Reducing critical hindrances to building information modeling implementation: The case of the Singapore construction industry

10.3390/app9183833Applied Sciences (Switzerland)918383

A project management framework for enhanced productivity performance using building information modelling

Although the Singapore government has mandated submissions of building plans in building information modelling (BIM) format since July 2013, this does not yet seem to lead to enhanced productivity performance. BIM collaboration between designers and downstream contractors appears to remain inadequate. While many studies have been conducted on using BIM for better project outcomes, studies that relate BIM with the identification of non-value adding activities in the project lifecycle and the reduction of the resulting wastes are at infancy stage. This paper aims to propose a project management framework for enhancing the productivity of building projects in Singapore, which forms Phase I of an ongoing research project. A two-pronged approach is presented. Firstly, non-value adding activities in the current project delivery process that uses BIM partially in Singapore are identified by comparing the typical current process with full BIM-based processes; such activities are cut down after process transformation in terms of people, process, and technology. Secondly, time savings derived from reducing the wastes caused by these activities are quantified. The proposed framework was validated by a case study of a local residential project. It was concluded that this framework provides a valuable tool for project teams to enhance productivity performance

BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING-BASED PROCESS TRANSFORMATION TO IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY IN THE SINGAPORE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPH

Critical Success Factors for Enhancing the Building Information Modelling Implementation in Building Projects in Singapore

10.3846/13923730.2017.1374300Journal of Civil Engineering and Management2381029-104

Managing critical drivers for building information modelling implementation in the Singapore construction industry: an organizational change perspective

10.1080/15623599.2017.1423165International Journal of Construction Management193240-25

Evaluation of Complexity Issues in Building Information Modeling Diffusion Research

This study aimed to ascertain the research status of complexity issues in building information modeling (BIM) diffusion and identify future research directions in this field. A total of 366 relevant journal articles were holistically evaluated. The visualization analysis indicated that management aspects, emergent trends (such as green building, facility management, and automation), and theme clusters (such as interoperability, waste management, laser scanning, stakeholder management, and energy efficiency) are shaping BIM research towards complexity. Areas such as supply chain, cost, digital twin, and web are also essential. The manual qualitative evaluation classified the complexity issues in BIM diffusion research into three types (complexities of network-based BIM evolution, impact of BIM adoption circumstances, and BIM-based complexity reduction for informed decision making). It was concluded that BIM has been shifting towards information models and systems-based life cycle management, waste control for healthy urban environments, and complex data analysis from a big data perspective, not only in building projects but also in heritage and infrastructure, or at the city scale, for informed decision making and automatic responses. Future research should investigate the co-evolution between collaborative networks and BIM artefacts and work processes, quality improvement of BIM-based complex networks, BIM post-adoption behaviors influenced by complex environmental contexts, and BIM-based complexity reduction approaches

Evaluation of Complexity Issues in Building Information Modeling Diffusion Research

This study aimed to ascertain the research status of complexity issues in building information modeling (BIM) diffusion and identify future research directions in this field. A total of 366 relevant journal articles were holistically evaluated. The visualization analysis indicated that management aspects, emergent trends (such as green building, facility management, and automation), and theme clusters (such as interoperability, waste management, laser scanning, stakeholder management, and energy efficiency) are shaping BIM research towards complexity. Areas such as supply chain, cost, digital twin, and web are also essential. The manual qualitative evaluation classified the complexity issues in BIM diffusion research into three types (complexities of network-based BIM evolution, impact of BIM adoption circumstances, and BIM-based complexity reduction for informed decision making). It was concluded that BIM has been shifting towards information models and systems-based life cycle management, waste control for healthy urban environments, and complex data analysis from a big data perspective, not only in building projects but also in heritage and infrastructure, or at the city scale, for informed decision making and automatic responses. Future research should investigate the co-evolution between collaborative networks and BIM artefacts and work processes, quality improvement of BIM-based complex networks, BIM post-adoption behaviors influenced by complex environmental contexts, and BIM-based complexity reduction approaches

Factors impacting integrated design process of net zero energy buildings: an integrated framework

International Journal of Construction Management2291700-171

Investigating Critical Non-Value Adding Activities and Their Resulting Wastes in BIM-Based Project Delivery

Building information modeling (BIM) is deemed a useful innovation for technological and sustainable development of the economy. It is partially used in building projects in Singapore, although its implementation is mandated by the local government, resulting in various wastes and suboptimal productivity. Little is known about how non-value adding (NVA) BIM implementation practices were perceived by the local practitioners and how these practices affected productivity in building projects in Singapore. This study aimed to identify critical NVA BIM implementation activities and investigate the criticality of their resulting wastes to productivity performance in the current project delivery process in Singapore. The results from a questionnaire survey of 73 experts and four post-survey interviews in Singapore revealed that 38 NVA BIM implementation activities were deemed critical, among which “lack of involvement by contractors to contribute site knowledge” in the design development phase was ranked top; the top five resulting wastes with highest criticalities were reworks/abortive works, requests for information, design deficiencies, defects, and waiting/idle time. Furthermore, an independent-samples t-test was conducted to examine whether construction firms and upfront stakeholders perceived the NVA activities differently. It was discovered that most NVA activities exerted more agreement from construction firms than upfront non-construction organizations. Six strategies were proposed to mitigate the NVA activities and wastes. The findings can help practitioners identify weak areas of their BIM implementation practices and prioritize resources accordingly to eliminate the wastes and foster sustainability, as well as help overseas project teams, with minor adjustments, customize their own NVA BIM implementation activities and management strategies

Reducing non-value-adding BIM implementation activities for building projects in Singapore: Leading causes

The use of building information modeling (BIM) has been mandated by the Singapore government, but at the same time, non-value-adding (NVA) implementation practices are prevalent. However, little is known about the factors contributing to NVA BIM implementation practices from different stakeholders’ viewpoints. This study aims to identify the leading contributors to NVA BIM implementation activities in BIM-based building project delivery in Singapore, compare perceptions among stakeholders with different roles, firm sizes, and BIM implementation experience, and propose strategies for NVA implementation activity reduction. An extensive literature review and a pilot study were conducted to determine causes. The results of a questionnaire survey, statistical analyses, and four postsurvey interviews found that all 49 causes categorized by major stakeholders were critical. Among the most influential causes were “design models do not fit for intended downstream uses” (for architect/engineers) and “design changes are expensive once fabrication has commenced” (for manufacturer/supplier). The subgroup analysis indicated that contractors, especially those of small to medium size, perceived that the leading causes related to consultancy firms’ reluctance to enhance design-construction integration and consider incremental changes, whereas stakeholders without much BIM practical experience probably underestimated the difficulties of conducting value-adding BIM diffusion activities. This study extends the concept of NVA activities to BIM implementation and recommends management strategies for each project role to implement BIM-based collaborative practices. The findings enable practitioners to better understand BIM diffusion and reduce their NVA BIM implementation activities for enhanced construction productivity