Using Network Theory to Explore BIM Application Barriers for BIM Sustainable Development in China

Abstract

Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology has promoted the development of the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, but has encountered many barriers to its application in China. Therefore, identifying the barriers to BIM application and capturing their interactions are essential in order to control and eliminate the determined barriers. From this standpoint, 23 BIM application barriers were identified through a literature review and expert interviews. Furthermore, the interactions among them were determined based on the Delphi method, which was the foundation for establishing the BIM application barrier network (BABN). Then, the software Pajek was employed to construct the network model and reveal its topological characteristics based on complex network theory, including degree, betweenness, eigenvector, clustering coefficient, network diameter, and average path length. As indicated by the results, BABN possesses scale-free network property because its cumulative degree distribution obeys power–law distribution. BABN is also a small-world network, due to its relatively high clustering coefficient as well as small average path length, implying that barrier propagation in BABN is fast. In addition, the results are discussed and recommendations are proposed. This research will help BIM stakeholders to develop coping strategies to control and eliminate BIM application barriers for the sake of driving BIM sustainable development.