KB7034: BIM Management Theory and Practice - Literature Review Report

This report provides a comprehensive literature review on Building Information Modelling (BIM) within the context of the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector. It examines the evolution of BIM as a promising development, emphasizing its role in enhancing efficiency and sustainability. The report deconstructs existing information management practices and critiques prevailing research efforts, identifying areas for improvement in project delivery. It highlights the benefits of BIM, such as improved visualization, better design, and cost reduction, while also addressing associated risks and challenges, including data ownership and technological adoption issues. The review discusses the importance of BIM in different project stages, analyzes the applications of BIM in construction, and provides insights into the adoption of BIM within firms and the AEC industry. Finally, it presents research questions aimed at improving BIM adoption and its methodology in the AEC industry.

MODULE CODE - KB7034
MOUDLE NAME: BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING MANAGEMENT
THEORY AND PRACTICE
STUDENT NUMBER: W17045027
TASK 1: WORKING LITERATURE REVIEW
WORD COUNT: 2119
NUMBER OF FIGURES AND TABLES: 2
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction...............................................................................................................3
2. Literature Review on BIM Sustainability...................................................................3
3. Benefits of BIM.........................................................................................................5
5. Risks and challenges of BIM....................................................................................6
Research Questions.....................................................................................................8
References:..................................................................................................................8
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1. Introduction
Building Information Modelling (BIM) is one of the most promising developments of
recent years in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) (Azhar et al., 2015).
BIM refers to an intelligent process based on 3D model, which gives the AEC professionals
a deep insight and tools for plan, construct, design and manage the infrastructure and
buildings more efficiently. Due to this technology, proper virtual model of the building is
constructed in a digital manner. According to Chen and Nguyen (2017), BIM has started
embracing the aspects of sustainable development particularly, the social, environmental
and economic. For gaining a well-balanced sustainable performance, the influence of BIM on
every field of sustainability is necessary to be taken into consideration. This paper will
discuss how the important sustainability aspects are being attained by means of BIM. It will
present a brief literature review, critically analysing the different thoughts on the role of BIM
within the context of the AEC sector. It aims to deconstruct the existing information
management practices used by Architectural Engineering and Construction (AEC) actors
and communicate their impact on the industry business model. Furthermore, it will critique
the prevailing AEC research efforts and identify the areas for improving the aspects of the
project delivery by means of the application of the management, theory and practice of BIM.
Lastly, it will shed light on the benefits of BIM along with the risks and challenges associated
with it.
2. Literature Review on BIM and Sustainability
It is to note that the AEC industry was long seeking different techniques for
decreasing the time and cost overruns of projects and increasing the productivity and quality
within the industry. To their concern, BIM is offering them the potential that is required for
achieving their aims and objectives (Volk, Stengel and Schultmann, 2014). As it is already
stated above, BIM is an intelligent 3D model based procedure that gives AEC (Architecture,
Engineering and Construction) professionals tools and insights for planning, designing,
constructing and managing the buildings efficiently. As per Fountain and Langar (2018), BIM
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is the technology that helps in stimulating the construction project in any virtual environment.
Along with this technology, a proper virtual model of a particular building, which is known as
a “building information model” is constructed digitally. When it is completed, the BIM
contains a small geometry and all the necessary data and information for supporting the
fabrication, design, construction and procurement activities that are needed to realise the
building. After its completion, this model could be made use of for several maintenance and
operations purpose.
Figure 1: Applications of BIM in different stages of a project lifecycle
(Source: BIM Framework 2013)
As per Nadeem et al. (2018), architects are the heaviest users of Building Information
Modelling (BIM). About 43% of them use it on more than half of their projects. On the other
hand, the contractors are the lightest users of BIM. Furthermore, about 82% of the users of
BIM believe the fact that BIM has positively influenced the productivity of the organisation
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(Son, Lee and Kim 2015). Furthermore, as per Chen and Nguyen (2017), prefabrication
potentials of the BIM can be widely used for reducing the costs and for improving the quality
of work. Hence, it is to state that the adoption of BIM is expanding within the firms and
especially, within the AEC industry. The main areas of application of BIM are the document
development in the field of construction, the pre-project planning services and the
conceptual design support. Its usage has lowered the overall risk that is distributed with a
similar contract structure. Loosemore (2014) in this context has also stated that the use of
BIM has led in an increase in the productivity of the business and it also fosters better
engagement among the project staffs and with the same, it reduced contingencies as well.
It is also to note that the integrated concept of the BIM fades away the level of
responsibility in such a way that the liability and the risk are possible to be enhanced (Eadie
et al. 2014). The requests for the intricate securities by the users of BIM as well as the offer
of restricted guarantees and disclaimers of the liabilities by the designers are the key
negotiation points which are required to be resolved before the BIM technology is been
utilised. Furthermore, it also needs more time for reviewing and inputting the BIM data.
Although these new costs might be theatrically offset by the efficiency and the schedule
gains. In fact, they are still a cost which anyone on the project team would suffer. Hence,
before BIM technology could be completely used, not only be the risks of its use be allocated
and identified, but its implementation cost must be paid for also. With the same, there is very
little or absolutely no progress in the establishing BIM model contract documents. There are
many companies that are cashing on the “buzz” of the process of BIM and they have
programs for addressing some quantitative aspects of it but in fact, they hardly treat that
process as a whole (Matarneh and Hamed, 2017). Hence, there is a necessity of
standardising the BIM process as well as for defining the guidelines for the implementation
procedure.
Moreover, due to the fact that dimensions of schedule and cost are layered onto the
BIM, the responsibility for a proper technological interface within different programs has
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become an issue. Most of the sophisticated contracting teams need subcontractors for
submitting the detailed critical path process schedules as well as cost breakdowns. In cases
where the information and data are incomplete and are submitted in a variety of costing and
scheduling programs, a team member must enter again and update a master costing and
scheduling program. That program might be a BIM model or any other program which is
integrated within BIM. Currently, most of these PM tools have been developed in isolation.
3. Benefits of BIM
BIM could be used for several purposes like code reviews, visualisation, shop drawings,
construction sequencing, cost estimating etc. Below are mentioned some key benefits and
uses of BIM:
Uses Benefits
Visualisation- 3D rendering, as shown in
Figure 2, could be very easily generated in
the house with some additional effort.
Better design- With the help of BIM the
building proposals are analysed rigorously,
and the simulations are performed more
quickly, which in turn enables innovative
and improved solutions.
Code reviews- The fire departments or any
other officials could use these models for
reviewing the building projects
Better customer service- By means of
proper and accurate visualisation made by
BIM, the proposals of the buildings are
understood in better ways (Tulubas Gokuc
and Arditi, 2017).
Shop drawings and fabrication- It is very
easy for generating shop drawings or
fabricating for different building systems.
One of the examples of it includes - sheet
metal ductwork shop drawings could be
produced faster after the completion of the
model.
Automated assembly- The digital product
data and information could be exploited in
the downstream processes and could be
used for the manufacturing of the structural
systems.
Forensic analysis- BIM could be easily
adapted to illustrate the key failures,
evacuation plans and leakages etc. (Hong
et al. 2016)
Better quality of production – With the
help of BIM, the documentation output gets
flexible and with the same, it exploits the
automation (Miettinen and Paavola, 2014).
Cost estimating- The software of BIM has
built-in cost estimating features. The
material quantities are updated and
extracted automatically while any changes
are made in the model.
Lowering the costs- It helps in reducing
the costs and reducing the labour re-works
on the site.
Off-site fabrication- BIM can be used for
producing parts of the structures at different
locations that are different as compared to
the location of the overall structure.
Higher Speed- It helps in enhancing the
speed of the construction process and at
the same time, enhanced the quality and
promotes higher level of tolerance.
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Figure 2: BIM 3D Modelling
5. Risks and Challenges of BIM
Risks Challenges
1. Shortage of determination of ownership
of the data of BIM as well as the need
for protecting the same by means of
copyright laws and the other legal
channels (Arunkumar, Suveetha and
Ramesh, 2018). For instance, when a
business owner pays for a particular
design then he or she might feel entitled
to own the design but if in case the
members of his team are supplying any
proprietary information for its usage on
the project then the proprietary
information is also required to be
protected.
2. It needs a very unique response for
every project on the basis of the needs
of the participants.
3. Taking the responsibilities for updating
data of BIM and making sure that it is
accurate.
4. Who would control the data entries into
the model and would be responsible for
1. Adoption of technology has been
seriously slower than it was anticipated
by many of the researchers
(Ghaffarianhoseini et al. 2017).
2. The managerial issues are surrounding
the use and implementation of the BIM.
At present, there is hardly any clear
consensus on the ways to use and
implement BIM.
3. There is no surety of who to operate
and to develop the BIM and how the
operational and the developmental
costs is to be distributed (Zhao, Wu and
Wang, 2018).
4. The technical issue include the
requirement for a well-defined
transactional construction process
models for the elimination of the issue
of data interoperability and the
requirement of well-developed practical
strategies for integration and exchange
of some meaningful information among
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the inaccuracies. It demands a good
range of risks (Eastman, Eastman,
Teicholz, & Sacks, 2011).
the BIM components.
Research Questions
a) How to improve the adoption of BIM in the AEC industry?
b) What is the importance of BIM methodology in the AEC industry?
c) How BIM adoption is initialised in the construction projects?
References:
Arunkumar, S., Suveetha, V. and Ramesh, A. (2018) "A feasibility study on the
implementation of building information modelling (BIM): from the architects’ & engineers’
perspective", Asian Journal of Civil Engineering, 19(2), pp. 239-247.
Azhar, S., Khalfan, M. and Maqsood, T. (2015) "Building information modelling (BIM): now
and beyond", Construction Economics and Building, 12(4), pp. 15-28.
BIM Framework. (2013). 8. Project Lifecycle Phases. [online] Available at:
https://www.bimframework.info/2013/12/project-lifecycle-phases.html [Accessed 8 Dec.
2018].
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Chen, P. and Nguyen, T. (2017) "Integrating web map service and building information
modelling for location and transportation analysis in green building certification
process", Automation in Construction, 77, pp. 52-66.
Eadie, R., Odeyinka, H., Browne, M., McKeown, C. and Yohanis, M., 2014. Building
information modelling adoption: an analysis of the barriers to implementation. Journal of
Engineering and Architecture, 2(1), pp.77-101.
Eastman, C., Eastman, C. M., Teicholz, P., & Sacks, R. (2011). BIM handbook: A guide to
building information modelling for owners, managers, designers, engineers and contractors:
John Wiley & Sons.
Fountain, J. and Langar, S. (2018) "Building Information Modelling (BIM) outsourcing among
general contractors", Automation in Construction, 95, pp. 107-117.
Ghaffarianhoseini, A. et al. (2017) "Building Information Modelling (BIM) uptake: Clear
benefits, understanding its implementation, risks and challenges", Renewable and
Sustainable Energy Reviews, 75, pp. 1046-1053.
Hong, Y. et al. (2016) "BIM adoption model for small and medium construction
organisations in Australia", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management.
Loosemore, M. (2014) "Improving construction productivity: a subcontractor's
perspective", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 21(3), pp. 245-260.
Matarneh, R. and Hamed, S. (2017) "Barriers to the Adoption of Building Information
Modelling in the Jordanian Building Industry", Open Journal of Civil Engineering, 07(03), pp.
325-335.
Miettinen, R. and Paavola, S. (2014) "Beyond the BIM utopia: Approaches to the
development and implementation of building information modelling", Automation in
Construction, 43, pp. 84-91.
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Nadeem, A., Wong, A.K.D., Akhanova, G., Azhar, S. and Wong, S.N., 2018. Application of
Building Information Modelling (BIM) in Site Management—Material and Progress Control.
In Proceedings of the 21st International Symposium on Advancement of Construction
Management and Real Estate (pp. 289-297).
Son, H., Lee, S. and Kim, C. (2015) "What drives the adoption of building information
modelling in design organizations? An empirical investigation of the antecedents affecting
architects' behavioural intentions", Automation in Construction, 49, pp. 92-99.
Tulubas Gokuc, Y. and Arditi, D. (2017) "Adoption of BIM in architectural design
firms", Architectural Science Review, 60(6), pp. 483-492.
Volk, R., Stengel, J. and Schultmann, F. (2014) "Corrigendum to “Building Information
Modelling (BIM) for existing buildings — Literature review and future needs” [Autom. Constr.
38 (March 2014) 109–127]", Automation in Construction, 43, p. 204.
Zhao, X., Wu, P. and Wang, X. (2018) "Risk paths in BIM adoption: empirical study of
China", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 25(9), pp. 1170-1187.
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