Open BIM Adoption in Sri Lankan Construction Industry

Open Building Information Modelling (openBIM) deviates from conventional approach while impacting whole Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operations (AECO) industry. A basic outcome of openBIM is the collaboration by different project partners at different construction stages of the whole life cycle of the project without interoperability issues. The openBIM is based on the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) data model standards and BIM Collaboration Format (BCF) is used for supporting data model standards. The latest mode of sustaining operability with actors utilizing products of numerous corporations is endowment of openBIM servers by means of plural data environments. Several supporting applications which required to exchange integrate data thus results in the requirement of an open standard and it is further notified in plural data environment. The openBIM practical application provides continues information flow throughout all projects participants in whole life cycle of a construction. Even though openBIM provides wide variety of advantages, there are some challengers which will arise when adopting new framework for a work environment. Different organizations will have their own policy about tool usage, budgeting requirements, licensing restriction, etc. which will come in the way of adopting different technology. Henceforth, the study aims to identify the potentials for adopting openBIM in Sri Lankan construction industry. Mixed method approach was adhered for the research conduct. Data collection was processed where data sources were selected based on contribution for the BIM and openBIM in AEC industry. A questionnaire survey was conducted among construction industry experts who were familiar with construction related software applications and was conducted via iBIM LK Survey tool. In-depth data analysis of the collected data throughout the questionnaire survey were clearly analyzed in both quantitative and qualitative methods separately and made clear cross reference between them. The quantitative section was analyzed through the exploratory quantitative analysis method and qualitative section through the manual content analysis method. Thus, it was identified that potential for its adoption is very low in current context of Sri Lanka and key challenges are identified in technical and industrial perspectives. Accordingly, technical challengers were associated with high cost to build-up IT infrastructure for required level, low level of awareness of open source software and lack of training facility. The industrial challenges were identified as resistance to change, lack of openBIM based projects, legal system not fully cooperated with contractual agreements in openBIM, requirement of an openBIM project governing regulatory body and systematic protocol for proper openBM adoption in Sri Lanka. Hence, it highlights the requirement of enhancing knowledge of professional practitioners on openBIM. Moreover, it is prerequisite to amalgamate systematic protocol for openBIM based projects and government’s initiation is essential for the adoption of BIM. Government responsibility for openBIM implementation in Sri Lanka may be appropriate remedy for storage of openBIM project.