BIM Investment, Returns, and Risks in China’s AEC Industries

摘要: Building information modeling (BIM), the emerging digital technology, is undergoing increasing application in developing countries including China. Both governmental policy and industry motivation have indicated that BIM becoming mainstream innovation China’s construction industry. Nevertheless, one major concern lies uncertainty of investment for architecture, engineering, (AEC) firms. Specifically, AEC firms should knowledge areas could focus on (such as software); expected returns from investment; methods to enhance usage; risks implementing BIM. This study adopted a questionnaire survey–based approach address these concerns related risk practitioners multiple fields different experience levels were recruited survey sample. It was found both internal external collaborations be priority, together with interoperability among software tools. Improved multiparty communication understanding highest recognized return investment. Survey participants had high expectation green building projects. Subgroup analysis conveyed gaining practical would provide professionals more confidence adoption enhancing understanding. Compared other professions, architects tended conservative views BIM’s effect marketing their work, project planning, recruiting/retaining employees. The findings this empirical an overview investment, return, implementation-related at stages or practice, well suggestions relevant public authorities when guidelines (e.g., applications prefabrication construction). As extension existing implementation studies developed countries, provides insights associated China by adopting holistic summarizing perceptions across disciplines levels. gained further applied where technology growing