An Investigation of Building Information Modeling Application in Design-Bid-Build Projects

ABSTRACT: Since, Design-Bid-Build (DBB) was the most popular project delivery method at the beginning of previous decade regardless of all its shortcomings, applying new advanced tools can compensate disadvantages of this method. Recently, advanced technology in construction management called Building Information Modeling (BIM) became popular among construction industry. Although, effects of BIM on different aspects of alternative project delivery methods were considered in literature, but adequate efforts on evaluating BIM application in DBB projects have not performed yet. This research aims to investigate effects of using BIM in DBB projects. For this reason, a questionnaire survey was conducted among construction industry practitioners in Iran to evaluate their opinions about using BIM in DBB projects. To assess reliability of questionnaire survey results, a single case was studied to compare cost and time of DBB projects in case of using BIM with real project which was executed without using BIM. According to survey results, BIM has more effects on cost and time in comparison with quality and health and safety from respondents’ viewpoints. This claim was verified by studying cost and time in single case and was found out that using BIM could decrease total project costs up to 9.6% and reduce contractor expenses 5.9% of total project cost. Using BIM also could avoid delay in project completion as long as 17% of project duration. Finally, recommendations for construction industry practitioners and suggestions for researchers as future works were made. Keywords: Project Delivery Method, Design-Bid-Build, Building Information Modeling. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………