Benefits and Challenges of Implementing the Common Data Environments in the Construction Phase of BIM-Based Projects

Abstract

This research aims to identify, categorize, and prioritize the benefits and challenges of implementing common data environments (CDEs) in the construction phase of building information modeling (BIM)-based projects. For this purpose, a systematic literature review, semistructured interviews, and the Delphi method were conducted, and online sources of CDE providers were investigated. 54 benefits and 15 challenges were identified. Cronbach’s alpha, standard deviation, interrater agreement level, and significance level statistics were calculated to analyze and validate Delphi method outputs. Results demonstrate that the most important benefit of implementing CDEs in the construction phase of BIM-based projects is access to accurate, reliable, up-to-date information. The most critical challenge is the exclusion of CDE planning in the front-end phase of the project. Prioritizing the benefits shows CDEs’ full potential for the construction phase of BIM-based projects. Prioritizing the challenges demonstrates possible future works, requirements, and the areas that should be improved. This research provides a comprehensive point of view on the benefits and challenges of implementing CDEs in the construction phase of BIM-based projects. It analyzes the potential of CDEs by strengthening the findings from the systematic literature review with the SMEs’ evaluation, comments, and feedback. This study provides valuable insights into implementing CDEs in the construction phase of BIM-based projects, defining their capabilities, status, and potential, and giving suggestions about how to deal with their challenges. This research shows how CDEs ensure streamlining information and communication flows in BIM-based projects by mitigating nonvalue-added activities resulting from informal, nonstandardized data exchanges, lack of proper data exchange protocols, loss of project data, and lack of efficient collaboration and communication between project team participants. This study reveals the importance of implementing CDEs in the construction phase of BIM-based projects to achieve adequate information and communication management that may prevent project data loss, informal, nonstandardized data exchanges, and inefficient collaboration between multidisciplinary teams.