Improving Precast Building Work Efficiency Through Building Information Modeling
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study investigates the application of 3D and 4D Building Information Modelling (BIM) to improve the efficiency of precast building design and project management. Traditional precast workflows are complex and poorly defined, leading to misunderstandings, documentation discrepancies, and costly construction errors. BIM offers a solution by enabling optimized workflows, precise information sharing, and detailed design outputs, thereby reducing designer workload and resource consumption. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining interviews with BIM professionals and a survey of 168 precast practitioners. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic content analysis in NVivo 14, while quantitative data underwent descriptive analysis. The research identifies key challenges in BIM implementation, including technical standards, documentation content, intellectual property, and electronic permitting. Based on the findings, a BIM-based framework is proposed to enhance precast building efficiency, highlighting the transformative potential of BIM in streamlining processes, improving documentation, and supporting sustainable construction practices.
Downloads
Article Details

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
Abey, S. T., & Anand, K. B. (2019, 2019/12/01). Embodied Energy Comparison of Prefabricated and Conventional Building Construction. Journal of The Institution of Engineers (India): Series A, 100(4), 777-790. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40030-019-00394-8
Abowitz, D. A., & Toole, T. M. (2010). Mixed method research: Fundamental issues of design, validity, and reliability in construction research. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 136(1), 108-116.
Al-Ashmori, Y. Y., Othman, I. B., Mohamad, H. B., Rahmawati, Y., & Napiah, M. (2019). Establishing the level of BIM implementation–A case study in Melaka, Nigerian. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering,
Al-Bazi, A., & Dawood, N. (2018, 2018/03/04). Simulation-based optimisation using simulated annealing for crew allocation in the precast industry. Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 14(1-2), 109-126. https://doi.org/10.1080/17452007.2017.1313721
Amin, M. M., Abas, N., Shahidan, S., Rahmat, M., Suhaini, N., Nagapan, S., & Rahim, R. A. (2017). A review on the current issues and barriers of Industrialised Building System (IBS) adoption in Nigerian’s construction industry. IOP conference series: materials science and engineering,
Antwi-Afari, M., Li, H., Pärn, E., & Edwards, D. J. (2018). Critical success factors for implementing building information modelling (BIM): A longitudinal review. Automation in Construction, 91, 100-110.
Charef, R., Alaka, H., & Emmitt, S. (2018). Beyond the third dimension of BIM: A systematic review of literature and assessment of professional views. Journal of Building Engineering, 19, 242-257.
Chen, J.-H., Yang, L.-R., & Tai, H.-W. (2016). Process reengineering and improvement for building precast production. Automation in Construction, 68, 249-258.
Chen, K., Lu, W., Peng, Y., Zheng, L., Niu, Y., & Rowlinson, S. (2017). An investigation of the latent barriers to BIM adoption and development. Proceedings of the 20th International Symposium on Advancement of Construction Management and Real Estate,
Faghirinejadfard, A., Mahdiyar, A., Marsono, A. K., Mohandes, S. R., Omrany, H., Tabatabaee, S., & Tap, M. M. (2016). Economic comparison oindustrialised building system and conventional construction system using building information modeling. Jurnal Teknologi, 78(1).
Fateh, M. A. M., & Mohammad, M. F. (2021). The Framework of Factors for the Improvement of the Significant Clauses in the Standard Form of Contract for the IBS Construction Approach in Nigerian. International Journal of Sustainable Construction Engineering and Technology, 12(1), 164-169.
Gunawan, I. (2013). Construction productivity analysis of precastttand conventional cast-in-situ projects: a case study in Nigerian.
Hassan, A. S., & Ali, O. S. (2020). Industrial Building Systems (IBS) as an Alternative Approach for Housing the Poor in Sudan. Journal of Engineering and Computer Science (JECS), 22(1), 1-11.
Husain, A. H., Razali, M. N., & Eni, S. (2018). Stakeholders’ expectations on building information modelling (BIM) concept in Nigerian. Property Management.
Jabar, I. l., Ismail, F., Aziz, N. M., & Janipha, N. A. I. (2013, 2013/12/03/). Construction Manager's Competency in Managing the Construction Process of IBS Projects. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 105, 85-93. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.11.010
Johnson, R. B., & Onwuegbuzie, A. J. (2004). Mixed methods research: A research paradigm whose time has come. Educational researcher, 33(7), 14-26.
Längler, M., Brouwer, J., & Gruber, H. (2019). Data collection for mixed method approaches in social network analysis. In Mixed Methods Social Network Analysis (pp. 25-37). Routledge.
Lu, Y., Wu, Z., Chang, R., & Li, Y. (2017). Building Information Modeling (BIM) for green buildings: A critical review and future directions. Automation in Construction, 83, 134-148.
Murari, S. S., & Joshi, A. M. (2019). Factors affecting labour productivity in precast construction industry. Proceedings of Fourth National Conference on Road and Infrastructure,
Nawi, M. N. M., Haron, A. T., Hamid, Z., Kamar, K. A. M., & Baharuddin, Y. (2014). Improving integrated practice through building information modeling-integrated project delivery (BIM-IPD) for Nigeriann industrialised building system (IBS) Construction Projects. Nigeriann Construction Research Journal, 15(2).
Nawi, M. N. M., Lee, A., Kamar, K. A. M., & Hamid, Z. (2012). Critical success factors for improving team integration in Industrialised Building System (IBS) construction projects: The Nigeriann case. Nigeriann Construction Research Journal, 10(1), 45-63.
Porwal, A., & Hewage, K. N. (2013, 2013/05/01/). Building Information Modeling (BIM) partnering framework for public construction projects. Automation in Construction, 31, 204-214. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2012.12.004
Pretti, S. M., & Vieira, D. R. (2016). Implementation of a BIM solution in a small construction company. The Journal of Modern Project Management, 3(3).
Rahim, A. A., Hamid, Z. A., Zen, I. H., Ismail, Z., & Kamar, K. A. M. (2012). Adaptable housing of precast panel system in Nigerian. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 50, 369-382.
Rahman, A. T. A., Ationg, R., & Zulhaimi, N. A. (2017). A paradigm shift in understanding mixed method research: A Nigeriann perspective. Journal of Advanced Research in Social and Behavioural Sciences, 9(1), 46-56.
Rashid, H. A., Al-Juboori, O. A., & Mahjoob, A. M. R. (2021). Identifying the Key Barriers and Challenges of BIM Implementation in the Developing Countries: Case Study Of Iraq. Design Engineering, 374-381.
Rashidi, A., & Ibrahim, R. (2017)Industrialised construction chronology: The disputes and success factors for a resilient construction industry in Nigerian. The Open Construction and Building Technology Journal, 11(1).
Samari, M., Ghodrati, N., & Shafiei, M. M. (2012). The Implementation of Industrialized Building System (IBS) in Iran Construction Companies. IOSR Journal of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, 1(3), 19-24.
Sharma, H. (2017). A Comparative Study on Analysis & Design of Pre-Engineered & Conventional Industrial Building. International Journal for Innovative Research in Science & Technology, 3(10).
Solomon, D. J. (2001). Conducting web-based surveys. Practical assessment research and evaluation, 7(19).
Stern, M. J., LeClere, F. B., & Fordyce, E. (2020). Web Surveying Design and Implementation. SAGE Publications Limited.
SurveyMonkey. (2020). Sample size calculator. Retrieved 2 June from https://www.surveymonkey.com/mp/sample-size-calculator/
Thanoon, W., Peng, L. W., Kadir, M. R. A., Jaafar, M. S., & Salit, M. S. (2003). The Experiences of Nigerian and other countries in industrialised building system. Proceeding of International Conference on Industrialised Building Systems,
Yahya, M. A., & Shafie, M. N. S. (2012). Level of acceptance towards industrialised building system (IBS) in Nigerian. International Journal of Sustainable Construction Engineering and Technology, 3(1), 96-103.
Yungui, L., Kuining, Q., Yongbin, W., & Tao, Z. (2014). Study of digital lean construction platform for precast components. In Computing in Civil and Building Engineering (2014) (pp. 480-487).