A bibliometric analysis of building information modelling implementation barriers in the developing world using an interpretive structural modelling approach

Over the past 20 years, the phrase “Building Information Modelling” (BIM) has spread throughout the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industries. BIM usage in the construction industry is vital in the revolution towards Industry 4.0 in the AEC Industry. BIM contributes to this change due to its automatization and sustainability features. However, there are growing concerns about its implementation in the developing world context. The BIM Implementation Barriers (BIMIBs) in individual countries and on a global scale have been examined in a variety of studies and works of literature, but two research questions are still open; (1) what specific BIMIBs are the AEC industries in the developing world encountering the most, and (2) what is the interrelationship between these barriers? Through a combination of expert interviews and a bibliometric analysis of published relevant empirical studies on the subject, the aim of this study is to identify these frequently occurring BIMIBs in the developing world and to determine the interrelationships between these barriers using an Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) approach and MICMAC analysis. The study identified the 14 BIMIBs with ‘high associated cost’ as the most fundamental of all. A comparison of the study's findings and a proposed 3-level barrier mitigation strategy with other studies identified the lack of governmental support for BIM implementation and research as a root cause of majority of the BIMIBs identified in the developing world. This study lays forth the knowledge base for future studies in the area of BIM implementation in the developing world.