Best practices in building information modelling process implementation in green building design: Architects' insights

An increasing number of clients are requesting green building design due to its potential to provide high-sustainability performance, monetary savings and health benefits to occupants. However, the practice of designing green building projects to meet overarching sustainability criteria is complex, with issues of poor information exchange synthesis. The building information modelling (BIM) process was created to ensure that the cumbersome green building data is exchanged accurately and in a coordinated manner. However, the implementation of the BIM process in green building design practices remains underexplored in the literature and industry practice. Therefore, this study aims to identify the best practices in BIM process implementation in the early stages of green building design. A quantitative research method was adopted; a questionnaire was used to survey 180 architects working in various construction firms in Malaysia. The questionnaire data was analysed using factor analysis to narrow down the long list of factors (best practices) into a small number of components. The results highlighted the best approaches in BIM process implementation in green building design practices: (1) Selection of a well-trained and competent design team, (2) Use of software with high interoperability to ensure exchange of accurate information, (3) Development of a standard method for BIM process implementation in green building design and (4) Timely identification of critical decision points. The research outcome will enlighten construction professionals on the best practices in implementing the BIM process in green building design, thereby allowing them to deliver building projects with high- sustainability performance.