Applications of progress payment systems and building information modelling (BIM) in construction companies role as a contractor

The development in construction sector continues its progress with an increasing acceleration including the last quarter of this century Turkish Construction Companies which are capable of competing with the large-scaled companies in the world's market, have to follow the technological developments closely for keeping up with the competition in the market. A slower development actually means that going back in recent financial world, and the companies are aware of this situation, so, these companies have to be open to new ideas and technologies which can carry them a step forward and if necessary they have to change their operational systems in business to make a difference in the sector. Construction sector is a large-scaled economical system which includes a multidisciplinary structure beyond the realization of a design project. One of the most important dynamics of the system is the payment process between the dealing contractors. The project should be accomplished in accordance with the design, in a stipulated time and in the limit of the reserved budget of the project to be defined as a successful project by the employer. Progress payment applications that directly affect these expectations of the employer, represents the payment system between the employer and the contractor during the construction process. Besides it is evaluated as a procedure or a tiresome paperwork, payment applications have a vital role for proceeding of the construction process smoothly and it should comply with the technological developments in the design-build area. Building Information Modeling (BIM) is one of the most preferred systems in the project production and management facilities at the present time. BIM is not only a three dimensional modeling as used in most cases in design and build profession, but also it is an integrative approach that comprises all the project life cycle. However, BIM performs below its potential due to the fact that it is a currently developing technology even though BIM can be used in every phase between the idea and the demolition process. In this development process, the problems in the use of BIM in current area of utilization should be solved together with the creative ideas for the new usage of this technology. In this study, the progress payment applications in contractor construction firms and the use of BIM technology in progress payment process are examined. To analyze and determine the use of BIM in the process of progress payment arrangements, semi-structured interviews with the large-scaled construction firms are done and the results are presented in this study. The phases after the design and build are out of the scope, because the major topic that is associated with BIM is progress payment phase. Contractors are one of the major actors of the construction process and they are directly in the progress payment process, accordingly, it is predicted that the consequences of the semi-structured interviews with them are beneficial and proper for the aim of the study. The reason for the selection of the large-scaled firms is, they are expected to be adapted the innovations of the technology expeditiously because of the forceful competition conditions. It is noted that the examination on the comprehensive, large-scaled and qualified structures can provide reliable and consistent results. Some of the firms which are contacted with rejected the demand of interview because of the usage of BIM in a primitive level or not interested in this BIM technology. Besides, the experience, qualification of the firms that are interviewed with, and the information that is gathered from them are very helpful for integrity of the study.