Evolution of Building Information Modelling (BIM) Policy: The Case of Hong Kong

Around the world many governments are increasingly pushing for wide-scale adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Central to this drive are policy-backed mandates making BIM use compulsory for firms engaged on public sector construction projects. Additional to mandates, policy instruments with varied implications are often deployed to promote widespread use of BIM. Yet, there is scant understanding about existing policy instruments and the varied impacts they have on the realization of BIM use. This paper, based on the case of the Hong Kong AEC industry, examines the BIM policy instruments, their evolution and varied impacts on BIM adoption. Based on an in-depth content analysis, the study offers an overview of the process of BIM policy implementation. The findings reveal the steps taken by public organizations and professional associations in guiding and promoting BIM adoption and implementation, and the impacts derived from the combination use of different policy instruments, including regulatory instruments, economic instruments, cooperative and standard-based instruments, and communicative and informative instruments. This paper contributes to understanding of utilization of multiple BIM policy instruments. The insights could inform approaches adopted by policymakers as they explore policy designs for industry-wide technological transformation.