Building Information Models are widely used in architecture/engineering/construction (AEC) industry, as it supports information management throughout the life-cycle of a building in the form of a product and a process. Here discusses the SWOT analysis of strengths and weakness of implementing BIM as well as the opportunities and treats this implementation may bring to the construction industry.
SWOT is an acronym for strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats and SWOT is a structured method to evaluate these four factors of a project or business venture. We can have SWOT analysis for a company a project, a product, an industry, an organization or a person. In short, SWOT analyzes the strengths and weakness of a project or a company (capabilities) connecting to the opportunities and threats that creates (competitive environment). SWOT analysis of BIM implementation evaluates the pros and corns as strengths and weakness that appear as a result of implementing BIM on a building project. Later it investigates the opportunities and threats that happen as a result of this implementation.
Strengths
- SWOT analysis says that BIM can help reduce the waste and thereby save the precious time and money spent on a project.
- BIM gives the 3D designs of a building project, which is an improved feature of this method.
- This information modeling system stimulates the construction sequences and it makes the entire construction work smooth and clear.
- BIM implementation enables to reduce the errors and thereby avoid the risks that may cause during the construction time.
- BIM also significantly minimizes the use of energy in over a building’s lifecycle
- BIM can be applicable even in smallest companies.
- BIM is widely used in all sectors of the construction industry including construction, engineering, civil, mining, facility management etc.
Weakness
- BIM does not facilitate collaboration among different occupations.
- It focuses on building rather than on information
- In order to become BIM implementation, effective different sectors of a company must work together.
- The government of each country has to take the lead in order to implement BIM widely.
- The other weak point is that BIM has no universal software platform
- Even though BIM helps save money, it needs initial costs to implement the software and to train the staff.
Opportunities
- BIM implementation gives opportunities to be connected with international BIM leaders in education.
- BIM can be described as the DNA of future construction, as it contains all the information about a project even before the construction starts.
- BIM implementation helps developing new skills and knowledge in the field.
Threats
- According to SWOT analysis, the implementation of BIM may undermine the traditional working style of the construction industry
- If BIM is used, the type of construction contract is also to be changed
- There is a limit to understanding the BIM completely
- The construction companies, who implement BIM, are less and therefore the suppliers are also less in number.