Barriers of Implementing BIM in Construction Industry from the Designers’ Perspective: A Hong Kong Experience

In view of the strategic plan of the Hong Kong Government to implement BIM in all public housing projects starting from 2014, there is a need to review the current use of BIM in Hong Kong. However, there is no thorough study conducted in Hong Kong to provide empirical data for further study. Although the study is conducted in Hong Kong, the results contribute practical insights to the subject in other countries. The main purpose of this paper is to examine the application of BIM among the design firms in Hong Kong and to identify their needs and barriers in the BIM adoption process. From such, suitable directions can be suggested for the government, professional bodies and BIM vendors to foster the local use of BIM. A questionnaire survey was designed to collect primary data regarding the implementation and barriers of BIM usage from design firms in Hong Kong. Respondents were asked to provide opinions on the extent of BIM implementation, their barriers encountered during implementation and the required support from government / professional institutions. Fifty-two responses were received in the survey. Results indicated that BIM application among designers was limited. Several barriers to BIM adoption were identified, including lack of qualified in-house staff, lack of training/education, lack of standards and lack of client demand. The government should collaborate with the industry, professional bodies and education institutes to establish clear standards and guidance on the use of BIM and to provide more tailored training to practitioners and future students.