Status and Perceptions of the Application of Building Information Modeling for Improved Building Projects Delivery in Nigeria

摘要

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a new and innovative approach to building design, construction, and management. It is a cutting-edge, state of the art technology that is not only transforming, but improving the building delivery/production process in developed countries of the world. Sadly, Nigeria is yet to adopt this revolutionary technology in her construction industry. This study thus, sought to evaluate the present status of application of BIM in building projects in Nigeria, with a view to betoning its im portance in improving the present state of building delivery in the country. This was effected by means of a field survey of building professionals in which their perceptions were analyzed, based on a structu red questionnaire administration; in order to elicit their level of awareness of BIM application, determine their extent of participation in BIM projects, identify and rank the most suitable procurement method that encourages BIM application, the barriers to the application of BIM and the benefits of BIM application to building delivery in Nigeria. Results/Findings revealed that knowledge of BIM application among professionals is very poor (33%), participation/use of BIM in projects is non-existent, the collaborative method of procurement best supports BIM application, lack of awareness remains the major barrier to BIM application, while simultaneous access to project database by stakeholders is the highest ranked benefit of BIM application. The study concludes that Nigeria still has a long way to go in understanding, embracing and applying BIM to improve the traditional and stagnant state of her building delivery process. Hence, all hands should be on deck; the government, professional bodies, construction organizations and the academia to ensure that BIM becomes a priority with respect to legislations, training, research and use in the Nigerian building industry.