Challenges for Digitalisation in Building Renovation to Enhance the Efficiency of the Process: A Spanish Case Study

Abstract

Although construction is one of the largest industries in the world, it is one of the least digitised and its productivity is still very low. Excesses of time and cost are common and are even more accentuated for building renovation. Recently, the building information modeling (BIM) methodology has strongly entered in the construction sector and appears to be an effective paradigm shift. Considering all of the previously mentioned aspects, this article addresses the identification and analysis of the critical barriers of renovation and the potential for digitalisation to overcome them using BIM. The methodology that was used is based on an open innovation approach called Living Labs, where consultations with the key stakeholders of the construction process aims for a higher digitalisation to focus on real needs and fitted to the user’s requirements. Starting from a worldwide survey, the analysis of the Spanish casuistry is deepened. From the analysis of barriers and opportunities, the necessary requirements for an optimal BIM application in renovation are highlighted. After identifying the key aspects that each stakeholder’ typology has considered as relevant, a set of key performance indicators have been selected, to monitor the improvements in the renovation process when BIM is adopted.

Drivers and barriers to digitalisation: a cross-analysis of the views of designers and builders in the construction industry

“…Identified organisational barriers in construction digitalisation are poor leadership and attitude toward digital innovation, inadequate personnel to implement digital innovation, and lack of collaboration (Aghimien et al, 2021). In terms of barriers in the construction process, lack of early contractor engagement, lack of performance of digital tools or software, slow speed of computers in processing and drawing extraction, mobility of software to handle complex geometry, the disintegration of 3D models to multiple sources can be anticipated to deter construction digitalisation (Lasarte et al, 2021).…”

Systematic Literature Review of Open Infrastructure BIM

“…Moreover, other works, such as that of D'Amico et al [178], have investigated the integration of non-destructive survey data into preliminary phases of digital design within BIM, with possible applications in pavement management systems for roads. Others have investigated the possible benefits of using the Open BIM methodology in renovation projects by developing an innovative approach named Living-Labs, which involves key stakeholders through consultations [179].…”

Conceptual design for an additively manufactured building brick

“…Thus, AM can find a potential development in the construction sector, also referred as Architecture, engineering and construction industry (AEC), which is one of the largest industries worldwide, one typically characterized by traditional and, in some cases, somewhat manual activities due to several complexities and multidisciplinarity and uniqueness of its products, showing a lower degree of digitalization [23]- [26] and most labor accident prone.…”