Building Information Modeling (BIM): A Study to Prioritize ...ieomsociety.org/ieom_2016/pdfs/429.pdf · Building Information Modeling (BIM): A Study to Prioritize Applications, Risks

Building Information Modeling (BIM): A Study to Prioritize Applications, Risks and Challenges

Koorosh Mashhadi Alizadeh Sadjad University of Technology

Department of Industrial Engineering, Mashhad, Iran Jalal Al Ahmad 64, Mashad,Iran

48848-91881 [email protected]

Jalal Sani Bajgiran Day Company

Tehran, Iran, Fakhr Razi street, Number 18 91111-43652

[email protected]

Ebrahim Rezaee Nik Sadjad University of Technology

Department of Industrial Engineering, Mashhad, Iran Jalal Al Ahmad 64, Mashad,Iran

48848-91881 [email protected]

Abstract— The Building Information Modeling in architecture, engineering and construction projects in order to increase labor productivity in the industry is expanding recently. This technology with digitally display physical and functional properties of the building is a common source of knowledge of building information that makes a reliable information model for decision-making during the lifecycle of a project.

The aim of this project is to prioritize usages, challenges and risks of Building Information Modeling with tools such as questionnaires and statistical analysis software. The Building Information Modeling usages which can solve project management knowledge crises have surveyed and arranged in order of magnitude and influence. Also BIM risks and challenges have prioritized in order of importance and impact.

Results implied that the most impressionable project management knowledge area is cost management, and 3D coordination is the most effective usage of Building Information Modeling. Also it has deducted that the greatest threat is illusion in risk management and the most massive challenge is the inflexibility of users.

Keywords— Building Information Modeling, Construction projects management, Project Management Knowledge, BIM Usages, BIM Challenges, BIM Risks.

I. INTRODUCTION

The Building Information Modeling (BIM) in architecture, engineering and construction is a known way to increase productivity. It’s primarily a three dimensional digital representation of a building and its intrinsic characteristics [1]. It is through the success of BIM in centrally procured projects that we will see – and are seeing – real savings that make the return on investment in BIM evident to all sectors of the construction industry [2]. It is important to note that BIM is not just software; it is a process and software. BIM means not only using three-dimensional intelligent models but also making significant changes in the workflow and project delivery processes [3].

A significant increase in the use of this model in the past few years in the world, could be a decisive indicator for direct and positive impact of BIM on productivity and error debugging techniques of construction management. Studies have shown that in 2013, Across North America, 67% of engineers, 70% of architects and 74% of contractors was using BIM [4]. Research has also shown that New Zealand, has experienced a climb in using of BIM - from 34% in 2012 to the impressive rate of 53% in 2013 - and public knowledge in the same period has increased from 88% to 98% [5].

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Time, it seems necessary to research about magnitudes and impacts of BIM usages and relation between this usages and project management knowledge areas by quantities. Also it is avoidable to recognize risks and challenges of this technology if it’s expanding through projects productivity aims. Toward this objectives usages, challenges and risks have prioritized with tools such as questionnaires and data analysis software to show importance and the position of each usage, challenge and risk that has inferred from an expanded literature review and interviews with specialists.

2. Methodology

Projects need to be divided into parts to be manageable. It is strongly recommended that to study projects in divided

parts that are including inter-related tasks. A common acceptable division is PMBOK areas which are ten. We have to survey that, how much each area of project management affected by BIM. In this case a questionnaire has been distributed among 30 experienced construction managers to dedicate a score as shown in table 1 to PMBOK areas to score them critically.

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Table 1. Labels of scores in the questionnaire

Prioritizing PMBOK area is important because it can help to weigh them for the next level. Next level is to survey how much BIM can help to manage a project. The same scoring system used here. BIM affect the project bolder on more critical areas. For challenges and risks posed from specialists to sort them critically. Usages, challenges and risks of BIM have inferred from literature reviews and prioritized through distributing questioners among specialists. Data inferred from collected questioners have analyzed with Friedman test in SPSS 22.0.0.0 software. That’s because of reasons such as: It’s a non-parametric test. It use for comparing groups as for their average rates. Variables are related. And this test will indicate if variables are from one society.

2.1. BIM Applications

Usages of BIM inferred from literature reviews and in this study included these applications: 3D coordination: Collaboration of the construction team with the architect, engineer and the owner is preferred to be

started on early stages of design phase. At that time, the BIM Modeling shall immediately be implemented [6]. Construction planning and monitoring: The construction planning involves the scheduling and sequencing of the model

to coordinate virtual construction in time and space. The schedule of the anticipated construction progress can be integrated to a virtual construction. The utilization of scheduling introduces time as the 4th dimension [7].

Visualization: BIM is a great visualization tool. It provides a three dimensional virtual representation of the building. Visualization provides a better understanding of what the final product may looks like [8].

Code reviews: Fire departments and other officials may use these models for their review of building projects [9]. Cost estimation: BIM software(s) have built-in cost estimating features. Material quantities are automatically extracted

and changed when any changes are made in the model [10]. Prefabrication: It is easy to generate shop drawings for various building systems, for example, the sheet metal ductwork

shop drawing can be quickly produced once the model is complete [11]. Information Integration between suppliers and contractors: For a full review of coordination and detailed systems

analysis the information, including product specifications, construction details and installation procedures, sharing between suppliers and contractors. Saving time and cost of this early integrating, is very significant.

Conflict detection: Because BIM models are created, to scale, in 3D space, all major systems can be visually checked for interferences. This process can verify that piping does not intersect with steel beams, ducts or walls [9].



Record model: Construction Managers can provide a record Building Information Model to the owner at the end of a project. Centralized database can help the facilities department to find information easier. Record model can be used to manage security and safety information such as emergency lighting, emergency power, egress, fire extinguishers, fire alarm, smoke detector and sprinkler systems [12].

Scheduling and sequencing: The project must be and remain on the right way during the construction. The 4th dimension which is time, helps to imagine the scheduling and see the effect of the correct sequence on the project. Site equipment planning: Traffic access routes for trucks, cranes, lifts, excavators, etc. need to be incorporated into the BIM as part of the logistics plan. Moreover, the site utilization consists of lay down areas, site work progress, and location of trailers and equipment and hoist assembly. Similarly, when the building is being closed in, the space coordination must be managed for the roughing and eventually finishing activities.

Implementation planning: After a complete project coordination, information in BIM is applicable to determine the location of materials and systems in the site. Since the components of the 3D model directly link to the schedule of various functions of site management, such as visualized planning, will analyze in terms of spatial and temporal data.

2.2. BIM Challenges:

In this paper, things that avoid BIM to accelerate expanding, categorized as challenges. Some challenges have inferred

from international paper searching, and some other inferred from national interviews with specialists in Iran. Iranian challenges might not be felt in the entire world, but can be felt in the same cultures and situations. Weaknesses in international cooperation (Iran): Limits beyond the international cooperation may cause the lack of applications and awareness in this field.

The absence of flexibility culture (Iran): Spreading BIM needs a flexibility culture. The absence of this flexibility make contractors to use old CAD techniques while BIM is just out there. This also may be seen in other nations. Ignoring the management of stakeholders (Iran): Satisfying stakeholders is one of the greatest functions of BIM. While stakeholders management have been underestimated, BIM doesn’t seem vital. Lack of market regulation: Without a strong support in the market, it seems impossible for BIM applications to take place. Users will not accept inventions when there is no support for them [13].

The absence of proper organization culture: To achieve these innovations, further enhance digital technologies won’t be helpful, but create new partnerships between employers, designers and contractors, is necessary. Promote proper organization culture, creating training programs to support it and invented new processes to increase the impact of its delivery, can be very effective [13].

Weakness in the design of software and tools: The software and application designers of BIM must realize the differences between construction and manufacturing industries. As software developers take ideas from industries, they should also consider particular characteristics of them. It should be noted that construction projects require specific extensive decision-making procedures and highly specialized skills [13].

2.3. BIM Risks:

When is being used appropriately, BIM can reduce construction time, costs, and claims. But, what happens when BIM

is not carefully shared and explained to all construction members? Here’s are threats that categorized as BIM risks. It has to mention that opportunities didn’t consider through this study.

Conflict among stakeholders and contactors: One important issue when implementing BIM as an integral part of your

project is the collaboration and access to the model by everyone involved during the construction stages. While Architects can use BIM to generate a great building, reducing costs and material, if the thought approach when the building is being designed is not transmitted to the stakeholders, then claims and problems will arise [14].

Illegal changes in the model: Once the BIM has been developed and distributed to the project members, careful precautions must be taken to reduce the possibility of subsequent changes or alterations by unauthorized parties. The risk of changing a BIM model has become a recent issue on large construction projects where several consultants and contractors try to complete changes to get their own benefit, without sharing the ideas to the entire group [14].

Legal conflicts: There is a thin line between responsibilities since each party has participated on planning stages, revisions and input to the BIM model. In some instances legal issues could become triggered by claims presented by the



GC, due to misrepresentation or faulty designs. These types of errors could represent additional legal fees that were not contemplated on the original contract, reducing or minimizing the savings generated by the BIM process [14].

Illusion of cost estimation: While BIM implementation on construction projects might present an idea on the total expected construction costs, it might not be real. BIM allows you to estimate the most accurate building cost-to-complete, it will not consider actual price variation from emerging market, such as metals, petroleum-derivative products, high gas prices, and other natural disasters affecting manufacturer’s plant [14]. Illusion in the risk management of project: The BIM great accuracy may make managers to underestimate risks and inadvertence the risk management [14].

3. Results

Results of the first questioner indicate the importance of PMBOK areas. It is important for next data analysis. Figure 1

diagram demonstrates PMBOK areas with rates have referred from their ranks in Friedman test. This ranks have inferred from average and standard deviations, concurrently, with SPSS in Friedman test. Questioner results dedicate an average to each area that showed in table 2. This average will use as a weight for further surveys. Results in next questioner asked participations to indicate the quantity of each usage of BIM effect on each area of PMBOK to demonstrate the most affected area and the most effective usage on each area. Figure 2 illustrates the sort of effective usages of BIM on the whole project, observing each PMBOK weight on table 2.

Also we can see the sort of PMBOK areas, according to BIM effects on them on figure 3. Participations tried to set how much each BIM application can affect each PMBOK areas. So it’s determined that how much each PMBOK area influenced by using BIM applications. Challenges and risks have sorted by the felt amount of criticality by participations. Six challenges and five risks have prioritized to indicate the fatal risk and greatest challenge. Figure 4 illustrates the results of challenges questioners, and figure 5 illustrates the risks assortment. All participations have sorted certain risks and challenges in order of criticality and impact. Figure 4 and figure 5 show the results.

Figure 1. Prioritizing PMBOK areas critically using questionnaires, distributed among participations, results.

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Table 2. PMBOK areas weights referred from averages

that came from SPSS results.

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Time Man.

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Human Resource Man.

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Figure 2. Sort of effective BIM applications on a project according to participations opinions

Figure 3. The sort of PMBOK areas according to BIM effect on them, obtained by questionnaires analyzing.

Three of this challenges inferred from international literature review and apply for the entire world, but the other three challenges inferred from interviews in Iran. They might not exist in the entire world. But can exist in some countries that have the same situation.

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Figure 4. Challenges assorted by participations in questionnaire.

Also Risks (threats) have prioritized by the intensity degree. Figure 5 illustrates the results of the risks questioners.

Figure 5. Assortment of BIM Risks by participations opinion by questionnaires results.

SPSS tests statistics for all questioners, have illustrated in Table 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Table 3. Test statistics of figure 1.

Test Statisticsa

N 30

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df 9

Asymp. Sig. 0.000

Test Statisticsa

N 30 Chi-Square 25.302

df 5

Asymp. Sig. 0.000 Table 4. Test statistics of figure 4.

Test Statisticsa N 30

Chi-Square 24.160

df 4 Asymp. Sig. 0.000

Table 5. Test statistics of figure 5.

4. Conclusion

All in all, as further we go in implementing BIM technology in our projects, more things we have to know about it. We have to know what the most effective usages of BIM are. There we are able to use BIM technology in a right time, in a right place. Challenges recognition will help us when we want to expand this technology in our region. Actually, programs we plan for BIM expanding, highly depend on our challenges recognition. Also recognition of risks are highly demanded. As we score any other risks through a construction project to manage them, BIM risks also have to be scored, so that we can manage them correctly. Results implied that the most impressionable project management knowledge area is cost management, and 3D coordination is the most effective usage of BIM. Also it has deducted the greatest threat is illusion in risk management and the most massive challenge is the inflexibility of users.

References

[1]: “About the National BIM Standard-United States", 2010

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4.15

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2.8

2.8

2.05

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Weaknesses in international cooperation (Iran)

The absence of flexibility culture

Ignoring the management of stakeholders (Iran)

Lack of market regulation

The absence of partnership culture (Iran)

Weakness in the design of software and tools

4.1

2.5

2.2

1.7

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5

Legal conflicts

Illegal changes in the model

Illusion of cost estimation

Conflict among stakeholders and contactors



[2]: Richard Waterhouse, CEO, NBS and RIBA Enterprises. NBS 2015.

[3]: Hardin, B. (2009). BIM and construction management, Wiley, Indianapolis, IN.

[4]: Lee, G., J. Lee, et al. (2012). 2012 Business Value of BIM in South Korea (English). Smart Market Report. Bedford,

MA, McGraw Hill Construction.

[5]: Masterspec. (2013). New Zealand National BIM Survey 2013, viewed 22 November 2013.

[6]: Young, Norbert W., Stephen A. Jones, Harvey M. Bernstein, and John E. Gudgel. "Research 2." (2009): Smart Market

Report: The Business Value of BIM 10-11. Print.

[7]: Kenley, Russell, and Olli Seppanen. (2010). Location-Based Management for Construction. New York: Spon. Print.

[8]: Khemlani, Lachmi. (2011). “AGC’s winter 2011 BIMForum, Part 1." AECbytes "Building the Future" Web. 22 Mar.

2011. <aecbytes.com>.

[9]: Azhar, Salman, Hein, Michael and Blake Sketo, (2011). Building Information Modeling (BIM): Benefits, Risks and

Challenges. McWhorter School of Building Science, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama.

[10]: Hergunsel, F. Mehmet. (2011). Benefits of building information modeling for construction managers, Thesis,

Workester Polytechnic Institute.

[11]: LeBlanc, Paul. (2010). "Prefabrication in Healthcare Construction." Personal interview. Feb.

[12]: Liu, Zijia. (2011). Feasibility Analysis of BIM Based Information System for Facility Management at WPI. Thesis.

WPI, 2010. Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Web. 30 Mar. <wpi.edu/Pubs/ETD/>.

[13]: Sanders, Ken. (2004) Why building information modeling isn’t working … yet. Architectural record, Sep. Vol. 192,

Issue 9, p181.

[14]: Rodriguez, Juan. (2009). Building Information Modeling Risks. Web. 2009 <construction.about.com>

Biography

Koorosh M. Alizadeh is a final year Industrial Engineering undergraduate at Sadjad University of Technology in Iran. He started his research programs in assistant of his professor in IEOM 2015 and it’s his ultimate goal now. His research interests are Project management, Simulation, Production Scheduling, Ergonomic and Human factors. Jalal Sani Bajgiran is a B.Sc. of civil engineering. He have graduated from Islamic Azad University of Iran (IAU). His experience is about 9 years in construction fields, Water transfer and highway construction. Dr. Ebrahim Rezaee Nik is a PhD on Industrial Engineering. He is the head of Industrial engineering department of Sadjad university of Technology. His research interests are Project risk management, Project scheduling, Project management and Applied operations research.



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Building Information Modeling (BIM): A Study to Prioritize ...ieomsociety.org/ieom_2016/pdfs/429.pdf · Building Information Modeling (BIM): A Study to Prioritize Applications, Risks