Adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in Architectural Firms in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

The importance of building information modelling (BIM) in the execution of construction and infrastructure projects cannot be overstated as Nigeria progresses technologically. Despite the advantages of BIM for the construction industry, very little is known about how BIM affects Nigerian architectural practices. This study aims to ascertain how BIM has affected architecture firms in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria. The study looked at the degree of BIM awareness in architectural firms, the most popular BIM software programs, the parts of architectural work supported by BIM, and its advantages in architectural practice, among other things. A qualitative questionnaire survey of 50 architects in Ibadan was used to obtain the data, which descriptive statistics were then used to evaluate. The findings indicate that architectural firms in Ibadan have a high level of understanding of BIM and that the most popular BIM software programs utilised are Autodesk Revit Architecture, AUTOCAD, and Google Sketch-up. However, the respondents utilised these software programs less for analysis and more for creating 2D drawings, 3D visualisation, architectural detailing, and modelling. The outcome showed that the adoption of BIM increased the general productivity of architecture firms in the research area. The report suggests that businesses, professional associations, and the government implement particular programs and policies to increase BIM's benefits in project delivery and encourage its widespread adoption in Nigeria.