Investigating the strategic planning of BIM adoption on construction projects in a developing country

Strategic planning of building information modelling (BIM) adoption has become increasingly important, owing to the need to minimise BIM adoption risks, maximise BIM benefits and ensure successful BIM adoption. Our understanding of strategic planning of BIM adoption in a developing country is limited. Therefore, this study develops a framework for strategic BIM adoption on construction projects. The applicability of the framework was tested by using it to analyse the pattern of BIM adoption on construction projects in South Africa. The findings of the study demonstrate interrelationships between project milestones and deadlines, the extent of use of BIM software platforms used for the BIM-based construction projects (BBCPs) and the extent of collaboration on the BBCPs. The findings also confirm interrelationships between the regulatory system, the extent of use of BIM software platforms, the extent of collaboration and the extent of integration on the BBCPs. This research has shown that the strategic planning of BIM adoption enables the proper management of BIM tools and processes. The research has also provided practical guidelines for strategic planning of BIM adoption in developing countries.