BIM IMPLEMENTATION IN MALAYSIAN QUANTITY SURVEYING A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR SUCCESS ALIGNED WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2025

Abstract

The Public Works Department (PWD) Strategic Plan 2021-2025 outlines ambitious targets for Building Information Modelling (BIM) adoption, aiming for 50% by 2021 and 80% by 2025. Reflecting this trend, the Malaysian construction industry is progressively integrating BIM, which offers quantity surveyors a more reliable method, particularly for developing cost estimates. However, BIM in Malaysian quantity surveying practices (QSP) has been slow, leading to limited overall use of BIM in their professional practices. Given the urgent need to meet national BIM adoption targets and improve construction project outcomes, there was a pressing need to explore BIM capabilities, challenges, and strategic solutions to bridge the adoption gap. Using a quantitative approach, questionnaires were distributed to quantity surveyors in Klang Valley, Malaysia, with 120 respondents participating. The findings showed high reliability based on Cronbach’s alpha and identified that BIM capabilities in refining cost plans with evolving design detail receive the highest ranking. The most significant challenge in conventional QSP was the absence of standardised documentation formats. Furthermore, early comprehension of BIM by top management was found to be the most effective strategy for BIM implementation in quantity surveying. A comparative analysis with other developing countries further supported these findings. Based on the results, a conceptual framework was developed to guide BIM adoption in the Malaysian quantity surveying profession. Overall, the research successfully meets its objectives and provides valuable insights for stakeholders on the potential benefits and challenges associated with BIM implementation in the future.