A Review of Building Information Modelling for Construction in Developing Countries
Journal article, Peer reviewed, Journal article
Published version
Date
2016-12Metadata
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Original version
Procedia Engineering 2016, 164:487-494 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2016.11.649Abstract
Building Information Modelling (BIM) is wide
ly seen as a catalyst for innovation and productivity in the construction industry.
BIM
can assist a more sustainable construction process that in
turn may contribute to eradicating poverty in developing c
ountries
(Un
ited Nation Millennium Goals). While BIM is increasingly be
ing adopted in developed coun
tries, implementations in the
developing country context are rare. Research has establishe
d how construction firms struggle from several limitations having
to
do with the socio
-
economic and technological environment found in developing countries. Examples of issues preventing BIM
adoption include a shortage of IT
-
literate personnel as well as an absence of
national BIM implementation programs. Based on a
review of recent research, this article ad
dresses some of the hurdles and solution
s for BIM implementations particular to low
-
and
middle
-
income economies. Findings include that developing countries’ construction firms rely on outsourcing of IT services or
developing tweaks or workarounds, like using ‘fake’ IT licenses, for saving cost and enabling BI
M. The article highlights
shortcomings of existing research on BIM implementation in develo
ping countries, and may serve as a starting point for research
ers
interested in how BIM technology can be adopted in a developing country context.