READINESS OF NIGERIAN BUILDING DESIGN FIRMS TO ADOPT BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING (BIM) TECHNOLOGIES
READINESS OF NIGERIAN BUILDING DESIGN FIRMS TO ADOPT BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING (BIM) TECHNOLOGIES
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Date
2013-01-11
Authors
ABUBAKAR, Muawiya IBRAHIM, Yahaya Makarfi BALA, Kabir
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Abstract
Building Information Modelling (BIM) has become the new
international benchmark for efficiency in design, construction
and maintenance of buildings. It is the platform that brings
about collaboration between project stakeholders and
improvement of project outcomes. With all its potentials, not
much of the impact of BIM technologies has been felt in the
Nigerian construction industry. This research aimed at assessing
the readiness of the Nigerian building design firms to adopt
BIM technologies. The research was exploratory in nature. A
field survey was conducted with the use of structured
questionnaire, self administered to a sample of building design
consultancy firms (architectural, structural, M&E, quantity
surveying, and multi-disciplinary design firms) within Abuja
and Kaduna. The questionnaire sought the perception of the
responding firms on the factors affecting BIM adoption in the
Nigerian construction industry, and their level of readiness to
adopt BIM technologies in their practices based on the four
categories of readiness-management, people, process and
technology. 42.26% response rate was achieved and used for
analysis. ANOVA and DUNCAN post-hoc tests were used to
establish the differences between the responses of the groups of
firms, while means and standard deviations were obtained to
establish the important factors affecting BIM adoption in
Nigeria. The survey revealed that all the groups of Nigerian
design firms are appreciably ready for the adoption of BIM
technologies in their practice, with slight variations in their
respective levels of readiness. 'Lack of awareness of BIM
technology among professionals' and clients and Mack of
knowledgeable and experienced partners' were identified as the
most important barriers of BIM adoption in Nigeria; while the
most significant drivers are 'availability of well trained
professionals' and 'cooperation and commitment of professional
bodies to the adoption'. Education and training of building
design professionals and cooperation of all stakeholders in the
design and construction supply chain were recommended as part
of measures to ensure successful adoption of BIM in the
Nigerian construction industry.
Description
Department of Building, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria-Nigeria.
Department of Quantity Surveying, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria-Nigeria.