Barriers to Building Information Modelling Adoption in Small and Medium Enterprises: Nigerian Construction Industry Perspectives

Abstract

The widespread adoption of building information modelling in the construction industry faces significant obstacles, particularly among small and medium-sized construction enterprises. This research accessed barriers to building information modelling adoption among small and medium enterprises in the Nigerian construction industry. The study obtained quantitative data from 182 participants out of the 200 questionnaires that were distributed. A combination of descriptive and exploratory factor analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 26, and the Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) test and Bartlett’s sphericity test were conducted to check data adequacy and reliability. The study findings clustered five factors from the 25 identified barriers to BIM adoption in SMEs in the Nigerian construction industry. They are functionality and compatibility, risk and the unavailability of BIM resources, inadequate awareness of BIM, inadequate clients’ demands and support, and stakeholders’ skills gaps. The study recommends training opportunities for construction professionals, government facilitation through incentives, and safeguarding intellectual property linked to BIM-oriented projects. Collaboration among construction stakeholders would also increase client awareness and knowledge sharing on modern technology, such as BIM adoption in SMEs in the construction industry.