Purpose: Building information modelling (BIM) implementation is a major change management task, involving diversity of risk areas. The identification of the challenges and barriers is therefore an imperative precondition of this change process. This paper aims to diagnose UK's construction industry to develop a clear understanding about BIM adoption and to form an imperative step of consolidating collective movements towards wider BIM implementation and to provide strategies and recommendations for the UK construction industry for BIM implementation.Design/methodology/approach: Through comprehensive literature review, the paper initially establishes BIM maturity concept, which paves the way for the analysis via qualitative and quantitative methods: interviews are carried out with high profile organisations in Finland to gauge the best practice before combining the results with the analysis of survey questionnaire amongst the major contractors in the UK.Findings: The results are established in the form of the initial phase of a sound BIM implementation guidance at strategic and operational levels. The findings suggest three structured patterns to systematically tackle technology, process and people issues in BIM implementation. These are organisational culture, education and training, and information management. The outcome is expressed as a roadmap for the implementation of BIM in the UK entailing issues that require consideration for organisations to progress on the BIM maturity ladder.Practical implications: It paves a solid foundation for organisations to make informed decisions in BIM adaptation within the overall organisation structure.Originality/value: This research consolidates collective movements towards wider implementation of BIM in the UK and forms a base for developing a sound BIM strategy and guidance.

Purpose: This paper aims to present a systematic approach for building information modelling (BIM) implementation for architectural SMEs at the organizational levelDesign/methodology/approach: The research is undertaken through a knowledge transfer partnership (KTP) project between the University of Salford and John McCall Architects (JMA) a SME based in Liverpool. The overall aim of the KTP is to develop lean design practice through BIM adoption. The BIM implementation approach uses a socio‐technical view, which does not only consider the implementation of technology but also considers the socio‐cultural environment that provides the context for its implementation. The action research oriented qualitative and quantitative research is used for discovery, comparison, and experimentation as it provides “learning by doing”.Findings: The strategic approach to BIM adoption incorporated people, process and technology equally and led to capacity building through the improvements in process, technological infrastructure and upskilling of JMA staff to attain efficiency gains and competitive advantages.Originality/value: The paper introduces a systematic approach for BIM adoption based on the action research philosophy and demonstrates a roadmap for BIM adoption at the operational level for SME companies.

Purpose: The transformation of cities from the industrial age (unsustainable) to the knowledge age (sustainable) is essentially a “whole life cycle” process consisting of planning, development, operation, reuse and renewal. During this transformation, a multi‐disciplinary knowledge base, created from studies and research about the built environment aspects is fundamental: historical, architectural, archeologically, environmental, social, economic, etc., and critical. Although there are a growing number of applications of 3D VR modelling applications, some built environment applications such as disaster management, environmental simulations, computer‐aided architectural design and planning require more sophisticated models beyond 3D graphical visualization such as multifunctional, interoperable, intelligent, and multi‐representational. Advanced digital mapping technologies such as 3D laser scanner technologies can be enablers for effective e‐planning, consultation and communication of users' views during the planning, design, construction and lifecycle process of the built environment. These technologies can be used to drive the productivity gains by promoting a free‐flow of information between departments, divisions, offices, and sites; and between themselves, their contractors and partners when the data captured via those technologies are processed and modelled into building information modelling (BIM). The use of these technologies is a key enabler to the creation of new approaches to the “Whole Life Cycle” process within the built and human environment for the twenty‐first century. This paper aims to look at this subject.Design/methodology/approach: The paper describes the research towards BIM for existing structures via the point cloud data captured by the 3D laser scanner technology. A case study building is used to demonstrate how to produce 3D CAD models and BIM models of existing structures based on designated techniques.Findings: The paper finds that BIM can be achieved for existing structures by modelling the data captured with 3D laser scanner from the existing world. This can be accomplished by adapting appropriate automated data processing and pattern recognition techniques through applied science research.Practical implications: BMI will enable automated and fast data capture and modelling for not only in design and planning, building refurbishment, effective heritage documentation and VR modelling but also disaster management, environmental analysis, assessment and monitoring, GIS implementation, sophisticated simulation environments for different purposes such as climate change, regeneration simulation for complexity and uncertainty and so on. As a result, it will increase the capability for fast production of virtual reality models and comprehensive and sophisticated simulation platforms.Originality/value: The paper provides useful information on BMI for existing structures.