Role of Building Information Modeling in Improving Building Design Process in Ethiopia, The Case of Addis Ababa
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Date
2016-05
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AAU
Abstract
Ethiopia is under a major and fast transformation on the subject of building construction. The
country is now building grand projects in areas like, housings, higher education, health buildings
and many more. This fast building construction industry faces many challenges, one of these
challenges being the gap in building design process management basically caused by
incomplete design and less integrated design management. The international practice, moved
from the conventional to the integrated design modality, with the latest intervention of Building
Information Modeling (BIM). There are a few attempts in Ethiopia, even though it is at its infant
stage. This study focuses on reviewing the existing design management with in Addis Ababa;
tries to identify the major gaps, problems and challenge and sees how such BIM can improve
the situation in design related problems. To conduct this research, two methods are used, survey
and case study. Questioner and interview for the survey having eleven G-I consultants used as
a population taking two as samples and two governmental university projects as a case study.
The gaps identified in this research are to follow: - Most of the designers in the case area, are
currently implementing the conventional designing approach, resulting in substandard property,
fragmented building design process, errors and omissions in paper communication resenting in
project period delays being the major gap, additional financial expense and reduction of quality
are also take major portion, resulting undesirable friction between involved parties. The
documents are fragmented and take longer time to prepare. The project going over budget,
extended period and lesser quality are problems caused by the poor building design
management. The major challenges of the building design process are very low project fee, no
permanent staff, incomplete design with fewer details, limitation on accessing licensed software,
expensive and unaffordable database infrastructure and lack of adequate training centers are
also partly concluded as challenges. The majorities of the professionals in Ethiopia have at list
the basic understanding of the significance and the advantages of BIM or used BIM application;
this shows a promising future.
As a recommendation, BIM should be included in Ethiopian Building coed of standard; as
fundamental tool for designing, design evaluation, project monitoring and follow-up and design
documentation. Standard minimum professional fee should be set; banks should support the
professionals by loan system so that they can adopt BIM; regulatory body, client, professionals
should set integrated design management platform environment.
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Keywords
building construction, design challenges, integrated design process, building information modeling [BIM], Design modality and sustainability