Building Information Modeling: Benefits, Obstacles, Adoption

The architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry suffers from fragmentation and disruption in information flow throughout the project processes since the involved participants from different disciplines operate from isolated islands. The incompatible data formats used, and the lack of collaboration between the different players in the current traditional methods cause many projects to be over budget, behind schedule, and deviated from the client objectives. The idea of creating a standardized digital model for the construction projects to overcome the drawbacks of the traditional methods is not new to the industry; the state of the art in this field is Building Information Modeling (BIM). The work reviews literature in the field of BIM to provide a better understanding on the topic. The research conducted sheds some light on the degree of awareness and adoption of BIM; also it discusses the various factors and obstacles that influence its use in the current AEC industry. The study should be useful for architects, engineers, contractors, or anyone else who takes part in the AEC industry.