*Proceeding Paper* **Obstructions in BIM Implementation for Developing Countries—A Mini-Review †**

**Usman Aftab 1, Farrokh Jaleel 1, Rafiq Mansoor 1, Muhammad Haroon 1,2,\* and Mughees Aslam <sup>3</sup>**


**Abstract:** Technologically advanced countries are accruing benefits from the adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry after decades of struggling for productivity enhancement using innovation and automation. Most of the developing countries have not been able to embrace technology in the AEC Sector and, consequently, are unable to ameliorate prevalent performance-related issues in construction projects. This review article identifies hurdles to BIM implementation in selected developing countries via an examination of the latest studies. The most significant challenges observed in this study are Lack of Training for Professionals, Lack of Awareness, Huge Capital Cost, Resistance to Change, and Complexity of BIM Software. This study is an update on previous studies conducted with the aim of assisting the implementation of BIM in developing countries.

**Keywords:** building information modeling; AEC industry; BIM implementation

### **1. Introduction**

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is believed to be one of the most significant evolutions in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. It is an innovative way for virtual designing, project management, and performance management [1]. In developed countries like Finland, Singapore, Korea, the USA, the UK, Australia, and Germany, BIM adoption has accrued many benefits to the stakeholders, which include better cost estimation, better overall design understanding, reduced construction cost, improved construction planning and monitoring and project quality enhancement [2]. However, most of the developing countries are lagging in BIM adoption due to numerous cultural, financial, and organizational constraints. Sustainable adoption of BIM in developing countries is essentially needed for economic progression, technological advancement, and performance improvement [3]. Governments of technologically advanced countries have played an important role in overcoming implementation challenges [4].

This review paper will endeavor to highlight the most significant challenges to BIM implementation being encountered in developing countries, which need more attention from relevant stakeholders. In this regard, literature from the last five years is surveyed with the latest information regarding BIM implementation in 15 developing countries, namely Ethiopia, Hongkong, Nigeria, GCC, Pakistan, Yemen, India, Indonesia, Seychelles, Poland, Cambodia, Jordan, Malaysia, Turkey, and Iran.

**Citation:** Aftab, U.; Jaleel, F.; Mansoor, R.; Haroon, M.; Aslam, M. Obstructions in BIM Implementation for Developing Countries—A Mini-Review. *Eng. Proc.* **2023**, *45*, 26. https://doi.org/10.3390/ engproc2023045026

Academic Editors: Mohammad Javed Hyder, Muhammad Mahabat Khan, Muhammad Irfan and Manzar Masud

Published: 11 September 2023

## **2. Main Findings and Discussion**

Important findings of this review study are as follows:

	- (1) Lack of Training and BIM Expertise. The most repeated barrier in the selected studies is the lack of training opportunities for the professionals. Developing countries do not possess an adequate number of BIM experts for implementing BIM.
	- (2) Lack of Awareness. Most of the stakeholders in developing countries are still uninformed about the significance of BIM and its associated advantages.
	- (3) Huge Capital Cost. The initial investment in training of Human Resources and installation of technical infrastructure is substantially high for the AEC firms in developing countries.
	- (4) Resistance to Change/unwillingness/Bias. Resistance to change falls in the realm of cultural domain. Decision makers in the AEC Industry in most of the developing countries show their reluctance to implement BIM.
	- (5) The complexity of BIM software. BIM implementation requires the integration of multiple computer software with independent technical requirements and inputs, making it complex, especially for beginners.


**Table 1.** Most Significant Challenges to BIM Implementation in Developing Countries.

**Figure 1.** Frequency of Challenges to BIM Implementation in Developing Countries.

#### **3. Conclusions and Recommendations**

Out of fifteen selected developing countries, only Turkey, Malaysia, Poland, and Hong Kong have been able to achieve preliminary milestones for BIM implementation, whereas the remaining countries are still struggling with teething problems due to technological, cultural, and financial challenges. Following are the recommendations for facilitating BIM implementation in the developing countries:


**Author Contributions:** Conceptualization, U.A. and F.J.; methodology, R.M. and M.A.; formal analysis, M.H. and M.A.; investigation, M.H. and U.A.; data curation, R.M. and U.A.; writing original draft preparation, U.A.; writing—review and editing, F.J., R.M. and M.H.; supervision, F.J. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

**Funding:** This research received no external funding.

**Institutional Review Board Statement:** Not applicable.

**Informed Consent Statement:** Not applicable.

**Data Availability Statement:** Not applicable.

**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflict of interest.

### **References**

