Status of BIM in the Construction Industry: A pilot Study in Lebanon

Abstract:

The Lebanese Construction Industry has been lagging in terms of technological advancements in the last few years. The purpose of this study is to find out the impact of Building Information Modeling (BIM) on the Lebanese Construction Industry and its penetration in Lebanon. The Post-Positivism approach was used with a qualitative assessment for the purpose of the study. The performed analysis showed that the penetration rate of BIM in Lebanon is low (11%). It was also found that the highest lack of BIM usage occurs in small engineering consultancy offices. A solution to the low penetration rate of BIM are incentives and rules that organize the industry in Lebanon. Governmental incentives and obligations, similar to rules issued in Emirates and Qatar, in addition to OEA rules and obligations to project’s owners and engineering offices could increase the penetration rate of BIM in the Lebanese Construction Industry. A limited number of studies have discussed the lack of technological advancements in Lebanon, and its effect on the critical success factors of a construction project. This research might be an incentive towards adopting these advancements because it flags the low interest in BIM adoption in the Lebanese construction market. The study will guide decision makers and authorities to issue policies and incentives to regulate the BIM usage in Lebanon.