledge. Therefore, this study explores the current awareness of construction industry players on the application of BIM toward sustainability aspects, particularly on social sustainability. A set of questionnaire survey is used to gather the required data and a total of 133 contractors have responded to the survey. The data were analyzed using the frequency distribution to indicate the highlighted application of BIM foresees by contractors that contribute to social sustainability. The finding indicates that the level of awareness is influenced by their knowledge on BIM. Therefore, providing a better understanding and wider exposure on BIM could improve the implementation of BIM in the construction projects, which align with the government agenda.