Leapfrogging BIM Adoption Challenges in Francophone Africa

This informal CPD article, ‘Leapfrogging BIM Adoption Challenges in Francophone Africa,’ was provided by Henry Abanda at Digital Technology Consultancy, an organisation that builds and enhances the capacities of construction firms in implementing digital technologies including BIM.

Background

The global construction industry faces numerous challenges, with only a small percentage of projects being delivered according to specified timelines, budgets, and quality benchmarks (Mashali et al., 2023). These challenges are particularly acute in developing countries, where weak policies, lack of access to advanced design tools, informal construction sectors, and insufficient regulatory frameworks exacerbate the situation. This often results in substandard projects that fail to meet their intended goals. Building Information Modelling (BIM) has emerged as a promising solution to many of these persistent challenges, providing the construction industry with the tools needed for better project management, coordination, and execution (Abanda et al., 2014; Abanda and Tah, 2014).

BIM is a digital representation of the physical and functional characteristics of a facility, enabling stakeholders to collaborate effectively throughout the lifecycle of a project. Over the past decade, BIM has gained widespread adoption in developed countries, where it is often mandated by government policies (Al Hammoud, 2021). For example, the UK has required BIM Level 2 for all government-procured projects since 2016. However, in developing regions, particularly in Francophone Africa, the adoption of BIM has been slow (El Hajj et al., 2023; Rocha and Mateus, 2021). The region faces unique barriers that impede the widespread implementation of BIM, despite the clear advantages it offers.

While several studies have explored these barriers, many have lacked the necessary contextualization for Francophone Africa. This article aims to address these gaps by providing a detailed analysis of the challenges hindering BIM adoption in this region, focusing on Cameroon as a representative case. Drawing on insights from various stakeholders, including students, professionals, and academics, the article highlights practical steps that can be taken to overcome these challenges and advance BIM adoption in the region.

Barriers to BIM Adoption in Francophone Africa

The construction industry in Francophone Africa faces several barriers to the adoption of BIM. These barriers are complex and multifaceted, stemming from the region's economic, social, and infrastructural realities (Al Hammoud, 2021; Rocha and Mateus, 2021). The most significant challenges are discussed below:

Informality of the Construction Sector

The construction sector in many Francophone African countries is largely informal, with a significant portion of activities taking place outside of regulated frameworks (Malanda et al., 2019). This informality creates a challenging environment for the adoption of BIM, which relies on structured processes, standardized practices, and formal collaboration. The absence of regulation and oversight makes it difficult to implement BIM systems that require high levels of accountability and transparency.

In an informal construction sector, there is little adherence to quality standards, and projects are often completed with limited oversight. This lack of accountability undermines the effectiveness of BIM, which is designed to ensure that all stakeholders are aligned with the project's goals and standards from the outset. Without a formal framework to enforce these standards, the benefits of BIM—such as improved coordination, reduced errors, and better project outcomes—are unlikely to be realized.

Lack of Enabling Policies

One of the most significant barriers to BIM adoption in Francophone Africa is the absence of enabling policies that promote the use of advanced construction technologies (Solange et al., 2024). In many developed countries, governments have played a key role in driving BIM adoption by implementing policies that mandate or incentivize its use. For instance, the UK government’s mandate for BIM Level 2 has been a major catalyst for the widespread adoption of BIM in the UK construction industry.

In contrast, governments in Francophone Africa have been slow to develop and enforce policies that promote BIM adoption. Without clear guidelines, incentives, or regulations, the construction industry lacks the framework necessary to integrate BIM effectively. This lack of policy support leaves companies and professionals with little motivation to invest in BIM tools and training, especially when the immediate benefits are not clear or accessible. Furthermore, the absence of policies mandating the use of BIM means that even large-scale government projects, which could serve as models for the private sector, are not required to adopt the technology.

Limited Awareness of BIM

Another major barrier to BIM adoption in Francophone Africa is the limited awareness of the technology and its potential benefits (Solange et al., 2024). Many professionals in the region are unfamiliar with BIM or view it as an unnecessary expense rather than a valuable investment. In other industries, innovation is often embraced as a means of enhancing performance and efficiency, but the construction sector has been slower to adopt new technologies like BIM. This resistance to change is compounded by a lack of education and training on BIM, which prevents professionals from understanding how it can help them address the challenges they face.

Moreover, even when construction professionals encounter challenges that BIM could help solve—such as poor coordination between project stakeholders or difficulty meeting project deadlines—they may not immediately consider BIM as a potential solution. This lack of awareness hinders the adoption of BIM and prevents the construction industry from realizing its full potential.

Language Barriers in BIM Resources

The majority of key resources and literature on BIM are available in English, which presents a significant challenge for Francophone countries. Many professionals in the region have limited proficiency in English, making it difficult for them to access and utilize the wealth of BIM resources available. This language barrier significantly restricts the ability of Francophone professionals to engage with BIM and hinders the spread of the technology in the region.

In Cameroon, for example, while English is one of the official languages, many professionals in the construction industry are more comfortable working in French. This creates a situation where important BIM resources, such as software manuals, academic papers, and online tutorials, are inaccessible to a large portion of the workforce. The result is a slower adoption of BIM in Francophone Africa compared to regions where professionals have greater access to these resources.

Weak Internet Infrastructure

Despite increasing internet penetration in Africa, the infrastructure in many Francophone countries is still insufficient to support the effective use of BIM platforms (Malanda et al., 2019; Solange et al., 2024). BIM requires reliable internet access for collaboration between project stakeholders, the sharing of large files, and the use of cloud-based tools. However, many professionals in Francophone Africa face challenges such as slow internet speeds, limited data availability, and frequent power outages. These issues make it difficult for professionals to participate in online training or use cloud-based BIM platforms effectively.

The impact of weak internet infrastructure is further exacerbated by the growing demand for digital tools in the construction industry. As BIM becomes more integrated into global construction practices, the need for reliable internet access becomes increasingly important. Without the necessary infrastructure, professionals in Francophone Africa are unable to fully leverage the benefits of BIM, limiting the technology's adoption in the region.

High Cost of Software and Training

The cost of acquiring BIM software and the necessary training is another major barrier to adoption in Francophone Africa (Solange et al., 2024). Many construction firms and professionals in the region operate with limited resources and tight budgets, making it difficult to justify the expense of investing in BIM tools. The upfront cost of purchasing BIM software can be prohibitively high, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which make up a significant portion of the construction industry in Francophone Africa.

In addition to the cost of software, training is also a significant expense. BIM requires specialized knowledge and skills that many professionals in the region do not possess, meaning that they must invest in training to become proficient in the technology. However, the cost of training programs can be a major deterrent, especially when there are few affordable options available locally. This high cost of entry prevents many firms from adopting BIM and perpetuates the reliance on traditional construction methods.

Lack of Accreditation Bodies

The absence of established accreditation bodies in Francophone Africa to certify BIM professionals and validate BIM processes is a significant barrier to its adoption. Accreditation bodies play a crucial role in setting standards, ensuring quality, and providing recognition for skills and competencies in BIM. Without such bodies, there is a lack of assurance for clients and stakeholders about the quality and reliability of BIM services (Huang, 2018). This gap also hinders the development of a skilled workforce, as there is no formal recognition of BIM expertise.

Without accreditation, construction firms and professionals in Francophone Africa may be reluctant to invest in BIM, as there is no guarantee that their efforts will be recognized or valued in the marketplace. Furthermore, clients may be hesitant to adopt BIM-based project management if they cannot be assured of the quality and reliability of the professionals providing the service.

Overcoming the Challenges

While the barriers to BIM adoption in Francophone Africa are significant, they are not insurmountable. Several strategies can be implemented to address these challenges and accelerate the adoption of BIM in the region.

Raising Awareness Through Education and Training

One of the most important steps in overcoming the barriers to BIM adoption is raising awareness of the technology and its benefits (Mbarga and Mpele, 2019). This can be achieved through targeted education and training programs that provide professionals with the knowledge and skills they need to adopt BIM (Mbarga and Mpele, 2019). These programs should be designed to address the specific challenges faced by construction professionals in Francophone Africa, such as the language barrier and the high cost of software and training.

Educational institutions and professional bodies can play a key role in raising awareness of BIM by offering courses and workshops on the technology. These programs should be accessible to professionals at all levels of the construction industry, from students to experienced practitioners, and should focus on the practical applications of BIM in the region.

Providing Bilingual Training and Resources

To address the language barrier, training programs and resources should be made available in both French and English. This will ensure that professionals in Francophone Africa have access to the information they need to adopt BIM, regardless of their language proficiency. Bilingual trainers and simultaneous dual-language delivery can help bridge the gap, allowing participants to engage with the material in the language they are most comfortable with.

In addition, the creation of bilingual online resources, such as YouTube tutorials and open-access training materials, can further support the adoption of BIM. These resources should cover a wide range of topics, from basic concepts to advanced applications, and should be designed to be accessible to professionals with varying levels of experience.

Conclusion

While numerous challenges continue to hinder the adoption of BIM in Francophone Africa, the benefits far outweigh the hesitancy to embrace it. Although these obstacles are significant, a combination of targeted solutions and capacity-building through accredited courses can drive widespread adoption. Even with the limitations imposed by intermittent power outages on training efforts, these initiatives are far better than inaction. Francophone Africa can no longer afford to delay embracing BIM. The consequences of doing so would be particularly severe in the context of the global rise of Generative Artificial Intelligence. Africa must leapfrog into this technological revolution to avoid perpetually playing catch-up with other regions in construction project delivery.

Given Cameroon’s bilingual nature (French and English), it has the potential to become a center of BIM excellence, shaping experts and fostering knowledge exchange with other Francophone African countries. This, in turn, presents a significant opportunity for Africa as a whole, especially considering its large and youthful population, which has a strong propensity to embrace emerging technologies.

However, for effective leapfrogging and to avoid falling behind, the continent must develop enabling policies to promote the adoption of BIM. The creation of such policies does not need to start from scratch; existing models from other countries can be adapted to the African context. Additionally, policies that address the fragmented and informal nature of the construction industry should be developed and integrated with BIM-related initiatives. With broader adoption, economies of scale could lead software vendors to offer pricing models that take into account the income levels of developing countries.

Regardless of how quickly these policies are implemented and challenges like high software costs are addressed, the time is ripe for a more deliberate approach to designing, constructing, and managing assets in the built environment using BIM. Capacity building through training and consultancy will be crucial in this effort.

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References

· Abanda F.H., Manjia M.B., Pettang C., Tah J.H.M. and Nkeng G.E. (2014) Building Information Modelling in Cameroon: Overcoming existing challenges. International Journal of 3-D Information Modeling, Vol. 3(4)

· Abanda H. and Tah J.H. M. (2014) Free and open-source Building Information Modelling for developing countries. In: The ICT for Africa 2014 Conference, October 1-4, 2014 Yaoundé, Cameroon

· Al Hammoud E. (2021) Comparing BIM adoption around the world, Syria’s current status and future. International Journal of BIM and Engineering Science, Vol. 492), pp. 64-78

· El Hajj C., Martínez Montes G. and Jawad D. (2023) An overview of BIM adoption barriers in the Middle East and North Africa developing countries. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Vol. 30 (2), pp. 889-913.

· Huang Y. (2018) A Review of Approaches and Challenges of BIM Education in Construction Management. Journal of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Vol.  12, pp. 401-407.

· Malanda N., Manjia M.B., Abanda F.H. and Louzolo-Kimbembe P. (2019) The Challenge of Using Building Information Modelling in Developing Countries: The Case of the Republic of Congo. International Journal of Applied Engineering Research, Vol. 14(19), pp. 3797-3807

· Mashali, A., Elbeltagi, E., Motawa, I. and Elshikh, M. (2023) Stakeholder management challenges in mega construction projects: critical success factors. Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. 21(2), pp. 358-375.

· Mbarga R.O. and Mpele M. (2019) BIM review in AEC industry and lessons for Sub-Saharan Africa: case of Cameroon. International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology, Vol. 10(05), pp. 930-942

· Rocha G. and Mateus L. (2021) A Survey of Scan-to-BIM Practices in the AEC Industry - A Quantitative Analysis. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information, Vol. 10(8)

· Solange A.A., Jiangxue S. and Weiyi L. (2024) Investigation of the main barriers to the adoption of BIM in Togo. American Journal of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Vol. 12 (3), pp. 51-58