An investigation into Building Information Modelling (BIM) in Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) Industry in Iraq

Abstract

BIM is a smart technology that allows a project to be built virtually before being built physically, so it is integrated method to manage project information intelligently and detect mistakes before carrying out of project via link the project team to a closed loop in order to achieve the optimization. BIM became essential and necessary part of construction technology in advanced countries for its achievements to the project's optimization. On the other hand, this technology so far not applied in the AEC industry in Iraq, in spite of the problems which AEC industry in Iraq are suffering, also in spite of the construction revolution which had been seen in Iraq after 2003 .So the purpose of this research was to develop a clearly understanding about BIM by identifying the advantages achieved from using BIM initiating from design to facility management phase, proceeding from that, three main objectives have identified (to assess the awareness level of BIM by the professionals in the AEC industry in Iraq, to identify the top BIM benefits that would convince the professionals for adopting BIM in the AEC industry in Iraq, and to investigate and rank the top BIM barriers which face the implementation of BIM in the AEC industry in Iraq.) to reach the research aim, a qualitative and quantitative survey was used in this research to cover the subject completely and accurately.Relative importance index (RII) was used to identify the top BIM benefits from respondents' perspective. The findings indicated that the awareness level of BIM by professionals in the AEC industry in Iraq is very low; actually this is one the reasons for the weak growth in the construction sector in Iraq. From the point of view of respondents there were three benefits of BIM have achieved the top ranking from others, are (Increasing accuracy of cost estimation, accurate visualization at any stage of project, and Reducing change orders ) respectively. On the other hand, the findings of the research have demonstrated that BIM barriers are greatly affecting the adoption of BIM in the AEC industry in Iraq. The top three barriers to BIM adoption in the AEC industry in Iraq were (No clients demand, Lack of the awareness of BIM by stakeholders, and Lack of training) respectively.