How to Improve the Adoption and Implementation of BIM in Africa?

 How to Improve the Adoption and Implementation of BIM in Africa?

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How to Improve the Adoption and Implementation of BIM in Africa?

Introduction

The construction industry is considered to be one of the most significant sectors in the world. Also, it continues to contribute to the development and modernization of all countries around the globe. Despite this being the case, it still lags behind when it comes to such factors as sustainability, quality, productivity, as well as efficiency (Eastman, Teicholz, Sacks, & Liston, 2011). The trend is partly related to the slow adoption of information technologies in various areas of practice and operation. Today, changes in organizational structure, consumer needs, and globalization have made information technology a critical tool to be used to achieve competitiveness in the market. In the construction industry, however, the traditional industry model has made it difficult for stakeholders in the sector to embrace digital technologies and tools that can improve the levels of productivity (Matarneh & Hamed, 2017). Previous studies have focused on examining the gap between information technology and the construction industry.

One of the areas that have attracted the attention of the researchers is the interoperable technology application known as Building Information Modeling (BIM). There is a wide range of benefits associated with BIM, which should be highlighted to create awareness about the systems (Teicholz, Sacks, & Liston, 2011; Barlish & Sullivan, 2012). Such a system helps manage the information, eliminate conflicts at various stages of the project, and save both money and time (Teicholz, Sacks, & Liston, 2011; Barlish & Sullivan, 2012). Also, it allows for the easier follow up of the various activities and processes that are taken at different phases of the project. If the construction companies and stakeholders were aware of this system and its benefits, they would be ready to integrate and implement various BIM solutions. According to research evidence, BIM adoption has been slow in some areas, e.g. in Africa, even though it has proved to be an essential tool that can help the sector achieve goals, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness (Matarneh & Hamed, 2017). The aim of this paper is to explore how the adoption and implementation of BIM in Africa can be promoted and improved.

Background and Significance

BIM is regarded as a critical tool that helps in applying, maintaining, and utilizing an integrated digital representation of various types of information at different stages of a construction project (Azhar, Khalfan, & Maqsood, 2012). Also, it can help in creating, coordinating, documenting, managing, operating, and updating the data about a particular phase of a project. In general, it is a tool that continues to transform the construction industry globally. The implementation of the intervention supports and promotes the notion of integrated project delivery that has emerged to be an essential approach to reducing wastes, and optimizing efficiency (Barlish & Sullivan, 2012). Consequently, many governments around the world have embraced the concept and put in place adequate strategies for its use and implementation in the construction sector.

This study is significant since it will provide up-to-date information and insights that can be used to address the problem of slow adoption of BIM in the construction sector in Africa. Although BIM has evolved to become part of the global construction sector, the implementation of BIM technologies in Africa has been a slow process. Consequently, it is imperative to examine how the trend can be reversed to help African countries to understand the value of BIM and its benefits.  The results of the study may be used by construction practitioners, governments, and policymakers, as well as encourage construction stakeholders to use BIM in their everyday work.

Literature Review

BIM Adoption

Recently, the construction sector has been on the verge of a significant change in the way various projects are managed and delivered. In particular, attention has shifted from the design aspect to the economic, environmental, and social effects of the building projects. In addition, there were attempts to come up with sustainable structures and strategies that are anchored on factors such as resource consumption, type of building, culture, and climate. BIM is regarded as one of the primary factors that are driving such changes around the world (Eastman, Teicholz, Sacks, & Liston, 2011).  In developed countries such as the U.S., BIM is regarded as one of the tools that stakeholders should use to achieve sustainability. In the U.K., the government has come out to support the use of BIM in public sector projects leading to a dramatic rise in BIM adoption (McGrawHill Construction, 2014).

It is undeniable that BIM is quickly becoming part of the global construction sector. Ho