A Critical Examination of BIM Policy Mandates: Implications and Responses

Abstract

Governments around the world are increasingly pushing for wide-scale adoption of building information modelling (BIM) in their construction industries. Central to this drive are mandates requiring BIM compliance from firms engaged on public projects. This paper critically examines, through in-depth content analysis, the implications of and responses to government policies, and initiatives guiding mandatory BIM use for all public projects in the Hong Kong construction industry. The findings reveal steps taken by public client organizations and professional associations in response to the mandate. Whilst some stakeholders have evolved into ‘champions’ embarking on capabilities development initiatives and trialing BIM use on pilot projects, others are yet to make any attempt towards BIM adoption. The current policy holds the potential to push ‘mainstream’ BIM use for government-owned projects. However, aspects of its implementation could lead to the establishment of a tiered industry around the use of BIM. Some related provisions, if exploited, could counteract current government initiatives, potentially exacerbate some industry problems the mandate is meant to help solve, or even create new ones. Findings from this paper contribute to understanding a range of responses to, and implications generated by, BIM mandates. The insights could inform approaches adopted by governments as they seek industry-wide BIM adoption and use.