BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING (BIM): A NEW

APPROACH TO IMPROVING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

IN THE Z.C.I.
INTRODUCTION
The construction industry has been facing a paradigm shift to increase productivity,
efficiency, and infrastructure value as well as reducing lifecycle cost and duplications.
As a suite of process tools, BIM creates a new level of transparency for project stakeholders.
It enables waste reduction and improves profitability. It allows valuable project information
to adhere to project objectives and creates a reporting mechanism for those who need project
information. Benefits include a planning basis for planners, a go/no-go platform-assessment
system for decision makers and a single collection point for all data that a project generates
(Newman, 2013)
This research study aims to show how BIM adoption when applied to the Z.C.I can help
regulate the discrepancies that are encountered between the design plan and actual
construction. It is expected that this research could contribute to the extensive application of
BIM to achieve clients requirement with reduced cost, time and material wastage through
Integrated Project Delivery.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
There is little integration between designers and contractors during the design stage resulting
into variances between the design and actual construction. This usually leads to modifications
to be made after actual construction has begun.
AIM OF RESEARCH
The aim of this research is to show how a BIM approach will integrate designers and
contractors in ensuring that design intent is preserved all the way through to construction
phase.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
To investigate the current practices of designers and contractors at design stage in the
Z.C.I
To investigate the whether the client requirements are met by designers and
contractors using the current design practice
To establish ways in which the BIM approach integrate designers and contractors to
achieve clients requirements
To assess and establish the feasibility of a BIM approach in improving design and
construction in the Z.C.I
RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
The use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) improves design and construction through
integration of designers and contractors.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
What are the current practices of designers and contractors at the design stage of
construction?
How does the current design practice achieve the clients requirements?
How does the BIM approach integrate designers and contractors?
What is the significance of introducing a BIM approach in the Z.C.I?
SCOPE OF RESEARCH
This research will be limited to a Target Population of clients, contractors and designers in the
Copperbelt as well as Lusaka provinces as this is where the large number of contractors are
located. As this research is only aimed at ensuring that design intent is preserved all the way
through to construction phase, this research will only focus on how the BIM approach will
achieve Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) amongst its many other applications.
SIGNIFICANT OF THE RESEARCH
This research introduces a new approach that will help in delivering clients project objectives
through the use of the BIM approach that will Integrated both the designers and contractors
from the initial design stage all the way through to construction phase. By using this
approach, design problems will be realised and solved earlier before actual construction can
commence therefore reducing construction reworks.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Both qualitative and quantitative methods will be used.
Primary Sources: interviews will be conducted with professionals and institutions
responsible for cost management
Secondary sources: these will include both published and unpublished books, journals,
internet articles and dissertations.