Investigation of the Effective implementation of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the operation and maintenance phase in the Public Sector Buildings in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This research primarily introduces the background of the research which is about data management problems in the operation and maintenance phase, faced by the public sector of Saudi Arabia. In addition, it talks about research problems, the importance of the research, research aim and objectives, limitation, a brief indication of methodology and structure dissertation. The research goes on to address the important aspects of the Building Information Model (BIM) technique and its use in the maintenance and operation phase in the construction sector. It has also presented the importance of maintenance in the entire building life cycle and many more. It has clarified the procurement system in public maintenance in the KSA. The project highlights the methods used by the researcher to do the study including the research methods and techniques used by the researcher to conduct an investigation. The research methods used were guided by the Saunders onion model. Consequently, the data collected and analysed during the research was achieved through semi-structured interviews and document observation that is related to the current practice of data management in the operation and maintenance phase. The process and methods of handling building data present the major challenge. The findings from this research equally documented that there exist various data management issues in operation and maintenance. The current technology for data management was also found to be insufficient with the major barriers to BIM technology adoption being the lack of government support, high cost of implementation of BIM, lack of contractual obligation, lack of qualified human cadre, and lack of awareness are cited to be the major barrier for the technology adoption. These challenges can be overcome through government support both in terms of the adoption of proper legislation and through financial support. Training and creation of awareness on the benefits of BIM would go a long way in promoting the adoption of the technology. Additionally, the government should obligate execution and maintenance contractors to adopt the technology.