The meaning of BIM is derived from its three components: Building, Information, and Modeling. “Building” refers broadly to architecture and encompasses all types of construction projects within the industry. “Information” involves architectural geometry, attributes, rules, and other data that are consistent, interconnected, and comprehensive—making it the core of BIM. The term “Modeling” suggests a model, but it actually represents a dynamic, continuously evolving process that captures not only the final product but also the workflow itself. Therefore, BIM is more than just software; it is a new workflow model or collaborative approach that adds value throughout the entire lifecycle of a construction project.
Implementing BIM technology offers significant benefits to construction companies by enabling collaboration and transparent sharing of project progress, costs, materials, quality, safety, and other critical information across enterprises and projects. However, a lack of clear customer demand, appropriate management strategies, and incentive policies has led to limited adoption among domestic construction units.
Several cases have shown that, without proper institutional safeguards, project managers are often reluctant to disclose sensitive information such as quality, safety, and costs. This reluctance creates barriers to BIM adoption, especially in large-scale affordable housing projects where owner demand is insufficient. Additionally, construction units face constraints on total project investment during bidding processes. Early-stage costs, including expensive hardware and talent training, are high, while immediate benefits are often not apparent.
Moreover, BIM technology introduces risks such as potential decreases in employee productivity and significant expenses if outsourcing 3D modeling to third-party consultants. The slow pace of BIM technology promotion and long investment payback periods may also discourage financially constrained construction units from fully embracing the technology.
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