READINESS OF NIGERIAN CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS TO ADOPT BIM TECHNOLOGY IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECT DELIVERY

ABSTRACT

Building Information Modelling (BIM) represents the formation of digital models for use during the planning, design, construction and operation stages of a facility’s life. Its productivity and economic benefits to the global building industry are widely acknowledged and increasingly well understood. BIM continues to dominate processes across the built environment, as it offers extensive opportunities to drive a more effective and efficient built environment. Yet, despite the obvious benefits of BIM software, BIM adoption has been slower than anticipated. Most of the research studies conducted on BIM technology have approached the subject from either a detailed technical perspective or a general conceptual perspective, but what is needed to ensure successful adoption of BIM technology by the construction professionals is an assessment of the full range of individual, social, and technical issues involved. The goal of this research was to assess the factors that influence successful adoption of BIM technology by the construction professionals. This study extends the technology acceptance model (TAM) to an exploration of the determinants of user behavioral intention with BIM technology and the link between user behavioral intention and perceived performance. The results demonstrate that the proposed model successfully accounts for how construction professionals come to accept BIM technology. This study found that user behavioral intention was an important indicator of adoption of the intent to adopt BIM technology by the construction professionals. The satisfaction of construction professionals with BIM technology is more likely to be affected by their beliefs about the usefulness of the technology, rather than their beliefs about how easy they are to use it. In addition, this study found that determinants of perceived usefulness, such as social influence, compatibility and enjoyment, and determinants of perceived ease of use, such as technical support, computer self-efficacy and training, are critical factors that influence the successful adoption of BIM technology by the construction professionals.