Investigation of industry perceptions of building information modeling (BIM)

135 Pages·2017·1.58 MB·English

by  Zhihang Yi

Purdue University
Purdue e-Pubs
Open Access Theses Theses and Dissertations
Spring 2015
Investigation of industry perceptions of building
information modeling (BIM)-based estimating
practices in the U.S. and China
Zhihang Yi
Purdue University
Follow this and additional works at:https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/open_access_theses
Part of theAmerican Studies Commons,Asian Studies Commons, and theCivil Engineering
Commons
Recommended Citation
Yi, Zhihang, "Investigation of industry perceptions of building information modeling (BIM)-based estimating practices in the U.S. and
China" (2015).Open Access Theses. 634.
https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/open_access_theses/634
This document has been made available through Purdue e-Pubs, a service of the Purdue University Libraries. Please contact [email protected] for
additional information.

i

INVESTIGATION OF INDUSTRY PERCEPTIONS OF BUILDING INFORMATION
MODELING (BIM)-BASED ESTIMATING PRACTICES IN THE U.S. AND CHINA
A Thesis
Submitted to the Faculty
of
Purdue University
by
Zhihang Yi
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
of
Master of Science in Building Construction Management
May 2015
Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana
ii

In memory of my grandfather Li, Weijian
Who taught me how to walk, speak, write, read and love
Who carried all my childhood dreams and memories
I miss you.
iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am most grateful to my major professor, Dr. Hazar Nicholas Dib, for his mentorship and
encouragement throughout my graduate studies in Purdue.
My sincere gratitude also goes to Dr. Jiang Yi and Dr. Emad Elwakil, for their support
and valuable advice on the research of my thesis.
I am very grateful as well for all the support I received from the BCM Department. The
time I spent in BCM was the most challenging, yet fruitful, years of my life so far. I am
glad that I decided to pursue my M.S. degree in BCM two years ago because it has
allowed me to meet and work with an amazing group of fellow students and mentors.
Last but not the least, I want to thank my parents for their love, support, patience, care,
and trust. I owe them a debt of gratitude, not only for what I have accomplished, but,
more importantly, for nurturing me into the person I am now. Thank you, my parents, for
everything.
iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................... viii
CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................... 1
1.1 Background ............................................................................................................. 1
1.2 Significance ............................................................................................................. 2
1.3 Statement of Purpose ............................................................................................... 3
1.4 Research Question ................................................................................................... 3
1.5 Assumptions ............................................................................................................ 3
1.6 Limitations .............................................................................................................. 5
1.7 Delimitations ........................................................................................................... 5
1.8 Definitions of Key Terms ........................................................................................ 6
1.9 Summary ................................................................................................................. 6
CHAPTER 2. REVIEW OF RELEVANT LITERATURE .............................................. 7
2.1 Literature Review Approach ................................................................................... 8
2.2 The Overview of Information Technology in Construction (ITC) ......................... 8
2.3 Introduction to Building Information Model (BIM) and BIM Standards ............. 10
2.3.1 Definitions of BIM ......................................................................................... 10
2.3.2 A Brief History of BIM and BIM Standards .................................................. 11
2.4 National BIM Standards ........................................................................................ 15
2.4.1 U.S. ................................................................................................................. 15
2.4.2 China ............................................................................................................... 16
2.4.3 Other Countries and Regions .......................................................................... 18
2.5 The Current BIM Deployment in China ............................................................... 20
v

Page
2.6 Brief Introduction to BIM-based Software ........................................................... 22
2.6.1 Overview of BIM-based Software .................................................................. 22
2.6.2 BIM-based Estimating Software .................................................................... 26
2.6.3 Localized BIM-based Estimating Software in China ..................................... 27
2.7 Summary ............................................................................................................... 28
CHAPTER 3. FRAMEWORK AND METHODOLOGY .............................................. 30
3.1 Framework ............................................................................................................ 30
3.2 Sample Selection and Approach ........................................................................... 31
3.3 Survey Design ....................................................................................................... 32
3.4 Data Analysis Method ........................................................................................... 33
3.5 Summary ............................................................................................................... 35
CHAPTER 4. SURVEY RESULT .................................................................................. 36
4.1 Respondents’ Professional Profile ........................................................................ 37
4.1.1 Respondents’ Working Countries ................................................................... 37
4.1.2 Respondents’ Current Position ....................................................................... 38
4.1.3 Respondents’ Experience with BIM ............................................................... 40
4.1.4 Respondents’ Experience with BIM-based Estimating .................................. 41
4.2 Respondents’ Company Demographic Profile ...................................................... 43
4.2.1 The Type of Company Business ..................................................................... 43
4.2.2 Type of Company Construction Projects ........................................................ 45
4.2.3 Company Experience with BIM ..................................................................... 47
4.2.4 Company Experience with BIM-based Estimating ........................................ 51
4.2.5 Company Annual Business Volume ............................................................... 52
4.2.6 Company Headquarter Location ..................................................................... 53
4.3 BIM Applications .................................................................................................. 54
4.3.1 BIM Commercial Applications ...................................................................... 54
4.3.2 BIM implementation Areas ............................................................................ 55
4.4 Respondents’ Perception of BIM-based Estimating ............................................. 57
4.4.1 Advantages of BIM-based Estimating ............................................................ 57
vi

Page
4.4.2 Barriers of BIM-based Estimating .................................................................. 59
4.5 Summary ............................................................................................................... 60
CHAPTER 5. DATA ANALYSIS ................................................................................. 62
5.1 Statistical Models .................................................................................................. 62
5.1.1 Independent Sample t-test ............................................................................... 62
5.1.2 Pearson’s Chi-square test............................................................................... 63
5.1.3 ANOVA .......................................................................................................... 63
5.1.4 Tukey’s Test ................................................................................................... 64
5.2 Question #1 Difference Between the AEC/FM industry in the U.S. and China
Regarding the BIM and BIM-based Estimating Implementation ................................. 64
5.2.1 Respondents’ Company Information in the U.S. and China .......................... 65
5.2.1.1 Company Business Type ......................................................................... 65
5.2.1.2 Company Annual Business Amount........................................................ 67
5.2.1.3 Company Specialized Construction Projects ........................................... 68
5.2.1.4 Company Experience with BIM .............................................................. 69
5.2.1.5 Company Experience with BIM-based Estimating ................................. 74
5.2.2 Respondents’ Professional Information in the U.S. and China ...................... 75
5.2.2.1 Respondents’ Experience with BIM ......................................................... 75
5.2.2.2 Respondents’ Experience with BIM-based Estimating ............................ 77
5.2.3 Respondents’ Perceptions of BIM-based Estimating in the U.S. and China .. 78
5.2.3.1 Advantages of BIM-based Estimating ...................................................... 79
5.2.3.2 Barriers of BIM-based Estimating ............................................................ 81
5.2.4 BIM Software and Business Implementations ............................................... 83
5.3 Question #2 AEC/FM Industry’s Perceptions of BIM-based Cost Estimation
Method .......................................................................................................................... 86
5.3.1 Advantages of BIM-based Estimating ............................................................ 86
5.3.2 Barriers of BIM-based Estimating .................................................................. 89
5.4 Summary ............................................................................................................... 93
CHAPTER 6. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION ....................................................... 94
6.1 Responding Company Background and Its Indication .......................................... 95
vii

Page
6.2 Difference in BIM and BIM-based Estimating Implementation in the U.S. and
Chinese Building Company .......................................................................................... 98
6.3 Difference in BIM and BIM-based Estimating Implementation between the U.S.
and Chinese Building Professionals ............................................................................ 101
6.4 Difference in BIM Software and Areas of Implementations in the U.S. and China
..................................................................................................................................... 104
6.5 AEC/FM Industry’s Perceptions of BIM-based cost estimation ......................... 106
6.6 Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 108
LIST OF REFERENCES ................................................................................................ 112
APPENDICES
Appendix A Investigation of Industry Perceptions of Building Information Modeling
Based Cost Estimating Practices in the U.S. and China Survey ..................................119
Appendix B Survey Introduction Letter .....................................................................122