COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF

INTERNATIONAL AND DESIGN

ELEMENTS IN THE UK AND
NIGERIA

Q1234567
SOLENT UNIVERSITY
Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 2
Building Information Modelling (BIM) .................................................................................................... 2
Level of Maturity ................................................................................................................................. 3
Benefits of Building Information Modelling........................................................................................ 3
Comparison of BIM in the United Kingdom (UK) and in Nigeria for Design and Construction .......... 4
Benefits Utilised .............................................................................................................................. 5
Governmental Response on BIM .................................................................................................... 5
Health and Safety .................................................................................................................................... 6
Architectural Constraints ........................................................................................................................ 6
Urban Planning and Digital Construction................................................................................................ 6
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................... 6
References .............................................................................................................................................. 6
Appendices.............................................................................................................................................. 8

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Introduction
In the construction industry, the iron triangle is utilised as the key areas to ensure projects
are delivered to satisfy the client. Figure 1.0 demonstrate the relationship between the three
parameters. Pollack et al., (2018) avers that these elements are used to represent key
performance criteria.

Time

Quality Cost

Figure 1.0 The Iron Triangle used as a Performance Indicator in Construction Projects

Best and De Valence (2011) explains that the design and construction phase are significant
elements of ensuring stakeholder satisfaction within construction projects. As such, for the
purpose of this report, areas relevant within these stages of construction will discussed.
Furthermore, a comparative analysis of the selected topics will be conducted within the UK
and Nigerian construction industry. To achieve this purpose, the following areas were
selected for the comparative analysis:

• Building Information Modelling

• Health and Safety
• Architectural Constraints
• Digital Urban Planning

Building Information Modelling (BIM)

HM Government (2012) defines BIM as “a collaborative way of working, underpinned by the
digital technologies which unlock more efficient methods of designing, creating and
maintaining our assets.” BIM is an effective process and technology that can ensure projects
are managed effectively in the design and construction phase (Eastman et al., 2008).
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However, it is important to identify that several benefits can be achieved before and after
design and construction phase.

Level of Maturity
The level of maturity shows how in-depth BIM can be utilised on a project. Figure 2.0
illustrates the different BIM maturity levels, formats and the tools and capabilities.

Figure 2.0 Illustration of BIM Maturity Levels (Lin, Roithmayr, and Chiu, 2015)

The level displayed in Figure 2.0 are level 1 to 3. Lymath (2014) and McGough (2013) best
defines these level as follows:

Level 0 requires no collaboration and has 2D Computer Aided Design (CAD) for drafting
designs. Also, the exchange of data is through the electronic copy. Level 1 consists of a
combination of CAD and 3D. Electronic exchange of information is conducted through the
utilisation of the Common Data Environment. However, level 1 does not require collaboration
amongst different stakeholders. Level 2 is similar to level 1 with one notable difference, which
involves creating a collaborative process, which allows involved stakeholders to utilise the
benefit of the 3D CAD model. Level 3 is the integrated approach with all stakeholders using a
model that is equally shared and kept within the Common Data Environment (CDE). All the
stakeholders on the project have access and can make modifications to that particular model.

Benefits of Building Information Modelling

BIM proffers a wide range of applications and these are usually measured in “dimensions”.
BIM dimensions (D) typically are misunderstood as the “level of detail or level of
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development”. However, the ideas of 2D, 3D, 4D, 5D, 6D, and 7D were developed to
represents the elements and advantages of progressively multifaceted BIM processes.

Drafting (2D) is the first potential of BIM is to assist in the design process. 2D BIM is usually a
simple draft in the regular 2D format required for the traditional project. Collaborative
working, clash detection, design, visualisation, and modelling (3D) is the ability to create
building drafts and designs, it also offers a collaborative setting where involved stakeholders
input their ideas (Gupta 2014).

The 4D version of BIM is usually synonymous with time and schedule. This dimension offers
application like the project phasing simulations, lean scheduling, and visual validation for
payment approval (Koo and Fischer, 2000). 5D primarily concerns itself with estimates, the
dimension also contains information that permits the construction team to precisely and
quickly produce a considerable amount of relevant information relating to estimates like the
bill of quantity of a material, cost-saving projections to improve productivity, all of which can
be adjusted in an automated format (Mohandesa et al., 2014).

BIM accurately carries out energy estimates and is beneficial as this leads to an overall
reduction in energy consumption during the operational phase. The facility management
team requires dependable and accurate data to maintain the facility efficiently (Alreshidi,
2015). Traditional approach projects primarily have loads of handover documents passed
down to facility managers by the contractor and can take many working years of effort to
review and transcribe (East, 2014). 7D makes provision for secured handover as (Storer, 2012)
highlights that BIM has an additional way to harness more information that the facility team
to ensure smooth operations and maintenance. These benefits are evident but identifying
areas for BIM application is a crucial step in ensuring it is implemented successfully.

Comparison of BIM in the United Kingdom (UK) and in Nigeria for Design and
Construction
In this section of the report, an examination of the use BIM for Design and Construction in Nigeria
and the UK is discussed. For the purpose of this report, the following areas were compared:

• Benefits Utilitsed
• Governmental Response on BIM

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Benefits Utilised
Whilst there are several benefits of BIM it is important to be able to connect them to the level
of maturity to obtain them. Table 1.0 presents findings of these benefits used in Nigeria as
compared to the UK.

Table 1.0 A comparison of the utilisation of BIM in the UK and in Nigeria at the different RIBA Stages

Benefit(s) RIBA Outline of Work The UK Nigeria

2D (Drafting) Strategic Definition  
Preparation & Briefing
3D (Visualisation) Concept Design  
Spatial Coordination
Technical Design
4D (Scheduling) Manufacturing &  ×
5D (Cost) Construction  ×
6D (Sustainability)  ×
7D (Facility Management) Use  ×

Alufohai (2012) maintain that the adoption of BIM is slow amongst both private and the public
sector. Furthermore, BIM in the nation is a limited presentation of design and 3D visualisation
for clients (Onungwa and Uduma-Olugu, 2016; Ugochukwu et al., 2015). Meanwhile, in the
UK BIM benefits is utilised across all the phases of a project. According to Hazem (2019) 70 %
of all construction professionals were using BIM on projects.

Governmental Response on BIM

The UK government mandated the application of level 2 BIM in 2016 on all governmentally funded
projects worth over five (5) million pounds (HM government, 2012). Hazem (2019) demonstrated that
with the mandate in place, the amount of BIM users grew considerably by 62% in the country.
Furthermore, in 2013, the Publicly Available Specification 1192 (PAS1192) document was released
with the view to improve standardisation in the application of BIM in the UK AEC industry.

However, in Nigeria, several researchers have encouraged government agencies to take up a proactive
role as leaders in the adoption of BIM (Abubakar et al., 2014; Koris and Kiviniemi, 2015; Ugochukwu
et al., 2015). Most significant buildings in the nation are either owned by the government of being
constructed for them as clients. A firm stance in the adoption of BIM as seen in a most developing
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nation can potentially notice an increase in the uptake. Nevertheless, there are yet any specifications
or standard for the utilisation of BIM from the government.

Health and Safety

Architectural Constraints

Urban Planning and Digital Construction

Conclusion

References
Abubakar, M., Ibrahim, Y. M., Kado, D., & Bala, K. (2014). Contractors’ Perception of the
Factors Affecting Building Information Modelling (BIM) Adoption in the Nigerian Construction
Industry. Internation Conference on Computing in Civil and Building Engineering 2014. 23-25
June. Florida, USA: American Society of Civil Engineers

Alufohai, A. J. (2012). Adoption Of Building Information Modeling And Nigeria’s Quest For
Project Cost Management. Knowing to Manage the Territory, Protect the Environment,
Evaluate the Cultural Heritage. Rome, Italy.

Best, R. & De Valence, G. (2011). Design and Construction.

East, B. (2014). Construction-Operations Building Information Exchange (COBie). [viewed 12

December 2021]. Available from: https://www.wbdg.org/resources/cobie.php

Gupta, S. K. (2014). Integration of BIM in high-rise building construction. [viewed on the 15th
of December 2021]. Available from: http://www.masterbuilder.co.in/integration-bim-high-
rise-building-construction
Hazem, Z. (2019). BIM adoption in the UK – history and impact. In: PlanRadar’s Weblog. June
27 2019 [15 December 2015]. Available from: https://www.planradar.com/gb/bim-in-uk-
construction-technology-market/

HM Government. (2012). Building Information Modelling. Industrial Strategy: government

and industry in Partnership. London: BSI

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Koo, B. &, & Fischer, M. (2000). Feasibility Study of 4D CAD in Commercial Construction.
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 126(4), 251–260

Koris, S. A., & Kiviniemi, A. (2015). Towards Adoption of BIM in the Nigerian AEC Industry;
Context Framing, Data Collecting and Paradigm for Interpretation. 9th BIM Academic
Symposium & Job Task Analysis Review. NIBS-Washington DC, USA.
Lin, E. S., Roithmayr, R., & Chiu, S. K. (2015). A review of BIM Maturity for Tensile Membrane
Architecture. Amsterdam Future Visions. Amsterdam: Proceedings of the International
Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS) 2015.

Mohandesa, S. R., Hamidb, A. R. A., & Sadeghic, H. (2014). Exploiting Building Information
Modeling Throughout the Whole Lifecycle of Construction Projects. Journal of Basic and
Applied Scientific Research, 4(9), 16–27.

Onungwa, I. O., & Uduma-Olugu, N. (2016). Building Information Modeling in Nigeria and its
impact on collaboration in schematic design stage and post contract stage of design. Emerging
Trends in Construction Organisational Practices and Project Management Knowledge Area.
Cape Town, South Africa.

Pollack, J., Helm, J. & Adler, D. (2018). What is the Iron Triangle, and how has it changed?
International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 11(2), 527-547

Storer, D. (2012). Six-Dimensional Building Information Modelling. [viewed 27 November

2021]. Available from: http://www.hjhigh.com/news-and-media/market-trends/six-
dimensional-building-information-modeling/

Ugochukwu, S., Akabogu, S., & Okolie, K. (2015). Status and perceptions of the application of
building information modeling for improved building projects delivery in Nigeria. American
Journal of Engineering Research (AJER), 4(11), 176–182

Lymath, A. (2014). The 20 key BIM terms you need to know. Newcastle upon Tyne: NBS.

McGough, D. (2013). What is BIM? Part 2 – Building Information Modelling and BIM Maturity
Levels. [viewed on March 21, 2016]. Available from: http://www.architect-bim.com/what-is-
bim-part-2-building-information-modelling-and-bim-maturity-levels/#.Wrz15fnwaUk

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Appendices

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