Identifying Barriers and the Key Success Factors for Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the Malaysian Construction Industry

Abstract

Several Malaysian construction companies are using Building Information Modelling (BIM) for several projects. A better coordinated and integrated approach using BIM benefits all construction project stakeholders. This is one of many perks that can boost productivity. Despite these benefits, Singapore and other nations have adopted BIM in building faster than Malaysia. This study is necessary to identify BIM's real barriers and its potential in Malaysia's building industry. This study used convenience sampling and a questionnaire survey to determine BIM implementation challenges and opportunities in the Malaysian construction sector. Relative Importance Indices (RII) were used through SPSS software to analyse the data and determine what was supporting and inhibiting BIM use in this country. The study found four key BIM implementation barriers: people, policy, process, and technology. In Malaysia's construction industry, clients, contractors, and consultants are reluctant to adopt or enforce Building Information Modelling (BIM), and technological factors like high-cost operations, software, and hardware are the second largest barrier. However, government support and enforcement of Building Information Modelling (BIM), promotion of BIM training programmes, and senior management activities in key enterprises could accelerate BIM adoption. Finally, successful local government BIM enforcement will spread its use throughout Malaysia. All construction stakeholders must support BIM use in their projects.