A Review on the Role of AI in BIM: Streamlining Design for Greater Efficiency and Compliance

Jaafar, Kamal; Sikora, Karol; Amir, Sanaa; Gharaibeh, Lina; Koona, Mohamad

doi:10.22115/scce.2025.1961

A Review on the Role of AI in BIM: Streamlining Design for Greater Efficiency and Compliance

Document Type : Regular Article

Authors

Kamal Jaafar ¹

Karol Sikora ¹

Sanaa Amir ²

Lina Gharaibeh ³

Mohamad Koona ⁴

¹ Associate Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Information Science, University of Wollongong in Dubai, UAE

² Assistant Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Information Science, University of Wollongong in Dubai, UAE

³ Assistant Professor, Faculty of Business, University of Wollongong in Dubai, UAE

⁴ BSc, Civil Engineering, Department of Engineering and Information Science, University of Wollongong in Dubai, UOWD, Dubai, UAE

10.22115/scce.2025.1961

Abstract

The increasing complexity of construction projects, driven by technological advancements and evolving lifestyle demands, has placed significant pressure on project timelines and resource management. Despite the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies to streamline processes, their underutilization or ineffective implementation has led to escalated costs and extended project cycles. The design phase, accounting for 15% to 20% of a project’s total lifecycle, is critical to timely project completion. Delays and inefficiencies in this phase can have a cascading impact on subsequent stages. This study critically examines the current application of AI-aided design software within the framework of Building Information Modeling (BIM), identifying areas for improvement and evaluating its potential to optimize design processes. By analyzing the performance of AI-generated designs in terms of accuracy, efficiency, generative capabilities, usability, and compliance, this research compares AI-driven methodologies with traditional design approaches. The findings aim to illuminate AI’s capacity to enhance precision, innovation, and speed in design iterations, offering valuable insights into its broader impact on the construction industry’s adaptability, cost management, and regulatory compliance.

Graphical Abstract

A Review on the Role of AI in BIM: Streamlining Design for Greater Efficiency and Compliance

Highlights

· Integrated AI design workflow: The study introduces a structured AI-driven architectural design workflow using the ARCHITEChTURE platform, combining CNNs, NLP, and reinforcement learning for generative spatial optimization

· Quantitative and qualitative performance evaluation: Simulation outputs were evaluated across four international case studies using metrics such as TPR, AUC, F1-score, and MCC, confirming AI’s effectiveness in reducing design time and improving layout efficiency

· Identified critical limitations in current AI tools: The research outlines five core limitations of AI in architectural design, including cultural insensitivity, semantic shallowness, and limited adaptability to complex spatial logic

· Actionable roadmap for future research: The paper proposes six targeted future directions including enhancing semantic capabilities, integrating explainable AI, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration between architects and AI developers

Keywords

Artificial intelligence (AI)

Building information modeling (BIM)

Architectural design optimization

Construction project efficiency

Subjects

Artificial Neural Networks

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