Barriers to the incorporation of BIM into quantity surveying undergraduate curriculum in the Nigerian universities

Perera

et al. 2019

JFMPC

Self Cite

Purpose Although studies have shown the relevance of building information modeling (BIM) in cost estimating process, efforts at investigating BIM based detailed cost estimating among professional quantity surveyors through quantitative approach are scanty. The purpose of this study is to identify and examine the usage of BIM-based detailed cost estimating software and assesses the drivers to BIM adoption within the Nigerian quantity surveying consulting firms. Design/methodology/approach A comprehensive literature review, pilot study and questionnaire survey were adopted. The survey targeted both the BIM users and non- BIM users’ quantity surveying consulting firms in Lagos, Nigeria. The data collected were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean score, standard deviation, Mann–Whitney test and factor analysis. Findings The study found that 46.58 per cent of quantity surveying consulting firms are aware of BIM and have adopted it for detailed cost estimating, while 49.32 per cent of quantity surveying consulting firms are aware but have not adopted BIM-based detailed cost estimating, and 4.10 per cent of quantity surveying consulting firms are not aware at all. Also, the study identified various BIM-based detailed cost estimating software used in quantity surveying practices and found that Microsoft Excel is often used alongside 3D software, Autodesk QTO, Navisworks, Innovaya Composer and CostX are prevalent BIM software used for detailed cost estimating. In addition, the study identified 21 drivers to the adoption of BIM in quantity surveying practices. The result of factor analysis grouped the 21 identified drivers into five principal factors: improved whole lifecycle/design quality, enhanced decision and visualization, cost and time saving, marketing and support for quantity surveyor tasks and government and client pressure. Practical implications This study provides significant insight into the application of BIM to quantity surveying consulting practices, thereby enabling consultant quantity surveyors to make informed decisions to select BIM cost estimating software to suit their practices. Further, the study findings can be useful for individuals’, clients’ and contractors’ quantity surveyors to be fully aware of the opportunities BIM could bring in relation to their service delivery. Originality/value Accurate cost estimating, effective cost monitoring and control are essential elements to a construction project success. This study further emphasized the importance of BIM to quantity surveying practices, particularly in the area of the detailed cost estimating.

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An investigation into BIM-based detailed cost estimating and drivers to the adoption of BIM in quantity surveying practices

Perera

et al. 2019

JFMPC

Self Cite

“…The need for change instigated by the BIM revolution (Cabinet Office, 2011) provides a great opportunity to rethink how teaching and learning are designed, according to Shelbourn et al (2017). This view is shared in the later studies by Babatunde et al (2018), Puolitaival and Kestle (2018) and Babatunde and Ekundayo (2019).…”

Section: Collaborative Multidisciplinary Team Educationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The continued support of multidisciplinary learning at the selected university is seen as vital to the creation of future leaders in the built environment. The concept of sampling students to develop an understanding of an existing phenomenon to better improve academic practice in a constructivist learner-centred approach in the built environment is not new (see Babatunde and Ekundayo, 2019; Babatunde et al, 2018). Additionally, this approach was used in Shelbourn et al (2017) to gather students’ perceptions of BIM education.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Collaborative multidisciplinary learning: Quantity surveying students’ perspectives

Shelbourn

Industry and Higher Education

2020

Self Cite

The construction industry is highly fragmented and is known for its adversarial culture, culminating in poor quality projects not completed on time or within budget. The aim of this study is thus to guide the design of quantity surveying (QS) programme curricula in order to help students develop the requisite knowledge and skills to work more collaboratively in their multidisciplinary future workplaces. A qualitative approach was considered appropriate as the authors were concerned with gathering an initial understanding of what students think of multidisciplinary learning. The data collection method used was a questionnaire developed by the Behaviours4Collaboration (B4C) team. Knowledge gaps were still found across all the key areas in which a future QS practitioner needs to be collaborative (either as a Project Contributor or as a Project Leader), despite the need for change instigated by the multidisciplinary revolution in building information modelling (BIM) education. The study concludes that universities will need to be selective in teaching, and innovative in reorienting, QS education so that a collaborative BIM education can be effected in stages, increasing in complexity as the students’ technical knowledge grows. This will help students to build the competencies needed to make them future leaders. It will also support programme currency and delivery.

“…In Nigeria, various studies on BIM have focused on awareness of BIM, adoption, benefits and challenges, both from the industry and academic perspectives (Ibironke et al , 2011; Abubakar et al , 2014; Ugochukwu et al , 2015; Hamma-adama et al , 2017; Onungwa et al , 2017; Babatunde et al , 2018; Babatunde and Ekundayo, 2019). A few of these studies have examined the barriers to BIM implementation (Abubakar et al , 2014; Babatunde and Ekundayo, 2019). For instance, Abubakar et al (2014) evaluated the perceptions of contractors on the factors influencing BIM in Nigeria.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An investigation into BIM uptake among contracting firms: an empirical study in Nigeria

Perera

et al. 2020

JFMPC

Self Cite

Purpose Building information modeling (BIM) is vital in the performance improvement of contracting firms. Thus, there is a need to stimulate its implementation in the construction sector with a view to meeting the competitive demands of the industry. However, there have been very few studies on BIM implementation among contracting firms in Nigeria. Hence, this study aims to examine the current BIM uptake among Nigerian contracting firms, assess the barriers to BIM implementation and examine the ways of improving BIM implementation within these contracting firms. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire survey was conducted on contracting firms (comprising small-, medium- and large-sized firms) in Lagos, Nigeria. The obtained data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. These included percentage, mean score, standard deviation, the Kruskal–Wallis test and factor analysis. Findings This study revealed the current state of BIM implementation among contracting firms in Nigeria in terms of their knowledge of BIM, their usage of BIM as well as the BIM software adopted. Furthermore, the study identified 25 barriers to BIM implementation in contracting firms and identified 15 ways to improve BIM implementation in contracting firms. The relative importance of both the identified barriers and the ways for improving BIM implementation was gauged among contracting firms comprising small-, medium- and large-sized firms. The result of the Kruskal–Wallis test revealed that, except for two (out of 25) identified barriers, and one (out of 15) identified ways of improving BIM implementation in contracting firms, there is no significant statistical difference in the perceptions of the three respondents’ groups. The result of the factor analysis categorized the identified 25 barriers into seven main factors. Practical implications This study provides empirical evidence on the barriers to BIM implementation and the ways of improving its implementation among contracting firms, thereby providing a better insight of the Nigerian construction industry’s BIM environment. Originality/value This study’s findings can positively inform the decisions of construction stakeholders to formulate strategies capable of improving BIM implementation in the construction industry at large.