Building information modelling implementation strategies for economies with different income levels / Mohammad Almohammad

Faculty of Civil Engineering Technology

Thesis (Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering) -- Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al Sultan Abdullah – 2025

Includes bibliographical references

Building information modeling (BIM) enables substantial improvement in the architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. High-income economies have successfully implemented BIM due to initiatives and strategies where the middle and low-income economies are lagging behind. Therefore, successful strategies developed by high-income economies provide valuable insights for low- and middleincome economies to enhance their local BIM implementation. However, disparities exist in different income levels in BIM development and industry maturity with the literature lacks empirical analysis of the symmetries and asymmetries in BIM implementation strategies. This research aims to develop BIM implementation strategies for economies with different income levels. In phase 1, a systematic literature review (SLR) and semistructured interviews with AEC professionals revealed 19 factors affecting BIM implementation. Using nonprobability sampling technique, a questionnaire survey was disseminated to AEC professionals in Afghanistan, India, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and overlap analysis. In phase 2, an SLR and semi-structured interviews revealed 27 factors and 12 government strategies for implementing BIM. The data were collected from Syria, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia using a questionnaire survey and analyzed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings from phase 1 demonstrate that five critical factors related to government overlap between all income levels: ‘availability of guidelines for implementing BIM,’ ‘cost-benefit of implementing BIM,’ ‘stakeholders’ willingness to learn the BIM method,’ ‘existence of standard contracts on liability and risk allocation,’ and ‘consistent views on BIM between stakeholders.’ The findings from phase 2 demonstrate that ‘BIM education and implementation projects’ and ‘BIM policy and industry development’ significantly affect different factors to BIM implementation across the investigated economies. Moreover, the findings demonstrate symmetries and asymmetries in government strategies between income levels. ‘BIM education and implementation projects’ is the only and the most effective government strategy for enhancing BIM implementation in Syria. Policymakers in low-income economies should focus on educational interventions. Conversely, ‘BIM policy and industry development’ is the only and most effective government strategy in Malaysia. Policymakers in uppermiddle- income economies should focus on policy reforms to mature their BIM ecosystems. Furthermore, ‘BIM education and implementation projects’ and ‘BIM policy and industry development’ are the two most effective government strategies in Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. Policymakers in Indonesia and Saudi Arabia can benefit from strategies that couple education with policy enforcement to enhance local and international BIM implementation. This research helps in developing BIM implementation strategies for economies with different income levels. Identifying asymmetries allows governments and policymakers in each income level to allocate resources more effectively and address local needs. Moreover, identifying symmetries allows governments and policymakers across different income levels to collaboratively share knowledge and ideas to enhance BIM implementation and industry practices at both national and global scales.