Benchmarking the learning curve for BIM: A case study

Three of the main issues that are limiting the adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM) by the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry are identified in the literature as the need for strong leadership, the need for best practices and the need for a quantified learning curve analysis. The focus of this paper is on the latter of the three. The paper presents a case study of the learning curve for generating a Building Information Model for a mid-rise hotel building. Eight (8) individuals with Civil Engineering training, and minimal to no experience in the AEC industry or in the use of computer-aided design (CAD) tools, participated in building the model. The time it took to develop different components of the model, organized based on the Uniformat II™ Classification System, was recorded. This study is aimed to assist companies interested in migrating from traditional project documentation practices to BIM, by gauging the learning curve required for training their personnel.