Assessing the impact of overcoming BIM implementation barriers on BIM usage frequency and circular economy in the project lifecycle using Partial least Squares structural Equation modelling (PLS-SEM) analysis

• Published in: Energy and buildings Vol. 295; p. 113329
• Main Authors: Takyi-Annan, Georgina Esi, Zhang, Hong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.09.2023
• Subjects: BIM; Circular economy, Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling; Life cycle; Circular economy, Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling; Life cycle; BIM
• ISSN: 0378-7788
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2023.113329

•This research assesses the extent of influence of overcoming BIM implementation barriers on BIM usage frequency.•The structural model adapted 14 and 7 attributes across 4 major barriers and 3 construction phases respectively.•The study identified technical, process, organizational and cost barriers as the most critical barriers.•The PLS-SEM results revealed a substantial influence of ‘overcoming BIMIBs’ on BIM usage frequency.•BIM use frequency was greatest at the Pre-construction phase and lowest at the post construction phase.•Overcoming the critical BIMIBs would result in a positive impact on the circular economy.•The model created is the first of its kind and would serve as a catalyst for BIM implementation in developing nations. The construction sector is one of the fastest-growing in the world and significantly contributes to economic growth. To maximize profits without sacrificing quality, the concept of a successful building project should be applied throughout the different stages of a project's lifecycle. Although the implementation of Building Information Modelling (BIM) has been lacking to a large extent in developing nations, a lot of studies have been done on BIM usage, awareness, barriers and drivers. However, no research has been done on the impact of the BIM barriers onBIM usage frequency in the project lifecycle. The research assesses the extent of influence of overcoming BIM implementation barriers (BIMIBs) on the BIM usage frequency (BF) at the different stages of the building lifecycle in the developing world. The study created a conceptual model based on a thorough literature review after which, a questionnaire survey which collected data from 103 professionals in the Ghanaian construction industry was used to perform a Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) analysis. The structural model adapted 14 attributes across 4 major BIMIBs namely Organizational (OB), Cost (CB), Technical (TB) and People (PB) related barriers as well as 7 attributes across 3 phase factors namely the Pre-Construction (UP), Construction (UC) and Post Construction (UPC) phases. In order of significance, the study identified TB, PB, OB and CB as the most critical BIM implementation barriers that require urgent attention in the developing world with path coefficient values of 0.359, 0.314, 0.238 and 0.199 respectively. Also, with a path coefficient value of 0.848, the PLS-SEM results revealed a positive and substantial influence of ‘overcoming BIMIBs(U)’ on BIM usage(U) in the project lifecycle among professionals in the AEC industry of the developing world. Furthermore, the study discovered that, BF at UP ranked first followed by UC and UPC with scores of 0.894, 0.855 and 0.803 respectively. Lastly, the conceptual, empirical, managerial and theoretical implications of the model prediction were examined. Increasing the delivery of waste-efficient BIM-enabled projects within the built environment by overcoming the identified critical BIMIBs in the developing world is a major contribution of the study to the idea of the circular economy. In addition, the study's findings will serve as a guide for researchers, professionals, and academics in the developing world as they work to overcome BIM barriers and to promote BIM usage throughout the project lifecycle.