Abstract
This chapter presents a comprehensive analysis of the current state of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Facility Management (AEC/FM) industry and a re-assessment of its role and potential contribution in the near future, given the apparent slow rate of adoption by the industry. The chapter analyses the readiness of the industry with respect to the (1) tools, (2) processes and (3) people to position BIM adoption in terms of current status and expectations across disciplines. The findings are drawn from an ongoing research project funded by the Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Construction Innovation (CRC-CI) that aims at developing a technological, operational and strategic analysis of adopting BIM in the AEC/FM industry as a collaboration platform.
Top2. Background
The background study involves a critical review of available BIM literature together with a comprehensive desktop audit of current commercial BIM applications.
The BIM literature review provides a context for the research. The review also offers a comprehensive understanding of common practice in the AEC/FM industry, and informs on the potential issues that may arise during building project development and collaboration when new technologies are adopted.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Database Management Systems (DBMS): A DBMS is a collection of computer-based applications that control the creation, application and maintenance of the database of an organisation and its end users.
Focus Group Interviews (FGIs): A common qualitative research method that involves interviews and moderated discussions with representatives from selected sample groups, in a collective environment (i.e a group seminar).
BIM Project Lifecycle Decision Framework: A project decision framework developed by the author team to assist the design and implementation of a suitable BIM approach for a building project.
Document Management Systems (DMS): A collaboration platform developed specifically for managing documents shared by multiple parties in a project.
Collaboration Platform: A computer-based platform that provides a centralised unit (i.e. a server) for supporting collaborative projects and coordinating team activities.
Desktop Audit: A common method for testing and reviewing computer-based applications by exploring and comparing their features and usability.
BIM Approach: A practice adopts a BIM approach for a building project if the project applies a BIM as the base model for the design and/or construction processes.
Coding Scheme: A classification of key themes used to categorise the observed data into the expected thematic areas for qualitative data analysis.
Object-Oriented Modelling: Object-oriented modelling is a programming paradigm that uses objects as data structures to design computer-based applications. In an object-oriented building model, building elements are represented as objects that can contain both geometric and non-geometric information.
BIM Applications: Computer-based tools that can directly produce, contribute to or exchange data with a BIM.