Navendren, D; Manu, P; Shelbourn, M and Mahamadu, A M (2014) Challenges to building information modelling implementation in UK: Designers' perspectives. In: Raiden, A and Aboagye-Nimo, E (eds.) Proceedings of 30th Annual ARCOM Conference, 1-3 September 2014, Portsmouth, UK.
Abstract
Building information modelling (BIM) has been proposed as a technology enabled process for the realisation of the performance ambitions of the construction industry through integrated management of information in virtual 3-D formats. Significant challenges however exist which undermine its implementation within the construction industry. The identification of these challenges is an imperative precondition for successful implementation of BIM given the associated risk. The design phase has particularly been cited as a significant beneficiary of process improvement and efficiency gains expected from the deployment of BIM. Despite the critical role of the design phase to project delivery and consequently BIM usage, few studies have sought to interrogate the challenges faced by designers. A qualitative approach was adopted through semi-structured interviews to solicit perspectives of UK design firms on the implementation challenges being faced. Findings reveal a categorisation of challenges as design-specific, team-orientated, project-related, technology related (BIM specific), industry-wide challenges and cost. This categorisation is used as a basis for identifying critical challenges which include: design process lag and loss of time; lack of understanding by clients regarding requirements for the BIM model; lack of learning feedback from projects on which BIM has been used; and lack of supply chain integration. Variation in the challenges across different maturity levels of firms is also confirmed in this study, particularly in relation to cost of implementation. Awareness of these challenges provides opportunities for identifying effective solutions for their mitigation.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | BIM; designers; qualitative research |
| Index terms: | construction industry, implementation, project delivery, supply chain integration, qualitative research, variation, design phase, mitigation, qualitative approach, designer, process improvement, efficiency, interview, building information modelling, maturity level, design process, design firm |
| Subjects: | information systems, industry analysis, evaluation, financial risk, contractual condition, performance management, research methods, management, project delivery, contractual arrangements, supply chain integration, professional practice, practitioner, design methods, research design and methodology, profession, data collection methods |
| Topics: | Roles and Professions, Procurement, Cost Management, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Contract Administration, Design Practice, Digital Applications, Quality Management, Supply Chain Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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