Exploring the paradox of low BIM adoption in the built environment

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is an ICT application of tools and processes. There is a limited understanding of the real root causes of challenges in implementation among practitioners. As part of an ongoing action research project in a Norwegian municipality, we held a series of focus group sessions with technology users. We explored the reasons for the slow uptake of BIM in the context of the need for information management. We find limited engagement in information management processes necessary for successful application of BIM. However, we find great interest in achieving more sustainable outcomes in the municipality. We argue a possible re-alignment of the purported benefits of BIM towards emerging sustainable development goals in the municipality. The relevancy of this article is to find leads to actionable solutions to the slow digital transformation in the built environment. We find it paradoxical that increased BIM adoption might be achieved by not focusing on BIM at all, but by focusing on achieving sustainable outcomes, for which both BIM and information management is necessary

Enabling an effective knowledge and information flow between the phases of building construction and facilities management

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate ways of transferring knowledge and information during the life-cycle phases of construction projects, particularly between the construction and occupancy phases, and to find an approach to minimise knowledge and information gaps during the handover process. Design/methodology/approach The study applied a qualitative approach involving a literature review and an archival analysis of information flow in the studied cases of a construction project, followed by a cross-cases analysis and expert interviews. Data on information flow were collected from three cases of building construction projects in Perth, Western Australia. In addition, a total of 18 local facilities management experts were interviewed to identify the key reasons of knowledge and information gaps and to propose an effective knowledge flow model. Findings The findings of this study indicated a significant knowledge and information gap, which exists during the handover process in construction projects in Western Australia. The findings of case analysis and expert interviews identified that the project handover guidelines were often ignored in construction projects in Western Australia, and the handover phase was not given the same priority as the design and construction phases by most of the project stakeholders, which led to information and knowledge gaps between the project construction and post-occupancy phases. The study conducted, integrated knowledge and information flow modelling to analyse the knowledge and information gaps followed by mapping the gaps against existing knowledge sharing frameworks (KSFs) before proposing an integrated knowledge sharing conceptual model to improve current practice and to enhance the information flow during the various phases of the construction project life cycle. Research limitations/implications The study is based on three cases in Perth, Western Australia, and thus the findings and recommendations are contextual. Whilst laying a good foundation to do so, further research is needed to investigate more cases in Western Australia and beyond to fully generalise the findings from this study. Originality/value The study contributes to improve the handover process and information flows in project life-cycle phases in Western Australia and develop an information flow model followed by bringing together existing KSFs, namely, the open communication channel (OCC), soft landing framework (SLF) and building information modelling (BIM), to propose an integrated knowledge sharing conceptual model. The methodology used here to analyse the information flow in a diagrammatic manner, the mapping of FM issues against the KSFs’ capabilities and a conceptual model to facilitate change in the industry’s silo mindset are the main contributions of this paper

Taking industry seriously in ICT research – The case of building and construction industry

Industry has received little attention in Information systems research as a factor explaining information and communication technology (ICT) related activities in organizations. By drawing on a case study in the building and construction industry in Sweden, the aim of the paper is to contribute to an enhanced knowledge on how industry specific features shape the adoption and use of ICT. It is concluded adoption and deployment of ICT is shaped by the interplay among three main dimensions of industry: the market and production environment (shaped by specific interaction patterns among its features), the socio-cognitive environment, and institutional actors. The outcomes of this interplay will “fit” material features of ICT, implying certain ICT applications are preferred in an industry. The suggested framework can be used as a point of departure when ICT-related activities in an industry are analysed. But interaction patterns among features and features to be included in the framework will vary among industries

Adoption Processes for EDM, EDI and BIM Technologies in the Construction Industry

Three strategically important uses of IT in the construction industry are management of project documents on web-servers (EDM), electronic handling of orders and invoices between companies (EDI) and use of 3D models including non-geometrical attributes for integrated design and construction (BIM). The purpose of this work is to study factors that affect the decisions to implement these techniques as well as the actual adoption process. In a longitudinal survey study in the Swedish Construction Industry, the extent of use of these techniques was measured in 1998, 2000 and 2007. This paper presents a follow-up to the quantitative studies, where semi-structured interviews have been used, in a quali-tative approach. The theoretical basis for the studies was informed by frameworks from IT-adoption theory. The results showed that decisions to implement these technologies are made on three different levels: individual level, company organizational level, and project organizational level. Different patterns in adoption can be explained by where decisions are mainly taken. EDM is driven from the project level, EDI mainly from the company level, and BIM is driven by individuals. The study points out that decision for implementing BIM should be taken on a higher strategic level in order to deliver intended benefits.peerReviewe

ENGINEERING SEMANTICS OF MODEL VIEWS FOR BUILDING INFORMATION MODEL EXCHANGES USING IFC

ABSTRACT The data schema of the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) is generic, designed to support the full range of model exchanges needed in the construction industry. For any given set of use cases for a sub-domain of building construction, a set of model view definitions (MVD) is required to specify exactly what information should be exchanged, and in what form and structure the IFC entities are to be used. A spectrum of possibilities is explored, using examples from concrete construction in general and precast concrete construction in particular. Different applications use different meanings or semantics and the semantic meaning using IFC constructs is discussed in detail, for issues dealing with typing, instances, relationships, and rules etc. Based on this review, we conclude that although the IFC product model schema is richly expressive, it lacks formal definition of its concepts. Thus in preparing a set of MVDs, information modelers must determine the appropriate level of meaning to require and they must define the typing structure to be used. In this context the paper also discusses the topics of human cognition versus software intelligence and the legal implications of MVDs. To achieve standardized and re-usable model views, further research toward a modular and logical framework based on formal specification of IFC concepts is recommended

Scholarship of BIM and construction law: myths, realities and future directions

Misinformation about BIM is rife. BIM has been claimed to be a tool, a software, a philosophy, a system, a platform, and a set of interacting policies, processes and technologies. BIM has been espoused as though it is revolutionary; a dedicated practice for object-oriented design and accurate [or automated] estimating, and a virtual planning tool that is reliable for construction contracts. This chapter argues that the attributes often credited to BIM are not entirely accurate and thus could jeopardize the very foundation of BIM understanding in construction law education. The practical drawback regarding this is that BIM is not shaped by actual contract data but by virtual (imaginary) project data, bounded by software cognition protocols. In addition, BIM is not supported by an established contract instrument either. Although a section from the recent construction literature has shown significant excitement about BIM in the political space, business communications, teaching and learning (praxis inclusive), and, not least, for theory formulation, the reality is that not all the information about the potentiality or actual attributes of BIM is legally correct. Neither useful education nor training or research should be based on misinformation. Therefore, it is important to correct extant claims and distil extant knowledge about the legal implications of BIM’s actual deliverables. This chapter explains key realities and the challenges in legal constructs around BIM, and elicits appropriate directions for future research and for curriculum development regarding various aspects of professional and business liabilities in BIM. The implications of these are important for the development of students and graduates, as well as for politics, construction professional practice, and educational management

Modelling organizations' structural adjustment to BIM adoption: a pilot study on estimating organizations

Building information Modelling (BIM) promises a fairly radical revolution in all segments of the construction industry. Vital evidence has been used in many studies to elicit how fragmented processes in conventional construction systems, predominantly manual design systems and entity-based CAD often render design and project performance vulnerable. BIM is presented as having attributes that strengthen the frameworks for servicing efficiency in design and project performance. As BIM adoption continues to improve, various stake-holding practices that are involved in developing projects through integrated systems do require process models to help them simplify issues relating to multi-disciplinary integration - a direct opposite of what they are used to in fragmented systems. They also need to develop appropriate skills and strategies, including new marketing and administrative stratagems, to service intensive collaboration and other ethos of BIM. These are some of the inevitable changes to which organizations must respond in order to generate efficient results when adopting and deploying BIM. To examine organizational response to those process changes as promised in BIM, different organization models are explored with emphasis on their functional structures, namely: (1) matrix (2) networked (3) functional (4) divisional structure models. Data were collected from 8 construction and software development organizations in Australia through focus group discussions. 18 participants in core BIM skills took part in the study. Some interesting discoveries were made and reported on the industry's reactions to BIM adoption. Conclusively, this study confirms the nature and direction of potential changes that BIM trigger

The use of refurbishment, flexibility, standardisation and BIM to support the design of a change-ready healthcare facility

Healthcare in the UK is a very important sector; it provides state of the art accommodation that meets the need of patients, visitors, medical professionals and other staff. The UK Government is currently cutting costs within the different sectors of the economy, while there are raising figures in UK National Health Service (NHS) spending. These are due to a growing and ageing population, advancement in modern healthcare delivery and special needs for different facility users. There is a UK Government proposal set out that requires the delivery of £15-20 billion in efficiency savings over the three year period from 2011 (Department of Health, 2010-2015). This study has understood that cost savings can be achieved by adopting and implementing a framework that supports refurbishment, flexibility, standardisation and Building Information Modelling (BIM). These cost savings can be achieved through Mechanical Engineering and Plumbing (MEP) clash detections using (BIM). 65% of hospital designs are centred on MEP services (interviews). The NHS needs to save cost when responding to possible future changes without compromising the quality of standard provided to the public. A change-ready healthcare facility is proposed to address the issue of change and the design of quality spaces that can enhance effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of health and social care. A change-ready healthcare facility can be described as a facility that accommodates known or proposed future changes creating novel pathways to increase the quality and life span of facilities. There is also a large chunk of NHS estates that is underutilised EC Harris, (2013). Therefore, healthcare facilities need to respond to future changes in order to optimise their spaces. To achieve quality and cost efficiency in healthcare buildings, key considerations are refurbishment and reconfiguration, optimisation of flexibility, maximising standardisation and implementation of BIM. This research explores opportunities to save costs, time and improve quality of healthcare facilities by making emphasis on the design delivery process. Therefore, the new RIBA Plan of Work 2013 was used as a mechanism to help translate ideas into physical form and yet has been hindered by lack of development and ability to keep up with technological development such as BIM. This is the rationale for developing a framework. The RIBA Plan of Work is accepted nationally. Due to the UK BIM mandate by 2016, this research is focused on the use of BIM to support both space standardisation and space flexibility within a refurbished or new building. Space is a vital component competent in every healthcare facility. It provides the environment for healthcare services to be performed, and links one functional space to another, it can be designed for multifunctional usage. Healthcare spaces are complex entities due to the range of services and technology they support and the number, variety and quality of requirement combined with a rapidly changing environment. Flexibility enables a facility to easily respond to changes, while the introduction of standardisation supports staff performance by reducing the reliance on memory which will reduce human error. But the main question that emerges from current literature is how healthcare designers and planners manage healthcare spaces that cannot easily be standardised due to the constraints of existing structures, diversity in patient and staff needs? With analysis of different flexibility frameworks in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry, there is a need to improve the existing frameworks. Therefore, a framework for designing a change-ready healthcare facility was developed through a sequence of data analysis starting with literature, preliminary data, questionnaire survey and interviews. Three frameworks for designing a change-ready facility were revised, organised and merged to produce a state of the art framework. Three frameworks were revised as different research methods were required. The successful framework can guide the design process of embedding different flexible design options for a defined project brief to save costs and improve design efficiency. The framework was validated with some of the top 100 architectural practices in the UK, NHS Estates, facility managers and the RIBA through an interview process. Further research and development arising from this research focuses on the process of applying BIM to record or identify key decisions taken for each of the different design options generated from a single brief to inform the designers, clients or other stakeholders involved while collaborating. Findings of this research are described in five peer-reviewed papers. The only certainty in healthcare is change Gressel and Hilands, (2008)