With globalization on the rise, BIM technology has gradually made its way into China’s construction industry, evolving from its initial phase into a stage of rational development.
1. Hong Kong
The development of BIM in Hong Kong has been largely industry-driven. The BIM Society was established in 2009, and since 2010, BIM technology has undergone widespread promotion. Today, BIM has transitioned from a concept to practical application. Hong Kong has fostered a supportive environment for BIM through the creation of its own design references and guidelines, facilitating effective archive management, model creation, and user communication.
2. Taiwan
Taiwan’s research efforts have focused on dynamic engineering models and BIM. In 2009, the Department of Civil Engineering at National Taiwan University founded the Engineering Information Simulation and Management Research Center, the BIM Technology and Application Talent Training Center, and the Experience Exchange and Industry-University Research Cooperation Studio. The Taiwanese government actively promotes BIM development through research, seminars, and symposiums, learning from international BIM operation models.
In November 2011, Taiwan published the “Contract for Application of Building Information Modeling in Engineering Projects,” providing detailed contract templates and explanations to clarify the purpose and basis of each clause. That same year, Kaohsiung University of Applied Sciences’ Department of Civil Engineering established the Engineering Consulting Integration and Simulation (BIM) Research Center. Much of Taiwan’s BIM recognition and application in construction stems from research by National Chiao Tung University, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, and others.
3. Mainland China
Government agencies in Mainland China are actively promoting BIM technology, steering the construction industry toward digital transformation. Leading cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen have implemented BIM-related policies with government support. Inspired by these cities, technologically advanced architectural design institutes and firms across China have increased investments in BIM research and applications, establishing dedicated BIM research teams to accelerate BIM adoption nationwide.
Despite rapid progress, many design firms in China have adopted what is known as “pseudo BIM,” meaning BIM technology is not applied throughout the entire project lifecycle. Beyond technical mastery, China faces practical challenges. Moving beyond the traditional view of BIM as simply 3D modeling, there remains a significant journey ahead for achieving collaborative control and management across the architectural design industry.
Currently, BIM application in China remains in its early stages. Design firms are far from widespread adoption, and challenges persist with BIM standards, talent development, and application models in construction projects. Continuous updates and improvements are needed. However, recent years have shown promising signs: an increase in BIM-related research in engineering, government-led BIM standards, and practical BIM projects all indicate the shift from conceptualization to rapid growth and broader use.
Hosting BIM competitions has proven to be one of the most effective ways to promote BIM technology adoption. In 2017 alone, over 20 BIM-related competitions took place across China, with more than 10 provinces and cities organizing local events. Participation in many cities has surpassed that of the 2013 National BIM Competition, significantly advancing BIM application within construction enterprises.
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