Assessing BIM performance: building information modeling in the context of architectural practice

Abstract

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is perceived as the holy grail of the Architecture Engineering and Construction industry (AEC) that allows innovative construction methods with the potential to increase the efficiency of the delivery cycle of design and construction. In practice however, its benefits remain fairly unclear. Unsubstantiated marketing claims and the lack adequate empirical evidence have resulted in unrealistic expectations about its effectiveness. Due to the confidentiality nature of the industry, the comprehensive assessment of BIM usage is scarce. “The AEC industry is a competitive field and organizations are often reluctant to disclose their enterprise expertise” (Eastman 2011, 396). The BIM empirical studies in the literature are either interpretations of historical data - questionnaires performed after the project was concluded - or software testing performed outside the office’s environment, ignoring the day-to-day conflicts and struggles. Aiming to initiate filling this void, this dissertation describes an ethnographical study conducted inside an architecture practice. The transcriptions and interpretations presented in this work are focused on the effectiveness of BIM as well as its cognitive impact over the creative process when compared to traditional methods.