BIM Use to Support the Technical Tasks in Construction Projects: A Case Study

Abstract

BIM use has proved to be inevitable in construction project phases, starting from the project initiation phase and ending with the project closeout phase. Through the use of 4D/5D/6D models in processes of the construction project such as scheduling, bills of quantities (BoQs), and environmental analysis, BIM provides massive assistance to all project participants. In addition, BIM has been utilized in facility management through the use of 7D models. These well-established benefits positively impact construction project variables: cost, time, and quality. Despite these invaluable contributions in construction projects, BIM is not extensively applied in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) of Arab countries, especially in small/medium-scale construction projects. BIM use at these project scales is mainly exclusive to the design phases. The present use of BIM in GCC construction projects leads to the missing of numerous opportunities, which negatively affects project delivery methods, project timelines, and, consequently, project budgets. To shed more light on this subject, this research paper attempts to answer emerging questions, such as the following: How do BIM and other software programs support the technical team of construction projects? Do these software programs have a direct impact on construction project management, in terms of project timelines and work changes? Does BIM add unnecessary cost to the project budget? This research paper proposes four technical task groups used in construction project phases to evaluate the use of BIM and the associated software programs, namely technical work, Time and Accuracy, budget, and BoQ. These four task groups, moreover, have been ratified and are the subject of consensus by project managers and senior engineers in GCC construction projects, who provided the research primary data through interviews and field surveys. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were conducted to investigate and analyze the present status of BIM use in construction projects, and subsequently, to establish a basis to propose improvements to support the technical team of construction projects. Two approaches are proposed to overcome the obstacles that hinder BIM adoption in GCC countries. The first one is a top-down approach, in which BIM use and BIM documents are mandatory in construction projects. The second approach is a bottom-up approach, where having more BIM professionals in the GCC market will facilitate the transformation to BIM.