THE RELATIONAL CONTRACTING FACTORS IN BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING (BIM) PROTOCOL FOR BIM-BASED CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN MALAYSIA

Abstract

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a collaborative working process of creating and managing information for a building by providing an information-rich virtual representation of a construction project. However, the contractual risks that are associated with BIM seems to be a major hindrance to a seamless collaborative BIM-based project. As a result, the relationships of the parties involved in the project may be tainted and lead to disputes. Some scholars believe that the application of collaborative procurement methods such as alliancing and integrated project delivery (IPD) approaches are the best way to mitigate these risks as they are more relational in nature, thus almost non-litigious. However, these procurement methods are considered uncommon in Malaysia and most BIM-based construction projects are using non-collaborative procurement methods which they are more accustomed to. Consequently, the use of BIM Protocol as practiced in countries such as the UK and USA is ideal for Malaysia as a supplementary platform to the main standard forms, however Malaysia still in the absence of such protocol. Moreover, the BIM Protocol has to be integrated with relational contracting factors (RCFs) to address the contractual risks of BIM. Circo (2014) and Marinho et al. (2021) are among the limited past research that link RCFs to BIM, however they are in absence of

providing the “how-to”. Hence, this research is to fill the gap through the adoption of mixed- method approach, the present research aims to identify relational contracting factors (RCFs)

that are significant to be integrated in BIM Protocol in order to address BIM contractual risks and eventually can enhance collaborative working in a BIM-based construction projects. In Research Stage 1, the important BIM contractual risks and RCFs which were gathered from the questionnaire survey were analysed through Relative Important Index (RII), Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). In Research Stage 2, comparative study was conducted between BIM Protocols published in the United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK) to learn their way of addressing BIM contractual risks and analysed through content analysis. In Research Stage 3, semi-structured interviews with the experts were conducted to validate the RCFs required for relational BIM Protocol and the data were analysed through content analysis. The findings of the study suggest sixteen (16) BIM contractual risks that are significant to be addressed and twenty-five (25) RCFs which are deemed important to enable relational and collaborative working environment in a BIM-based construction project. Hence, these constructs are important to be considered in the development of the relational Malaysian BIM protocol and can support the Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia's (RISM) efforts to improve the legal framework for BIM projects in Malaysia. Keywords: Building Information Modelling (BIM), BIM protocol, contractual risks, collaboration, relational contracting.