Open research questions in BIM and Construction Integration

What the literature leaves open

• The study used a questionnaire-based judgment experiment - The study had a limited number of participants (151) - The study used a fixed set of 18 images - The study did not account for potential biases in participant judgments

  Can Visual Evidence Be Trusted? Challenges Generative Images Pose to the Integrity of Evidence in Building Research · 2026 · DOI

• Investigating the effects of building-related experience on image source identification accuracy - Examining the impact of generative AI on the integrity of evidence in building research - Developing methods to improve the accuracy of image source identification

  Can Visual Evidence Be Trusted? Challenges Generative Images Pose to the Integrity of Evidence in Building Research · 2026 · DOI

• The scope of the research is limited to the assembly process within a factory environment, - The research does not extend to on-site construction activities, - The assembly process focuses on the main tasks of manufacturing only and does not consider tasks like material handling, nailing, or welding

  Automation in Modular Construction Manufacturing: A Comparative Analysis of Assembly Processes · 2024 · DOI

• The paper identifies the challenge of inconsistent regulations and standards in the construction sector. The need for BIM technical training and excessive manual operations are also highlighted as challenges. The study acknowledges the challenge of high computation costs and the underutilization of BIM data for performance analysis.

  BIM Integration with XAI Using LIME and MOO for Automated Green Building Energy Performance Analysis · 2024 · DOI

• Traditional methods depend heavily on expert knowledge and subjective decisions, posing significant challenges. The need for near-energy-neutral green buildings in accomplishing sustainable development goals is not adequately addressed by current methods. The paper identifies the gap in the current methods and proposes a novel framework to address it.

  BIM Integration with XAI Using LIME and MOO for Automated Green Building Energy Performance Analysis · 2024 · DOI

• However, the extent to which contractor awareness contributes to digital adoption and construction site management outcomes remains underexplored, particularly in developing economies such as Ghana.

  Associations between contractor digitalisation awareness and site management outcomes · 2026 · DOI

• However, few studies have classified the adoption of DFs of BIM technology in developing countries such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

  Blueprint for progress: Understanding the driving forces of BIM adoption in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) construction industry · 2025 · DOI

• However, the adoption of BIM is fraught with challenges, such as a lack of standardisation and difficulties in effectively adopting standards such as ISO 19650.

  Decoding ISO 19650 Through Process Modelling for Information Management and Stakeholder Communication in BIM · 2025 · DOI

• From a research perspective, it contributes to the academic discourse by addressing a critical gap in the literature, which has largely focused on BIM technology implementation rather than the processes and workflows necessary for effective standard adoption.

  Decoding ISO 19650 Through Process Modelling for Information Management and Stakeholder Communication in BIM · 2025 · DOI

• Unlike previous bibliometric reviews that treat these domains in isolation, this paper offers a unified framework and highlights underexplored research intersections—such as the integration of IoT in heritage documentation.

  Three Decades of Innovation: A Critical Bibliometric Analysis of BIM, HBIM, Digital Twins, and IoT in the AEC Industry (1993–2024) · 2025 · DOI

• However, few studies have systematically analyzed carbon reduction potential through a life cycle assessment (LCA), incorporating case studies and regional differences.

  Life Cycle Carbon Emission Analysis of Buildings with Different Exterior Wall Types Based on BIM Technology · 2025 · DOI

• The accurate early-stage estimation of environmental load (EL) and construction cost (CC) in road infrastructure projects remains a significant challenge, constrained by limited data and the complexity of construction activities.

  AI-Powered Forecasting of Environmental Impacts and Construction Costs to Enhance Project Management in Highway Projects · 2025 · DOI

• However, the current validation was limited to a single project and discipline-specific rule set, suggesting that broader testing across mechanical, electrical, and infrastructure models is needed to fully confirm scalability and generalizability.

  A Cloud-Driven Framework for Automated BIM Quantity Takeoff and Quality Control: Case Study Insights · 2025 · DOI

• Nevertheless, although human–robot collaboration (HRC) shows great potential, most existing evaluation methods still focus on the single performance of either the human or robot, and systematic indicators for a whole HRC team remain insufficient.

  A Framework of Indicators for Assessing Team Performance of Human–Robot Collaboration in Construction Projects · 2025 · DOI

• Disciplines including nursing, health science, and medical overcame the same challenges using the ability-desire-knowledge-ability-reinforcement (ADKAR) change management model, while CM programs have not explored this model for BIM curriculum development.

  Effective BIM Curriculum Development for Construction Management Program Transformation Through a Change Management Lens · 2025 · DOI

• However, there is limited information on BIM implementation in low-income countries.

  A Critical Analysis of Factors Influencing BIM Implementation for Public Projects in Developing Countries: A Case Study of Malawi · 2025 · DOI

• Despite its potential, research examining this link between the lean and precast concrete manufacturing is lacking.

  Application of lean techniques and tools in the precast concrete manufacturing process for sustainable construction: A critical review · 2025 · DOI

• While advanced technologies could improve the process, there is limited research on automating assembly in modular construction.

  Automation in Modular Construction Manufacturing: A Comparative Analysis of Assembly Processes · 2024 · DOI

• However, the methods for effectively transforming data from BIM formats, such as Industry Foundation Classes (IFC), into formats suitable for AI applications still need to be explored.

  BIM and IFC Data Readiness for AI Integration in the Construction Industry: A Review Approach · 2024 · DOI

• Future research should explore country-specific barriers and case studies to aid the integration of the two innovative solutions in the region.

  Barriers to the Integration of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in Modular Construction in Sub-Saharan Africa · 2024 · DOI

• Current BIM models face significant challenges, including inadequate modeling techniques, poorly defined information requirements, and low interoperability.

  Enriching Building Information Modeling Models through Information Delivery Specification · 2024 · DOI

• However, its impacts from the perspective of occupants have not been thoroughly explored.

  Exploring the Benefits of Mass Timber Construction in the Workplace: A Novel Primer for Research · 2024 · DOI

• The challenges might be limited to a shortage of skilled labourers, rising costs, construction disputes, and material shortages.

  An Investigation of BIM Advantages in Analysing Claims Procedures Related to the Extension of Time and Money in the KSA Construction Industry · 2024 · DOI

• The commonly used economic indicators include but are not limited to the consumer price index (CPI), producer price index (PPI), and gross domestic product (GDP).

  A Survey of Data-Driven Construction Materials Price Forecasting · 2024 · DOI

• 0TeIm; (ii) outlined and quantified the influence and importance of the identified factors using social network analysis and validated results against the simplified analysis; and (iii) revealed gaps in the literature and proposed a research roadmap directing future research needs.

  Demystifying the Influencing Factors of Construction 4.0 Technology Implementation from a Sustainability Starting Point: Current Trends and Future Research Roadmap · 2024 · DOI

Most-cited papers in BIM and Construction Integration

• An introduction to concept mapping for planning and evaluation · Evaluation and Program Planning · 1989 · 1,110 citations
• Application Areas and Data Requirements for BIM-Enabled Facilities Management · Journal of Construction Engineering and Management · 2011 · 668 citations
• Opportunities and Adoption Challenges of AI in the Construction Industry: A PRISMA Review · Journal of Open Innovation Technology Market and Complexity · 2022 · 498 citations
• Critical review of the research on the management of prefabricated construction · Habitat International · 2014 · 448 citations
• Interaction of Lean and Building Information Modeling in Construction · Journal of Construction Engineering and Management · 2010 · 435 citations
• An overview of the literature on technology roadmapping (TRM): Contributions and trends · Technological Forecasting and Social Change · 2013 · 326 citations
• Technologies for digital twin applications in construction · Automation in Construction · 2023 · 294 citations
• Digital Twins in Built Environments: An Investigation of the Characteristics, Applications, and Challenges · Buildings · 2022 · 292 citations
• Building information modelling (BIM) for sustainable building design · Facilities · 2013 · 269 citations
• The Irvine–Minnesota Inventory to Measure Built Environments · American Journal of Preventive Medicine · 2006 · 262 citations

Most recent work

• Building Information Modelling Plan of Work for Managing Construction Projects in Egypt · Journal of Construction in Developing Countries · 2026
• AI-Driven Automation of Construction Cost Estimation: Integrating BIM with Large Language Models · Buildings · 2026
• An Evaluation of Training Needs of the Nigerian Construction Professionals in Adopting Building Information Modelling · Journal of Construction in Developing Countries · 2026
• Specific Roles of Builders in Building Information Modelling Processes · Journal of Construction in Developing Countries · 2026
• Digital circularity in construction: a systematic review and conceptual framework with a timber focus · International Journal of Sustainable Engineering · 2026
• Establishing a conceptual framework for Construction Quality 4.0 (CONQ4.0) · The TQM Journal · 2026
• Integrating Ontologies and AI for Enhanced Workspace Planning and Knowledge Management · Journal of Construction Engineering and Management · 2026
• Two-Stage Optimization Design Framework for Tower Crane Layout Planning in Modular Integrated Construction Considering Transportation Efficiency, Operator Visibility, and Lifting Safety · Journal of Construction Engineering and Management · 2026
• Streamlining BIM Coordination and Clash Resolution through Risk and Relevance Analysis · Journal of Construction Engineering and Management · 2026
• MACO: An Open-Image Data Set with Multiannotation Strategies for Building Material Counting · Journal of Construction Engineering and Management · 2026

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