Marwan, A E (2019) Integrating building information modeling to project management consultants' role and practice in UAE. PhD thesis, Heriot-Watt University, UK.
Abstract
The study sought to understand and systematically define how the Building Information Management (BIM) can be integrated into the Project Management Consultant’s (PMC) role and practice in the construction industry of the UAE. To achieve this goal, the study first explored the global construction industry’s performance, PMC roles and BIM standards. Several issues were identified in the Construction Industry ranging from the lack of satisfaction of clients, overall bad reputation of the industry, low profitability, lack of innovation and development and the dire need for lean construction and hence, change. As the Construction industry is a key player in the global economy and nations GDP, these issues need to be addressed and the overall functioning of the industry enhanced. As PMC is the primary stakeholder of the industry, the study then, utilizing semi-structured interviews with the BIM Managers of the various firms, tried to understand the current key practices and trends in the PMCs role in the UAE. Using this data and the data obtained from the global study, another round of semi-structured interviews was conducted which asked what the ideal functions of the PMC should be in line with the BIM stages. Using this information and the RIBA overlay of BIM, a new framework prototype of the PMCs functions with the BIM integration was developed. Thereafter, this framework was tested and validated using ten interviews. Finally, a systematic, detailed and applicable PMC function with BIM integration was developed. The final framework indicates that in the pre-design stage PMC roles include reviewing, editing and commenting on EIR and drafting the project BIM strategy; drafting BIM scope for designer and consultant; and reviewing BIM in designers' pre-qualifications. In the design stage, the relevant tasks include: reviewing and approving the designer's BXP; managing the BIM development process; managing BIM related parts of the contractor's tender process. The tasks for construction stage include: reviewing, commenting and approval of contractor's BXP; managing BIM process, practice and implementation during the execution stage of the project; and managing the coordination between internal and external stakeholders of the project. Lastly, PMC tasks for the close-out stage include: managing the process of handing over BIM deliverables. This research study has identified the optimal practices of the PMC within the BIM function; hence, it has created a new framework on which future research can be directed. In addition, with the practical application of this framework in the construction industry, the existing functions can be revamped in favor of enhanced practices thereby leading to performance enhancement of the entire construction industry of the UAE and subsequently the GCC.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Nielsen, Y |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | coordination; drafting; information management; innovation; integration; lean construction; performance; pre-qualification; standards; client; consultant; designer; roles; stakeholders; interview; UAE |
| Index terms: | satisfaction, building information modelling, designer, editing, profitability, global construction, drafting, pre-qualification, coordination, project management, construction industry, implementation, manager, lean construction, approval, interview, prototype, building information management, strategy, design stage, integration, external stakeholder |
| Subjects: | practitioner, research dissemination and communication, contractual role, strategic management, economic analysis, professional practice, contractual arrangements, tendering, building construction, data collection methods, profession, project delivery, technical documentation, modelling and simulation, project management theory and practice, management, information systems, industry analysis, sociology, organizational analysis |
| Topics: | International Construction, Design Practice, Digital Applications, Organizational Design, Site Management, Contract Administration, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Stakeholder Management, Roles and Professions, Project Management, Engineering Principles, Procurement |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here