Abstract (English)
At 44 %, the occupancy costs of a building are the most significant cost component in the life cycle of a building. The digitalization of the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry in Germany, particularly through the Building Information Modeling (BIM) method, presents opportunities for delivering facility management (FM) services more efficiently. BIM is primarily used in the planning and construction phase of buildings. In contrast, the usage of BIM in FM – that is, BIM-based FM – is limited to less than 1% of all buildings internationally. Though universities and research institutes focus primarily on the planning and construction phase of buildings, there is a trend of exploring BIM in FM. This study aims to develop a neutral, cross-manufacturer understanding of the complexities of BIM, including BIM in FM for existing buildings in Germany, and to identify both fields of action and target audiences, which may be key to broader use of the BIM method in the future. Data were collected from an online survey of German private and public sector organizations that was conducted in the first quarter of 2022. These data include the opinions of facility managers, architects, engineers, building contractors, project managers, architects, and expert planners on the application of BIM to as-built buildings. The study found that the chief obstacle to BIM-based FM for existing buildings was the increased effort required for data acquisition and the lack of exchange between planners and operators. The survey conducted in this paper provides valuable information for decision-makers and FM organizations about the use of BIM in existing buildings.