In order to guide the implementation of BIM at the organizational level, numerous evaluation models have been developed to help users get the most out of BIM processes, technologies and practices. These models take different paths to meet the industry's various needs for information, planning, progression, and BIM best practices: they are non-comparable, noncumulative, and have different theoretical bases. Many of these models lack empirical validation by researchers external to their development and the multitude of existing methods and metrics make it complex to choose an appropriate model for a given situation.
In recent years, several studies have been devoted to the review and evaluation of BIM integration assessment models. These evaluations were either reviews of similar models using the same criteria, or evaluations of models with different theoretical bases adapting their evaluation criteria to each type of model. However, in contrast to theoretical evaluations, empirical evaluation offers the opportunity to put BIM evaluation models on an equal basis to evaluate them according to the same criteria by including most stakeholders.
This collaborative and participatory action-research presents the collaboration of academic, industrial and organizational poles for the implementation of an empirical framework to evaluate, at the organizational level, the two evaluation models that are being considered to help disseminate and improve the integration of BIM in Quebec as part of the Construction Quebec 4.0 Initiative. The SCBIMMM maturity and MCBIMQ competency models were evaluated in the context of a case study. To assess them we developed an empirical evaluation tool to validate the suitability of the model in relation to its environment and purpose. This evaluation tool is based on the applicability of the methodology, the relevance of the measurement and the objectivity of the evaluation to determine whether a BIM evaluation tool is valid for a given context.
This research has led to several contributions to theory. First of all by bringing a new perspective to the diagnosis of BIM integration assessment models. Second, by the development of an evaluation tool that combines values inherent to the field of BIM evaluation and concepts from the social sciences. Then by providing a scientific validation of two BIM implementation assessment models at the organizational level. And finally by developing validation concepts applied to information technology research and construction.
This research also contributes to practice by proposing improvements to the SCBIMMM and MCBIMQ models used for the Construction Québec 4.0 Initiative.
Nonirit, E. (Author),
Forgues (Supervisor) &
Poirier (Co-supervisor),
8 Jan 2021Student thesis: Master's thesis › Master in Engineering: Construction Engineering