Roadmap for Integrating BIM and Lean Methods Throughout the Lifecycle of Modular Construction Projects

Abstract

The emerging modular construction sector has attained ample interest given the plethora of benefits compared to conventional construction. However, with incorrect execution and lack of early planning, exorbitant costs are witnessed. There is a lack of guidance to aid key decision-makers in integrating BIM and lean methods in the phases of modular construction. These tools and practices enable a team to work in full clarity involving all organizational levels. Hence, this study has as aim to portray the integrated usage of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and lean construction methods throughout the lifecycle of modular construction projects. The intended roadmap to be derived in the study shall allow decision-makers to acknowledge the corresponding BIM and Lean tools to be used at the correct stage of a modular project. As a generalized concept, the study aims shall aid early planning which will promise to achieve quality. In this scope, a systematic literature review was executed and validated with experts' interactions for developing a roadmap. The studies found were analyzed in terms of case studies performed. This enabled grasping information on how different countries and project types integrated BIM and lean methods at every step of a modular project. Previous studies depicted projects integrating these concepts at the design stage, supply chain, or during module construction. However, this research considers the whole lifecycle, and the methodology integrates hands-on experiences from qualified industry experts.Therefore, the contributions of this research are as follows: (1) Directing team members towards early planning and all-inclusive collaboration, (2) informing key decision makers of lean and BIM tools to integrate at specific stages of modular projects, (3) showcasing awaited benefits upon integration of the proposed tools, and (4) mitigating cost overruns and witnessing value-adding activities throughout the project upon consulting the roadmap.