TECHNICAL PAPERS
Feb 9, 2010

Interaction of Lean and Building Information Modeling in Construction

Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 136, Issue 9

Abstract

Lean construction and building information modeling (BIM) are quite different initiatives, but both are having profound impacts on the construction industry. A rigorous analysis of the myriad specific interactions between them indicates that a synergy exists which, if properly understood in theoretical terms, can be exploited to improve construction processes beyond the degree to which it might be improved by application of either of these paradigms independently. Using a matrix that juxtaposes BIM functionalities with prescriptive lean construction principles, 56 interactions have been identified, all but four of which represent constructive interaction. Although evidence for the majority of these has been found, the matrix is not considered complete but rather a framework for research to explore the degree of validity of the interactions. Construction executives, managers, designers, and developers of information technology systems for construction can also benefit from the framework as an aid to recognizing the potential synergies when planning their lean and BIM adoption strategies.

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Go to Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 136Issue 9September 2010
Pages: 968 - 980

History

Received: Jul 2, 2009
Accepted: Feb 8, 2010
Published online: Feb 9, 2010
Published in print: Sep 2010

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Authors

Affiliations

Rafael Sacks [email protected]
Associate Professor, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Technion–Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel (corresponding author). E-mail: [email protected]
Lauri Koskela [email protected]
Professor, School of the Built Environment, Univ. of Salford, Salford, U.K. E-mail: [email protected]
Bhargav A. Dave [email protected]
Research Fellow, School of the Built Environment, Univ. of Salford, Salford, U.K. E-mail: [email protected]
Robert Owen [email protected]
Senior Research Fellow, School of the Built Environment, Univ. of Salford, Salford, U.K. E-mail: [email protected]

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