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Abstract
The adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the design and construction phases of building projects has increased considerably in recent years; however, utilization of models during the post-construction phase is still a rarity. Much of this may be due to the lack of experience by building owner organizations in using BIM for Operations and Maintenance (O&M). The Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operations (AECO) industry is undergoing a major paradigm shift that will require building owners to develop life-cycle oriented BIM strategies. Consequently, they will play a vital role in improving the maturity of future BIM-assisted projects through their requirements documentation, their assessment of the quality and accuracy of BIM deliverables, and their continued application of BIM during Facilities Management (FM).
The primary objective of this research was to develop a logical framework for building owner organizations to use in the assessment of their BIM competency. The study utilized three common research methodologies including: administration of a survey, the Delphi method, and case studies. First, using a pilot survey, it assessed the status of BIM implementation among US building owner groups to confirm the existence of the research problem. Then using the Delphi technique, it identified and prioritized the primary characteristics that building owners must possess to become mature BIM users based on the perceptions of 21 pre-qualified BIM experts representing several diverse roles in the AECO industry. The data derived from the Delphi phase was then used to propose an assessment tool which building owners can use to evaluate their BIM competency. Finally, the proposed tool was tested on a sample of owner organizations in order examine its validity and usefulness. (Full text of this dissertation may be available via the University of Florida Libraries web site. Please check http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/etd.html)