Justifying the effective use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) with business intelligence

Abstract

Although building information modelling (BIM) is a widely acknowledged information and communication technology (ICT) in the architecture, engineering, construction, and operation (AECO) industry, its implementation is hindered by the hybrid practice of BIM and non-BIM information processing, and sometimes, it fails to add value to the AECO business. It is crucial to define, on a scientific base, how to ensure the effective use of BIM regarding the various conditions in which to apply BIM in AECO practices. Although several studies have investigated similar topics, very few have focused on the adoption of distinct BIM applications over the conventional practice from the perspective of business intelligence (BI) as a theoretical framework to justify the effective value of BIM use in the AECO. This study proposes a framework relying on BI principles to justify effective BIM use and explicates the contextual factors in AECO practices. The data were acquired from a three-round Delphi survey. The framework suggests that effective BIM use in AECO practices should follow the two principles of BI: achieving technical effectiveness and realizing business value. The pursuit of technical effectiveness should consider business objectives, business issues, business sustainability and regulatory eligibility, and the realization of business value involves willingness to adopt BIM, human-computer interoperability, visualization-based data quality and sources, data processing and system integration, and application maturity. This study provides a new perspective by which to address the issue of the technological iteration in the current hybrid BIM and non-BIM practice and could help to improve BIM implementation in the AECO industry.