Development Of A BIM-Supported Information Exchange Platform For Contractors For Infrastructure Projects

Abstract

Infrastructure projects hold vital significance for the growth and development of communities worldwide. These projects often exhibit high complexity, leading main contractors to engage subcontractors for assistance and risk management. While subcontracting is beneficial, it can sometimes induce relationship issues, primarily due to in-efficient communication and information flow, impacting project outcomes. The study aimed to develop a framework for a mobile application to mitigate these communication problems between main contractors and subcontractors in linear infrastructure projects. To do so, the study investigated the selection criteria used by main contractors for suitable subcontractors and the factors influencing their relationship in these projects, utilising an extensive literature review and quantitative methods.

The structure of the study consists of five main sections, beginning with the introduction to the research problem. This is followed by an in-depth review of existing literature on subcontractor selection, the relationship dynamics between main contractors and sub-contractors, and the employment of BIM-enabled mobiles/tablets in infrastructure projects. Subsequently, a new framework for a BIM-based mobile application is introduced, addressing the gaps identified from the literature review. This framework is validated through a survey, and the study concludes with an in-depth discussion of the results, research question responses, and conclusion.

The study discovered 17 factors that influence the choice of subcontractors in linear infrastructure projects, which subsequently affect the quality of the working relationship between the main contractors and subcontractors. Moreover, 13 factors were identified that strain these relationships, with the top five being poor project management of sub-contractors work, a lack of skilled labour, delays in providing necessary resources to subcontractors, untimely payments, and poor communication. The proposed BIM-based mobile application, 'Site2Office', was validated within the study. The key features, such as a system for material requests and real-time communication, were positively received by potential users. This feedback suggests that 'Site2Office' could potentially alleviate the identified factors straining relationships in linear infrastructure projects. The study concludes with recommendations and directions for future research.