Aftab, U; Hassan, M U; Ullah, F; Nasir, A R and Thaheem, M J (2026) BIM-based search and selection of construction material suppliers: A dedicated framework and prototype. Construction Innovation, 26(3), pp. 892-915. ISSN 1471-4175
Abstract
Purpose – This study aims to address the key issues concerning supplier selection in traditional construction procurement by proposing an innovative, novel, state-of-the-art prototype plugin building information modelling – supplier search and ranking (BIM-SSR) and an associated conceptual framework. It enhances building information modelling (BIM) capabilities through web crawling and analytical hierarchy processes (AHP). It uses the World Wide Web to procure construction material suppliers. Design/methodology/approach – Prevalent issues in traditional procurement of material suppliers have been identified through a rigorous literature review. Field experts vetted these issues. A framework has been presented to address these issues based on integrated web crawling and AHP as a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method. A BIM prototype (BIM-SSR) has been developed using Python and plugged into Autodesk Revit to automate the search and evaluation of material suppliers based on precise material specifications from the BIM design. The BIM-SSR prototype is tested through a case study and validated by field professionals for its efficiency in tackling the identified issues. Findings – Thirteen key issues have been identified concerning traditional construction procurement pertinent to supplier selection. Best-value procurement was encouraged by identifying supplier selection criteria such as cost, delivery time, experience, compliance with quality management standards, warranties, and claim period. The presented BIM-SSR prototype has an efficiency of 80%–95% in addressing the issues identified in this study and 97.5% effectiveness in improving the overall procurement management process. Originality/value – The BIM-SSR prototype developed in this study is a novel and innovative addition to the body of knowledge that has been integrated into Autodesk Revit as a Plugin. Automation of supplier search and selection through digital technologies, including web crawling and integration of traditionally accepted MCDM methods such as AHP in BIM, is another innovation in the current study. Overall, this study presents a holistic, innovative system, from conceptual design to practical implementation and demonstration. This is one of the steps to help the traditional construction procurement process evolve into a more modern and digital procurement.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | best-value procurement; BIM-ssr; building information modelling; construction procurement; supplier selection; web crawling |
| Index terms: | traditional procurement, procurement management, traditional construction, case study, building information modelling, efficiency, world-wide web, automation, analytical hierarchy process, implementation, selection criteria, quality management, effectiveness, construction procurement, construction material, warranty, delivery time, literature review, prototype, specification, procurement process, multi-criteria decision-making, compliance, digital technology, conceptual design, conceptual framework, body of knowledge, state of the art, integration, methodology |
| Subjects: | building materials, modelling and simulation, data analysis and analytics, data collection methods, computing systems, decision analysis, organizational analysis, information systems, procurement strategy, performance management, design practice, performance measurement, contractual condition, contractual arrangements, knowledge management, research dissemination and communication, networking, quality assurance, time analysis, decision-making and optimization, heritage and conservation, research methods, tendering, theoretical framing, automation and robotics, health safety and environment |
| Topics: | Health and Safety, Engineering Principles, Risk Management, Procurement, Quality Management, Information Management, Research Practice, Digital Applications, Design Practice, Contract Administration, Time Control, Organizational Design |
| 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