Building information modelling: the tide is turning

The concept of building information modelling (BIM) under various names such as building product models has been around over 30 years. Other industries such as aerospace and automotive have used similar informational models on their products to analyse their design, performance and manufacturability. The architecture, engineering and construction industry is now moving towards the adoption of such concepts, driven by the need to be competitive in the market, to reduce cost and time, and to satisfy the government regulations. In view of the recent interest in BIM, this paper reports on the findings of several case study research projects and discusses how this innovative solution works in practice. The introductory sections discuss the current consistent problems that occur during the engineering design and production processes despite the introduction of good practice management techniques. Case study empirical data are used to provide insight regarding the implications for BIM development, implementation and execution. Collectively the barriers to adoption, benefits achievable and opportunities for the future are discussed with the help of illustration. The contribution to knowledge is a BIM state-of-the-art review and its potential in future engineering practice.