Building information modeling adoption model for architecture,engineering and construction industry in Malaysia

Abstract

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a modelling technology and an associated set of processes to produce, communicate, analyze, and use information models for the construction project life cycle. The BIM application developers provide a suite of BIM software that facilitates project delivery from early-stage design through to construction. The construction industry in Malaysia suffers productivity deficiency due to a lack of modern technologies such as BIM. The Malaysian construction sector is now implementing level one BIM (3D modelling with Revit and Sketch up), whereas the rest of the world is aiming towards level four or higher (4D Scheduling, 5D Costing, 6D Sustainability, and 7D Maintenance & Operation). In Malaysia, BIM adoption has been relatively unexplored, especially in Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) organizations. Meanwhile, the lack of a theoretical framework is recognized as the central gap, as there are limited studies that used technology acceptance theories. Moreover, the influence of organizational, environmental, and interoperability factors on BIM adoption got limited attention in existing studies. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to empirically examine the factors that influence BIM adoption in the Malaysian AEC industry. A quantitative approach was adopted with data collection from AEC decision-makers. The survey instrument was distributed to 1,200 AEC organizations, with 552 responses obtained. After the data screening process, 279 valid answers for further analysis of the data were utilized. The proposed model's theoretical foundations were based on technology, organization, environment framework, Diffusion of Innovation theory, and European Interoperability framework. The model was tested and validated using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) in SmartPLS software. The findings indicated that relative advantage, top management support, government support, organizational readiness, and regulation support were the drivers of BIM adoption. Financial constraints, complexity, lack of technical interoperability, semantic interoperability, and organizational interoperability were barriers to BIM adoption. Finally, this study provides implications of the essential technological, organizational, environmental, and interoperability factors that AEC stakeholders can address to enhance BIM adoption in Malaysia.