Adoption of building information modelling in the construction industry in Kenya

Abstract

The current implementation of Building Information Modelling (BIM) by construction professionals in the Kenyan construction industry is an area of concern. BIM is increasingly being applied worldwide to improve communication between project stakeholders, visualization of design, detect potential clashes, reduced redesign during project implementation, improve design quality, reduce costs, and improve the rate of return for projects. However, the application of BIM in the Kenyan construction industry is still lagging, resulting in poor co-ordination of information among construction project stakeholders. This study determines the current state of BIM application, the benefits of BIM application and the BIM application barriers in Kenya. A quantitative research approach was used and data was collected, using an online questionnaire survey from 310 registered construction professionals selected by stratified sampling. The benefits and barriers factors that influence BIM application in Kenya were rated and set as the independent variables with ‘years of experience’ and ‘total completed projects’ as the dependent variables. The data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24. Principal components analysis (PCA) was used to extract the main factors for benefits and barriers of BIM implementation. Chi-square tests were used to determine relationships between independent and dependent variables. Improved communication was ranked as the most important BIM benefit, while the high cost of buying and updating software was ranked as the main barrier to the application of BIM. Based on the results of the study, improved design quality is influenced by the number of years of experience one has in the building construction industry. The number of projects undertaken by a company using BIM in any capacity has an influence on greater productivity, due to easy retrieval of information. It is recommended that BIM training should be undertaken by software vendors in vocational and tertiary institutions as well as in construction firms. In addition, the government should formulate policies and standards to support the use of BIM. This study adds to the body of knowledge about BIM application in Nairobi, Kenya that is beneficial to developers, architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, project managers, contractors, and facility managers.

Die huidige toepassing van Bou-Inligting Modellering (BIM) deur professionele konsultante in die konstruksiebedryf in Kenia is ’n bron van kommer. BIM word toenemend wêreldwyd toegepas om kommunikasie tussen projekbelanghebbendes te verbeter, ontwerpe te visualiseer, potensiële botsings te identifiseer, herontwerp tydens projekimplementering te verminder, ontwerpkwaliteit te verbeter, koste te verminder en die opbrengskoers van projekte te verhoog. Die stadige aanvaarding van BIM in die konstruksiebedryf in Kenia het swak koördinasie van inligting tussen betrokkenes in konstruksieprojekte tot gevolg. Hierdie studie ondersoek die huidige stand van BIMtoepassing, voordele van BIM-toepassing en BIM-toepassinghindernisse in Kenia. ’n Kwantitatiewe navorsingsbenadering is gebruik en data is ingesamel, met behulp van ’n aanlyn-vraelysopname van 310 geregistreerde konstruksiewerknemers wat gekies is deur gestratifiseerde steekproefneming. Die voordele en hindernisse wat BIM-toepassing in Kenia beïnvloed, is gemeet en gestel as die onafhanklike veranderlikes met ‘jare ondervinding’ en ‘totale voltooide projekte’ as die afhanklike veranderlikes. Die data is geanaliseer met behulp van die Statistiese Pakket vir die Sosiale Wetenskappe (SPSS) weergawe 24. Principal component analysis (PCA) is gebruik om die beangrikste faktore vir voordele en hindernisse van BIM-implementering te bepaal. Chi-square toetse is gebruik om verhoudings tussen onafhanklike en afhanklike veranderlikes te bepaal. Verbeterde kommunikasie is as die belangrikste voordeel van BIM beskou, terwyl die hoë koste van die aankoop en opdatering van sagteware as die belangrikste hindernisse tot BIM-toepassing beskou is. Volgens bevindinge word die verbeterde ontwerpkwaliteit beïnvloed deur die aantal jare ondervinding in die boukonstruksiebedryf. Die aantal projekte wat deur ’n maatskappy onderneem word met BIM in enige hoedanigheid beïnvloed groter produktiwiteit as gevolg van maklike herwinning van inligting. Daar word aanbeveel dat BIM-opleiding deur sagtewareleweransiers onderneem word in beroeps- en tersiêre instellings en konstruksiemaatskappye. Daarbenewens moet die regering beleide en standaarde formuleer om die gebruik van BIM te ondersteun. Die studie dra by tot die korpus van kennis oor die toepassing van BIM in Nairobi, Kenia, en behoort van waarde te wees vir ontwikkelaars, argitekte, ingenieurs, bourekenaars, projekbestuurders, kontrakteurs, en fasiliteitsbestuurders.