Examination of user acceptance of 3D BIM models at the operation and maintenance phase

Abstract

Building Information Modelling (BIM) can serve as one of the disruptive technologies in the global architecture, construction, and engineering (AEC) industry. In current practice, BIM technology has been widely employed in the design and construction phases of building construction projects with its use cases and benefits identified. However, although many studies have shown various applications of BIM technology in the building operation and maintenance (O&M) stage, such as digital facility management and route planning, the adoption of BIM technology in the operation phase of real-world building projects is still relatively scarce. One of the main barriers is the reluctance of technology change by O&M practitioners, which is a common phenomenon in the technology transformation period. Despite this, it is valuable to investigate how O&M practitioners view the new BIM technology in the building operation stage. More importantly, since the BIM technology is primarily based on 3D digital building models that store facility information, it is imperative to study the user acceptance of 3D BIM models by O&M practitioners in their professional workflows. However, existing studies on the identification of user acceptance of BIM technology focus on the entire construction projects covering different phases, which lack a focus on the operation phase and in-depth investigation of how O&M professionals perceive the acceptance levels of BIM models. This doctoral thesis addresses these issues by conducting a questionnaire study to explore the user acceptance of 3D BIM models in the building O&M phase. To begin with, a new user behaviour model was developed to assess the user acceptance levels of BIM models and influential factors. The model was designed by mapping real challenges of BIM adoption in the O&M stage to psychological behaviour variables in existing behaviour models. Subsequently, a questionnaire was created with questions aligned with the selected behaviour factors, and it was then sent to practitioners in Hong Kong and Mainland China. As a result, 398 valid responses were obtained from participants who have different roles, positions, ages, experiences, education, parties, and genders. The results show the overall acceptance levels of 3D BIM models and how various kinds of respondents have disparate perceptions about BIM usage in performing their O&M tasks. Furthermore, this study exploits Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to identify the most influential factors and associations between different factors. The results computed by SEM reveal that attitudes, habits, perceived usefulness, compatibility, and subjective norms are the most important factors that determine whether O&M practitioners accept to use of 3D BIM models or not. Overall, this research contributes important knowledge of the user acceptance levels of 3D BIM models for different kinds of practitioners in the building O&M stage. It reveals what psychological factors can significantly influence users’ attitudes and behaviour intention to use BIM models in their professional work. The outcomes of this study can be effectively used by governmental departments, construction organizations, and companies to make standards, specifications, roadmaps, and manuals to properly apply BIM technology in the operation phase in a user-accepted way.