The objective of this paper is to assess and outline both the value and inefficiencies of Building Information Modelling (BIM) within Construction Infrastructure projects, and to provide a comparative and conclusive analysis via the underpinning academic literature and industrial reporting respectively. Further, semi-structured interviews were undertaken with a range of industry experts to add greater evidence at the application and execution stage, leading onto the proposal of a framework solution to gain advantage due to the implementation of BIM and counter some of the outlined inefficiencies and issues raised. The aims and objectives of the research study were to develop a methodology that brings to the forefront issues with the adoption of BIM, and to propose a framework in order to provide clarity on resolving these issues to gain an advantage. The methodology consists of four parts which are: 1) Undertaking a systematic literature review of academic and a critical review of industrial literature 2) Analysing, contesting and supporting literature by undertaking a data collection exercise with a range of industry experts who are delivering construction projects and in particular infrastructure via BIM 3) Providing a comparative analysis between data collection, academic and industrial literature in a holistic format 4) Proposing a framework focused on countering the disadvantages and inefficiencies in the adoption of BIM. There is also evidence of a disconnect due to both the overwhelming nature of BIM (acronyms, competing standards and technology) in that people are unsure what to implement and when, with a lack of objective focus on what the goals and advantages at a project level. The research concludes with a comparative synthesis of results and by outlining a framework solution focused on applying objective focus as part of the application process and requirements, supporting goal attainment and appropriate/agreed measurements of BIM.

Existing research spanning academic and industrial literature shows that due to the ever-increasing number of descriptions of BIM on top of a saturation of standards methods and procedures, with little evidence on how to achieve goals for truly collaborative BIM, a gap is forming between theoretical and applied BIM, and thusly reducing the potential advantages and benefits of implemented BIM. Objectives set as part of this research, post systematic review of both academic and industrial literature were to firstly define a common meaning of what collaborative BIM is through the development of a syntax to support a hypothetical infrastructure project utilising academic and industry BIM experts. This was then followed by bringing to the front the inefficiencies in their current form and define how the fundamental parts of BIM are assigned and then prioritised both qualitatively and quantitively, in order to enhance information clarity (goals and objective achievement) and inconsistency reduction towards better ways of implementation. Conclusive findings derived from this research states that information management was determined by the focus group in being the key and top-level component in achieving collaborative BIM, which was determined via the contribution and development of an objective focused implementation framework adapted from the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). This methodology increases the certainty of goal attainment for project team members, by presenting them with a dynamic qualitative and quantitative methodology that guides, determines and agrees the objective focus in an adaptable method through focal clarity of the intended use and what is required to be achieved through the adoption of collaborative BIM for a range of stakeholders. In summary, the research findings herein assert the need and benefit of objectifying collectively agreed focus on the desire of collaborative BIM including a range of stakeholders. Furthermore, inconsistencies towards agreements of standardisation and quality assurance are revealed, which is countered and supported by the developed novel methodology, in order to reduce the impact of such lack of consensus going forwards towards seeking better understanding and thus implementation of collaborative BIM.

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to develop through a two-stage verification and validation process a novel implementation framework for collaborative BIM, utilising experts from academia and industry as well as a real-world case study project.Design/methodology/approachThe aim of this research was to build upon previous research findings by the authors in order to develop an implementation framework that stems from ousting the inefficiencies of current collaborative BIM practices. This is achieved by a more objectified and quantified approach towards seeking heightened transparency and objectivism of what is required through the implementation of BIM. The mixed research methods technique of both qualitative and quantitative data collection was utilised, with the structure consisting of a two-stage approach utilising the Delphi model for verification and validation. This was developed to test the novelty and beneficial structure hypothesis involving 15 core BIM experts from academia, construction and design with c. 22 years average experience. Validation was undertaken on a complex, high value real world building structures project in central London, inclusive of 8 core project BIM experts. The research utilised a developed solution that mirrored and provided a more holistic representation guiding the practitioners as a project team step by step through the determination of underpinning elements, which support the goal of enhanced information requirements as well as executing the prioritisation measurement tools as part of the framework. Data ascertained at the workshop case study prioritised areas of importance that are core in supporting the delivering of these enhanced information requirements at a project delivery level, which were in order of prioritisation determined by the project team (1) constraints (39.17%), (2) stakeholder requirements (35.78%), (3) coordination (existing asset) (15.86%), (4) exchange requirements (5.38%) and (5) level of information need (3.81%). Furthermore, risk mitigations for the top three priorities were focussed on early stakeholder engagement, appropriation of survey data collection, focus on quality of outputs and applying toolsets and processes with meaning and emphasis on the defined high-level requirements.FindingsFindings show that the framework and the developed solution translate the process methodology of the framework schema into a useable and beneficial tool that provides both qualitative and quantitative inputs and outputs. Furthermore, a collective agreement on the objectives, risk mitigations and assignment of tasks in order to achieve outcomes is presented, with evidence on numerical weightings and goal achievement.Research limitations/implicationsDue to the impacts of COVID-19 on physical engagements both the verification (electronic survey questionnaire) and validation (case study project) were undertaken remotely, using available technologies and web interfaces.Practical implicationsThe case study workshop was limited to one building structures project in central London of a value of c. £70 m design and build cost that the project team (participants) were actively engaged with.Social implicationsThe social impacts of this research has resulted in the review of existing systems, methods and approaches from a wider perspective of theoretical and applied environments, which led to the development of a novel approach and framework guided by an interactive and useable solution.Originality/valueAs shown within the core findings, experts across academia and industry (design and construction) confirmed that the framework methodology and application were 100% novel, and added a benefit to the existing collaborative BIM approach. Value added is that through objectifying, weighting/prioritizing and creating a discussion supported by qualitative and quantitative reasoning the focus on what collaborative BIM is to achieve is increased, and thus the likelihood of successful implementation.