Software capabilities of Sri Lankan architectural professionals for BIM adoption

Abstract

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a technological and attainable concept, which has upgraded the construction industry into a more diligent industry. It has globalized in a way, which make innovative, cost effective, energy efficient, sustainable and practicable products as well as faster and more effective processes. By the aid of various BIM software packages connected with different disciplines for various stages, this realisation could achieve more accomplishments. However, majority of practitioners of the construction industry only have competencies over the traditional software and this is also one of the major constraints for not applying BIM to the construction organizations. Therefore, construction practitioners must have proficiency over the competencies required for effective BIM products. Interestingly, there seems that many BIM tools have similarities to conventional tools. Software developers over the world have developed several BIM software tools for each of the disciplines which are currently involved in the projects. Majority of the recently completed BIM assignments have typically used software suites belonging to Autodesk software developers, as such there is high potential of using such suits in early BIM projects in Sri Lanka. Hence, this study aims to identify extent to which BIM like activities in conventional tools are practiced in the Sri Lankan industry. It synthesizes the findings of a literature review on software disciplines which are used in the BIM implementation by various professionals in each of the stages of project sequence. Through the desk study and the expert interviews a qualitative study conducted to identify the gap between 3D BIM modelling competencies with the current competency level of the Sri Lankan Architect. It was found that, working in Revit is more like building a building than drawing one. Further, the great thing about Revit is that all the objects work not the same as in AutoCAD. So if designer know how to place a wall in CAD, but designer can’t place a wall in Revit. Because it use object oriented method. Fundamentals are just about the same, there are of course a few differences but can work through those fairly easily. According to the summary, can be concluded that Sri Lankan Architects much familiar about few of the task. But, the handling/performing such activities much differ than what they follow.