Review of Building Information Modelling (BIM)

This paper reviews the importance, key concepts, challenges, benefits, and opportunities of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the construction industry. The paper also discusses the avenues for future research, conclusion, and recommendations. Keywords: Building information modeling, visualization, designing and decision making.

REVIEW OF
“BULDING INFORMATION MODELLING (BIM)”
YOUR NAME
Griffith School of Engineering, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD4222, Australia
The aim of this paper is to present a review on “Building information modeling (BIM)”. The importance of BIM, key
concepts of BIM and the challenges in BIM is discussed. The barriers, benefits and opportunities are also discussed. In
the end the avenues for future research are provided. The conclusion and recommendations are also presented.
Keywords: Building information modeling,
visualization, designing and decision making
1. Introduction
1.1. Overview
Building Information Modeling (BIM) is
considered as a process of documentation related to the
different project phases such as construction, planning,
operations and facility management. This
documentation process is beneficial for the visualization
of the operations and the construction application that
includes scheduling, estimating and design
coordination. BIM application helps in identifying the
conflicts among the building systems and establishing
visual coordination of systems. With the help of
detecting the conflicts, the problem can be effective
resolved even before the construction. This eventually
can help in saving time and money (Kumar &
Mukherjee, 2009). .
1.2. Context
Building Information Modeling (BMI) is
specifically a process that is used in the construction in
the construction industry for improving the
coordination, visualization, reducing waste and cost and
improving monitoring.
2. The Literature Review
2.1. Importance of virtual project teams for
organizations
Building Information Modeling (BMI) is an
approach that helps in improving the coordination
between the different disciplines included in various
phases of the project. The construction cycle can be
improved with the help of it and also help in identifying
and eliminating the errors. With the help of BIM, 3D
visuals can be generated which helps in providing with
the clarity of the product to the different stakeholders.
The coordination issues can be resolved and the
requirements of the material can also be predicted
accurately which can help in reducing cost and wastage
during the construction process. BIM can also help in
improving the monitoring through keeping check upon
the project progress during all the phases of
construction. BIM is highly important as it helps in
delivering refined end product (The Constructor, 2018).
2.2. Key concepts of BIM
The key concepts of Building Information
Modeling are: use of database in place of drawings,
distributed model concept and value addition to the
BIM. First: The database is used for developing the
designs which serves as central repository of all the
characteristics of the product. Intelligent objects are
used for the representation of the elements of projects. It
includes important information about the associated
object. Second: two types of tools of BIM are authoring
and analysis tools. BIM adopts distributed approach for
combining authoring tools’ value with power of analysis
tools. In this approach, separate models for construction,
cost, design, scheduling, operations, and fabrication are
authored and after that analysis functions are performed.
Third: Value of BIM is in models produced, modeling
tools as well as in utilization of the power of modeling
for helping in collaborative decision making. Integrated
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project delivery (IPD) helps in bringing expertise of
traders, suppliers, construction management,
fabrication, and product manufacturer with the owner
and design professionals to produce good quality of
design. It also helps in resolving the conflicts and
enhancing collaborative process which add value to
BIM (Kumanayake & Bandara, 2012).
2.3. Challenges in BIM
BIM is helpful in the construction industry and the
technology is available even though the adoption of
BIM is slower. The reasons behind it include the
technical and the management challenges that are faced
by the construction industry. The technical reasons
includes – it demands for well-defined process of
transactional construction for the purpose to eliminate
the issues of data interoperability, needs for computable
digital design data and development of strategies that
are practical for integration and exchange of
information among the components of BIM which is a
challenge for construction industry. The management
challenges arise due to the inability to use and
implement BIM. There is no such clear consensus
related to implementation of it (Azhar, 2011).
3. Opportunities
BIM provides with the opportunity to establishing
competitive advantage and helps in designing in an
efficient manner. The managers can manage the
construction process in an easier manner and can also
save the time and money.
4. Benefits
The benefits of BIM are:
1. Save cost and time
2. Helps in visualization
3. Ease of information exchange
4. Improve the quality and decision making
5. Improve customer satisfaction
5. Barriers
 Lack of the technical ability
 Lack of standards for BIM’s implementation and
use
6. Avenues for research
The themes for the future research that are
identified include: identifying the challenges in
implementing BIM, other concepts related to BIM and
usefulness of BIM.
7. Conclusions and recommendations
BIM is a tool that can help in designing,
exchanging information and effective decision making.
It provides the ability to the construction industry to
improve the quality of the end product. The challenges
are faced by construction industry to implement and use
BIM because of the technical and management issues.
References

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Azhar, S. (2011). Building Information Modeling (BIM): Trends, Benefits, Risks, and Challenges for the AEC
Industry. Leadership and Management in Engineering, 11(3), 241-252.
Kumanayake, R. P., & Bandara, R. M. (2012). Building Information Modelling (BIM); How it Improves Building
Performance. International Symposium on Ensuring national security through reconciliation and
sustainable development (pp. 1-13). Ratmalana, Sri Lanka: General Sir John Kotelawala Defence
University.
Kumar, J. V., & Mukherjee, M. (2009). Scope of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in India. Journal of
Engineering Science and Technology Review, 2(1), 165-169.
The Constructor. (2018). Building Information Modeling in Construction Industry. The Constructor