Assessing the effect of implementing building information modelling in construction cost management for high rise buildings in Kampala, Uganda.

Abstract

The construction industry is one of the largest industries in the world employing millions of people making construction activities a very salient and vital aspect of many countries’ economies worldwide. The construction industry is faced with a number of challenges more so in developing countries such as poor financial planning, inflation and obsolete traditional methods of cost management which in the long run increase the general cost of construction. This therefore necessitates the assessment of the effect of implementation of advanced methods (BIM) of construction cost management in construction cost management for high rise buildings in Kampala, Uganda based on the known benefits such as reduced costs, duration, enhanced productivity and design quality. The study assessed the state of BIM usage so as to identify the variation in construction costs due to BIM use. The survey was carried out and primary data was collected using an online structured survey as well as physical interviews with the aid of printed questionnaires from 51 registered construction managers, architects, quantity surveyors, civil/structural engineers and MEP engineers guaranteeing 93% validity for further analysis since 51 out of 55 respondents responded. Analysis was done using statistical packages such as STATA and Ms Excel where ranking of causes for high costs of construction were done and errors in design was ranked highest followed by complexity of the project. Ranking was also done for BIM functions, benefits and hindrances, stages of construction where BIM is most crucial and used. Professionals showed a significant level of awareness of BIM despite low level of BIM softwares usage. Enhanced productivity in construction was ranked highest followed by complete project information among the benefits of BIM usage. Lack of education and training in BIM use was ranked highest followed by high initial investment costs on BIM software and hardware as major hindrances to BIM use. Relationship between professionals and software usage was done and it showed that professional who operate more in the design stages that is to say architects use more of BIM than other professionals. The relationship between methods of cost management and budget ratings showed more cost savings evidenced by operation at an average cost growth budget and an under budget due to BIM software usage. Recommendations advocated for mitigating factors that can aid in solving hindrances to BIM usage such as intensive training of professionals on concepts, benefits and use of BIM, government policies for example subsidization of BIM hardware and software so to reduce on the high initial cost onv investment and making of BIM mandatory for all large scale construction projects so as to promote its usage