scholarly journals Factors influencing the adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the South African Construction and Built Environment (CBE) from a quantity surveying perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 142-150
Author(s):  
Berco Venter ◽  
Sams Pfukani Ngobeni ◽  
Hendri du Plessis

Abstract The construction industry has often been described as stagnant and out-of-date due to the lack of innovation and innovative work methods to improve the industry (WEF, 2016; Ostravik, 2015). The adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) within the construction industry has been relatively slow (Cao et al., 2017), particularly in the South African Construction and Built Environment (CBE) (Allen, Smallwood & Emuze, 2012). The purpose of this study was to determine the critical factors influencing the adoption of BIM in the South African CBE, specifically from a quantity surveyor’s perspective, including the practical implications. The study used a qualitative research approach grounded in a theoretical framework. A survey questionnaire was applied to correlate the interpretation of the theory with the data collected (Naoum, 2007). The study was limited to professionals within the South African CBE. The study highlighted that the slow adoption of BIM within the South African CBE was mainly due to a lack of incentives and subsequent lack of investment towards the BIM adoption. The study concluded that the South African CBE operated mainly in silos without centralised coordination. The BIM adoption was only organic. Project teams were mostly project orientated, seeking immediate solutions, and adopted the most appropriate technologies for the team’s composition. The study implies that the South African CBE, particularly the Quantity Surveying profession, still depends heavily on other role-players in producing information-rich 3D models. Without a centralised effort, the South African Quantity Surveying professionals will continue to adopt BIM technology linearly to the demand-risk ratio as BIM maturity is realised in the South African CBE.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Ayesha Mall

Every year approximately 13 million tonnes of unused materials go to waste from construction sites. Construction professionals should strive to reduce wastage through the principle of right-first-time. Material waste directly affects the profitability of the contractor and it is a measure of competency and competitive advantage. The construction has a great influence on several industries by procuring products, as well as by providing products to other industries, therefore, by reducing waste there could be great cost savings to the construction industry. The Building Information Modelling (BIM) tool can be used in a construction of a project to motivate the design, construction, and operation of a project from start to finish. Therefore, the 3D BIM model can assist the construction industry in reducing material waste. The aim of this study is to identify the main causes of waste in the South African construction industry and develop a flow chart through the application of BIM to reduce waste. The objectives of the study include the identification of causes and sources of material waste on construction and the use of BIM to aid in waste minimisation. The tools used for data collection included questionnaires and site observations. The sample population for data collection included architects, project managers, quantity surveyors, and engineers. A programme called Statistical package for social scientists (SPSS) was employed to analyse the data. Mean score rankings, factor analysis, and Cronbach alpha test were adopted for data analysis. The structured questionnaire indicated whether construction professionals in South Africa have sufficient knowledge of BIM. Key research findings indicate that BIM has the ability to assist in reducing material waste. BIM enhances practices such as collaboration, detailing, visualisation and simulation, clash detection and improved communication. BIM has a strong influence on the reduction of waste material. BIM has the potential to address the causes of waste, relative to design changes, ineffective coordination and communication, and improvements towards waste minimisation through the construction stage of a project. The results from the data analysis, revealed that the most common contribution to waste on a construction site included material handling and storage factors, design and documentation factors, procurement factors, site management and practice factors and operation factors. The use of the developed flow chart on the application of BIM in the delivery of a project will minimize material waste. The model developed is recommended to be adopted for use in the South African construction industry for the delivery of projects with minimal wastage costs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Nadzirah Zainordin ◽  
◽  
Zamzarina Md Judyar ◽  
Nur Syahirah Zafarull ◽  
Nor Azizah Zalin ◽  
...  

This study begins with a broad literature review to understand the Building Information Modelling (BIM) concept. Quantity Surveyors star as an influential role as qualified, trained, and proficient in dealing with glitches relating to construction expenditure, supervision, and consultation in the construction industry. When the task is getting crucial, an assistant from technology may help faster and smoother the process and task. This study aims to investigate an understanding of the application of BIM among Quantity Surveyor in Malaysia. According to the Board of Quantity Surveyors, Malaysia's official website, 101 registered Quantity Surveying Consultant firms were in 2018. This study targeted 1000 persons from different firms and expected to respond from at least 278 persons due to time constraints. The other criteria of the respondents include years of experience in the industry. Quantity Surveying Consultant firms would be the most suitable people to answer a questionnaire survey for this study. The registered Quantity Surveying Consultant firms are very well proficient in the quantity surveying practice and services. Therefore, by choosing Quantity Surveying Consultant firms to be the respondent may help in getting the most consistent answer and higher accuracy of the exploration of Quantity Surveyors productivity by adopting the Building Information Modelling (BIM) concept in Quantity Surveyor, which will further enhance the awareness of benefits of BIM to the Quantity Surveyor profession itself.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Evans ◽  
Peter Farrell ◽  
Wael Zewein ◽  
Ayman Mashali

Purpose The construction industry encounters substantial challenges in its evolution towards sustainable development and to the adoption of building information modelling (BIM) technology and lean construction (LC) practices on construction mega-projects. This study aims to present critical challenges and to investigate the interactions of BIM and LC on construction mega-projects encountered by key stakeholders in their efforts to integrate BIM and LC. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative research approach is adopted to introduce and validate LC principles and BIM functionalities resulting from a detailed analysis of extant literature, followed by a conceptual analysis of the interactions between BIM and LC on construction mega-projects. A quantitative questionnaire survey is then used. Descriptive and inferential statistical tests are used for data analysis, and analysis of variance tests elaborate and validate results. Findings The research yielded ten BIM functionalities and ten LC principles, which are categorised in four principle areas and four BIM functionality groups. A research framework for analysis of the interaction between BIM and LC is then compiled. Originality/value Research findings and the proposed framework will enhance the adoption of BIM and LC practices on construction mega-projects and allow project key stakeholders to place emphasis on tackling crucial challenges and barriers identified in this research. The framework will guide and stimulate research; and as such, the approach adopted up to this point is constructive. The identified interactions between BIM and LC on construction mega-projects show positive synergies between the two.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liané van Wyk ◽  
Kahilu Kajimo-Shakantu ◽  
Akintayo Opawole

PurposeThe South African construction industry appears to be lagging behind other industries in the country in terms of implementation and adoption of innovative technologies. Moreover, sufficient empirical data on the adoption of innovative technologies, especially, in developing countries are not readily available. The aim of this study is therefore to assess the adoption and implementation of innovative technologies in the South African construction industry with a view to improving the industry's performance.Design/methodology/approachA survey was undertaken using a questionnaire, administered to construction professionals primarily in project management, quantity surveying and architectural firms.FindingsThe key findings show that there are some innovative technologies such as building information modelling, 3-dimensional mapping, drones, 3-dimensional printing and virtual reality that have been deployed. However, limited adoption of innovative technologies within the industry and low levels of knowledge of its benefits among the respondents were reported. This low implementation of innovative technologies was due to critical barriers such as high cost, limited knowledge, time requirement, fear of change, lack of interest, nature of construction processes and lack of team dynamics. Key drivers of innovation were found to include globalization and competition.Practical implicationsThe current level of implementation of innovative technologies indicated that they are not yet optimized in the South African construction industry and suggests implications for change, adaptation and growth. The study recommends that firms should consider investing in research and development in order to exploit the potential of innovation for organizations and the industry at large.Originality/valueThe drivers and barriers indicated will help to prioritize the direction of adoption and growth which could help to improve the industry.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-77
Author(s):  
Oludolapo Olanrewaju ◽  
Sunday Ajiboye Babarinde ◽  
Comfort Salihu

Building Information Modelling (BIM) has been applied to various aspects of construction processes in developed countries but Nigeria is yet to realize the full potentials of BIM. It has greater relevance for the commercial and public subsectors as it enhances construction productivity. This study examines current state of BIM in the Nigerian construction industry. The study adopted quantitative research approach by eliciting primary data through questionnaire which was administered to 150 respondents, of which 90 were returned and considered valid for further analysis. The data were analysed using mean item score and correlation. It was revealed that BIM awareness level is only high at the design stage of a building life cycle while it is extremely low at the construction and facility management stages. Also, the commonly used BIM compliant software packages in the Nigerian construction industry were identified to be: Autodesk Quantity Takeoff, Revit Architecture, and SketchUp. The study however recommends that: stakeholders of the construction industry should be educated on how to use BIM complaint software packages throughout the life cycle of a building and its benefits; Government should invest heavily on BIM related research so as to enhance the body of knowledge of BIM in Nigeria and develop a suitable framework for BIM implementation; federal Government should enact policies that will encourage the implementation of BIM in Nigeria.


Author(s):  
J.H.M. Tah ◽  
A.H. Oti ◽  
F.H. Abanda

AbstractElements that constitute the built environment are vast and so are the independent systems developed to model its various aspects. Many of these systems have been developed under various assumptions and approaches to execute functions that are distinct, complementary or sometimes similar. Furthermore, these systems are ever increasing in number and often assume similar nomenclatures and acronyms, thereby exacerbating the challenges of understanding their peculiar functions, definitions and differences. The current societal demand to improve sustainability performance through collaboration as well as whole-system and through-life thinking is driving the need to integrate independent systems associated with different aspects and scales of the built environment to deliver smart solutions and services that improve the well-being of citizens. The contemporary object-oriented digitization of real-world elements appears to provide a leeway for amalgamating the modelling systems of various domains in the built environment which we termed as built environment information modelling (BeIM). These domains include architecture, engineering, construction as well as urban planning and design. Applications such as building information modelling, geographic information systems and 3D city modelling systems are now being integrated for city modelling purposes. The various works directed at integrating these systems are examined, revealing that current research efforts on integration fall into three categories: (1) data/file conversion systems, (2) semantic mapping systems and (3) the hybrid of both. The review outcome suggests that good knowledge of these domains and how their respective systems operate is vital to pursuing holistic systems integration in the built environment.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Apeesada Sompolgrunk ◽  
Saeed Banihashemi ◽  
Saeed Reza Mohandes

Purpose The purpose of this study is to identify and analyse the key measurable returning factors, value drivers and strategic benefits associated with building information modelling (BIM) return on investment (ROI). The findings of this study provide researchers and practitioners with up-to-date information in formulating appropriate strategies to quantify the monetary value of BIM. The suggested research agenda provided would also advance what is presently a limited body of knowledge relating to the evaluation of BIM ROI. Design/methodology/approach To fill the identified gap, this study develops a comprehensive systematic review of mainstream studies on factors affecting BIM ROI published from 2000 to 2020. A total of 23 academic records from different sources such as journals, conference proceedings, dissertation and PhD theses were identified and thoroughly reviewed. Findings The reported BIM ROI ranged greatly from −83.3% to 39,900%. A total of 5 returning factors, namely, schedule reduction and compliance, productivity improvement, request for information reduction, rework reduction and change orders reduction were identified as the most commonly reported factors that influence BIM ROI. Four quantification techniques including general assumptions-based theoretical model, perceived BIM ROI based on survey, factors affecting BIM ROI with no reported ROI and quantified BIM ROI based on a case study were observed and pointed out in the review, together with their limitations. Finally, three major gaps were raised as the lack of consideration on the likelihood of BIM assisting in a construction project, intangible returning factors influencing BIM-based projects and industry standards in benchmarking BIM ROI. Practical implications The outcomes of this study would assist practitioners by providing the current evaluation techniques that address the limitations with BIM investment and present issues relating to the economic evaluation of BIM in the construction industry. It is also expected that presenting a deeper and wider perspective of the research work performed until now will direct a more focussed approach on productivity improvement efforts in the construction industry. Originality/value This study identifies and analyses the key measurable returning factors, value drivers and strategic benefits associated with BIM ROI on an industry scale rather than a particular organisation or a project scale.


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