Comparative Analysis of BIM Adoption in Public vs. Private Construction Contracts

Thesis Abstract

The rapid adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM) across construction sectors has transformed project delivery, yet a persistent dichotomy exists between public and private sector contracts in terms of BIM implementation, interoperability, and value realization. This study investigates how BIM adoption differs between public and private construction contracts, addressing a gap in comparative empirical evidence that informs policy, procurement, and project management practices. The aim is to evaluate the determinants, extent, and outcomes of BIM usage in public versus private contracts, and to identify enabling factors and barriers that influence successful BIM integration. Specific objectives are (i) to assess the prevalence and depth of BIM adoption in public and private projects; (ii) to examine the relationship between contract type and BIM intensity (conceptual, design, construction, and operation stages); (iii) to evaluate perceived benefits and challenges of BIM deployment by project stakeholders; (iv) to analyze the influence of organizational readiness, procurement policy, and regulatory frameworks on BIM outcomes; and (v) to propose a policy and practice-oriented framework to enhance BIM value realization across sectors. The methodology employs a cross-sectional, mixed-methods design grounded in the technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework and the Capability Myramid of BIM maturity. The population comprises project managers, cost engineers, BIM coordinators, and procurement officers involved in publicly tendered and privately procured construction projects in a metropolitan region with a documented BIM mandate. A stratified random sample of 240 professionals will be interviewed (120 from public sector projects and 120 from private sector projects) to capture diverse contract types, project scales, and BIM utilization levels. Complementary quantitative data will be gathered from 60 publicly available project case studies and 40 private projects retrieved from contractor and client reports, focusing on BIM adoption indicators, project performance metrics, and contract clauses. Instruments include a structured questionnaire validated through content and construct validity procedures (Cronbach’s alpha ? 0.70), semi-structured interviews for in-depth insights, and a documentary analysis protocol for contract documents and BIM execution plans. Data analysis will integrate quantitative and qualitative strands descriptive statistics and multivariate regression (to test hypotheses about BIM intensity, project performance, and contract type), ANOVA to compare means across sectors, and structural equation modeling to assess the pathways linking organizational readiness, policy environment, and BIM outcomes. Thematic analysis will be applied to interview transcripts to extract recurrent themes related to enablers, barriers, and stakeholder perceptions, enriched by triangulation with documentary evidence. Reliability checks will include inter-rater reliability for qualitative coding and test-retest verification of survey responses. Expected findings include (i) a higher average BIM maturity level in private contracts relative to public contracts, driven by market competition and procurement flexibility; (ii) positive associations between BIM intensity and project performance (cost, schedule, and quality) with stronger effects in the private sector; (iii) distinct barriers in the public sector, such as procurement rigidity, inconsistent standards, and limited in-house capabilities, versus private sector drivers like client demand, competitive advantage, and contractual risk allocation; (iv) evidence that organizational readiness, training investment, and standardized BIM execution plans mediate the relationship between contract type and BIM outcomes. The study will contribute to knowledge by empirically validating the sectoral differences in BIM adoption, identifying best practices transferable across sectors, and refining the TOE framework for BIM maturity in construction procurement contexts. The main conclusion is that contract type significantly shapes BIM adoption and value realization, with private contracts generally achieving higher maturity and performance gains due to more agile procurement, clearer incentives, and greater investment in capabilities. Recommendations include (i) harmonization of BIM standards and interoperability requirements across sectors to reduce duplication and friction; (ii) reform of public procurement policies to embed BIM performance criteria, clear data governance, and phased implementation timelines; (iii) targeted capacity-building programs for public sector organizations to enhance in-house BIM capabilities; and (iv) development of a sector-wide BIM maturity roadmap and benchmarking framework to monitor progress and guide policy interventions.