A Qualitative Investigation of the Obstacles Inherent in the Implementation of Building Information Modeling (BIM)

Abstract

The Middle East construction industry is fragmented, which makes project data inaccessible and underutilized. Building information modeling (BIM) provides innovative solutions to the AEC industry. Due to a lack of awareness of BIM’s successful processes, protocols, and workflows, some Middle Eastern organizations have tried to create their own systems but have not always chosen BIM. Some users did not comprehend BIM’s benefits, and the construction business was not ready for BIM technology. Furthermore, BIM’s benefits were not well known. This study intends to investigate construction practitioners’ awareness of the BIM field, the BIM adoption situation, and procedures in Middle Eastern design companies, by identifying and assessing construction professionals’ perceptions of impediments to BIM implementation in Middle Eastern construction. This research conducted a semi-structured interview to collect data and information from design teams currently adopting BIM at the project design stage. Thirteen of thirty-nine accepted to participate, with four invalid samples. Data collection reached a saturation point after the fifth interview. The descriptive and empirical analysis showed few BIM studies, lack of knowledge, insufficient government policies, high implementation costs, inadequate contractual coordination, lack of specified standards, cost of data and information sharing, technological availability issues, stakeholder reluctance, business and cultural changes, data and intellectual property issues, and interoperability issues. The factor analysis identified three main BIM implementation difficulties in Middle Eastern construction. These factors are training, cost, and economic constraints.