Abstract:
BIM is a latest tool facilitating the project managers to achieve higher performance. Not only that it helps the client to go through the model to confirm project needs, it also helps the designer to perform constructability analysis and make a realistic design. Such a design, duly approved by the client, would allow the contractor to quote more realistic bid which will ultimately help avoiding change orders, disputes and enhance the quality of the project.
In Pakistan, the construction professionals are familiar with the potential benefits of BIM adoption but its implementation in the industry is limited. The situation is further worse when talking about the public sector. One of the reasons is prevalent traditional project delivery method which hinders the early collaboration of designer and contractor. This research focuses on finding the opportunities and challenges of BIM implementation on Design-Bid-Build (DBB) projects. The issues of BIM model development and ownership are also researched. It was found that (47%) of the total respondents are of the view that main difficulties in adopting the BIM are related to the cost of adoption in the company/project and (38%) of the respondents are of the view that the lack of awareness towards new technology is the main cause. Although the professionals understand that BIM implementation will help in achieving the project within the stipulated time and cost. Moreover the realistically constructed and updated as-built model will help the facility management operations as well. Regarding the ownership of the BIM model all the stakeholders are of the view that it should be managed by the PM of the consultant and it should be handed over to the client at the handing over of the project. The cost should be reimbursed to them on a fixed rate or on the actual cost basis. A case study conducted on a running project revealed a number of benefits in terms of estimation and clash detection. In conclusion, it can be stated that the construction sector needs a major overhauling in contracting documents and in the skills to adopt the BIM. Educating the clients and modifying the contracts could make things easier and will help all the stakeholders to perform project with less cost and more benefits
