Framework for Evaluating the BIM Competencies of Facility Owners

Abstract

The adoption of building information modeling (BIM) in the design and construction phases of building projects has increased considerably in recent years; however, its use in postconstruction is still lagging. Much of this is because of the lack of experience by owner organizations in using BIM during operations and maintenance (O&M). The architecture, engineering, construction, and operations (AECO) industry is undergoing a major paradigm shift that will require building owners to develop lifecycle-oriented BIM strategies. Consequently, owners will play a vital role in improving the maturity of future BIM-assisted projects through their requirements documentation, assessment of the quality and accuracy of BIM deliverables, and continued application of BIM during facilities management (FM). The primary objective of this research study was to develop a framework for building owner organizations to use in the assessment of their BIM competency. Using the Delphi technique, 66 critical factors that are influential in the evaluation of owners’ BIM competency were identified and prioritized on the basis of the perceptions of 21 prequalified BIM experts. The data derived from the Delphi phase were then used to propose an assessment tool that allows owners to evaluate their operations across three diverse competency areas and 12 specifically tailored competency categories. These evaluations can then be used by owners to assess and expand their technical knowledge, improve their current BIM requirements, and increase the efficiency of their postconstruction operations.