The contextual influence on building information modelling implementation: a cross-case analysis of infrastructure projects in Vietnam and Norway

Abstract

This paper compares Building Information Modelling (BIM) implementation in two infrastructure projects in two different countries to understand the contextual influence on innovation adoption in the construction industry. These two countries are Norway and Vietnam, which have different contexts in term of technology advance. In Norway, Bane NOR - the Norwegian railway authority decided to use BIM in the InterCity project which connects Oslo and nearby cities. InterCity is the first Norwegian large-scale railway project that utilizes BIM. The situation is similar in the Thu Thiem 2 bridge project in Vietnam. The design package of Thu Thiem 2 Bridge is a BIM pilot project of the Vietnamese government. Using qualitative interpretive case studies, this paper reveals the importance of the BIM champions in the implementation and different consequences derived from the project organization, technological context, and the focus of BIM use. The insights obtained from the comparison might be useful for increasing the BIM uptake and overcoming the barriers of traditional requirements for innovation. This is not only applicable to the Norwegian and Vietnamese infrastructure sectors but also for other contexts, which have limited BIM implementation experience.