The Potential of 4D Modelling Software Systems for Risk Management in Construction Projects.

Abstract

Any construction project is full of risks, which if not minimized or eliminated can jeopardise its outcome. The sources of risks vary from project to project. With refurbishment projects, information is scarce leading to making assumptions about them, which generally entail risks. On the other hand, very new and very large projects are complex involving many disciplines and generating too much information in the different phases of construction life cycle. Actions by stakeholders in the different phases related to the project information have implications on quality, cost and schedule-related risks. Building Information Modelling (BIM) has been hailed as a solution to many challenges in construction including risk management. Applications of BIM in quantity surveying, project planning, facilities management and sustainability have been extensively researched and now common in the scientific literature. However, research about risk management in a BIM-enabled environment is still very sketchy. This is compounded by the plethora of BIM software systems which overwhelm end-users to be able to make informed decisions about their uses in risk management. The work presented in this paper is the first step of a more comprehensive research aimed at improving the understanding of risk management in a BIM environment. The focus of the investigation is about the potential of and limitations of 4D BIM software systems in managing construction risks. A purely desk-top study has been adopted to achieve the aim of this study.