Enhancing Information Quality through Building Information Modelling Implementation within UK Structural Engineering Organisations Mehdi Bavafa School of the Built Environment College of Science and Technology University of Salford, Salford, UK Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Jun 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of contents ......................................................................................................................... i Abreviations .............................................................................................................................. ix Acknowledgement ..................................................................................................................... x Dedication ................................................................................................................................. xi Declaration ............................................................................................................................... xii Abstract .................................................................................................................................. xiii CHAPTER 1. Introduction .................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Research Background .................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Problem Statement ...................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Research Rational ........................................................................................................ 4 1.4 Research Aim and objectives ...................................................................................... 6 1.5 Research Scope ........................................................................................................... 7 1.6 Research Approach ..................................................................................................... 8 1.7 Report Structure ........................................................................................................ 11 CHAPTER 2. Review of Information Management in Structural Engineering Sector ..... 13 2.1 Introduction to Structural Engineering Industry ....................................................... 13 2.1.1 Structural Engineering Design Process .............................................................. 14 2.1.2 Structural Engineering Information System ...................................................... 17 2.1.3 Structural Engineering Information Modelling ................................................. 21 2.1.4 Structural Engineering Entities .......................................................................... 22 2.2 Key Information Management Challenges in Structural Engineering ...................... 25 2.2.1 Information Quality Management...................................................................... 32 2.2.2 Information Accuracy ........................................................................................ 36 2.2.3 Information Interoperability............................................................................... 38 2.2.4 Impacts of Business Workflow and Organisational Culture on Structural Information Management ................................................................................................. 40 2.3 Chapter Summary ...................................................................................................... 42 CHAPTER 3. Contribution of BIM to Structural Information Management .................... 43 3.1 BIM Value Proposition for AEC Industry ................................................................ 43 i 3.2 Technological aspects of BIM................................................................................... 46 3.2.1 BIM Visualisation Tier ...................................................................................... 47 3.2.2 BIM File Open Standards Tier ........................................................................... 51 3.2.3 BIM Semantic Tier ............................................................................................ 55 3.2.4 BIM Software Tier ............................................................................................. 61 3.3 BIM-based Workflows .............................................................................................. 64 3.3.1 BS1192 Standard ............................................................................................... 66 3.3.2 PAS1192-2 ......................................................................................................... 68 3.3.3 Information Delivery Manual (ISO29481) ........................................................ 71 3.4 Human Resource readiness for implementing BIM .................................................. 74 3.5 Initial Conceptual Framework ................................................................................... 77 3.6 Chapter Summary ...................................................................................................... 80 CHAPTER 4. Research Methodology ............................................................................... 81 4.1 Philosophical Paradigm ............................................................................................. 82 4.1.1 Epistemology ..................................................................................................... 82 4.1.2 Ontology ............................................................................................................ 82 4.1.3 Axiology ............................................................................................................ 83 4.1.4 Philosophical Paradigm Justifications ............................................................... 83 4.2 Research Stages ......................................................................................................... 84 4.3 Research Method ....................................................................................................... 85 4.3.1 Research method justification ............................................................................ 87 4.4 Research Approach ................................................................................................... 88 4.5 Research Strategy ...................................................................................................... 89 4.5.1 Research Strategy Justification .......................................................................... 91 4.5.2 Case Study Design ............................................................................................. 92 4.6 Qualitative Data Collection and Sampling ................................................................ 97 4.6.1 Qualitative Data Analysis Technique ................................................................ 98 ii 4.7 Quantitative Data Measurement and Analysis .......................................................... 99 4.7.1 Sampling Strategy .............................................................................................. 99 4.7.2 Quantitative Data Analysis Techniques ........................................................... 101 4.7.3 Descriptive Statistics ........................................................................................ 102 4.7.4 Parametric Techniques ..................................................................................... 103 4.7.5 Reliability and Validity .................................................................................... 112 4.8 Ethical Consideration .............................................................................................. 113 4.9 Chapter Summary .................................................................................................... 114 CHAPTER 5. Qualitative Data collection and Analysis ................................................. 115 5.1 Case 1- Qualitative Data Analysis .......................................................................... 115 5.1.1 Case1 Description ............................................................................................ 116 5.1.2 Information Management Challenges in Case 1 .............................................. 117 5.1.3 BIM Adoption in Case 1 .................................................................................. 123 5.1.4 Human Resource Readiness and BIM Adoption in Case 1 ............................. 138 5.1.5 Case1- Findings and discussion ....................................................................... 142 5.2 Case 2- Qualitative Data Analysis .......................................................................... 144 5.2.1 Case 2 Description ........................................................................................... 145 5.2.2 Information Management Challenges in Case2 ............................................... 146 5.2.3 BIM Adoption in the Case 2 ............................................................................ 154 5.2.4 Case 2- Findings and discussion ...................................................................... 172 5.3 Chapter Summary .................................................................................................... 174 CHAPTER 6. Quantitative Data Collection and analysis ................................................ 175 6.1 Demographics of survey