Investigation and Comparative Study between Research Methods used in the Five Categories of BIM-Based Built Environment Sustainability Studies

Abstract

Using Building Information Modelling (BIM) helped enhance the environmental performances of building and civil infrastructure projects throughout their life cycle. However, the construction industry continues to be one of the most impactful industries on the environment, hence the imminent need for further research in this area. The choice of the right Research Method and Design (RMD) was always important to ensure relevant results for the Five Categories (Cs) of BIM-based Built Environment Sustainability (BIMBES) studies: BIM-based studies discussing either sustainability in general 'C1'; carbon emissions 'C2'; construction and demolition wastes 'C3'; water supply or use 'C4'; or energy 'C5', but the availability of a wide array of research methods and the absence of a clear mapping of the best methods to be used for each category remain significant challenges. The purpose of this study is to thoughtfully investigate the RMDs used for BIMBES studies. Thus, based on scoping review of 458 relevant papers, the study showed that BIMBES topics are contemporary and C1 and C5 are the most discussed. Similarly, the paper disclosed the evolution of BIMBES studies including categories' overlap, identified and mapped the RMDs used for BIMBES studies and highlighted 9 mixed research designs, 1 paradigm, 12 research instruments, and 4 data analysis approaches. This research paper could be the starting point for any study related to the BIMBES as it allows scholars to have a clear and well understanding of the used and useful RMDs to be adopted according to the topic they are exploring.