MAKING BIM A REALISTIC PARADIGM RATHER THAN JUST ANOTHER FAD

There has certainly been progress in the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) around the world, especially in the last decade. In several countries BIM have been put into practice and employed. The UK industry has not yet fully implemented or made use of BIM but there is a strong drive from the government to adopt BIM Level 2 on all UK public projects by 2016. However, there is as yet no clear roadmap to ensure the adopting of BIM is accepted and progressed in the correct methods. The complexity and nature of BIM needs to be addressed and outlined to ensure all participants are “BIM ready” before 2016. The aim of this paper is to outline a clear understanding of the barriers and hazards surrounding the use of BIM to give comfortable consideration on the implementation of BIM. First, the current implementation of BIM around the world is explored to outline the process of BIM across different countries and understand their practices. Then the key concept of BIM including advantages and disadvantages within the current AEC industries is investigated. Followed by a comprehensive research on the challenges of implementing BIM and why it is important for all participants to understand these challenges especially within the current timeline of the UK BIM strategy. This research is based on broad literature reviews, along with results of two recent questionnaire and Interviews to present a qualitative illustration of the current situation and the concerns of implementing BIM within the UK.