The potential of building information modelling (BIM) for improving productivity in Singapore construction

Since 2013, it has been compulsory for practitioners to prepare proposals for building plan approval using Building Information Modelling (BIM). Moreover, raising productivity has been accorded the top priority in the current growth strategy for Singapore's economy. The utilisation of BIM in the Singapore construction industry is examined, and the possibility of deriving further benefits from the potential of BIM to improve productivity in the industry is explored. A series of interviews was carried out and an online questionnaire-based survey was undertaken in 2014 to investigate the views of practitioners on the current state of productivity and BIM application in the Singapore construction industry, and explore the potential of BIM to help in the efforts to improve productivity on construction projects. The interviewees comprised a representative cross-section of relevant parties in the industry including policy makers, contracting companies, architectural firms, a consultancy firm, a professional institution and a trade association. The respondents to the online questionnaire were contractors, architectural firms, structural engineering firms, mechanical and electrical (M&E) engineering firms and quantity surveyors. The findings suggest that the framework set up by the Singapore government has laid the necessary foundation for the implementation of BIM in the construction industry. The respondents acknowledge that BIM has the potential to enhance elements of practice beyond the preparation of models for mandatory submission, through pre-project planning, identification of documentation errors and productivity monitoring using actual construction site data. However, BIM is used more widely at the beginning stages of the projects. In the long term, much more needs to be done to use BIM in a strategic and more sophisticated manner, in particular, to further improve productivity in the industry.