BIM as a project management tool on construction projects

A Building Information Model (BIM) is a digital representation of the physical and functional characteristics of a project. BIM tools are used to develop and share information throughout construction projects. The concept of BIM has existed since the 1970s, but has only recently been considered as a fundamental project management tool, due to the many benefits associated with the use of the BIM tools. These benefits have changed the way construction projects are managed, and can be considered a milestone in project management. Despite the benefits, the use of BIM as a project management tool is still in the early stages of development, and there are still many challenges and barriers associated with its use.

The implementation of BIM has proven successful in newer projects to address the fragmentation issues, which heavily impacts the efficiency of construction projects. Using BIM as a project management tool has shown to be a promising instrument to address these fragmentation issues and achieve better integration within construction projects. To successfully implement BIM, a project team must perform detailed and comprehensive planning.

This article will introduce how BIM is used as a project management tool and its underlying practices. Furthermore the different application areas and limitations of BIM will be discussed.