Challenges to building information modelling implementation in UK: Designers' perspectives

Navendren, Dharshana; Manu, Patrick; Shelbourn, Mark; Mahamadu, Abdul-M

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.

Citation

Navendren, D., Manu, P., Shelbourn, M., & Mahamadu, A. (2014, September). Challenges to building information modelling implementation in UK: Designers' perspectives. Paper presented at 30th Annual Annual ARCOM Conference

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: 30th Annual Annual ARCOM Conference
• Start Date: Sep 1, 2014
• End Date: Sep 3, 2014
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2014
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 733-742
• Keywords: building information modelling, BIM, UK, designers
• Publisher URL: http://www.arcom.ac.uk/abstracts-browse.php?j=2#2
• Additional Information: Title of Conference or Conference Proceedings : Proceedings of 30th Annual ARCOM Conference