The status of building image modelling in the South

African construction industry

Derick Booyens
Department of Construction Economics
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
derick.booyens@up.ac.za
Henk Bouwman
Pretoria, South Africa
Michelle Burger
Department of Construction Economics
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract Building Image Modelling (BIM) is a concept that is
attracting more attention on the international scene. Therefore,
this study is conducted to understand where South Africa
currently stands in the walk towards a BIM compliant
construction industry.
This research was driven to see if BIM is a commonly known
phrase by various participants in the construction industry and if
so why it is not implemented throughout the whole construction
industry. To get an understanding of the mind-set of the people
involved in the built environment towards BIM this research is
aimed at getting the opinions of all the parties involved in the
built environment with regards to BIM.
In this research study interviews were conducted with all the
relevant participants in the built environment that are involved
in the construction process, namely: Architects, Engineers,
Quantity Surveyors and Contractors. Based on their experience
in the built environment they were asked questions on the
current status of BIM and what they see as the road ahead. With
these questions the research aimed to understand what the status
of BIM in the South African construction industry is.
Keywords- Building image modeling; construction industry;
South Africa
I. INTRODUCTION
BIM is not one program; it is a concept, intelligent drawing,
information model and a set of processes. It is defined as a
modelling technology and associated set of processes to
produce, communicate, and analyse building models [1].
Currently the construction industry mainly works with a
paper-based system where the design is communicated in paper
format from one stakeholder to another. That is a system with
many faults as it results in human errors when translating
designs or where certain interpretations are made. With a
project that issues a revision every week, the amount of
drawings issued is immense.
A building model produced by a BIM supported tool can
provide multiple different views of the data contained within a
drawing set. A BIM design captures all the information
applicable to the every object in the design. BIM is moving the
industry forward from the current processes: 3D CAD, spread
sheets and 2D drawings to an information model. BIM captures
all the design information and processes and combines it into
one manageable process that will reduce the risk and increase
the quality of built environment. [1]
II. LITERATURE
A. Advantages of BIM
The key benefit of BIM is its accurate representation of all
the components of a building in an integrated data
environment. It offers the elimination and control of
unforeseen changes, saves time, estimates compiled within a
3% variance of actual costs and reduces project time [2].
B. BIM Potential Return on Investment
Data from 10 selected US based projects was collected and
findings presented. The conclusion was that the AEC industry
is still very much reliant on two dimensional drawings. At the
same time, AEC professionals also realize the power of BIM
for more efficient and intelligent construction. BIM as a
technology is still in its adolescence stage. The needs and
requirements of the customer must be studied and further
incorporated to ensure that BIM is desirable to all [2].
C. BIM and the Design team
What does BIM mean to the design team members such as
the Architects and Engineers? Architects use BIM more
efficiently to model their designs, to generate the documents
that are required of them, and to perform a host of other tasks
all in a much shortened time span. Architects can by using
BIM, communicate the project much better to the owner or
client. Engineers can model mechanical and electrical designs
to evaluate how a system will perform [3].
1) BIM and the contractor
Utilizing BIM technology has major advantages for
construction companies with the potential to save time and
money. An accurate building model benefits all members of the
project team. It allows for a smoother and better planned
SECTION
Industrial and Civil Engineering

A
R
S A
- Ad va nced
Res e
a
r c
h
in
S
c
i e
n
t i f i c
A r e a s - V I R T U A L
C
O
N
F
E
R
E
N
C
E
-
The 2nd year of Advanced Research in Scientific Areas
http://www.arsa-conf.com
Advanced Research in Scientific Areas
December, 2. - 6. 2013
- 422 -
construction process that saves time and money and reduces
the potential for errors and conflicts [1].
The transition from the more traditional paper centric
systems to BIM is not an easy one. The contractor has to
understand the software and how it will affect him. This is a
time consuming process that has made the contractors resilient
to BIM.
Important application areas that apply to most
contractors[1]:
1. Construction methodology and early clash detection
2. Quantity take-off and cost estimating
3. Construction reporting and planning
4. Integration with cost and schedule control and other
management functions
5. Shop drawings and offsite fabrication
6. Verification, guidance, and tracking of construction
activities
7. Ass-built drawings, handover and commissioning
The contractors construction manager should be
considered a member of the design team, allowed not only to
manage construction but also to help manage the information
that is being communicated in order to build the facility. This
does not imply that contractors takes the place of architects or
engineers but rather that they be considered just as valuable a
member of the design team as the architects and engineers. The
main purpose of construction documents is to communicate the
design intent to the builders from the architect. In the past this
process has been linear; in this new type of process, the
information is sequential. It allows the contractor to determine
the means and methods of how the contractor will go by
constructing the building to the needs of the design team and
the client. Contractors can draw up a detailed method statement
of how the building will be constructed. This gives the client an
idea if the contractor is capable to do the work [3].
The fact is that the contractor is the one who in the end has
to erect the building and is appointed according to his
experience. The contractor can provide valuable input in the
design process in terms of cost savings by using different
methods than what the architect might have in mind. Potential
construction problems can already be identified during the
design phase and therefore avoided. An example of these
savings can be seen in Table 1 - BIM Economics [2].
BIM for the contractor is not just the contractor looking at
the BIM design of the architect. There is BIM software
available to contractors to assist them with tendering, planning
and ordering of materials as well.
Based on the design of the architect the contractor can
extract the exact amount of materials needed for construction.
This allows cutting back on his waste and giving accurate
valuations of work done to the QS.
The other big factor is construction itself. The site
representative could show the sub-contractors exactly what has
to be done. A visual representation helps in showing the finer
details of the work to be done. Sometimes something small on
a plan can be easily overlooked. BIM help minimise human
error and help with the correct construction of the project [4].
The image below shows exactly how all the services fit
together. It helps the contractor to ensure that all his sub-
contractors work together and construct the services as per the
correct specifications.
2) BIM and the QS
Extracting quantities, areas, and volumes from a model is
one of the most useful functions that BIM technology has to
offer. Estimating takes place during preconstruction. The
Quantity Surveyor would start by gathering square footage data
and then begin to link the data with estimating software for
future updating [3]. In South Africa the most commonly used
program is Dimension X. This product has a BIM option built
into the program. If the Architect or engineers supplies the
drawings in DWF format they can be used in Dimension X by
using the BIM option.
One of the great values of BIM estimating is the ability to
assign a cost to every item in the model. Items which do not
have costs assigned to them can be easily isolated. (Hardin,
2009) One of the greatest fears of any QS when measuring by
hand is that not all items have been included in the costing.
The Quantity Surveyor might miss something. How less
detailed the drawings how higher the contingencies allowance.
BIM will remove this concern. Selections can be made on the
type of material and the software will highlight all the
components in the building with the same material. The
measurements will also be performed.
Although the BIM estimate is a very useful tool to use for
the QS it does not take over his profession. Without a
knowledgeable operator the estimate will be flawed. Also the
BIM estimate does not take into consideration the economic
environment or other variables that will have an impact on the
project. The QS can use the estimate as a detailed tool to ensure
that his feasibility study is very accurate. A detailed building
model is a risk-mitigation tool for estimators that can
significantly reduce bid costs, because it reduces the
uncertainty associated with material quantities [1].
The most important advantages that BIM gives the QS is
the time saved by doing an estimate with BIM compared to as
to measure it by hand. The other advantage is the accuracy of
the quantities and the fact that all the items will be measured by
the estimating tool [9].
3) BIM and the Engineer
Many engineers are of the opinion that BIM is not an
option, but a requirement for the future. In addition to the
clash-detection and construction time saving BIM brings in
time, better accuracy in the structural engineering office, there
is little doubt that soon clients will demand that all parties,
including the engineer, take a full part in the BIM process for a
project [5].
Engineers are in the privileged position of working with
design software on a daily basis. The transition to BIM
software is therefore not a difficult one. This is due to the
SECTION
Industrial and Civil Engineering

A
R
S A
- Ad va nced
Res e
a
r c
h
in
S
c
i e
n
t i f i c
A r e a s - V I R T U A L
C
O
N
F
E
R
E
N
C
E
-
The 2nd year of Advanced Research in Scientific Areas
http://www.arsa-conf.com
Advanced Research in Scientific Areas
December, 2. - 6. 2013
- 423 -
numerical analysis requirements of the discipline - analysis
which is often impossible to quantify without a computer [5].
In most projects the engineers are responsible for the
nominated/selected sub-contractors that are relevant to their
profession. The mechanical engineer will be in direct contact
with the air-conditioning sub-contractor, the electrical engineer
will be responsible for the electrical sub-contractor etc. It is
important that these sub-contractors has all the relevant
information required to perform their work on time, more
important is that the information distributed by the different
engineers do not contradict each other.

Figure 1. Service reticulation through the proposed building.
The above figure 1 shows the different services running
through a building. This shows the number of services that
must be organised between the different trades. The
Navisworks BIM software was specifically used in this project
to ensure trade navigation and clash detection. With the
number of services the implementation had to be planned to
ensure that the trades do not clash and that there was sufficient
space for all the relevant trades to install their services. That
reduces the amount of Requests for Information (RFI`s)
greatly. It also reduces down-time, meaning when the sub-
contractor could not proceed because of lack of information of
clashes with other sub-contractors.
At the completion of the project the team shall deliver the
updated as-built drawings to the client. This allows the client to
have detailed documents available for when there has to be
maintenance or alterations in the future.
Those engineers ready to use and learn how to use BIM
will not only save time and improve accuracy - they will also
have a significant business advantage over their competitors.
Engineers can benefit greatly from BIM, as can the whole
design process [5].
4) BIM and the Architect
Design tools must balance the need to support the creative
thinking process with the ability to provide fast assessment and
feedback based on a more informed design. To find a tool to do
all the tasks that the client asks is problematic [6]. This is
however becoming plausible with the new BIM software being
developed. Construction is entering a new era. In the
competitive economic environment that is currently ongoing
the developers of today will take risks, but they want to see the
calculations and returns that will result from the project. The
margin for error is very small. On top of a financial risk there is
also the expectation of green building that arises. However a
building must be measured on the amount of energy it will use
to calculate the operational cost. BIM allows doing this
calculation with great time savings.
The generation of drawings is an important BIM production
capability, and is likely to remain so for some time. At some
point, drawings will stop being just the design information of
record and instead the model will become much more, as it will
become the primary legal and contractual source of building
information [1] & [8].
The architect is seen as the first entry point from the client
and they need to ensure that all the client`s requirements are
incorporated in the design. The challenge for the architect is to
understand the demands of the client and to put that into
drawings. For the client to fully understand the design on 2D
drawings is difficult. It is also time consuming to alter all the
drawings every time there is a revision.
In the following case study the architect decided to move
away from the standard AutoCAD drawings and implemented
BIM 3D software. The project was for the Ohio state
university. For people who work daily with construction
drawings it difficult to understand how hard it is for people
with no previous experience with 2D drawings to fully
understand the end product. All the 2D drawings were
converted to BIM models. This was done to apply BIM
facilities management and planning for all the renovations
required [8].
5) BIM and the client
The client has the possibility to increase the implementation
of BIM based on the advantages it will provide during the
design and construction phase as well as the after project
benefits. The client is in the unique position where he can make
it a requirement that BIM software is to be used. This ensures
that at the design stage it will be clearly visible what will be
delivered and at the end of the project accurate as-built models
will be delivered. Currently, one of the largest problems in
dealing with end-of-project information is the huge amount of
documentation owners are left to deal with. The larger and
more complex the project, the more submittals and thus the
more information owners have to deal with.
Some of the biggest headaches for clients are the acquiring
of maintenance information and making sure that it complies
with the manufacturers instructions. If the information does
not comply the situation may arise where the warranty is
voided due a lack of maintenance and that an entire system
must be replaced. This will result in the shutting down of the
facility which may be a big problem for a hospital or other
similar institutions. With BIM the necessary information is
imbedded into the design and readily accessible. It will provide
instructions as to how to proceed [3].
This begs the question, why wouldnt Clients/Developers
want a BIM delivery for project execution and closeout if it
better equipped the operations team? Some believe that the
costs involved with developing a BIM is the main reason.
Others are of opinion that it is the fact that BIM only helps
when it is done in detail and that the professional teams don`t
always adhere to the correct amount of detail [3].
SECTION
Industrial and Civil Engineering

A
R
S A
- Ad va nced
Res e
a
r c
h
in
S
c
i e
n
t i f i c
A r e a s - V I R T U A L
C
O
N
F
E
R
E
N
C
E
-
The 2nd year of Advanced Research in Scientific Areas
http://www.arsa-conf.com
Advanced Research in Scientific Areas
December, 2. - 6. 2013
- 424 -
The fact is when comparing BIM deliverables to CAD
deliverables there is a difference in the end product that the
client receives. The well know saying echos this: you get what
you pay for. The fact is for a better deliverable there will be
additional cost, but if the project demands it then the client will
have to consider paying that premium [3].
D. BIMs potential return on investment (ROI) from the
clients point of view
Data from 10 selected US based projects is presented in
Table 1 to illustrate the financial advantages of using BIM in
terms of the ROI:
TABLE I. BIM ECONOMICS [2]
Year Cost
($M)
BIM
Cost ($)
Direct
BIM
Savings ($)
Net BIM
savings
BIM
ROI
(%)
2005 30 5,000 (135,000) (130,000) 2600
2006 54 120,000 (395,000) (232,000) 140
2006 47 4,288 (500,000) (495,712) 11560
2006 16 10,000 (74, 120) (64,120) 640
2006 88 1,440 (15,000) (6,850) 940
2007 47 90,000 (800,000) (710,000) 780
2007 58 3,800 (200,000) (196,200) 5160
2007 82 20,000 (67,500) (47,500) 240
2007 14 5,000 (2,000,000) (1,995,000) 39900
2007 32 1,000 (330,000) (329,000) 32900

The above table indicates throughout a positive ROI on all
the projects utilising BIM should clients choose to implement
BIM.
E. What is the future of BIM
BIM is appealing to a number of stakeholders in the entire
construction profession. From the contractors perspective,
there is an opportunity for reduced risk in constructing the
project. As a result, this could reduce the contractor waste or
fat in his allowances.
The suggestion is that BIM should replace CAD. BIM will
continue to be refined and improved. Some companies are
developing BIM servers and networks that begin to offer
single model working strategies [3]. Multiple users from
different companies can share a single BIM server as the
platform to work from. As a result, the ability to build a
structure based completely on parametric information will
become a reality over the next 57 years, just as models and the
automation of construction will become a reality for more
building components and potentially entire buildings within the
next 710 years [3]. Hence the future of the construction
industry will continue towards a more integrated direction.
Meaning all the different professions working together to
acquire the required deliverable. BIM will play a bigger role in
the coming years. Currently BIM does take a lot of pieces of
different software that take additional time and might or might
not be able to be updated. This will continue to change,
particularly as the different companies continue their work and
refine their products [3].
III. METHODOLOGY
A qualitative research method was used with mostly semi-
structured interviews. Given the fact that BIM works with the
entire industry it is imperative that interviews where held with
representatives of various the professions.
The interviews were broken up into the following
categories: architects, quantity surveyors, engineers and
building contractors.
The research aims to answer why given the advantages of
BIM it is not being implemented in all Architectural,
Engineering and Construction firms. It also aims to determine
whether it is advisable for a construction company to
implement BIM software and to furthermore investigating the
advantages for Quantity Surveyors.
IV. DATA COLLECTION AND INTERPRETATION
The research asks why BIM has not taken the South
African construction industry by storm? Furthermore, given the
advantages of BIM why is it not implemented in all the
Architectural, Engineering and Construction firms, is it
advisable for a construction company to implement BIM
software and is BIM attractive for the quantity surveyors.
Using the above stated problems as a guideline the
researcher made contact with various professionals in the AEC
industry. The above mentioned problems are all applicable to
the different parties in the construction process. During the
interviews the relevant questions to the relevant parties was
asked to get an understanding of the thinking off the different
parties involved in the construction industry.
Interviews were conducted with Architects, Engineers,
Quantity Surveyors and Construction companies. These
interviews will be discussed separately under their respective
headings.
A. Quantity Surveyors
The first question asked: Do you make use of BIM
compliant software? Three of the four companies make use of
BIM compliant software. Three of the four companies use
Dimension X to compile estimates. DimX is fitted with a BIM
option.
1) Not using DimX
The quantity surveying respondents do not make use of
DimX or any other type of BIM compliant software. They did
however conduct research about the specific software. When
asked why they decided not to use DimX, the reply was that
the software is great, but they decided that for the moment the
advantages did not quantify the expense. When asked to
elaborate the reply was that due to the fact that DimX is
dependent on a BIM compliant drawing tool such as Revit and
the fact that Revit is still relatively unknown in South Africa
and that the architects have not completely mastered it as of
yet. This implies that Revit is not used to its full potential and
that mistakes are still made in the design. With the way that
DimX works is that it extracts all the quantities and description
from the Revit model as received from the architect. This
means that if the architect makes a mistake with a description
that mistake is carried over to the estimate or BOQ.
The respondents currently make use of WinQS that has
been in the market for a long time. To them this software is
sufficient. The other factor leading them to decide against
SECTION
Industrial and Civil Engineering

A
R
S A
- Ad va nced
Res e
a
r c
h
in
S
c
i e
n
t i f i c
A r e a s - V I R T U A L
C
O
N
F
E
R
E
N
C
E
-
The 2nd year of Advanced Research in Scientific Areas
http://www.arsa-conf.com
Advanced Research in Scientific Areas
December, 2. - 6. 2013
- 425 -
DimX is that not all the architect companies make use of Revit
or ArchiCAD. The nature of the Built Environment is of such a
nature that for every different project there is a different
professional team working together. Having DimX but not
being able to use it for its BIM advantages on every project is
not cost effective enough for this company.
When asked what the interviewee thinks of BIM and the
future of BIM the reply was that it will grow in the years to
come and that companies will have to adapt to it. As the
process gets perfected, more and more companies will
implement BIM supportive software.
The following figure illustrates QS firms utilising DimX in
Gauteng, South Africa.

Figure 2. QS firms utilising DimX.
The above graph shows the amount of QS companies that
implemented DimX. This shows that only 19.25% of the QS
companies in Gauteng have implemented a BIM compliant
system. It should be noted that this only portrays companies
using DimX as it is the industry leader in South Africa
according to the companies that were interviewed.
This data shows the trend of BIM in South Africa. If only
19.25% of the QS companies find it necessary to implement a
BIM supporting system and the fact that the QS is the
middleman between the contractor and the architect it shows
that BIM is not at the moment taking over the market.
2) Using DimX
The responses received from the companies that use DimX
varied quite a lot. They make use of DimX, but they do not
make use of the BIM option in DimX as that would cost them
additional fees. They use DimX for the quantity take off and
the function that allows you to isolate certain items to ensure
that they measure accurately and don`t miss any items. When
asked what he thought of BIM and the fact that Revit makes
their job much easier. The response was that at the moment
perhaps 20% of the architects make use of BIM compliant
software. The effect of Revit is not that big on them as a
company.
The interviewee pointed out that even with DimX it is not
always utilised to its full potential. For example, when an
architect designs a building and they draw a standard 220mm
brick wall. They sometimes fail to capture that item as a brick
wall. They only draw to lines where the 220mm brick wall is
supposed to be. That results in a scenario that when the
quantity surveyor wants to select all the 220mm brick walls to
measure them, the brick walls that were not captured do not get
highlighted. Revit ensures that when you draw something you
have to choose the component from a catalogue. The above
mentioned scenario can be minimised by applying correct
principles. If a Revit catalogue item only has a code as
description that would not make any easier for the QS.
The interviewee is of the opinion that even with the new
BIM compliant software available the architects do not use it in
the intended manner. The technology is there, but the
knowledge and the skill required operating these BIM software
is lacking. The interviewee mentioned that even with quantity
take-off it just gives you a lot of numbers that is difficult to sort
and use.
Respondents 3 & 4 were full of praise for DimX. They
confirmed that DimX is of great value to them and that it
simplifies their work with a significant amount.
With the one interview an in depth explanation was asked
of how DimX works and how the process works of getting the
BIM model from the architect. The fact is that when you are
drawing in AutoCAD you get a DWG file. This DWG file can
be used in DimX for estimating etc. Highlighting the
component etc as was discussed in the above paragraphs. If
you want to make use of the BIM function in DimX you must
get a DWF file. This allows you to do a complete quantity
takeoff. At the moment the interviewee`s company is only
using these quantities as a checking mechanism to check the
quantities in their BOQ. This results in less risk for them as
quantity surveyors. The reason for only using it for quantity
takeoff and estimating is that DimX as of yet does not measure
according to the standard system of measuring as compiled by
the ASAQS. For example the program does not measure
formwork for different height classes. This is something that
will have to be rectified in the future to ensure that BIM is
attractive to everyone.
The interviewee made it clear that when construction
begins they make sure to ask the consultants for DWF
drawings. This allows them to check all the quantities and do
their valuations accurately. This ensures that they can start
directly with the final account once the trade is finished.
When asked what they thought of BIM in the construction
industry, the unanimous reply was that BIM is the future but
that time is not right as of yet. This question was asked at the
end of each interview. When the question was raised, how they
implement BIM in their company half of the interviewees did
not know what exactly BIM is, they know about DimX and
Revit, but they did not know about the concept of BIM.
3) Statistical data on Quantity Surveying Companies
The above graph shows the amount of QS companies that
implemented DimX. This shows that only 19.25% of the QS
companies in Gauteng have implemented a BIM compliant
system. It should be noted that this only portrays companies
using DimX as it is the industry leader in South Africa
according to the companies that were interviewed.
This data shows the trend of BIM in South Africa. If only
19.25% of the QS companies find it necessary to implement a
BIM supporting system and the fact that the QS is the
middleman between the contractor and the architect it shows
that BIM is not at the moment taking over the market.
SECTION
Industrial and Civil Engineering

A
R
S A
- Ad va nced
Res e
a
r c
h
in
S
c
i e
n
t i f i c
A r e a s - V I R T U A L
C
O
N
F
E
R
E
N
C
E
-
The 2nd year of Advanced Research in Scientific Areas
http://www.arsa-conf.com
Advanced Research in Scientific Areas
December, 2. - 6. 2013
- 426 -
The information regarding the amount of companies using
DimX was acquired from DimX themselves. They also gave
their insight on the exposure of BIM compliant software in
South Africa. They estimate it to be between 10% - 20% or
even a bit more. The biggest problem according to them is that
the professionals do not know what type of package the
engineers or architects are using due to the fact they export
their drawings to a standard 2D DWG format when they are
delivered.
According to Dimension X, Revit is the most used package
in the architectural industry due to the fact that it supplies
structured information and details with regard to BIM
drawings. They have however experienced an increase in the
uptake of Dimension X as electronic takeoff software in the
last two to three years.
B. Contractors
For the information on the contractors the focus will be on
the interviews with the construction companies and the
computer software that they primarily use. In this industry it is
mainly Candy (CCS). Currently Candy is not a BIM compliant
program. Candy is in the process of upgrading their software
by adding additional quantity take-off features and combining
it with their Bill writer division. This implies that all the
construction companies that currently are in possession of
Candy will be able to create their own BOQ by importing a
DWF file. The DWF file is the BIM compliant file format
which contains the required information to support data
exchanges between users. This also means they can use it to
check quantities with the purpose of ordering materials end
keeping up to date with the valuations they have to supply to
the QS.
1) Interviews
a) Construction Company working outside South Africa
The director of a construction company that does
construction in the United Arabic Emirates was interviewed.
He shared his experience with regards to BIM. Completing the
kind of projects that they construct in the required time frame
takes a lot of good planning and coordination. They use BIM
on their projects.
He further more added that due to the high temperatures in
Dubai, Oman and ABU DHABI that they make use of very
large HVAC systems that need to be installed. Services play a
big role in these size projects and they in fact try to force the
implementation of BIM as much as possible where they can. It
is not an easy task and his recommendation was that there
needs to be a driving force that steers BIM implementation
under the different companies. He recommended that the
clients must request that BIM be used on their projects.
One of the first projects that they were involved in they
worked with an all-South African team with a very large
architect firm. The management of the construction company
originates from South Africa. South Africa is getting valuable
exposure to the BIM process that can be used to drive BIM in
South Africa. According to the director interviewed, Revit is
the most commonly used architectural software in the
construction industry. However there are about 5 other
software packages available, but that Revit is the preferred
package.
b) Large Construction Companies in South Africa
But what is the status of BIM in the current market of South
Africa? The other interviewees consist out of one very large
construction company that deals with ArchiCAD on one of
their main projects, namely Kusile power station. One of the
computer software programs that they make use of for their
estimating and planning purposes is Candy.
The other large firm with whom an interview was
conducted is currently busy with a project on which a large
architect company are the architects. They make use of Revit
for designing the building that they work on, this is also the
case for this project. The construction company makes use of
Revit to view the models as supplied by the architects.
These construction companies will follow the example of
the architects and the engineers. They will comply with
anything that the client specifies. If the client specifies a BIM
system the contractors will include the cost in their tender
amount and take the necessary steps to implement BIM in their
companies. The contractor is the most flexible party to the BIM
system. He is in the unique position where he has to adapt or
die.
c) Medium Construction Companies in South Africa
The medium sized construction company does not have any
previous experience with BIM software on a project. They
implement Candy, but not as effective as they can. To use
Candy to its full potential which is not even a BIM program is
already quite hard for them. To ensure effective
implementation personnel has to be sent for training,
something that takes time and costs money and once that has
been done that person has to be appointed full time to Candy
otherwise it is not cost effective. Also monthly utilisation fees
must be paid for the use of Candy. One cannot just buy it and
use it on all of the computers at the office. Each computer as to
be registered and a fee paid per month. For the bigger
companies with more than 20 licenses that can amount to quite
a high amount. This just shows the amount of effort that is
needed for the correct implementation of these programs. BIM
is new to the industry and it takes time for the companies to get
used to the new technology. When asked if his company would
buy a BIM package applicable for contractors? The response
was that he would not be able to buy such a package, train his
personnel and implement the BIM package in his company. He
is a builder, that is what he knows and that is what he is good
at. If the industry changes in such a way that it becomes a
necessity for the contractor to make use BIM then his company
would make that change, but for now that company will stay
with what it knows. His viewpoint is that the younger
generation will have to make these types of changes as they are
more familiar with the technology and systems.
2) Data Analysis
From the data collected it shows that the small to medium
contractors would find it more difficult to make the change to
BIM. They do not have the financial and human resources to
make the change quick and efficiently. It would simply cost
SECTION
Industrial and Civil Engineering

A
R
S A
- Ad va nced
Res e
a
r c
h
in
S
c
i e
n
t i f i c
A r e a s - V I R T U A L
C
O
N
F
E
R
E
N
C
E
-
The 2nd year of Advanced Research in Scientific Areas
http://www.arsa-conf.com
Advanced Research in Scientific Areas
December, 2. - 6. 2013
- 427 -
them too much and they would lose the competitive advantage
they had over their rivals.
The larger South African construction companies such as
WBHO, Murray & Robberts, Basil Read and Group Five have
the financial capacity to make the move to BIM. Which
includes training their personnel and acquiring the necessary
software. The effect of them making the move will be that
there will form a division between them and the rest of the
market. This however will increase the overheads for these
companies which will result in them being less and less
successful in winning medium sized tenders unless the client
demands BIM to be used on the project. Only if BIM is
prescribed by the client there will be a level playing ground on
which all the tenderers will tender.
The largest 8 construction companies in South Africa make
up 60% of the total amount of money spent on construction [7].
This means that if these companies can push the industry to
make use of BIM it would affect a lot of architect, engineering
and quantity surveying companies. These big 5 construction
companies work with varies different professional teams on the
various projects that they work on.
These companies have the influence to push BIM into the
right direction in the construction Industry. The research
showed that to the participants in the construction industry it is
obvious that BIM is not feasible for the small to medium
companies. This may change in the years to come as the
exposure to BIM becomes more. People will then start to
understand what BIM is. The cost of BIM programs is a major
factor keeping companies from implementing BIM. These
programs need software support to help the users when they
need it. Those support teams will cost money and again keep
people from buying BIM software.
A comment made by one of the interviewees: BIM was
designed in a first world country; we are currently living in a
third world country. BIM may reduce the construction time
significantly in America and England, but when the workforce
decides to strike BIM is not going to stop them from striking.
This holds true for all construction related entities when the
transport industry strikes or when there is an under supply of
steel in South Africa, BIM is not going to help much.
C. Architects
1) ArchiCAD vs. Revit
ArchiCAD is a BIM compliant software program
developed by the Hungarian company Graphisoft. The three
companies interviewed for the research study all make use of
ArchiCAD in their offices. The opinions of the different users
differ from each other. Respondent 1of the interviewees using
ArchiCAD believes that it is more user friendly than Revit and
they prefer using ArchiCAD and not Revit. Respondent 2 is of
the opinion that ArchiCAD is more limited in its functions
compared to Revit. This company is currently doing research
on Revit and they are in the process of switching over to Revit.
The reason for this switch is mainly due to the new building
regulations. According to the interviewee the new building
regulations require certain energy usage requirements that all
new designs need to comply with. Revit allows the user to do
such energy usage calculations during the design stage.
According to the interviewee it is these kinds of regulations
that might push the build environment towards BIM.
Respondent 3 uses ArchiCAD because the director of that
company had a bad experience with Revits predecessor. He
does not want to buy any product that is supplied by Autodesk.
The interviewee working for that particular company is
however a Revit fan. According to him ArchiCAD is more
limited than Revit. The interviewee has experience with
working on both software programs.
2) Financial implications
One of the main reasons for not implementing Revit
according to the respondents is the cost of Revit or any BIM
type software. It is not something that can be bought over a
period of time. The suppliers do not assist you with financing
and it comes down to the buyer to produce a big amount of
capital to acquire one licence. For a small to medium sized
company this is an obstacle. The clients will still pay the
standard architectural fees as it has always been calculated by
the architectural institute. The only advantage is that if the
client is impressed with the presentation of the design model
the architectural firm might be involved in future projects for
the client or get a good recommendation. The larger companies
have the financial backing to buy multiple licences and ensure
that the future users get the necessary training needed to use
Revit to its full potential.
The opinion of the respondent is that due to the high cost of
these BIM packages it is a scarcity in architectural firms.
According to the interviewees not just knowledge of BIM
compliant software, but also designing capabilities is part of
the job description when hiring new personnel. This puts
pressure on Universities and other tertiary institutes to revise
their teaching curriculum. One of the companies interviewed
have one person employed who only trains the BIM users.
They have a one month training period before they start
designing on the BIM software. This is all extra costs for the
architectural companies. The IT system that needs to be in
place is quite expensive. There has to be a BIM designated
server that stores all the projects models. Each user can then
log on to the server with his unique username and password.
3) The effect of BIM on the industry
During the interviews the following negatives about BIM in
the construction industry arose:
a) The fact that the art of design is disappearing.
Everything is done by the program and the operator does not
understand the reasoning behind certain decisions.
b) Everything has to be done by the computer and the
architect cannot even give a rough sketch to the client by
hand.
c) To produce a complete model with all the
specifications takes a lot of time to create.
Certain companies only start designing with BIM after
design stage 2. They have 7 design stages. They only start
compiling a BIM model once the project is deemed feasible.
This saves time and money if a project is cancelled after it is
deemed not to be feasible.
SECTION
Industrial and Civil Engineering

A
R
S A
- Ad va nced
Res e
a
r c
h
in
S
c
i e
n
t i f i c
A r e a s - V I R T U A L
C
O
N
F
E
R
E
N
C
E
-
The 2nd year of Advanced Research in Scientific Areas
http://www.arsa-conf.com
Advanced Research in Scientific Areas
December, 2. - 6. 2013
- 428 -
The interviewees stated that BIM is dependent on a good
communication channel between the entire professional team.
The fact is that according to the respondent they have not as of
yet had a request from the engineers to supply them with a 3D
model. The engineers are satisfied with the 2D drawings as
received. This shows that regardless of them using BIM
compliant software the whole team do not seem to be interested
in the BIM process. This was confirmed by another respondent.
The positives according to the architects are that the design
team can prevent clashes before they happen. For example a
scenario where the engineer designed a beam over a staircase
later on and when constructing it the architect only becomes
aware of the fact that the beam is exactly head height and a
safety hazard.
Another reason for using BIM according to the
interviewee`s are the fact that the BIM software will
automatically generate sections, elevations, door and window
schedules as you are busy designing. It also is aesthetically
pleasing for the client, it is colourful and there is the option of
including virtual people and cars etc.
4) BIM integration between the different role players
Respondent 3 have a United Kingdom branch. On the UK
projects that they do the structural engineers make use BIM
models to design. The mechanical, electrical and plumbing
(MEP) engineers are not BIM compliant as of yet. The problem
is that they design their own model and they do not use the
model as provided by the architects. This is due to time
constraints, they cannot afford to wait for the architect to
provide a model before they start designing.
When both models are completed they integrate the models
and resolve the clashes. Even this partial use of BIM has not
been present in their South African based projects.
For this research both the architect and the quantity
surveyor were interviewed working on the same project. The
architect did not design the model with the QS in mind. The
result is that the QS cannot link quantities with specific items.
The items are listed as codes and not as description. The BIM
technology is there, but it is not being used as it is intended.
The communication between the different role players is non-
existent.
A scenario arose were the architect needed a design from
the engineer. The architect has a BIM model, but the engineer
had to compile his own design from scratch as to the
alternative of just designing the detail on the architects model.
The sharing of information which is instrumental to the
successful implementation of BIM does not take place between
the professional parties involved.
D. Engineers
1) Usage of BIM in engineering companies
After receiving information from three engineering
companies the results show that two of the three companies do
not own or use BIM compliant software. Respondent number
1is focussed on civil type projects for example roads. They do
not see the use for acquiring a BIM compliant program at those
costs as they are satisfied with using AutoCAD. They are also
normally the project leaders/principle agents and do not receive
any pressure from architects etc. to implement BIM compliant
software.
Respondent 2 was a structural engineering company. They
make use of caddie software which is a CAD system. This
company has been sending its personnel on 3D modelling
seminars. The fact is that at this moment they are still satisfied
with caddie as it has served them well over the past years. They
are not ready to make the move as of yet, but they are
monitoring the progression of BIM in South Africa and when
they feel it to be necessary and viable make the move to BIM
compliant software.
Respondent 3 is a very large engineering company that
possesses 26 Revit structures programs in their office. About
two to three years back they made the decision to switch to
Revit. This decision was made according to the advantages that
BIM gives. Included by Auto Desk in the Revit package is the
AutoCAD package.
The viewpoint of the respondent is that in an ideal world
BIM should be implemented by all and that is why they made
the switch to Revit. Something that the respondent pointed out
was that real time coordination between all the parties
involved is needed for BIM to be effective.
Due to certain circumstances this particular company has
reverted back to the old AutoCAD 2D model space/paper space
environment.
These circumstances are:
To build a Revit model is very expansive if your only
purpose is one simple drawing.
Too much time was being spent on building the model
and too little time on the details.
In the respondents office setup they are normally
finished with the structure before the architect has
finished his/her model.
The end result for the respondent was that at the moment it
is not feasible for them as structural engineers to design with
Revit. The respondent is however of the opinion that Revit
would be more effective for the mechanical engineers involved
in the MEP services.
2) Financial implications
According to the responses from the interviewees the
construction market is of such a nature that they have to give
clients 25% - 35% discount on their normal tariffs to be
competitive. Clients want their project as fast as possible and as
cheap as possible. Any normal client will not pay additional
moneys for a BIM model except if it is a big corporate client.
V. CONCLUSIONS
The data received from the interviews shows it is quite
clear that the different companies realise the need of keeping
up to date with new technology and that is why they implement
BIM compliant software, but they do not realise the full extent
of what BIM exactly is and how it should be implemented.
The different professions do not communicate with each
other about sharing BIM information to simplify and accelerate
SECTION
Industrial and Civil Engineering

A
R
S A
- Ad va nced
Res e
a
r c
h
in
S
c
i e
n
t i f i c
A r e a s - V I R T U A L
C
O
N
F
E
R
E
N
C
E
-
The 2nd year of Advanced Research in Scientific Areas
http://www.arsa-conf.com
Advanced Research in Scientific Areas
December, 2. - 6. 2013
- 429 -
designing. It is a scenario of; everybody for themselves. The
coordination and communication between the project team
needs work.
Standard BIM systems needs to be created for example:
creating a BIM server for each project. All the participants who
are BIM compliant will be able to have access to the server
resulting in the whole team using the correct and most up to
date drawings.
The client needs to understand the extra cost by
implementing BIM will be saved by avoiding clashes. The
clients also get a virtual representation of their building once
the project is finished.
The research shows that BIM is growing, but that is still far
away from realising its full potential. The construction industry
participants need a BIM education to understand how BIM
needs to be implemented. It does not stop by purchasing BIM
compliant software. That is only the beginning.
REFERENCES
[1] Editorial - Case studies of BIM in use (2008) Olofsson, Thomas; Lee,
Ghang; Eastman, Charles.
[2] Azhar, S., Hein, M. & Sketo, B., 2008. BIM: Benefits, Risks &
Challenges, Auburn: Auburn University.
[3] Hardin, B., 2009. BIM in construction management: proven tools,
methods and workflows. s.l.:Sybex.
[4] Suermann, P. C., 2009. Evaluating the impact of Building Image
Modelling (BIM) on construction, Florida: University of Florida.
[5] Wyatt, G., 2007. Maintaining BIM integrity in the structural engineering
office. Design productivity journal, 4(3).
[6] Attia, S., Betron, L., De Herde, A. & Hensen, J., 2009. Architect
Friendly: A comparison of ten different building performance simulation
tools, Glasgow: s.n.
[7] Cloete, C., 2013. Introduction to property development. Pretoria: s.n.
[8] East, W.E., 2010. BIM for construction handover: NASA.
[9] Eastman, C., 2011. BIM Handbook: A guide to building information
modeling for owners, managers, designers, engineers and contractors.
Hoboken: John Wiley

SECTION
Industrial and Civil Engineering

A
R
S A
- Ad va nced
Res e
a
r c
h
in
S
c
i e
n
t i f i c
A r e a s - V I R T U A L
C
O
N
F
E
R
E
N
C
E
-
The 2nd year of Advanced Research in Scientific Areas
http://www.arsa-conf.com
Advanced Research in Scientific Areas
December, 2. - 6. 2013
- 430 -