BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING IN MALAYSIA

Muhammad Afiq Bin Jufri, Hakim Adli Bin Tamsir, Fatnin Nur Umairah Binti Abdul
Mutalib, Siti Sarah Binti Fendi

Diploma Inconstuction Engineering Technology (Building And Maintenance Services)

Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi MARA Sri Gading

ABSTRACT - The architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) business in

Malaysia is currently using Building Information Modeling (BIM). It was created in
2007 by the Director of the Public Works Department (PWD) to cut construction costs
and minimise design issues. BIM in construction may detect any clash analysis during
the design stage, enhance project scheduling efficiency, decrease costs, and maintain
high project quality, as well as enable communication among construction actors.
Several projects have been built and are being built utilising BIM since it was adopted
by the PWD, one of which being The National Cancer Institute (NCI). The Malaysian
government owns the project. The implementation of BIM in the project, the first
project initiated by the Malaysian government, is discussed in this article. Previous
BIM research on the history of BIM, advantages and relevance, hurdles and problems,
and actual BIM projects in the Malaysian construction sector were investigated
through a literature study. In addition, semi-structured interviews with the project's
client, consultant, and contractor were conducted. The findings of the interviews
indicate the importance and benefits of using BIM to complete the project.
Construction requires BIM because its application can improve project quality. It is
beneficial in supporting construction players in effectively completing projects. The
findings show that incorporating BIM into government projects is highly successful.
This article may be used as a resource for critical research on establishing a BIM
strategy approach model in the Malaysian construction sector.

____________________________________________________________________

1.0 INTRODUCTION In order to be globally competitive, the

Malaysian construction industry must
The construction sector in upgrade its current construction
Malaysia has been recognised as a approach, whether in terms of practise,
major contributor to the Malaysian management, or technology. Since the
economy, accounting for between 3 to 1960s, the construction industry has not
5% of the country's annual Gross changed much in terms of technology
Domestic Product (GDP) [1]. Despite or construction approach, and it still
the fact that the Malaysian construction relies heavily on foreign labour [1 and
industry contributes significantly to the 2].
country's economic prosperity, it must
modernise in the age of globalisation.
 Information Research Institute of Malaysia
Technology/Information System (CREAM) (2014), BIM is a virtual
(IT/IS) can be used to improve the representation of a building. BIM
traditional method in the construction contains all information required to
industry, resulting in increased construct the building by using
productivity and transformation of the computers and software. This approach
Malaysian construction sector. The is used by the architectural, engineering
advantages of IT/IS applications have and construction (AEC) industry to
been explored by researchers [3, 4, and manage construction project
5]. Enhancing communication between effectiveness (Ahmad Latiffi et al.
parties, assisting in the decision- 2013). Many researchers, professionals
making process, exchanging current and government agencies come out
information, and accessing information with their own BIM definition. Based
with ease are some of the benefits that on the first source which is BIM
could be realised by integrating IT/IS Handbook, Eastman, Teicholz, Sacks
[3, 4 and 5]. Recognizing these and Liston (2008). BIM is an electronic
advantages, Malaysia's government has replica of a project that contains
been promoting and pressuring the geometry and data to support
industry to adopt and use IT/IS in order construction, fabrication and
to reach developed country status by procurement activities. The second
2020 [6]. Despite the multiple source which The National BIM
advantages that the construction Standards (USA) (NBIMS, 2013), BIM
business can reap, Stewart and is a digital representation of physical
Mohamed [7] discovered that the and functional characteristics of a
construction sector in Malaysia still facility that shared knowledge resource
lags behind other industries in terms of for information about a facility forming
IT/IS implementation. This occurs a reliable basis for decisions during its
because the return on IT investments life cycle. BIM is an essentially value-
does not appear to be appealing. There creating collaboration through the
are a number of elements at play, and creation, collation and exchange of
the goal of this article is to look at the shared 3D models and intelligent,
hurdles and motivators that may structured data attached to them [BIM
contribute to the adoption of new Task Group]. Lastly, the definition of
information technology, particularly BIM is a modelling technology and
Building Information Modelling associated set of processes to produce,
(BIM), in the Malaysian construction communicate and analyse digital
industry. information for construction life cycle.

2.0 DEFINITION OF BIM 3.0 BENEEFITS OF BIM

Building Information Modelling BIM is used to avoid delays
(BIM) is a new approach to design, in construction and construction cost
Sconstruction and facility overruns as well as contribute to
management, where a digital better quality of the end product.
representation of the building process Implementation of BIM has various
is used to facilitate the exchange and effects on the project. The major
interoperability of information in effects are the minimization of waste
digital format (Eastman et al. 2008). that consists of reduced time required
According to the Construction to complete the project and saving of
construction costs; besides, it identified the important benefits of
improves the quality of the project BIM implementation to enhancing
required by a client. The productivity and increasing efficiency.
implementation of BIM has contributed The main benefits of BIM
several benefits to the NCI project. implementation are enhancing
One of the benefits of implementing productivity and efficiency. BIM has
BIM in the project is related to the the ability to integrate time and cost
duration of construction project. Other which supports real-time update and
benefits of BIM implementation in assesses efficient tracking and
the project is clash detection. Clash monitoring process along the project
detection can be done before the phases, BIM can also be applied in the
construction starts. Clash detection can assessment and analysis of green
be made prior to the construction building. It can also be used for clashes
stage. They added that detection of detection and design optimization. The
clashes can be done in the early ability to apply BIM in different
stage of a construction project. There management processes and analyses
are 1800 clashes were found in the NCI make attainment of high performance
project design and have been resolved possible in construction industry.
during the planning stage, and this is Understanding and acknowledging the
not possible inprojects without BIM. value of BIM make construction
Apart from that, other benefits of BIM players’ decision to use BIM for their
are its ability to resolve fabricator issue, projects very easy. However, to
and provision of clearer 3D achieve that, it is important to identify
visualization of project design so that and convince the players the benefits of
any changes to the project can be made the technology provide.
easily. BIM visualizes the building
model in 3D, which provides a clear
design and structure of the building. 4.0 BIM
Besides, all respondents also agree
IMPLEMENTATION/ADOPT
that BIM is very helpful not only to
architects and structural engineers, but ION
also in carrying out the mechanical and In Malaysia, the implementation
electrical (M&E) works. This is of BIM in construction projects has
because the clashes can be detected at been encouraged by the Director of
an earlier stage of the construction Public Works Department (PWD)
projects. (Ahmad Latiffi et al. 2013, Mohd and
BIM technology is considered Ahmad Latiffi 2013, PWD 2013). The
as a new platform for delivering idea was initiated in 2007 when the
construction project. BIM technology PWD had become aware of BIM’s
is an innovation that adds valuable potential for reducing construction
benefits to deliver construction problems. The PWD has also
domains throughout the project established a special committee called
lifecycle. Utilizing BIM throughout the BIM unit project under the Complex
project lifecycle supports the Management Division, also known as
concurrent construction. Certainly, it PROKOM (PWD 2011). The main
can also facilitate development stages purpose of establishing the BIM unit is
of a project lifecycle from the early to formulate Malaysia’s BIM Roadmap
conceptual phase through design, and BIM Standard Manual and
construction and operation phase to Guidelines (Ahmad Latiffi et al. 2013,
demolition. Several researches PWD 2013). Revit families have been
suggested by PWD as BIM tools to be Further work will be carried out to gain
applied in construction projects. Revit more information on the roles of BIM
families is one of BIM tools, which in other projects that use BIM. The data
consists of Revit architectural, Revit obtained will then be used to give
structural, Revit mechanical and suggestion to construction players to
electrical (M&E), and Navisworks implement BIM in their construction
(Ahmad Latiffi et al. 2013, PWD projects.
2013). The enhancement of BIM
implementation in the Malaysian
construction industry is due to the 5.0 BARRIERS AND
positive effects of BIM applications in
CHALLENGES TO
construction projects (Zakaria et al.
2013), such as visualizing project IMPLEMENTING BIM
models, previewing design clashes There are also barriers and
analysis, and assisting in preparing challenges of implementing BIM for
project design, cost estimation, and projects. Adoption of BIM can be time
project scheduling (PWD 2011, Ahmad consuming because of the transition to
Latiffi et al. 2013, Barati 2013). BIM a new technology. Moreover, the initial
technology provides a platform for costs to adopt BIM technology and
each key construction player to have hardware are high, and only large
effective communication before the organizations can afford to own the
construction starts (CREAM 2014). technology. Furthermore, an
The implementation of BIM in the organization needs to hire new
Malaysian construction industry is workers who have the skills and
expected to increase due to its benefits knowledge in BIM to implement it in
to construction projects. the organization. These changes
The implementation of BIM in require reallocation of costs for the
the Malaysian construction industry is organization. The number of BIM
still new. BIM implementation in both experts is very low in the Malaysian
projects showed positive effects. BIM construction industry and this factor
in the projects improved has an effect on the cost of a
communication and collaboration construction project. Organizations
among construction players, minimized also have to give training to their
design changes, reduce request for workers or staff to educate them
information (RFI) during construction about the technology. The learning
stage, and avoid project delay. The process requires time and training
Malaysian Government also observes which incur additional costs for the
BIM as a new technology to increase organizations concern.
quality of projects by reducing As BIM is relatively a new
construction problems. The technology, BIM would impose a steep
Government has also made BIM learning curve for those unfamiliar
Standard Manual and Guidelines and with BIM with overall mean 4.33 (SD
BIM Roadmap to encourage 0.875). Another significant People
construction players to engage with barrier is the lack of enforcement by the
BIM implementation in construction local authorities with the mean value
projects and as a guideline for them to 4.18 (SD 1.003). Neighboring country
implement BIM. The efforts made by such as Singapore had successfully
the Government show that the implemented BIM in local authorities
Malaysian Government is serious about from BIM compliance to regulatory
implementing BIM in the industry.
requirements with the utilization of using BIM was planned and the project
Construction Real Estate Network. is known as the NCI project, which was
Hence, the local public authorities need completed in August 2013. The project
to play a significant role as currently shows the benefits gained from using
BIM is mostly driven by the property BIM, which are reflected in the
developer and contractors. Within the minimization of waste in terms of time
process context, there is a lack of active and cost, leading to improve quality of
participation from consultants in the project. With the use of BIM for
project team with the mean value at designing the project, clashes could be
4.22 (SD 0.879). BIM success factor is detected before the construction
highly determined by participation, process began. Hence, no rework for
value of the model is lost due to the project was needed, eliminating any
inability to use it as intended. In additional construction costs. The
relation, the consultants within their success of the project has led to more
project team are reluctant to change to government projects using BIM. BIM
BIM (M 4.10, SD 0.896). BIM implementation in the Malaysian
collaborative environment presents a construction industry can be increased
challenge to who has the ownership of through government initiatives, proof
the valuable information in the model of successful projects using BIM and
such as design information input, construction players' awareness of the
simulation, analysis and as-built BIM benefits of BIM. Future studies can be
models. There is lack of BIM standard carried out on other BIM projects in
and guideline to define the process of Malaysia involving the government
BIM with the mean value at 4.07 (SD and private sectors. Based on the
0.861). Despite BIM had been in the findings, an approach can be
market for several years, there is still no recommended to assist construction
standardize BIM guideline for players in using this technology for
companies in Malaysia. Importantly construction projects.
there is a need to have a clear plan for
implementation and support for Changing from the traditional approach
organization to fully leverage the to Building Information Modelling
advantages of BIM. (BIM) implementation is not an easy
process. It includes decision making
and the change management strategies.
To make these changes, top
6.0 CONCLUSION management of the organisations must
play a major role especially during the
The Malaysian government is aware of
transition time from the previous
the benefits offered by BIM to improve
workflows to BIM workflows,
the quality of projects in the
convincing people about the potential
construction industry. The government
of BIM, developing education and
has made several efforts to promote
learning strategies and understanding
BIM by highlighting it through the
new roles. The management should be
platform of roundtable discussion with
aware that when implementing BIM,
construction players, forums and
there are possibilities of having a
seminars as well as providing the latest
downtime especially during the
information through portal. The
transition time. Besides that, they must
government's initiatives have
be aware that they must bear the initial
contributed to project developments
cost when they decide to implement
using BIM in the construction industry.
BIM. To minimise the risk, the
In 2010, the first government project
management should access their staff
capabilities, identify BIM experts and Association, Kuala Lumpur, 2000 in
develop their own BIM guideline and Abdul Razak Bin Ibrahim, Matthew H.
BIM execution plan and to do this, Roy, Zafar Ahmed and Ghaffar Imtiaz.
forming a BIM unit is one of the
(2010). “An investigation of the
approaches available. Implementing
BIM fully cannot be achieved status of the Malaysian construction
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by phase which is moving BIM level O International Journal Vol. 17 No. 2, pp.
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plays a significant role to ensure the Alshawi S., Irani Z. and Baldwin L.,
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