SMEs and BIM in preparation for 2016: a case study.

Mellon, S.; Kouider, T.

Abstract

The UK Government has mandated the use of Level 2 Building Information Modelling (BIM) on all publicly funded projects above £5 million by 2016. As a major construction client, the government would hope to see the widespread adoption of BIM throughout the industry as the requirements disseminate through the supply chain. The drive towards this target has been accompanied by much publicised advances in the information technology associated with BIM but while many larger firms in the construction industry are well advanced in their plans to implement the government plans, a large proportion of SMEs are not so well prepared for the deadline. The National Federation of Builders (2012) found that 81% of SMEs have either no familiarity or a vague familiarity with the levels of BIM. Findings such as this have led to fears of an emerging two tier industry. This study aims to determine the extent of readiness of SMEs to meet the requirements using a live case study, and examines the barriers that such firms working in this environment may encounter. The case study emphasises the benefits of the adoption of a collaborative mindset, underpinned by IT tools, which is the concept behind the government definition of BIM. However, research has shown that significant barriers still exist among SMEs to the adoption of BIM and this has been borne out by findings in this case study, though potential solutions to some of the issues are suggested.

Citation

MELLON, S. and KOUIDER, T. 2014. SMEs and BIM in preparation for 2016: a case study. In Kouider, T. (ed.) Proceedings of the 5th International congress on architectural technology (ICAT 2014): architectural technology, towards innovative professional practice, 7 November 2014, Aberdeen, UK. Aberdeen: Robert Gordon University [online], pages 226-241. Available from: https://sites.google.com/site/archtechcongress1/products-services/proceedings/ICAT%202014%20Proceedings.pdf?attredirects=0&d=1

• Conference Name: 5th International congress on architectural technology (ICAT 2014)
• Conference Location: Aberdeen, UK
• Start Date: Nov 7, 2014
• Acceptance Date: Jan 8, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Nov 7, 2014
• Publication Date: Dec 31, 2014
• Deposit Date: Mar 4, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 4, 2015
• Publisher: Robert Gordon University
• Pages: 226-241
• ISBN: 9781907349096
• Keywords: Building Information Modelling (BIM); SMEs; Case study
• Public URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10059/1151
• Publisher URL: https://sites.google.com/site/archtechcongress1/products-services/proceedings/ICAT%202014%20Proceedings.pdf?attredirects=0&d=1