An investigation into macro BIM maturity and its impacts: a comparison of Qatar and the United Kingdom

Abstract

Emerging frameworks of BIM implementation have proposed several attributes as measures of macro-scale BIM maturity within countries. Such macro-scale BIM maturity indicators determine the policy and institutional imperatives for BIM diffusion at the national and market levels. Although macro-scale initiatives are enacted to ultimately drive micro-scale (organisational) BIM adoption, it remains unclear whether they have been effective in practice. To ascertain this, the macro-scale BIM maturity of two countries (Qatar and the United Kingdom) are examined in order to identify the influence of the key macro-scale maturity factors on implementation at the micro-scale. Based on expert BIM maturity evaluation and interviews (n = 16), the maturity of both countries was ascertained and compared. Subsequently, a survey (n = 73) of construction businesses was used to solicit opinions about the relevance of macro-BIM maturity factors to implement at the microlevel. The study further identifies peculiarities with respect to the maturity levels of both countries. The findings indicate that both Qatar and UK have generally comparable levels of macro-BIM maturity, although, in some areas, both countries failed to meet the expectations of organisations in terms of facilitating their BIM adoption at the microlevel. Qatari organisations were of the opinion that further maturity is required in relation to champions and drivers, as well as regulatory frameworks. Similarly, in the UK, organisations were of the view that there was a need for more in terms of champions and drivers as well as noteworthy publications in order to facilitate micro-scale adoption.

An overview of BIM adoption barriers in the Middle East and North Africa developing countries

“…Therefore, some UK BIM standards became a guide for practice in UAE, Oman and Kuwait, due to the absence of their national BIM standards. BIM in Qatar has not yet been requested as an obligation; however, its implementation has increased during the last years, especially in stadium projects for FIFA 2022 (Prabhakarans et al. , 2021).…”

“…Likewise, BIM adoption in Jordan is in a very primitive phase, and the current experience of BIM is still low (Matarneh and Hamed, 2017). While the above implies a low level of BIM adoption in developing countries, the examination of BIM adoption in Qatar, and in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), indicates the expansion of the BIM software market (Prabhakarans et al. , 2021; Al-Yami and Sanni-Anibire, 2021).…”

Global BIM Adoption Movements and Challenges: An Extensive Literature Review

“…In 2017, in Qatar, 65% of megaprojects and 23% of large projects have been implemented BIM [59]. At present, the maturity level of the Qatari BIM is comparable to that of the United Kingdom [81]. In 2020, 39% of Bahrain construction projects were involved in BIM [82].…”

Investigation of the current usage of BIM capabilities by large-sized building contractors in Kenya based on theory of innovation diffusion

“…Where the government sees a long-term benefit of the product despite the high-cost low benefit scenario, it intervenes through time-based mandates. Many governments have initiated this option after the successful implementation of the 2016 BIM Level 2 mandate in the UK (Prabhakaran et al , 2021). Social systems bind specific segments of the society that have common goals and expectations.…”