10.57647/j.fomj.2025.0603.15

Identifying and prioritizing obstacles to the implementation of building information modeling in sustainable construction projects in Iran using hybrid Fuzzy Delphi-BWM approach

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  • Sarina Alizadeh Fard1,
  • Mohammad Rostami*1,
  • Mohammad Mahdi Shahbazi2,
  1. Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Faculty of Industrial Engineering and Management, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran
  2. Department of Civil Engineering, Semnan University, Iran

Received: 2025-05-30

Revised: 2025-07-21

Accepted: 2025-08-19

Published in Issue 2025-09-30

Published Online: 2025-09-29

Copyright (c) 2025 Sarina Alizadeh Fard, Mohammad Rostami, Mohammad Mahdi Shahbazi (Author)

Creative Commons License

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

How to Cite

Alizadeh Fard, S., Rostami, M., & Shahbazi, M. M. (2025). Identifying and prioritizing obstacles to the implementation of building information modeling in sustainable construction projects in Iran using hybrid Fuzzy Delphi-BWM approach. Fuzzy Optimization and Modeling Journal (FOMJ), 6(3). https://doi.org/10.57647/j.fomj.2025.0603.15
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Abstract

With the growing global adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology in the construction industry, this innovative approach has also gained momentum in countries like Iran. However, its practical implementation continues to face numerous challenges. To support broader adoption-particularly within the context of sustainable construction projects, which emphasize environmental, economic, and social considerations throughout the project lifecycle-it is crucial to identify and address these barriers. This study aims to identify and prioritize the key obstacles to BIM implementation in sustainable construction projects in Iran. An initial list of challenges was developed based on a comprehensive literature review and validated through the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM), which resulted in the identification of 31 relevant obstacles. Among these, ten were selected as the most critical for further analysis. The Best-Worst Method (BWM) was then applied to rank these barriers. Pairwise comparisons between the best and worst criteria were conducted, and the resulting optimization model was solved using Lingo 18 software. The findings reveal that the most significant challenges are: (1) the absence of clearly defined processes for applying BIM in sustainable building projects (weight = 0.12), (2) the lack of standardized guidelines for BIM integration (weight = 0.107), and (3) the absence of a legal framework for BIM implementation (weight = 0.106). These insights can inform policymakers and stakeholders seeking to improve BIM adoption in the context of sustainable development.

Keywords

  • building information modeling,
  • obstacles and challenges of building information modeling,
  • fuzzy Delphi method, best-worst method,
  • sustainable construction projects
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