Development of a multifunctional building information modelling (BIM) maturity model

Abstract

Although some researchers claim to have used Building Information Modeling (BIM) for decades, to most it is an emerging knowledge domain and its diffusion, development, and maturation yet to be explicated. By showing users different stages of BIM development and offering a roadmap to these stages, BIM maturity models have become useful means of BIM diffusion around the world. Many studies have endeavored to develop BIM maturity models or practical BIM adoption frameworks. However, their development procedures largely remain unknown or unclear. In addition, existing BIM maturity models have seemingly overlooked the importance of different units of analysis.

Based on existing BIM maturity models, BIM definitions and BIM standards, this PhD study aims at developing a multifunctional BIM maturity model. Informed by stages theory, together with de Bruin et al.’s (2005) heuristic framework, a four-step approach including Delphi methods and focus group technique, is adopted in this study to derive a series of hierarchical BIM maturity domains, sub-domains, and their rubrics, which can be used to build the multifunctional BIM maturity model. By ‘multifunctional’, it is meant that the model can not only examine different units of analysis such as individual projects, companies, or industries, but can also serve different purposes including describing, prescribing, or comparing BIM maturity at these units of analysis. Different functions for various units of analysis are organized into a single, easy-to-use presentation. By recording the development process, this study addresses the methodological criticism that the unknown or non-disclosed development procedure of earlier maturity models should be made more transparent and rigorous.

Fourteen BIM implementation cases of Hong Kong are collected for empirical studies. These fourteen cases cover various types of construction projects such as public housing, infrastructure, railways, university buildings, and commercial buildings. The diversification of the BIM projects would provide sufficient information for different levels of BIM maturity assessment. Each BIM case assessment result is the basis unit for the foundation for further examining the organizational and industrial BIM maturity. The maturity assessment in organizational level is based on the assessment results of projects conducted by the same organization. By grouping all the assessment results of these fourteen BIM projects, the industrial level of BIM maturity can be produced.

The assessment results indicate the maturity stage of BIM implementation of Hong Kong stay at stage 1, the start-up level. At an organization level, Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA) takes the lead in BIM practice and outperforms the other construction organizations due to the complexity and uncertainty of infrastructure projects make BIM elements and BIM experience in one project to be difficult to repeat in another project. Most of the “stage 1” organizations wait for the appearance of industrial standard rather than injecting its in-house resources to develop a tailor-made guideline. The research outcomes provide a new angle for BIM researchers and BIM practitioners to understand the status-quo of BIM adoption at different levels of analysis. It also provides information for producing a roadmap that help elevate to a higher stage of BIM maturity.