Exploring Quantity Surveyors’ Perspective on Implementing Building Information Modelling (BIM)

Authors

  • Siti Nur Aishah Mohd Noor Department of Quantity Surveying, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA Perak Branch, Seri Iskandar Campus, 32610 Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia.
  • Ahmad Naif Naili Che Maktar Department of Quantity Surveying, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA Perak Branch, Seri Iskandar Campus, 32610 Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia.
  • Puteri Sidrotul Nabihah Saarani Department of Quantity Surveying, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA Perak Branch, Seri Iskandar Campus, 32610 Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia.
  • Zailawati Khalid Department of Construction Management, Faculty of Technology Management and Business, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn, Parit Raja, 86400 Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
  • Mohd Khairul Amri Ramly Department of Quantity Surveying, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA Perak Branch, Seri Iskandar Campus, 32610 Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24191/bej.v23i2.4639

Keywords:

Digital Construction, Building Information Modelling (BIM), Quantity Surveyors, Construction Industry, Perspectives

Abstract

Building Information Modelling (BIM) has emerged as a pivotal technological advancement in the construction industry, recognise for enhancing integrated and collaborative processes across the project lifecycle to boost productivity, reduce duration and costs, and improve quality and safety. This study explores the perception of using BIM among Quantity Surveyors (QS) and identifies the effectiveness of BIM in QS practices. This also reveals the significant challenges that hinder BIM adoption, primarily the high costs associated with acquiring BIM technology. Despite these challenges, BIM's benefits, including enhanced efficiency in cost appraisal during early project stages and reduced arithmetic errors through automation, are demonstrated. The methodology involved a structured survey distributed among QS in Selangor, Malaysia, which received 331 responses, with 330 valid responses analyse. The findings reveal that despite the significant barriers-particularly the high costs associated with acquiring BIM technology – BIM offers substantial benefits, including enhanced efficiency in cost appraisal during early project stages and reduced arithmetic errors through automation. Furthermore, BIM contributes to improved accuracy in cost estimates and shorter project timelines in both pre-and post-construction phases. The conclusion drawn from this research emphasise that for BIM implementation to increase in Malaysia, there must be a concerted effort from government bodies and industry stakeholders to foster its development, potentially through policy-making, incentives, and educational programme that facilitate easier access and greater affordability of BIM resources. This collaborative approach could significantly contribute to overcoming the current barriers and fully leveraging BIM’s potential to transform the Malaysian construction sector.

Author Biographies

  • Siti Nur Aishah Mohd Noor, Department of Quantity Surveying, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA Perak Branch, Seri Iskandar Campus, 32610 Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia.

    Siti Nur Aishah Mohd Noor is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Quantity Surveying at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Seri Iskandar. She holds a PhD from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, a Master in Facilities Management from UiTM Shah Alam, and a Bachelor’s in Quantity Surveying from Universiti Malaya and a Certificate of Education from  Universiti Teknologi MARA. She is a registered Professional Quantity Surveyor with the Board of Quantity Surveyors Malaysia (BQSM) and a Professional Technologist with the Malaysian Board of Technologists (MBOT). Additionally, she is an active member of the Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (RISM) and also a certified BIM trainer under CIDB. Her research interests include digital construction, construction transformation, construction education, sustainable construction, and professional quantity surveying practice. She has an extensive publication record in these areas, contributing to renowned journals. Furthermore, she serves as a reviewer and editorial board member within her field. She can be reached at sitinuraishahmn@uitm.edu.my

  • Ahmad Naif Naili Che Maktar, Department of Quantity Surveying, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA Perak Branch, Seri Iskandar Campus, 32610 Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia.

    Ahmad Naif Naili Che Maktar is an Assistant Quantity Surveyor at Majlis Bandaraya Melaka Bersejarah. He holds a degree in Quantity Surveying from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Seri Iskandar. His contact email is ahmadnaif@mbmb.gov.my

  • Puteri Sidrotul Nabihah Saarani, Department of Quantity Surveying, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA Perak Branch, Seri Iskandar Campus, 32610 Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia.

    Puteri Sidrotul Nabihah binti Saarani is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Built Environment and Technology at the College of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Seri Iskandar, Perak. She holds a PhD in Built Environment and Master of Science in Facilities Management from Universiti Teknologi MARA. She is a registered Consultant Quantity Surveyor with the Board of Quantity Surveyors Malaysia (BQSM). She is also an active member of the Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (RISM). Her main research interests are in Construction Economics, Sustainable Development, and Quantity Surveying. Puteri Sidrotul Nabihah is passionate about contributing to these fields through her teaching and research. She can be reached at puterisidrotul@uitm.edu.my

  • Zailawati Khalid, Department of Construction Management, Faculty of Technology Management and Business, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn, Parit Raja, 86400 Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia

    Zailawati Binti Khalid is an Industrial Fellow in the Department of Construction Management, Faculty of Technology Management and Business at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Batu Pahat, Johor. She holds a Master of Science in Integrated Construction Project Management from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam. Zailawati currently serves as the Head of the Master of Science in Technology Management (MPC) program. She is a registered Professional Quantity Surveyor with the Board of Quantity Surveyors Malaysia (BQSM) and an active member of the Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (RISM). Her main research interests include Construction Contract, Procurement, Quality, Project Management, and Sustainable Development. She can be reached at zailawati@uthm.edu.my

  • Mohd Khairul Amri Ramly, Department of Quantity Surveying, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA Perak Branch, Seri Iskandar Campus, 32610 Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia.

    Mohd Khairul Amri is a Lecturer at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Seri Iskandar and a PhD student at Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Ahmad Shah. He holds a Master of Science in Integrated Construction Project Management from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam and a Bachelor of Building Surveying from the University of Malaya. He is also a certified HRDF trainer. His research interests are in Digital Construction, Construction Transformation, Digital Twin, Building Information Modeling (BIM), and Project Management. He actively contributes to these fields through his academic and research endeavors. He can be reached at mkhairulamri@uitm.edu.my

References

Alassaf, Y., Mahdavian, A., & Oloufa, A. A. (2021). Investigating the intangible benefits of employing building information modelling in the design and construction industry. Innovative Infrastructure Solutions, 6(3). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41062-021-00527-8

Azhar, S., Khalfan, M., & Maqsood, T. (2021). Building Information Modelling (BIM): Now and beyond. Australasian Journal of Construction Economics and Building, 12(4), 15-28. https://doi.org/10.5130/AJCEB.v12i4.3032

Board of Quantity Surveyors Malaysia (BQSM) (2020). Guidelines tier -II CQS: Registration of consultant quantity surveyors. https://www.bqsm.gov.my/en/examination-registration/

Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Malaysia. (2020). Malaysia building information modelling (BIM) report 2019. https://www.cidb.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/208-Malaysia-BIM-REPORT-2019-min.pdf

Construction Research Institute of Malaysia (CREAM) (2021). Malaysia building information modelling (BIM) report 2021. Retrieved from https://smart.cidb.gov.my/publication/malaysia-building-information-modelling-bim-report-2021-457

Cresswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method approaches (4th edition). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. https://shorturl.at/TH8UA

Daniotti, B., Pavan, A., Bolognesi, C., Mirarchi, C., & Signirini, M. (2022). Digital transformation – towards new frontiers and business opportunities: From BIM to digital twin. IntechOpen. doi: 10.5772/intechopen.103726

Eastman, C., Teicholz, P., Sacks, R., & Liston, K. (2011). BIM handbook: A guide to building information modelling for owners, managers, designers, engineers, and contractors. John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken.

Fountain, J., & Langar, S. (2018). Building information modelling (BIM) outsourcing among general contractors. Automation in Construction, pp. 95, 107–117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2018.06.009

Haron, N.A., Raja Soh, R. P. Z. A., & Harun, A. N. (2017). Implementation of building information modelling (BIM) in Malaysia: A review. Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, 25 (3), 661-674. Retrieved from http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/pjst/browse/regular-issue?article=JST-0617-2016

Ismail, N. A. A., Adnan, H., & Bakhary, N. A. (2019). Building information modelling (BIM) adoption by quantity surveyors: A preliminary survey from Malaysia. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 267(5). https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/267/5/052041

Ismail, N. A. A., Rooshdi, R. R. R. M., Sahamir, S. R., & Ramli, H. (2021). Assessing BIM adoption towards reliability in QS cost estimates. Engineering Journal, 25(1), 155–164. https://doi.org/10.4186/ej.2021.25.1.155

Krejcie, R. V., & Morgan, D. W. (1970). Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30(3), 607-610. College Station, Durham, North Carolina, USA.

Latiffi, A. A., Mohd, S., & Brahim, J. (2015). Application of building information modelling (BIM) in the Malaysian construction industry: A story of the first government project. Applied Mechanics and Materials, 773, 943–948. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.773-774.943

Latiffi, A. A., Mohd, S., & Rakiman, U. S. (2016). Potential improvement of building information modelling (BIM) Implementation in Malaysian construction projects. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, 467, 149–158. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33111-9_14

Lee, S., Chung, S., Kwon, S., Cho, C., & Lee, K. (2021). Assessment of BIM competencies and correlation analysis between competencies and career characteristics of FAB construction projects participants, Applied Sciences, 11(18), 8468. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11188468

Li, K., Griffin, M. A., & Xia, M. R. (2025). How do workforce adaptability and reskilling initiatives drive innovations: the case of Western Australian construction industry. Construction Management and Economics, 43, 746-763 https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2025.2511831

Jones, S., & Bernstein, H. (2014). Smart market report: The business value of BIM for construction in major global markets: How contractors around the world are driving innovation with building information modelling. McGraw-Hill Construction. New York.

Mohd Noor, S. N. A, Junaidi, S. R., Khairul, M., & Ramly, A. (2018). Adoption of building information modelling (BIM): Factors contribution and benefits. Retrieved from https://gaexcellence.com/jistm/article/view/1050

Musa, S., Marshall-Ponting, A., Nifa, F. A. A., & Shahron, S. A. (2018). Building information modelling (BIM) in Malaysian construction industry: Benefits and future challenges. AIP Conference Proceedings, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5055507

Seidu, R., Young, B. E., Meyer, C.L., Thorpe, J., Fong, D., & Madanayake, U. (2022). Gender diversity in the UK construction industry. World Building Congress, IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 1101(3):032032. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1101/3/032032

Zainon, N., Mohd Rahim, F. A., Aziz, N. M., Kamaruzzaman, S., N., & Puidin, S. (2018). Catching up with building information modelling: Challenges and opportunities for quantity surveyors, Journal of Surveying, Construction and Property, 9(1), https://doi.org/10.22452/jscp.vol9no1.3

Downloads

Published

03-07-2026

Issue

Vol. 23 No. 2 (2026): Built Environment Journal

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Siti Nur Aishah Mohd Noor, Ahmad Naif Naili Che Maktar, Puteri Sidrotul Nabihah Saarani, Zailawati Khalid, Mohd Khairul Amri Ramly

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International

 

How to Cite

Exploring Quantity Surveyors’ Perspective on Implementing Building Information Modelling (BIM). (2026). Built Environment Journal, 23(2). https://doi.org/10.24191/bej.v23i2.4639

Similar Articles

11-20 of 156

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.