An Investigation into the Role of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in Minimising Design Changes

Conceptually, Building Information Modelling (BIM) has been in existence for decades. However, BIM has only recently gained widespread application in the construction industry. There are mandates in place for BIM use in many countries. With this increased interest in the subject of BIM, there has been a lot of conjecture amongst academia on the potential benefits of projects utilising BIM. One of the reported benefits is early stakeholder engagement enhanced by better communication of design intent thus minimisation of the need for design changes which lead to cost overruns in projects. This study conducted an investigation into the nature of BIM in the construction industry and how effective it can be in eliminating the need for design changes during projects. The study employed close-ended questionnaire, with respondents comprising construction professionals. BIM was found to have significant potential for minimising and managing design changes. However, BIM was found not to be reaching its full potential in regard to the expectations of eliminating design changes. The main limitations being a lack of appreciation of the capabilities of the BIM process, especially as a collaborative model, and the current procurement routes do not effectively support the level of integration that can facilitate more effective management of design change.