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Performance Measurement and Analysis of Building Information Modeling (BIM) Applications in the Railway Infrastructure Construction Phase

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Building information modeling (BIM) is acknowledged for enhancing efficiency and collaboration in the construction industry. However, its application in the construction phase of railway projects faces challenges. This study, utilizing quantitative and qualitative analyses, explores the advantage of BIM consulting services in the railway infrastructure projects. A comparative analysis of similar-scale projects shows that BIM significantly boosts construction efficiency, yielding a 197.6% economic benefit in pilot projects. This study also delves into the BIM application environment in railway construction. Our findings provide valuable insights into BIM’s advantages and challenges, emphasizing the need for further research. The results will contribute to advancing railway infrastructure and promoting BIM’s application, aiding decision makers and practitioners in understanding its potential contributions to a more efficient and sustainable industry.
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Citation: Shin, M.-H.; Kim, H.-Y.;
Liao, J.-F. Performance Measurement
and Analysis of Building Information
Modeling (BIM) Applications in the
Railway Infrastructure Construction
Phase. Appl. Sci. 2024,14, 502.
https://doi.org/10.3390/
app14020502
Academic Editors: Alcínia Zita
Sampaio, Augusto Martins Gomes
and Jürgen Reichardt
Received: 6 December 2023
Revised: 29 December 2023
Accepted: 3 January 2024
Published: 5 January 2024
Copyright: © 2024 by the authors.
Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
This article is an open access article
distributed under the terms and
conditions of the Creative Commons
Attribution (CC BY) license (https://
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
4.0/).
applied
sciences
Article
Performance Measurement and Analysis of Building
Information Modeling (BIM) Applications in the Railway
Infrastructure Construction Phase
Min-Ho Shin 1, Hwan-Yong Kim 2,* and Jian-Feng Liao 2, *
1
Department of Railroad Construction System Engineering, Woosong University, Daejeon 34606, Republic of Korea;
mhshin57@gmail.com
2School of Architecture & Architectural Engineering, Hanyang University, ERICA Campus,
Ansan 15588, Republic of Korea
*Correspondence: liaojianfeng@hanyang.ac.kr (J.-F.L.); hwankim@hanyang.ac.kr (H.-Y.K.)
Abstract: Building information modeling (BIM) is acknowledged for enhancing efficiency and collab-
oration in the construction industry. However, its application in the construction phase of railway
projects faces challenges. This study, utilizing quantitative and qualitative analyses, explores the
advantage of BIM consulting services in the railway infrastructure projects. A comparative anal-
ysis of similar-scale projects shows that BIM significantly boosts construction efficiency, yielding
a 197.6% economic
benefit in pilot projects. This study also delves into the BIM application envi-
ronment in railway construction. Our findings provide valuable insights into BIM’s advantages
and challenges, emphasizing the need for further research. The results will contribute to advancing
railway infrastructure and promoting BIM’s application, aiding decision makers and practitioners in
understanding its potential contributions to a more efficient and sustainable industry.
Keywords: BIM; railway infrastructure; cost-effectiveness; qualitative analysis; quantitative analysis;
BIM consulting; services
1. Introduction
1.1. Background
Building information modeling (BIM) is a digital process involving the creation and
management of a virtual model throughout the entire lifecycle of a construction or in-
frastructure project [
1
]. By sharing the model information, it significantly enhances work
efficiency and enables collaborative management [
2
]. This is evident in stakeholders op-
timizing designs and construction processes through the visualization and simulation of
construction processes, enabling the identification of potential issues [
3
,
4
]. Moreover, it
facilitates communication and coordination among architects, engineers, contractors, and
owners throughout the entire construction project [
3
]. Despite the proven advantages of
BIM applications in various studies, there remain challenges in precisely measuring the
details of BIM’s specific application’s environmental and economic benefits during the
construction phase [5].
Several countries and organizations worldwide have developed BIM standards and
guidelines to overcome challenges and promote BIM usage. For instance, the International
Organization for Standardization (ISO) updated the global BIM standards in 2020 [
6
]. The
UK has adopted three different levels of BIM standards [
7
], while countries like the United
States, Finland, Norway, Singapore, and South Korea have issued their national BIM ap-
plication standards to establish BIM working environments. These guidelines serve as
blueprints for BIM implementation, assigning roles and responsibilities to various stake-
holders. Despite widespread BIM applications in recent years [
8
], most of the literature
analyzing BIM concentrates on architectural projects, with limited focus on infrastructure
Appl. Sci. 2024,14, 502. https://doi.org/10.3390/app14020502 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci
Appl. Sci. 2024,14, 502 2 of 16
construction, building maintenance, and protection. In earlier publications [
9
], the authors
explored the advantages of BIM applications in the design phase of the railway infrastruc-
ture, providing examples through quantitative research analyzing cost, work hours, and
labor differences during the design phase. Additionally, qualitative research analyzed the
primary tasks involved, offering insights into the application of BIM in the design phase of
railway infrastructure.
However, due to higher demands on personnel, work hours, and costs during the
construction phase when compared to the design phase, whether the use of BIM in the
construction phase offers advantages in terms of cost and time savings is a question that
this study attempts to address. Thus, to evaluate the performance of BIM applications
during the construction phase of railway infrastructure projects. To achieve this, the authors
conducted in-depth investigations and interviews, collecting data on the application of BIM
during the construction phase from two ongoing railway infrastructure projects and the
involved BIM consulting companies. Through data analysis, a quantitative assessment was
performed by comparing the cost-effectiveness, work hours, and differences in the number
of workers between situations where construction companies independently used BIM and
cases where professional BIM consulting services were engaged. A qualitative analysis was
conducted on the specific tasks, information data, location information, software used, and
other aspects of BIM participation in the work, aiming to identify the specific advantages
in terms of economic benefits gained from using BIM during the construction phase of
railway infrastructure projects.
1.2. Research Review
To gain a comprehensive understanding of the advantages of BIM applications in
railway construction projects, the authors conducted a literature review on the relevant
research, with a particular focus on cost-effectiveness and studies involving practical case
applications. Within our analysis of the Web of Science database (WoS) of the combination
of “building information modeling (BIM)” (title) and “construction industry” (topic), there
are 1076 article publications (Dec 29, 2023). The result distribution by country and region
show there are 276 papers published in China (25.65%), 158 papers in England (14.68%), and
133 papers in the USA (12.36%); the publication of South Korea has 66 papers which make
up 6.13% (Figure 1). We selected and analyzed some of the publications that related to BIM
application in railway construction. On the other side, the publications of WoS by research
area show that there are 714 (66.357%) papers in the engineering area were published,
construction buildings have 393 papers set up by 35.524%, and business economics have
145 papers set up by 13.476% (Figure 2).
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 16
analyzing BIM concentrates on architectural projects, with limited focus on infrastructure
construction, building maintenance, and protection. In earlier publications [9], the authors
explored the advantages of BIM applications in the design phase of the railway infrastruc-
ture, providing examples through quantitative research analyzing cost, work hours, and
labor dierences during the design phase. Additionally, qualitative research analyzed the
primary tasks involved, oering insights into the application of BIM in the design phase
of railway infrastructure.
However, due to higher demands on personnel, work hours, and costs during the
construction phase when compared to the design phase, whether the use of BIM in the
construction phase oers advantages in terms of cost and time savings is a question that
this study aempts to address. Thus, to evaluate the performance of BIM applications
during the construction phase of railway infrastructure projects. To achieve this, the au-
thors conducted in-depth investigations and interviews, collecting data on the application
of BIM during the construction phase from two ongoing railway infrastructure projects
and the involved BIM consulting companies. Through data analysis, a quantitative assess-
ment was performed by comparing the cost-eectiveness, work hours, and dierences in
the number of workers between situations where construction companies independently
used BIM and cases where professional BIM consulting services were engaged. A qualita-
tive analysis was conducted on the specic tasks, information data, location information,
software used, and other aspects of BIM participation in the work, aiming to identify the
specic advantages in terms of economic benets gained from using BIM during the con-
struction phase of railway infrastructure projects.
1.2. Research Review
To gain a comprehensive understanding of the advantages of BIM applications in
railway construction projects, the authors conducted a literature review on the relevant
research, with a particular focus on cost-eectiveness and studies involving practical case
applications. Within our analysis of the Web of Science database (WoS) of the combination
of “building information modeling (BIM) (title) and “construction industry” (topic),
there are 1076 article publications (Dec 29, 2023). The result distribution by country and
region show there are 276 papers published in China (25.65%), 158 papers in England
(14.68%), and 133 papers in the USA (12.36%); the publication of South Korea has 66 pa-
pers which make up 6.13% (Figure 1). We selected and analyzed some of the publications
that related to BIM application in railway construction. On the other side, the publications
of WoS by research area show that there are 714 (66.357%) papers in the engineering area
were published, construction buildings have 393 papers set up by 35.524%, and business
economics have 145 papers set up by 13.476% (Figure 2).
Figure 1. Top 10 publications of WoS by Countries/Regions.
Figure 1. Top 10 publications of WoS by Countries/Regions.
Appl. Sci. 2024,14, 502 3 of 16
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 of 16
Figure 2. Top 10 publications of WoS by Research Areas.
In these related publications, Sholeh, M. N. et al. proved that BIM applications could
reduce 50% of time costs and reduce costs by 52.36% [10]. Azhar, S. et al. revealed the
critical importance of accurate cost estimation and quantity surveying for eective budg-
eting and cost control in achieving cost benets [11]. BIM application through collision
detection allows for the early identication of design errors, ensuring timely issue resolu-
tion before construction. Due to technical sta checking for errors in advance, thereby
reducing additional construction periods and saving costs in a railway subject. Thus, the
integration of BIM into the rail industry is becoming a global trend [12]. Additionally, BIM
contributes to construction planning and constructability analysis, enabling ecient pro-
ject scheduling and construction process planning [13]. With BIM, the on-site validation,
guidance, and tracking of construction activities become more straightforward, leading to
increased productivity and quality control [14,15]. Shin, M. H. et al. emphasized the cost
savings and project outcome improvements that implementing BIM in railway construc-
tion projects in the design phase may bring [16]. Moreover, BIM has gained recognition in
multiple railway construction projects. For instance, Taiwan High-Speed Rail Corporation,
in which BIM technology was used in the construction of the Changhua Station [17] and
the Honam High-Speed Railway Lot No. 4-2 in Korea [18] successfully applied BIM in
railway infrastructure construction [19].
These referenced studies delve into the application advantages of BIM in project con-
struction, discussing how BIM supports the design, construction, and maintenance of rail-
way construction projects, as well as how it yields economic benets and cost savings.
Integrating BIM into railway projects oers numerous advantages, including collabora-
tion, time savings, cost optimization, conict prevention in networks, facility management
optimization, and enhanced engineering quality [12]. Leveraging BIM in railway construc-
tion projects empowers stakeholders to enhance decision-making processes, streamline
project delivery, save costs, and enhance the overall eciency of the industry [20].
2. Materials and Methods
Following is the methodology we used for this study, which is divided into two parts:
qualitative research and quantitative research. In recent years, there have been plenty of
publications on the eectiveness of BIM applications in the Web of Science, drawing sig-
nicant aention from researchers. However, by searching WoS with topics “quantita-
tiveand “railway”, there is only one publication result [16] that proved a lack of cost-
Figure 2. Top 10 publications of WoS by Research Areas.
In these related publications, Sholeh, M. N. et al. proved that BIM applications could
reduce 50% of time costs and reduce costs by 52.36% [
10
]. Azhar, S. et al. revealed the critical
importance of accurate cost estimation and quantity surveying for effective budgeting and
cost control in achieving cost benefits [
11
]. BIM application through collision detection
allows for the early identification of design errors, ensuring timely issue resolution before
construction. Due to technical staff checking for errors in advance, thereby reducing
additional construction periods and saving costs in a railway subject. Thus, the integration
of BIM into the rail industry is becoming a global trend [
12
]. Additionally, BIM contributes
to construction planning and constructability analysis, enabling efficient project scheduling
and construction process planning [
13
]. With BIM, the on-site validation, guidance, and
tracking of construction activities become more straightforward, leading to increased
productivity and quality control [
14
,
15
]. Shin, M. H. et al. emphasized the cost savings and
project outcome improvements that implementing BIM in railway construction projects in
the design phase may bring [
16
]. Moreover, BIM has gained recognition in multiple railway
construction projects. For instance, Taiwan High-Speed Rail Corporation, in which BIM
technology was used in the construction of the Changhua Station [
17
] and the Honam High-
Speed Railway Lot No. 4-2 in Korea [
18
] successfully applied BIM in railway infrastructure
construction [19].
These referenced studies delve into the application advantages of BIM in project
construction, discussing how BIM supports the design, construction, and maintenance of
railway construction projects, as well as how it yields economic benefits and cost savings.
Integrating BIM into railway projects offers numerous advantages, including collaboration,
time savings, cost optimization, conflict prevention in networks, facility management opti-
mization, and enhanced engineering quality [
12
]. Leveraging BIM in railway construction
projects empowers stakeholders to enhance decision-making processes, streamline project
delivery, save costs, and enhance the overall efficiency of the industry [20].
2. Materials and Methods
Following is the methodology we used for this study, which is divided into two parts:
qualitative research and quantitative research. In recent years, there have been plenty of
publications on the effectiveness of BIM applications in the Web of Science, drawing signifi-
cant attention from researchers. However, by searching WoS with topics “quantitative” and
“railway”, there is only one publication result [
16
] that proved a lack of cost-effective quan-
titative research on the performance evaluation of BIM application in the field of railway
Appl. Sci. 2024,14, 502 4 of 16
infrastructure construction. Therefore, there is strong research significance in qualitatively
and quantitatively studying the performance of BIM application environments [
21
23
]. Un-
like previous studies, Ref. [
16
] which examined applications in the design phase, this study
is about the construction phase. On the other hand, considering that railway construction
projects typically involve longer durations, broader scopes of work, larger scales, and
bureaucratic challenges compared to building projects, enterprises tend to retain traditional
working environments. From this perspective, this study seeks to confirm the specific
advantages of using BIM professional consulting in the railway construction industry and
whether BIM consulting can offer better support for infrastructure construction projects in
future BIM applications.
This study conducted a comparative analysis on two railway construction projects
of similar scale to explore the advantages of BIM professional consulting services in the
performance of the construction phase. However, for information security reasons, the
report refers to these projects as “Project 1” and “Project 2”, as they are currently in the im-
plementation phase. Both projects commenced simultaneously in July 2021.
Project 1 spans
1.948 km
, comprising two tunnels and three bridges, while Project 2 spans
2.810 km
, in-
cluding one tunnel and one overpass bridge.
Due to the extended duration of the construction projects, data collection for this
measurement study spanned ten months. Quantitative data were collected by BIM consult-
ing companies and construction enterprises. Separately, the project manager collects data
based on the questions in the monthly project plan and quantitative template and provides
it to the researcher each month, while qualitative data were obtained through in-depth
interviews and surveys conducted by researchers with the construction project manager,
BIM consulting company manager, and technical personnel. The researcher conducted
in-depth interviews with engineers who were actually involved in the construction of the
project according to the questions in the qualitative survey template, which consisted of
a total of three interviews that lasted a total of ten months (the first month, the fifth month,
and the tenth month). The number of interviews was based on twenty people. To ensure
the objectivity of the data, the researchers were conducted anonymously in groups of three
to the engineers involved in Project 1 and Project 2, respectively.
Measurement Template
In order to showcase the comprehensiveness of the research project, the researchers
designed a survey template addressing both qualitative and quantitative analysis questions.
The measurement template was crafted to cover aspects such as BIM deliverables, project
duration, quality assessment, labor costs, BIM human capital, BIM investment factors,
etc. Through in-depth interviews and discussions with BIM consulting companies and
construction enterprise managers, the measurement template was refined and finalized.
Quantitative measurement questions were categorized into 7 groups, comprising 16 aspects
and a total of 21 questions. Qualitative measurement questions were organized into
4 groups, covering 8 aspects and a total of 15 questions. These questions cover personal
information of the respondents, their BIM experience, salary levels, work-related details,
and other relevant aspects (Tables 1and 2).
According to the quantitative measurement template, the authors devised formulas
for quantitative measurements during the construction phase, as illustrated in Table 3. Data
for this section will be recorded by the construction unit and professional BIM consulting
companies during the construction process. Considering the unique nature of construction
phase projects and assuming other costs, such as materials and equipment, remain constant,
the most influential factors on costs are delays in project duration and labor costs. Therefore,
cost calculations primarily involve three fundamental values: (a) base costs; (b) labor costs
based on different skill levels; and (c) working days. It is worth noting that some factors
among these, irrespective of BIM participation, have a minimal impact on performance
calculation results. Examples include rework and rebuilding costs, rework prevention costs,
BIM training, BIM support, and BIM investment.
Appl. Sci. 2024,14, 502 5 of 16
Table 1. Measurement survey template.
Quantitative Measurement
Categories Area of Questions Code
4D Simulation of Construction Information 1
Cost of Building Collaborative Environment a
Cost of Initial Clash Checks 3b
Cost of Shop Drawing Information Work c
Cost of Coordinating and Resolving Other Issues d
5D Simulation of Cost
Estimation 2Labor Costs e
BIM Coordination in
Construction Projects
Costs of Resolving Clashes and Preventing Delays f
Rework Costs Incurred due to Design Changes and Errors g
Risks Costs Arising from Design Errors h
Costs of Rebuilding after Rework i
Costs of Preventive Measures for Rework j
Organizational Human
Resources Costs of BIM-Related Support Department Involvement k
BIM Investment Costs Software and Hardware Procurement l
Software and Hardware Upgrades and Maintenance m
Creating BIM Models from 2D Drawings Costs of Quantity and Drawing Preparation n
Operational Costs in Case of Data Loss o
BIM Training Employee Skill Development and BIM Training p
Qualitative Measurement
Categories Area of Questions
BIM Implementation Overview
4D Simulation for Construction Sequencing
History of Construction Projects with BIM Implementation
Support for BIM Implementation
Team and Personnel Team Members’ Experience
Team Composition and Role Allocation
Financial Aspects Investment for BIM Implementation
Impact Assessment Benefits of BIM Adoption
Effects of BIM Application
1
The 4D BIM is the process of using 3D models combined with time and schedule-related information such as
programs, site surveys, and logistics models to create a virtual construction sequence.
2
The 5D BIM dimension
integrates the information further with cost data by bringing detailed cost information into the project. These cost
data may include schedules, prices, and quantities.
3
Clash issues refer to spatial collisions and conflicts occurring
between structural components and various specialty equipment pipelines during the construction process.
Table 2. Measurement survey questions.
Quantitative Element Survey Questions
Categories Questions
4D Simulation of
Construction Information
How many people are involved, and what are the costs for establishing a collaborative
working environment?
What are the costs associated with clash detection during the 3D model
construction process?
How much time and cost are involved in meetings for adjustments in case of changes or
additional issues?
What are the costs for adding information and editing work for Shop Drawings?
5D Simulation of Cost Estimation
What are the costs associated with the extraction and modification of quantity information
for each component based on the Level of Development (LOD) of the 3D model?
Appl. Sci. 2024,14, 502 6 of 16
Table 2. Cont.
Quantitative Element Survey Questions
Categories Questions
BIM Coordination in
Construction Projects
What is the cost of resolving clashes and preventing air delays on the construction site?
In the construction process, what are the costs associated with design changes and errors
that result in rework?
How much do delays in time and costs occur due to the resolution of design errors?
What are the costs associated with demolition and additional work due to on-site
construction issues?
Evaluation of BIM contribution for each Request for Information (RFI) using the
Likert scale:
-Can be confirmed without BIM application
-Can be confirmed without BIM application but -meaningful
-Average
-Difficult to confirm without BIM application
-Difficult to confirm without BIM application and results in rework
What is the cost of original construction for each RFI?
For BIM operation, what is the labor cost for personnel deployed by the construction
company for BIM management?
Organizational Human Resources
How many personnel are in the BIM department?
What is the ratio of BIM department personnel to the total number of personnel?
How does the labor cost in the BIM department compare to other departments?
BIM Investment Costs
What is the unavoidable initial investment cost in the early stages of BIM implementation?
What are the maintenance costs for BIM software and hardware?
Creating BIM Models from
2D Drawings
What is the cost associated with the Level of Development (LOD) of drawings for
each trade?
How much does it cost to quantify from the BIM model?
What is the manpower and time investment for rework due to common format conversion
for data sharing?
BIM Training
If separate BIM personnel training is conducted, what is the training frequency and cost?
Qualitative Element Survey Questions
Area of Questions Questions
4D Simulation for Construction
Sequencing
How do you primarily use BIM in your work?
How is data classified when requesting BIM information?
What is the purpose when requesting BIM information?
How is the requested BIM information data utilized?
What types of information are utilized in responding to BIM RFI data?
In what form is the information utilized in responding to BIM RFI data?
History of Construction Projects with
BIM Implementation How many BIM technicians were involved in previous projects that utilized BIM?
Team Members’ Experience What is the rank and salary of BIM technicians in your company?
Team Composition and
Role Allocation How is the role distribution and ratio of team members in your team?
Support for BIM Implementation
What support measures exist at the government level to enhance the use of BIM?
What support measures exist at the company level to enhance the use of BIM?
Does your company have plans for workshops or support to enhance understanding and
expertise in BIM?
Investment for BIM Implementation What software do you use when employing BIM?
Benefits of BIM Adoption Are there advantages obtained by using BIM compared to the methods employed before
BIM implementation?
Effects of BIM Application
Are there areas of improvement identified by applying BIM during the construction phase
compared to not using BIM?
Note: The two project sites will be surveyed using the same set of questions.
Appl. Sci. 2024,14, 502 7 of 16
Table 3. Quantitative measurement calculation formulae.
Area of Questions Calculation Formula Code
Cost of Building
Collaborative Environment
Average Labor Cost per Rank ×Number of Workers ×Working
days + Other Expenses 1
a
Cost of Initial Clash Checks b
Cost of Shop Drawing Information Work c
Cost of Coordinating and Resolving
Other Issues d
Labor Costs e
Costs of Resolving Clashes and
Preventing Delays f
Rework Costs Incurred due to Design
Changes and Errors g
Risks Costs Arising from Design Errors h
Costs of Rebuilding after Rework
Average labor cost per rank
×
Number of workers
×
Working days
+ Material cost + Other expenses i
Costs of Preventive Measures for Rework
Average labor cost per rank
×
Number of workers
×
Working days
+ Other expenses + Service fee j
Costs of BIM-Related Support
Department Involvement
Average labor cost per BIM department ×Total number
of employees k
Software and Hardware Procurement BIM software acquisition cost + BIM hardware acquisition cost l
Software and Hardware Upgrades
and Maintenance BIM software maintenance cost + BIM hardware maintenance cost m
Costs of Quantity and
Drawing Preparation
Average labor cost per rank
×
Number of workers
×
Working days
+ Other expenses
n
Operational Costs in Case of Data Loss o
Employee Skill Development and
BIM Training Training cost ×Number of training sessions p
1
Other expenses: According to the state regulations should be paid in the project construction investment and
included in the cost. Such as management fees, subsidies, transport costs, taxes, etc.
3. Analysis and Results
3.1. Quantitative Analysis
3.1.1. Comparative Analysis of Investment Cost
Although questions involving 16 areas were designed for quantitative research when
the researchers developed the quantitative research template. However, in analyzing the
results, it was found that there were some data virtually unchanged with or without the
involvement of a professional BIM consultancy (e.g., code a–d), or had very little impact
(e.g., code k–p). In addition, because railway engineering construction is a large and com-
plex project, this process involves a very complicated amount of work; in order to simplify
the calculation, we assume that all other conditions are fixed situation, selected the three
aspects of the greatest impact on the project investment to measure the comparison (e–g).
The cost-effectiveness of BIM in the construction phase primarily manifests in labor
costs and construction duration. With the intervention of BIM information, it becomes
possible to proactively prevent common occurrences in the construction process, such as
clashes, design inconsistencies, or other issues leading to design changes. This proactive
approach helps reduce construction duration and lower costs. However, it is crucial to
note that rework caused by issues like substandard construction quality is something BIM
cannot entirely prevent. To conduct a comprehensive cross-sectional analysis of the impact
on cost-effectiveness between the involvement of professional BIM consulting services and
the use of BIM by construction companies themselves, the quantitative survey focuses
Appl. Sci. 2024,14, 502 8 of 16
on factors that significantly affect economic benefits under professional BIM consulting
involvement. Factors with relatively minor impacts, such as BIM training costs and BIM
investment costs, are excluded from the analysis. For clarity in the following discussion,
“BIM” will represent the scenario where professional consulting services are involved, while
“Non-BIM” will represent situations where construction companies use BIM on their own.
During data collection, professional BIM consulting companies and construction companies
selected similar-scale work content from Project 1 and Project 2 for measurement.
On the other hand, some literature indicates that BIM technology has not been widely
disseminated and applied in the South Korean construction industry, particularly in con-
struction projects [
24
]. On-site construction management personnel still exhibit hesitation
toward adopting BIM technology [
25
]. This observation was confirmed through in-depth
interviews with BIM consulting companies and management personnel from construction
companies. Presently, the practical application of BIM in South Korean construction projects
is primarily limited to the design phase. Due to technological imperfections and a lack of
experience, a significant gap exists in the actual application of BIM for most construction
companies. Therefore, the focus of this quantitative analysis is primarily on (e) labor costs;
(f) costs of resolving clashes and preventing delay; and (g) rework costs incurred due to
design changes and errors. These aspects are considered critical areas that require special
attention in the application of BIM during the construction phase.
In the case of rework resulting from design changes and errors, it involves modifying
existing models and adding detailed models. Labor costs are composed of the quantity
of labor and the corresponding work details on the construction site, reviewed by on-site
construction management. Regarding the costs associated with resolving clashes and
preventing construction delays, this includes measures such as proactively addressing clash
issues and preventing delays in the construction schedule. These measures involve creating
and simulating safety-integrated models, updating data, and similar actions.
According to Table 4, in the investigation of labor costs, it was found that, with the
participation of professional BIM consulting, the labor costs in Project 1 were USD 12,395,
and in Project 2, they were USD 17,600. Without BIM consulting, the labor costs were
USD 61,976 and USD 51,646, respectively. Regarding the cost of resolving collision issues
and preventing delays, during the BIM consulting period, the construction cost for Project
1 was USD 30,643, and for Project 2, it was USD 15,838. The costs without BIM consulting
were USD 45,965 and USD 24,445, respectively, which was significantly higher than the
working environment with the participation of professional BIM consulting.
Table 4. Comparative measurement cost between participation in BIM consultancy and non-BIM
participation.
BIM Task
Categories Code Descriptions Non-BIM (Unit: USD) BIM (Unit: USD)
Project 1 Project 2 Project 1 Project 2
5D Simulation of
Cost Estimation e Labor Costs 61,976 51,646 12,395 17,600
BIM Coordination in
Construction Projects
fCosts of Resolving Clashes and
Preventing Delays 45,965 24,445 30,643 15,838
gRework Costs Incurred due to
Design Changes and Errors 37,185 66,623 24,790 44,415
Total 145,126 142,714 67,828 77,853
Average total cost 143,920 72,840
Note: The measured amount, converted to US dollars based on real-time exchange rates, may incur discrepancies.
In terms of rework when design changes and errors occur, the rework costs for projects
1 and 2 with BIM consulting were USD 24,790 and USD 44,415, respectively. The costs
without BIM consulting were USD 37,185 and USD 66,623, significantly higher than the
construction costs for contractors using BIM. For performance measurement analysis, in
Appl. Sci. 2024,14, 502 9 of 16
“Cost Measurement with BIM Consulting,” each cost is defined as an investment cost in
the construction phase. In “Cost Measurement by Contractors,” each cost is defined as
a basic cost in the construction phase. The percentage increase in costs can be calculated by
dividing basic costs by investment costs.
As shown in Table 5, the investment percentage for Project 1 is 214.0%, resulting in
a cost efficiency improvement of 114.0%. For Project 2, the percentage is 183.3%, leading
to an 83.3% improvement in cost efficiency. In terms of the average total costs, with the
participation of a BIM consulting company, the calculated average investment cost in the
construction phase is approximately USD 72,840, including labor costs, costs of resolving
collision issues and preventing delays, and rework costs when design changes and errors
occur. On average, if constructed solely by contractors, the average basic cost in the
construction phase is approximately USD 143,920. When a professional BIM consulting
company is involved, the average total investment cost percentage is 197.6%, resulting in
a cost efficiency improvement of about 97.6%.
Table 5. Comparative analysis of investment cost percentage.
Title Division Cost Percentage (%)
Project 1 Basic Cost 145,126 214.0
Investment Cost 67,828
Project 2 Basic Cost 142,714 183.3
Investment Cost 77,853
Average total cost Basic Cost 143,920 197.6
Investment Cost 72,840
3.1.2. Comparative Analysis of Working Days and Worker Numbers
To further understand the impact of BIM applications on labor quantity and con-
struction time, Table 6compares the changes in the number of workers and working days
between scenarios with and without the participation of professional BIM consulting. These
data are collected from measurements conducted separately by the construction units and
BIM consulting units of the two projects. For readability, unchanged data are represented
by “—”.
Table 6. Difference in worker numbers and working days between using BIM and non-BIM.
Code
Non-BIM BIM
Project 1 Project 2 Project 1 Project 2
Worker
Numbers
Working
Days
Worker
Numbers
Working
Days
Worker
Numbers
Working
Days
Worker
Numbers
Working
Days
e 2 120 2 100 3 24 5 18
f 17 48 9 46
g 12 29 14 61
Total 31 197 25 207 32 101 28 125
Average of
total workers 28 people 30 people
Average of working days 202 days 113 days
Note: Worker numbers are calculated per working day.
The results indicate that, in terms of the number of workers, the scenarios of addressing
collision issues, preventing delays, and rework costs due to design changes and errors
did not result in changes, regardless of the participation of professional BIM consulting
companies. However, with the involvement of BIM consulting, the number of workers
increased by one person and three persons at the two construction sites (from two to three
persons and from two to five persons, respectively). Although the number of construction
Appl. Sci. 2024,14, 502 10 of 16
personnel increased when compared to self-construction by the construction units, the
total working days at the two sites reduced from 120 days to 24 days and from 100 days to
18 days, respectively.
Comparing the data from the two construction sites, the total number of workers
slightly increased when BIM consulting was involved, from 31 to 32 persons for Project 1,
and from 25 to 28 persons for Project 2. The average total number of workers also slightly
increased from 28 to 30 persons. However, the total working days at the construction site
of Project 1 rapidly decreased by 96 days, from 197 days to 101 days, and the construction
site of Project 2 also reduced by 82 days, from 207 days to 125 days. The average total days
decreased significantly from 202 days to 113 days, a reduction of 89 days. This indicates
that the involvement of BIM consulting companies, while increasing the average number
of workers, effectively shortens the working time, thereby reducing the overall investment
cost of construction projects.
3.2. Qualitative Analysis
Based on the qualitative survey questions, we have organized our survey results into
the following areas.
3.2.1. The Content of Work and Time Spent on BIM Usage
To understand the content of using BIM, the researchers collected information on the
tasks involved in the construction phase BIM participation and the time spent on BIM.
These tasks were detailed into additional detailed modeling, constructability review, process
management, construction cost management, and site management. A total of
379 work
items were collected from Project 1, and 410 work items were collected from Project
2 (Table 7).
Table 7. The content of work and time spent on BIM usage.
Project Work Item Count Percentage (%) Time Percentage (%)
Project 1
Additional Detailed Modeling 173 45.65 675.5 46.30
Constructability Review 50 13.19 173.5 11.89
Process Management 41 10.82 127.5 8.74
Construction Costs Management 67 17.68 365.5 25.05
On-Site Management 48 12.66 117 8.02
Total 379 100.00 1459.00 100.00
Project 2
Additional Detailed Modeling 205 50.00 860.2 52.35
Constructability Review 19 4.63 56.0 3.41
Process Management 83 20.24 353.4 21.51
Construction Costs Management 55 13.41 243.0 14.79
On-Site Management 48 11.71 130.5 7.94
Total 410 100.00 1643.10 100.00
The results show that, in terms of the content of BIM work, Project 1 had a higher
number of additional detailed modeling tasks (173 items), accounting for 45.65% of all
work, followed by construction cost management (67 items), and the least was process
management (41 items). Similarly, in Project 2, the highest number of tasks was related
to additional detailed modeling (205 items), accounting for 52.35%, followed by process
management (83 items), and the least was constructability review (19 items). In terms
of time spent, Project 1 invested the most time in additional detailed modeling (675.5 h),
accounting for 46.30% of all work. Process management and site management took the
least time, constituting only about 8% of the total work time. Similarly, Project 2 spent the
most time on additional detailed modeling (860.2 h), accounting for 52.35% of all work.
The least time was spent on constructability review (56 h), representing only 3.41% of the
total work time.
Appl. Sci. 2024,14, 502 11 of 16
Therefore, it can be observed that in the specific tasks of BIM applications in the
construction phase of railway projects, the main focus is on additional detailed modeling,
which nearly constitutes half of all BIM work and is also the most time-consuming part of
the work.
3.2.2. Categories by Location Information
During the measurement phase of the pilot project, researchers investigated the lo-
cation information and work proportions of the issues handled by BIM (Figure 3). Apart
from uncategorized information, the issues in Project 1 were, in order, tunnel (21.90%),
construction road (5.01%), and existing structure (2.64%). In Project 2, the issues were,
in order, tunnel (58.05%), underground passage (6.83%), and existing structure (6.10%).
Therefore, it can be observed that in the construction phase of railway projects applying
BIM, the most commonly addressed issues are related to tunnels.
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13, x FOR PEER REVIEW 11 of 16
On-Site Management 48 11.71 130.5 7.94
Total 410 100.00 1643.10 100.00
The results show that, in terms of the content of BIM work, Project 1 had a higher
number of additional detailed modeling tasks (173 items), accounting for 45.65% of all
work, followed by construction cost management (67 items), and the least was process
management (41 items). Similarly, in Project 2, the highest number of tasks was related to
additional detailed modeling (205 items), accounting for 52.35%, followed by process
management (83 items), and the least was constructability review (19 items). In terms of
time spent, Project 1 invested the most time in additional detailed modeling (675.5 h), ac-
counting for 46.30% of all work. Process management and site management took the least
time, constituting only about 8% of the total work time. Similarly, Project 2 spent the most
time on additional detailed modeling (860.2 h), accounting for 52.35% of all work. The
least time was spent on constructability review (56 h), representing only 3.41% of the total
work time.
Therefore, it can be observed that in the specic tasks of BIM applications in the con-
struction phase of railway projects, the main focus is on additional detailed modeling,
which nearly constitutes half of all BIM work and is also the most time-consuming part of
the work.
3.2.2. Categories by Location Information
During the measurement phase of the pilot project, researchers investigated the loca-
tion information and work proportions of the issues handled by BIM (Figure 3). Apart
from uncategorized information, the issues in Project 1 were, in order, tunnel (21.90%),
construction road (5.01%), and existing structure (2.64%). In Project 2, the issues were, in
order, tunnel (58.05%), underground passage (6.83%), and existing structure (6.10%).
Therefore, it can be observed that in the construction phase of railway projects applying
BIM, the most commonly addressed issues are related to tunnels.
(a) (b)
Figure 3. (a)The proportion of location information in Project 1. (b) The proportion of location in-
formation in Project 2.
3.2.3. Detail Information of BIM
Based on the historical data of on-site BIM-related work, detailed information was
classied, and its weight throughout the entire process was examined. In Project 1, the
main issues addressed by BIM were modeling (33.25%), followed by quantity verication
(17.68%) and modeling materials (10.29%) (Figure 4). Similarly, in Project 2, the primary
issues were modeling (35.61%), followed by quantity verication (13.41%) and process
Figure 3. (a)The proportion of location information in Project 1. (b) The proportion of location
information in Project 2.
3.2.3. Detail Information of BIM
Based on the historical data of on-site BIM-related work, detailed information was
classified, and its weight throughout the entire process was examined. In Project 1, the
main issues addressed by BIM were modeling (33.25%), followed by quantity verification
(17.68%) and modeling materials (10.29%) (Figure 4). Similarly, in Project 2, the primary
issues were modeling (35.61%), followed by quantity verification (13.41%) and process
schedules (9.76%). Therefore, in both construction projects, tasks related to modeling
constitute the largest proportion of BIM-related work.
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13, x FOR PEER REVIEW 12 of 16
schedules (9.76%). Therefore, in both construction projects, tasks related to modeling con-
stitute the largest proportion of BIM-related work.
(a) (b)
Figure 4. (a) The proportion of detail information in Project 1. (b) The proportion of detail infor-
mation in Project 2.
3.2.4. Usage of BIM Software
Researchers categorized the software used in experimental on-site work and exam-
ined its proportion throughout the entire process. The top three applications used in Pro-
ject 1 were Revit (45.12%), Navisworks (26.76%), and Excel (12.30%) (Figure 5). These ap-
plications were utilized for additional detailed modeling, construction feasibility reviews,
process management, cost management, and on-site management tasks.
(a) (b)
Figure 5. (a) The percentage of BIM software usage in Project 1. (b) The percentage of BIM software
usage in Project 2.
In Project 2, the predominant BIM software was Revit, accounting for 53.45%, fol-
lowed by Navisworks (13.78%) and AutoCAD (13.59%). Overall, Revit emerged as the
most commonly used BIM application in construction projects, likely due to its primary
association with modeling tasks in the eld of architectural engineering.
Figure 4. (a) The proportion of detail information in Project 1. (b) The proportion of detail information
in Project 2.
Appl. Sci. 2024,14, 502 12 of 16
3.2.4. Usage of BIM Software
Researchers categorized the software used in experimental on-site work and exam-
ined its proportion throughout the entire process. The top three applications used in
P
roject 1 wer
e Revit (45.12%), Navisworks (26.76%), and Excel (12.30%) (Figure 5). These
applications were utilized for additional detailed modeling, construction feasibility reviews,
process management, cost management, and on-site management tasks.
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13, x FOR PEER REVIEW 12 of 16
schedules (9.76%). Therefore, in both construction projects, tasks related to modeling con-
stitute the largest proportion of BIM-related work.
(a) (b)
Figure 4. (a) The proportion of detail information in Project 1. (b) The proportion of detail infor-
mation in Project 2.
3.2.4. Usage of BIM Software
Researchers categorized the software used in experimental on-site work and exam-
ined its proportion throughout the entire process. The top three applications used in Pro-
ject 1 were Revit (45.12%), Navisworks (26.76%), and Excel (12.30%) (Figure 5). These ap-
plications were utilized for additional detailed modeling, construction feasibility reviews,
process management, cost management, and on-site management tasks.
(a) (b)
Figure 5. (a) The percentage of BIM software usage in Project 1. (b) The percentage of BIM software
usage in Project 2.
In Project 2, the predominant BIM software was Revit, accounting for 53.45%, fol-
lowed by Navisworks (13.78%) and AutoCAD (13.59%). Overall, Revit emerged as the
most commonly used BIM application in construction projects, likely due to its primary
association with modeling tasks in the eld of architectural engineering.
Figure 5. (a) The percentage of BIM software usage in Project 1. (b) The percentage of BIM software
usage in Project 2.
In Project 2, the predominant BIM software was Revit, accounting for 53.45%, followed
by Navisworks (13.78%) and AutoCAD (13.59%). Overall, Revit emerged as the most com-
monly used BIM application in construction projects, likely due to its primary association
with modeling tasks in the field of architectural engineering.
3.2.5. Effects of BIM Application
Researchers conducted in-depth interviews to investigate the effectiveness of BIM
applications in solving problems based on work content categories during the pilot work at
the construction site. For further detailed modeling, precise quantities could be calculated,
and model quality could be improved through thorough inspections of individual objects,
enabling comprehensive material management. In the process of construction feasibility
reviews, errors could be identified to enhance the accuracy of information, and stability
reviews could identify the risk areas, leading to design changes as required by the data.
During process management, issues could be easily seen by others due to information shar-
ing, promoting interdisciplinary communication. Task history records facilitated monthly
manpower checks (M/M). When calculating quantity data, comparing and reviewing con-
struction cost management tasks allowed for sharing the work status with the headquarters,
enabling on-site managers to inspect monthly work progress and visually confirm the 4D
construction status of each process (Table 8).
Table 8. Effects of working on pilot site application BIM.
Item Effect
Additional Detailed Modeling
Accurate quantities when reviewing quantities.
Through object separation, each object can be checked in detail.
Improve quality with detailed revisions and reviews, including interference and
dimensions between each structure.
Consolidate materials that were previously in different files.
Appl. Sci. 2024,14, 502 13 of 16
Table 8. Cont.
Item Effect
Constructability
Review
Improve information accuracy by finding and correcting errors.
Verify processes through simulation.
View details of work.
Identify risk zones in design stability reviews.
request design changes based on data.
Process Management
The construction process can be checked in 4D.
Check M/M by task history.
Easier to see issues and communicate with each other.
Aggregate files and simulate processes with Navisworks.
Simulation work is smooth by entering the code in the same way as the process and CSV.
Construction Costs Management Verification is possible when calculating quantity data.
It is possible to compare and review design quantity and BIM quantity.
On-Site Management
Share headquarters work status.
Visual confirmation is possible through 4D construction for each process.
Smooth confirmation of monthly work performance
Increase the accuracy and granularity of BIM, making it more usable and efficient.
4. Discussion
This analysis of investment costs in this study primarily focused on labor costs and
rework costs, overlooking other critical aspects within the comprehensive and intricate
processes of the construction phase. The intricacies of the construction phase encompass
various factors, including material costs, construction machinery and equipment costs,
construction network scheduling, process management, construction quality management,
safety management, and operation and maintenance. These factors play a pivotal role
throughout the construction process, significantly influencing the cost-effectiveness of
the project.
Material costs represent a significant component of the construction phase, directly
impacting the economic and sustainable aspects of the project. The application of BIM can
optimize material selection and management, enhance material utilization, and reduce
waste, ultimately leading to a reduction in material costs [
26
]. Additionally, the simulation
and optimization of construction machinery and equipment through BIM technology can
effectively lower equipment costs and improve construction efficiency [27].
Construction network scheduling plays a crucial role in project success, and the
utilization of BIM in this aspect is expected to enhance the visualization and planning
capabilities of the construction process. This improvement makes tasks clearer and more
controllable, thereby reducing delays and improving schedule efficiency. Process man-
agement, construction quality management, and safety management are equally vital
aspects of the construction phase that cannot be overlooked [
28
]. The application of BIM,
through real-time monitoring and simulation, has the potential to elevate management
levels, mitigate potential risks, and ensure the quality and safety of the project. This
area provides
a compellin
g avenue for future research into the application of BIM in the
construction phase.
Furthermore, exploring the application of BIM in operation and maintenance during
the construction phase is a noteworthy direction. By establishing a comprehensive infor-
mation model during the construction phase, post-project delivery can be more effectively
managed for operation and maintenance, achieving full lifecycle
management [29]
. This ap-
proach can lead to a reduction in operating costs and an extension of the f
acility’s lifespan.
However, in the current research, these factors have not been adequately addressed,
potentially oversimplifying the application of BIM in the construction phase. Therefore,
to enhance the level of BIM implementation in the construction phase in South Korea,
there is a need to bolster training and technical support to improve the BIM skills of
industry professionals. Only by augmenting the practical application capabilities of BIM on
Appl. Sci. 2024,14, 502 14 of 16
construction sites can the full potential advantages of BIM throughout the entire lifecycle of
construction projects be comprehensively realized, resulting in more significant economic
benefits. This also underscores the necessity for a more in-depth and comprehensive
exploration of the promotion and practical application of BIM in the construction phase
within the South Korean construction industry in the future. In addition, the construction
projects involved in BIM will generate a large amount of data due to a large number of
model modifications, and how to efficiently process the data, share the data, and store the
data is also a great challenge in the practical application of BIM.
In summary, although this study has addressed the aspect of investment costs, the
complexity of the construction phase presents broader and deeper challenges to the ap-
plication of BIM. Future research should adopt a more comprehensive approach, taking
into account various factors, to explore the full potential advantages of BIM in the con-
struction phase and propose corresponding solutions. This effort aims to facilitate a more
comprehensive and in-depth application of BIM in the construction industry in South Korea
and globally. Long-term attention and thorough research in this field will contribute to
continually refining the application of BIM technology in the construction phase, providing
more reliable support for the sustainable development of the construction industry.
5. Conclusions
This study, building upon previous research on performance measurement methods
for BIM projects both domestically and internationally, developed a performance measure-
ment survey template for the construction phase of railway construction projects based
on quantifiable performance measurement factors (BIM deliverables, duration, quality
assessment, labor costs, BIM human capital, and BIM investment factors). The quantitative
measurement involved twenty-one questions categorized into seven groups with sixteen
aspects, while the qualitative measurement comprised fifteen questions across four groups
with eight aspects. By comparing and analyzing the construction input costs, labor costs,
and duration with or without the participation of professional BIM consulting companies,
this study determined the final economic benefits.
The findings indicated that, during the construction phase of railway projects, con-
struction companies experienced a cost benefit of 197.6% when engaging professional BIM
consulting services. However, the extent of the ultimate cost benefit hinged on various
factors, including project complexity, workload, construction review, and the expertise of
BIM technical personnel. Furthermore, the involvement of BIM consulting firms resulted
in a reduction in work time, leading to time savings. Analysis of on-site inspection reports
revealed that BIM work primarily focused on additional detailed modeling, consuming
nearly half of the total work time. Other prominent aspects included construction cost
management, process management, and further detailed modeling. In terms of BIM soft-
ware usage, Revit emerged as the predominant application on both construction sites,
likely attributed to its significant role in additional detailed modeling. The precision in
quantity calculation and intricate modeling facilitated by BIM contributed to enhanced
work efficiency. Moreover, this study identified tunnels as the primary location where BIM
effectively addressed issues, possibly due to the intricate nature of tunnel construction.
Author Contributions: Methodology, H.-Y.K.; Data curation, M.-H.S.; Writing—original draft, J.-F.L.;
Writing—review and editing, J.-F.L.; Project administration, H.-Y.K.; Funding acquisition, M.-H.S. All
authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding: This research was funded by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport in South
Korea (Grant number: 22RBIM-C158185-03).
Data Availability Statement: The data presented in this study are available on request from the
corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Appl. Sci. 2024,14, 502 15 of 16
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... This study relies on secondary data from three case studies published in previous research [15][16][17]. While this limitation restricts the scope of data, the selected studies were chosen due to their relevance, detailed reporting, and applicability to the railway sector in South Korea. ...
... Case 2 [16] involves a comparative analysis of two similarly sized subprojects within a railway construction project currently under construction. Due to the vast and complex processes involved in the construction project, it is challenging to accurately capture each task and calculate costs. ...
... The qualitative analysis was based on data extracted from three case studies, as well as interviews with industry experts involved in the projects. The sources of qualitative feedback were clearly identified in the Methodology Section, and the results are consistent with the broader body of research on BIM's impact on collaboration and project transparency [15][16][17]. Although these findings align with the general perceptions of BIM's positive impact, the analysis provides specific insights into the railway sector's challenges and successes in implementing BIM, particularly in relation to communication and decision-making improvements. ...
Article
Full-text available
As railway infrastructure projects become increasingly complex, the potential of Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology to enhance project efficiency and management has garnered significant attention. This paper analyzes the quantitative and qualitative benefits of BIM in the design and construction stages of railway development projects through case studies and compares its effectiveness in these two phases. The results indicate that BIM primarily benefits the design stage by reducing design errors and optimizing processes to save costs and time, averaging cost savings of USD 41,000 and a reduction of 49 days in project duration. In the construction stage, the impact of BIM is even more pronounced, reflected in reduced rework, dynamic resource management, and shortened project timelines, leading to savings of USD 710,795 and a reduction of 89 to 104.5 days in project duration. The 3D modeling and real-time information-sharing capabilities of BIM significantly enhance cross-departmental collaboration efficiency and information transparency, minimizing rework caused by communication issues and greatly optimizing project management and execution. This study shows that BIM can lay the groundwork for construction during the design phase and further improve project management efficiency during the construction phase.
... In recent years, with the wide application of BIM in large-scale infrastructure or industrial projects such as power grid projects [15,16], some construction engineering management problems, such as delayed information update, inefficient collaboration, etc., as well as the resulting bias in quantity calculation and inaccurate cost control, have been solved to a certain extent [17]. But at the same time, the implementation of BIM seems to have entered a bottleneck: BIM is widely used in the design stage of projects, but the scenarios for further application of the design results in the construction stage and the operation stage are not clear enough [18,19]; the additional investment of time and resources generated by BIM application is clear, but its life-cycle benefits require further discussion, which often relies on expert opinion and is largely theoretical [20]. ...
... Among them, the first cluster includes projects numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,17,18,19,20, and 22, all of which are marked with blue shading in Figure 4. The 14 projects without BIM applications are exactly correctly grouped into this cluster, meaning that the improved DTW distances of CI-CV% of these projects are close, i.e., they have similar shape patterns. ...
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Due to the difficulty in measuring intangible effects and the reliance on experts for benefit evaluation, actual project data evidence of the impact of BIM is insufficient. To this end, this study collected total project cost data from 164 power substation projects and techno-economic statements from 34 power substation projects from SGCC to capture data evidence of the impact of BIM on project costs and explore its patterns. Algorithms such as hierarchical clustering based on improved DTW and feature selection based on QDA were designed for data mining. The findings demonstrate that the distribution of the CV% of total project costs and the CV% of some specific cost items became more concentrated after the application of BIM, which indicates that BIM enhanced the ability to predict and control project costs. Moreover, five cost items and five shape patterns of cost items were identified as key to the impact of BIM. It is therefore recommended that the related cost items should be controlled with focus during the application of BIM.
... The first section focused on the respondents' profiles, covering their experience, job positions, company details (size and sector), and whether projects were carried out solely in Poland or internationally. Additionally, questions were asked about their knowledge and implementation of Lean Principles, the Toyota Production System (TPS), and Building Information Modelling (BIM), as these methodologies are regarded as critical for waste reduction [23][24][25]. ...
... The benefits of BIM implementation include the reduction in design errors through the use of BIM 5D, which incorporates cost and time analysis [46], and the application of the scan-to-BIM [47]. A significant reduction in design errors has been demonstrated through the use of an OpenBIM-enabled collaborative design framework [48]; various applications in railway infrastructure have been applied [24]. Koo et al. have shown how to enhance document quality and reduce defects with BIM [49]. ...
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The construction industry continues to face significant challenges related to waste on construction sites, significantly impacting cost, timelines, and the quality of project outcomes. This study aims to identify contemporary sources of construction waste, assess their variability over time using data from 2016, 2021, and 2024, and evaluate strategies for their reduction. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining a literature review with a survey among Polish construction contractors. A total of 34 waste factors were assessed in terms of frequency and significance. Building Information Modelling (BIM) is recommended—based on both survey results and studies in the literature—as an effective strategy to optimise construction efficiency by reducing waste and supporting sustainability objectives. The analysis also shows increasing awareness and application of Lean Principles and BIM among contractors. By 2024, BIM use increased from 8% in 2016 to 63%, indicating broader recognition, although this recognition was still insufficient given the severity of reported waste. The findings revealed design errors as the most critical source of waste, alongside execution delays, quality defects, damages to completed works, and excessive workloads. Respondents also identified additional factors, including erroneous bid assumptions, unclear investor expectations, unrealistic deadlines, equipment failures, and overdesign. These underscore the need for strategic, technology-driven waste mitigation.
... In conclusion, BIM integration goes beyond energy efficiency; it also encompasses structural load predictions and cost estimation. This technology has demonstrated potential in enhancing construction efficiency and providing significant economic benefits, as evidenced in railway infrastructure projects [12]. Moreover, the application of BIM in project cost management has expanded to include integration with various techniques, such as genetic algorithms, Monte Carlo simulation, and neural networks for cost control and estimation. ...
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The integration of data science into architectural design has revolutionized the creation of innovative, sustainable, and efficient buildings; however, selecting a practical methodology for such projects remains underexplored. This study conducts a thorough comparison of prominent data science methodologies-CRISP-DM, Agile Data Science, Microsoft's Team Data Science Process (TDSP), and OSEMN-to identify the most appropriate framework for architectural design. These methodologies are evaluated based on criteria tailored to architecture's unique needs, including alignment with business understanding, data preparation capability, modeling and simulation, support for team collaboration, flexibility, and deployment and monitoring. The analysis reveals that TDSP excels due to its balanced approach, combining structured planning with flexibility, making it ideal for the complexities of architectural workflows. TDSP supports advanced modeling for energy optimization and structural analysis while ensuring effective deployment and monitoring in real-world scenarios. In contrast, CRISP-DM offers a robust structure but lacks adaptability, Agile Data Science prioritizes flexibility over depth, and OSEMN proves too simplistic for large-scale projects. These findings provide actionable insights for architects and data scientists seeking to leverage data-driven techniques while also identifying opportunities for future research into integrating emerging technologies with TDSP. Ultimately, this study highlights the transformative potential of data science in architectural design, with TDSP emerging as a standout methodology for optimizing project outcomes.
... The UK's BIM Level 2 framework, mandated by the UK government, has improved project delivery and cost management in mega rail projects. The framework provides a clear set of guidelines and standards for BIM implementation, which has helped achieve greater consistency and efficiency across projects (Shin et al., 2024). ...
... Measuring project performance enables companies to predict their projects' potential success or failure (Galjanić et al., 2023). Overseeing material costs, equipment expenses, scheduling, process management, quality control, safety protocols, and operations during the construction phase, and measuring performance in various financial and other metrics enhance cost-effectiveness and progress toward company goals (Shin et al., 2024). However, Luu et al. (2008) mention that contractors, especially in developing countries, lack effective methods to evaluate their performance by pinpointing weaknesses and threats and suggest that they must periodically measure their performance to find out what should be improved (Luu et al., 2008). ...
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The construction industry has a crucial place in any country's economy. However, compared to other sectors, construction companies have been relatively slow to adopt new technologies, while most companies in different sectors have already begun to adopt the latest technologies to renovate their way of doing business and improve their overall performance. Therefore, Construction 4.0, as the digital transformation of construction companies in the era of Industry 4.0, attracts the attention of both practitioners and researchers. This empirical study aims to uncover the complex relations among Construction 4.0, Business Model Innovation (BMI), and firm performance in a developing country context. We propose an original model of relations purporting that BMI mediates the positive effects of Construction 4.0 on Firm Performance, drawing mainly on the dynamic capabilities view. All statistical analyses were performed by using R statistical language. Data was gathered from 152 managers in the Turkish construction sector via the convenience sampling method. Descriptive statistics, validity, reliability, correlation, and PROCESS mediation analyses were used to test research hypotheses. The results show that both digital and physical layers of Construction 4.0 positively relate to firm performance and that BMI fully mediates this positive relation. Managerial and further research implications are forwarded.
... Researchers have reviewed recent advancements in BIM technology within the construction industry. A preliminary search of relevant keywords reveals that most prior reviews focused on the traditional application frameworks of BIM, primarily centered on how BIM improves efficiency and reduces costs in civil infrastructure projects [8,9]. Other reviews have emphasized how BIM enhances the accuracy of cost estimation, facilitates collaborative decision-making, and optimizes resource utilization [10,11]. ...
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Building Information Modeling (BIM) has emerged as a transformative technology in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry, with increasing application in civil infrastructure projects. This study comprehensively reviews the research landscape of BIM applications in civil infrastructure through bibliometric analysis. Based on data from the Web of Science database, 646 relevant papers published between 2020 and 2024 were collected, and 416 papers were selected for in-depth analysis after screening. Using bibliometric methods, the analysis reveals the evolution of research trends, identifies key contributors and influential publications, and maps the knowledge structure of the field. Our study shows a significant increase in research output over the past five years, particularly in studies focusing on the integration of BIM with emerging technologies such as Digital Twins, the Internet of Things (IoT), and Machine Learning. The results indicate that the United States, China, and the United Kingdom lead in terms of research output and citation impact. Additionally, based on clustering results and representative keywords, several key research clusters were identified, including BIM in infrastructure lifecycle management, BIM collaboration in large-scale projects, and BIM for sustainable infrastructure design.
... Wang et al. (2013) arranged the BIM's various advantages: decreased costs, reduced errors, improved estimation, improved coordination, identifying conflicts and enhanced clients' and end-users understanding. Shin, Jung and Kim (2022) and Shin, Kim and Liao (2024) found meaningful benefits through their research on BIM implementation in the design and construction phase of the railway sector, such as cost and management aspects. Based on these advantages, governments across the globe, regardless of their geographical location, are opting to mandate the use of BIM in the built environment. ...
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Building Information Modelling (BIM) has become a prominent trend in the built environment. Despite numerous countries mandating the adoption of BIM in this context, its integration into transportation infrastructure, notably railways, has progressed gradually. Asset Management (AM) continues to be emphasised in transport infrastructure. This study offers an understanding of BIM-based AM in railways via a systematic literature review (SLR). Although some studies delve into railway BIM-based applications across various life cycle phases, previous research has predominantly centred on the operation and maintenance phases. This paper presents a comprehensive view and proposes further research direction.
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Purpose The literature suggests employing big data and Building Information Modeling (BIM) to examine building projects from several perspectives. Nevertheless, the literature is deficient in thorough BIM performance evaluation methods grounded in big construction project data. This paper presents an evaluation framework outlining the data input requirements and necessary data to conduct research leveraging big data for the analysis of BIM performance. Design/methodology/approach Data parameters and performance metrics included in the evaluation framework are derived from a synthesis of literature review, data overview and interviews. The construction data was analyzed using PowerBI after undergoing a quality control process. Analysis results were verified through interviews with the main contractor. The project data served to assess the evaluation framework. Findings The evaluation framework has ten data parameters, and six performance metrics categorized into three main categories. The findings indicate that the evaluation framework can be utilized to comment on BIM performance in a project, with a level of accuracy. Results indicated that ensuring the quality of tracked project data is crucial for obtaining reliable analysis results. Determining performance metrics and data parameters prior to data recording processes can help simplify the analysis process and ensure accurate analysis results. Originality/value The proposed framework offers a comprehensive performance evaluation methodology that leverages the innovative application of unique and challenging to acquire big data, allowing practitioners to assess BIM performance in relation to project time, cost and scope. Identified data parameters and novel performance metrics may provide the foundation of a guideline for construction project data logging to facilitate accurate BIM performance monitoring.
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Critical to the economic growth of any nation, the construction industry needs effective financial management to be able to grow and survive the challenges that it is facing. This study examines the financial performance of major construction companies in Ukraine from 2019 to 2023, with a focus on two key financial metrics: Revenue Growth Rate and Profit Margin, taking the form of either Rate of Return on Sales or Rate of Return on Investment. This research is relevant due to the increasing complexity in construction sector with changing material costs, regulatory changes and changing market conditions. With these challenges involved, construction companies must adopt appropriate financial strategies that improve their competitive advantage as well as sustainability. The purpose of this research is to evaluate financial potential of Ukrainian construction companies through a projection of revenue growth and profitability, and then determine which factors contribute to the growth of these companies. The research uses quantitative methods, relying on financial statements of the leading companies in the industry, within the period 2019–2023. Through studying revenue growth trends and profit margins the study attempts to decipher the key financial strategies supporting success in the construction sector. The research results reveal that almost all companies studied had steady revenue growth and increasing profit margins over the last five-year period. The greatest improvements in financial performance were shown by companies such as Automagistral-Pivden and Autostrada, while companies like Kosul and Monolit Budservice demonstrated much meager growth. Although their performance levels differed considerably, most of the companies were able to improve their profit margins and thus provided evidence of solid cost management and operational efficiencies. Practical value is offered through the recommendations made in this study to construction companies on how to improve their financial management strategies. Finally, it adds to the knowledge on financial management in construction industry in general and in the post transition economies, in particular, in Ukraine. These findings are meant to inform the industry stakeholders, such as policymakers, financial managers and business owners, how to optimally design the financial strategies and increase profits of the construction sector.
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Building Information Modelling (BIM) has been widely adopted in the construction industry as a means of improving project efficiency, reducing errors, and facilitating collaboration among stakeholders. However, its potential for the infrastructure sector has not been fully explored. Infrastructure projects, such as roads, bridges, tunnels, and airports, are often complex and require the integration of multiple systems and disciplines. BIM has the potential to provide a digital representation of the infrastructure project, allowing for improved design, construction, and maintenance. This paper aims to explore the potential benefits of BIM in the infrastructure sector, examine the challenges to its implementation, and discuss best practices for successful adoption. By analysing a case study and industry trends, this paper will provide insights into how BIM can be leveraged to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of infrastructure projects, ultimately contributing to the development of smarter cities and infrastructure networks. By analysing a case study, this paper will provide insights into how BIM can be leveraged to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of infrastructure projects, ultimately contributing to the development of smarter cities and infrastructure networks. In particular, a virtual modelling in the BIM context of the North-South railway station of Riyadh designed by Arch. Ing. Dia Hilal has been proposed.
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As the key node of highway traffic in China, the super-large bridge is the most important infrastructure of the country. With the completion of large-scale infrastructure construction in China, the key work of super-large bridges has changed from construction to maintenance. The service life of the super-large bridge is long, and with the increase of the service life of the super-large bridge, the annual maintenance cost is also increasing. At present, with the rapid development of super-large bridges in China, the diseases of super-large bridges are also increasing, and the maintenance and management of super-large bridges have become an urgent problem to be solved. In order to solve this problem, this paper takes the highway bridge as the research object and, on the basis of mastering the actual needs of the maintenance management of highway bridges in China, puts forward the monitoring and maintenance of bridges based on BIM technology, solves the lack of maintenance information elements in traditional BIM technology, studies the establishment method of the maintenance information model, finally develops the basic data acquisition software of the BIM model, accurately locates the disease position of the highway bridge, realizes the three-dimensional visual information management system of bridge, and continuously improves the maintenance efficiency. The research results show that starting from the monitoring and maintenance information management of highway bridges, the BIM data management method of the highway bridge maintenance stage is put forward, which realizes the visual management of maintenance information of highway bridges. Based on the analysis of the hierarchical information model of bridges, the component coding system of a bridge facing the maintenance management stage is established, and the visual management of diseases of bridges is put forward. Using BIM technology to assist the evaluation method of super-large bridges, using relational database and VBA project manager, based on the theoretical algorithm and interface design, automatic maintenance decision-making suggestions are realized. BIM technology is proposed to assist maintenance inspection and evaluation decision-making, and automatic and visual maintenance management of super-large bridges is realized. The research results provide practical guiding significance for further realizing the maintenance management system of highway bridges based on BIM technology.
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Building information modeling (BIM) has opened up many possibilities for the construction industry. However, most studies focus mainly on its overall uses and management areas. By investigating real projects that could utilize BIM in the design phases for railway construction, the authors examine the possible advantages and disadvantages in BIM implementation. To do so, the authors have selected three projects that utilized BIM implementation during the design process and three other projects with a non-BIM, traditionally designed working environment. Similar-scale projects were carefully chosen, and their differences in costs, man-hours, and labor forces were analyzed quantitatively. In addition, an in-depth interview was conducted with four BIM-designing firms to provide a more comprehensive perspective on the advantages and issues in BIM implementation. The average results showed that BIM-implemented projects spent USD 65,800 less than their counterparts and could increase productivity by about 2.9%. More importantly, the primary difference between BIM and non-BIM projects are in their man-hours. BIM-adopting projects spent 103.5 days less than non-BIM projects on average, and required three fewer professional labor forces during the entire design process.
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In order to improve the construction effect of intelligent buildings, this paper combines the BIM digital twin technology to construct the overall structure of the building construction operation and maintenance system driven by the BIM digital twin. Moreover, this paper conducts intelligent simulation of the construction process of the building and combines the construction process of the intelligent building to apply the BIM digital twin technology to the construction management of the intelligent building. In addition, this paper uses BIM to simulate the construction process. After the construction management plan is developed, BIM can be used to simulate the construction, find the problems in the construction, and formulate a reliable construction management plan in time. Through simulation experiment research, it can be known that the intelligent building construction management model based on BIM digital twin proposed in this paper can help the deployment of intelligent building construction process in many aspects and help improve the efficiency of building construction management.
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As an effective way to reduce costs and increase efficiency of EPC projects, BIM technology has drawn a lot of attention in numerous countries. Existing studies have failed to reveal the BIM decision-making mechanisms of owners and general contractors in EPC projects in a dynamic method. This study investigates the underlying logic of the collaboration application of BIM by analyzing the dynamic behaviors of owners and general contractors based on evolutionary game model. The results show that the most effective suggestions to promote the BIM collaboration application in EPC projects are “increasing the proportion of BIM application initially strategies,” “increasing incremental revenue of BIM collaborative application,” “reducing costs of BIM collaboration application,” “avoiding excessive hitchhiking,” and “establishing reasonable reward and punishment mechanism.” On the basis of numerical simulation to illustrate the influence of the different initial strategies and parameters on the final decision in different situations, five solutions were proposed for the effective BIM collaboration application between owners and general contractors. This article can facilitate researchers pondering the dynamics of collaboration among stakeholders in projects, and it can also facilitate participants picking up proper strategies for improved collaboration.
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Purpose The study aims to test, measure and quantify the impacts of lean construction and BIM implementation on flow in construction projects. Design/methodology/approach Detailed control data from a set of 18 high-rise residential construction projects executed between years 2011 and 2020 were analyzed using the construction flow index (CFI), a measure of workflow quality. Seven comparable projects with a diverse range of LPS, BIM, VDC and 5S implementation were selected to compare the impacts of these innovations on flow. Findings Implementing BIM in the big room and applying the last planner system and other lean construction techniques increased the CFI from 4.31 to 8.12 (on a 10-point scale). Avoiding trades crossing one another's paths between tasks was the most significant aspect of improved flow. Moreover, the benefits of implementing lean practices with BIM or VDC were found to be measurably greater than when these approaches were implemented separately. Research limitations/implications The primary limitation of the study is that the degree of confidence in the results is limited by the nature of the case study approach. Although 18 is a respectable number of case study projects, it cannot offer the degree of confidence that a broader, representative sample of projects could. Similarly, the case studies are all drawn from the same construction context (residential apartments) and the same geographic region, which necessarily limits confidence concerning the degree to which the findings can be generalized. Originality/value The research is the first of its kind to quantitatively assess the impacts of BIM and lean construction on flow. Use of the CFI to quantify flow quality also highlights the potential value of CFI in providing project managers and planners a clear view of the smoothness or irregularity of flow and of differences between subcontractors' production rates.
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The article proposes a system of indicators for measuring the performance of BIM projects. Proposed indicators are divided into groups as follows: quantitative (cost and time related numerical values) and qualitative (verbally expressed measures recalculated to scores according to the proposed four-point rating scale). The metrics include the time and cost variations, the assessment of the organizational scale of BIM deployment, BIM competency granularity level, BIM capability level, BIM maturity level. In the case study, the proposed indicators are applied for evaluating the results of the construction project. The limitations and difficulties faced up during the project implementation were discussed, and the benefits of the application of the BIM methodology were revealed. The application of the proposed methodology is useful in assessing at which level the BIM is applied in construction projects and measuring the progress towards achieving project goals. The proposed methodology can also be applied for constant monitoring of the BIM implementation in construction projects.
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Purpose Although the notable and significant role of building information modeling (BIM) technologies in construction industries has gained user attention, only few studies have been examined on the user adoption of the technologies. The purpose of this paper is to introduce an acceptance model for BIM technologies and investigate how external factors which were extracted by in-depth interviews promote the adoption of such technologies. Design/methodology/approach An on-line survey was conducted by two South Korean survey agencies to test the acceptance model for BIM technologies. Then, the structural equation modeling (SEM) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) methods were used. Findings The results of the SEM and CFA methods from on-site construction employees ( n =818) in Korea collected by the online survey indicate that compatibility and organizational support play a core role in positively and significantly affecting both perceived ease of use and usefulness, and that the connections introduced by the origin technology acceptance model are mainly confirmed. Originality/value Using the findings of the results, both implications and notable limitations are presented. Moreover, practical developers, as well as academic researchers can employ the results when they attempt to conduct future research.
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Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to identify and assess the perceptions of constructional professionals on barriers to implementation of building information modeling (BIM) within the Nigerian construction industry. Design/methodology/approach-A scoping literature review was conducted to identify the fourteen barriers to implementation of BIM, which were employed to design a questionnaire survey. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, mean score, Kruskal-Wallis test, analysis of variance and multivariate techniques such as factor analysis. Findings-The descriptive and empirical analysis demonstrated a disparity of ranking of the 14 barriers factors among the groups; however no statistically significant differences among the 14 barriers to BIM. Based on the mean score ranking results, only three (out of 14) barriers are identified as critical (mean score greater than 3.5): few studies available on BIM and lack of knowledge, inexistence or inadequate government policies, and high cost of implementation. The results of the one-sample t-tests show that they were statistically significant differences in 10 out of 14 barriers as follows: few studies available on BIM and lack of knowledge, lack of demand for use and acceptance of BIM, inadequate contractual coordination, lack of specified standards, cost of data and information sharing, technological availability issues, reluctance of other stakeholders, business and cultural changes, data and intellectual property issues, and interoperability issues. The study, through factor analysis, categorized the fourteen barriers to BIM implementation into four principal factors. The factors are: technology and business-related barriers; training and people-related barriers; cost and standards-related barriers; and process and economic-related barriers. Practical implications-The identification and assessment of the key barriers to BIM implementation would be useful for the construction professionals and other stakeholder of the construction industry with the view to advance BIM adoption in Nigeria. This could also be extended to other developing countries through considerations of the local economic conditions, given the status of BIM as being in the germinating stage of development in Africa. Originality/value-The study provides insights on the barriers to BIM implementation across the Nigerian construction sector environments. The innovative aspect of the study is the identification of the ordered and grouped (composite) set of barriers to BIM which could be used to developing appropriate mitigating solutions.