Assessing the impact of building information modeling integration on maintenance programmes of buildings: a comparative analysis.
Abstract
This research report presents a comparative analysis of the impact of Building Information
Modeling integration on building maintenance programmes. The study aimed to assess the impact
of utilizing BIM technology to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of current maintenance
programmes.
To achieve this, I conducted a comprehensive review of existing maintenance programmes for
buildings at Makerere University to establish the current state of practice. I used questionnaires to
collect data from the staff directly involved with maintenance work at the Estates and Works
Department of Makerere University. This provided insights into the challenges, limitations, and
areas requiring improvement in traditional maintenance approaches.
Furthermore, I investigated the role of BIM in enhancing maintenance programmes through an
examination of its key features and capabilities. This involved exploring the use of BIM for asset
management, data visualization, and predictive maintenance. BIM integration's potential benefits
and advantages were identified as increased accuracy, improved communication, and streamlined
workflows.
I performed a comparative analysis to evaluate the extent to which BIM integration improves
maintenance programmes when compared to traditional methods. Key performance indicators,
such as cost efficiency, time savings, maintenance quality, and overall effectiveness, were used.
By comparing maintenance programmes with and without BIM integration, the study identified
specific areas where BIM provided significant improvements.
The findings of this research indicate that BIM integration can have a transformative impact on
maintenance programmes. It was observed that BIM enables better coordination between
stakeholders, facilitates data-driven decision-making, and enhances preventive maintenance
practices. Moreover, BIM was found to extend the lifespan of building assets, reduce maintenance
costs, and minimize costs and downtime.
However, challenges and limitations were identified, such as the need for standardized data
formats, software integration complexity, and specialized training requirements. There is, therefore, a need to address technological, organizational, and cultural barriers to successful BIM
implementation in maintenance programmes.
Overall, this research underscores the value of evaluating the extent to which BIM will improve
maintenance programmes when incorporated into building maintenance programmes. The
comparative analysis conducted provides insights for industry practitioners, policymakers, and
researchers seeking to harness the full potential of BIM technology in the realm of building
maintenance.