The construction industry still operates similarly to the last century, with many construction sites relying heavily on manual labour and on-the-spot decision-making. However, there is a pressing need for change and innovation to improve planning, achieve smoother on-site execution, reduce rework, and enhance coordination.
Comparing an old construction site from the 1960s to a modern one, today’s construction industry has access to advanced technical tools that enable easy information sharing and collaboration in various aspects of life and business. Building and construction should also benefit from these technological advancements, and this is where Building Information Modelling (BIM) comes into play.
Before the implementation of BIM, the construction industry needed to catch up to the industrial revolutions, and it is now striving to catch up with Industry 4.0, which involves the integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) and IT resources in the building field.
Insights have shown that the construction industry’s productivity improvement has been slower compared to other sectors, with an average annual growth rate of only 1 per cent since 1995, while the global economy grew by 2.8 per cent during the same period.
Several challenges hinder the adoption of BIM in construction, including a lack of technical expertise, high software costs, and incomplete BIM data on products used. The industry’s reluctance to embrace digitalisation has also contributed to its slower growth compared to other sectors.
However, there is hope for change through the adoption of BIM and other new technologies. BIM facilitates collaboration, communication, and coordination among the project team through a digital model-based approach. This real-time data sharing enables better decision-making, reduces errors, and improves overall project efficiency. Other technologies like drones, robots, and virtual reality can also contribute to transforming the construction industry, improving safety, productivity, and accuracy.
Adopting BIM and other digital tools is essential for the construction industry to catch up with the advancements seen in other sectors. Embracing these technologies can lead to better collaboration, project management, and results for clients while also addressing challenges such as emissions, raw material consumption, and missed deadlines. The construction industry must now take quick action to compensate for the years of neglect and pave the way for a more efficient and sustainable future.