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THE SATISFACTION LEVEL OF BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING IN THE

INTERIOR DESIGN INDUSTRY

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 THE SATISFACTION LEVEL OF BUILDING INFORMATION
MODELLING IN THE INTERIOR DESIGN INDUSTRY
Muhammad Danial Ismail1
Center of Interior Architecture Studies
Faculty of Architecture, Planning and Surveying,
Universiti Teknologi MARA Puncak Alam Selangor, Malaysia.
mdanial@uitm.edu.my

Abu Bakar Abd Hamid2

Center of Interior Architecture Studies
Faculty of Architecture, Planning and Surveying,
Universiti Teknologi MARA Puncak Alam Selangor, Malaysia.
abah7591@uitm.edu.my

Nor Hazirah Hasri3

Center of Interior Architecture Studies
Faculty of Architecture, Planning and Surveying,
Universiti Teknologi MARA Puncak Alam Selangor, Malaysia.
norhazirah@uitm.edu.my

ABSTRACT

Today, Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology is a new tool to enhance the scope
of work and quality of processes in the construction industry that has developed among the
countries globally in architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry. Therefore,
implementation of BIM in the interior design industry has to apply in the scope of work for interior
design firms. Interior design is still a new industry using BIM technology with the improvement of
the digital tools, exchange of information and appropriate design tools. Furthermore, the integration
of BIM technology and design process within interior design has increased time to time and
attracted the interior design firms to implement BIM in the industry. However, there are many
issues and gaps that still exist when using BIM tools. The aim of this study is to justify the level of
satisfaction of BIM usage among interior design firms from the perspective of the interior design
industry. This study also to identify the key influential factors of BIM usage in order to improve the
effeciency and effectiveness of BIM in interior design industry. The area of study will cover the
interior design firms in Klang Valley, their satisfaction level, development of theoritical model study
and key factors of satisfaction level. The research finding gathers significance information on BIM
implementation in the interior design firms.

Key Words: Building Information Modelling, Interior Design, Interior Design Industry, Interior
Design Practice

1. INTRODUCTION

Currently, Malaysia’s construction sector is facing extreme problems and challenges to

increase the productivity, quality and value in projects such as time delays, cost overrun and the
quality of production by using old technology or conventional methods (CIDB, 2009 and Zaini,
2010). The complexity in the construction industry is caused by too many parties involved in the
process of documentation between the exchange of information among the industry players. With
huge quantities of documents and drawings, improper management and miscommunication are
the key factors that cause failure to manage the quality of project progression (Wikforss & Lofgren,
2007).
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 Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a system with support of a 3D-model to generate and
manage building data that provides AEC professionals with a platform to collaborate. This system
is integrated with CAD and ICT tools which manage spatial information data, material properties,
design and construction stages of a projects. BIM technology will ensure that all the processes and
data is centralised and updated in real-time and help increase rapid delivery of data and
information. Previously, it was common for the AEC industry to use BIM as a visualisation tool and
for organisation, but currently the usage of BIM has upgraded to a platform that improves the
quality of processes and performance in the life-cycle of building (Lu et al., 2012).
Globally, the information technology usage is very important to ensure that the production
and management are efficient in the construction industry (Rezgui & Zarli, 2006). Building
Information Modelling is designed to solve project related issues by using creative technical
system and management system in the construction industry. BIM is also defined as a platform to
improvise the information data with new information analysis (Succar, 2009) and accurate decision
processes of construction (AGC, 2006). Furthermore, BIM is broadly applied in the project life
cycle such as visualisation, communication, scheduling and teamwork (Hammond et al., 2014)
which is involving the planning, design, operation and construction phases (Volk et al., 2014).
The implementation of BIM technology will enhance the knowledge and skill to ensure the
designer and stakeholders are satisfied with the project schedule, efficiency of work quality and
documentation. Some interior design firms are satisfied with the service and technology
performance despite the financial aspects while using BIM technology (Abd Hamid & Embi, 2020).
Presently, from the perspective of the interior design industry, the research on BIM
adoption is still not enough and there is a lack of information. Therefore, this study on the
satisfaction level of BIM usage in the interior design industry will be discuss from the perspective of
all industry players in Malaysia context, from technology adoption and a theoretical model of
factors influencing BIM satisfaction. The data were analysed with statistical methods based on the
research result and data collection on BIM satisfaction level.
This paper aims to justify the factors of satisfaction level of BIM usage and key factors of
satisfaction level among interior design industry in Malaysia context using SPSS software to
generate the data analysis and results.

2. LITERATURE REVIEW

The adoption of BIM technology globally generates the high-value impact in the construction
industry such as United Kingdom (UK), Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Denmark and other
countries has showed interest in using BIM such as North America, Canada, Finland, and Norway
with different level of implementation of BIM (Khalfan et. al., 2012 and Alberto, 2013). Some value
improvises such as project quality, the planning scope, schedule planning, reducing project
delivery time and cost, visualisation and technology are importance in construction industry.

2.1. BIM Definition

Building Information Modelling is set to improvise and modernise the method in the
construction industry. According to US National Institute of Building Sciences (2007), BIM is
defined as ‘the characteristics of digital physical and functional of a facility to shared knowledge
and resource information to assist a reliable basis in life-cycle concept. However, National BIM
Standard (NBIMS) (2010), stated that BIM technology as, “a digital to form a reliable basis during
lifecycle for interoperability of a facility”. RIBA (2014), defines BIM as the process to generate and
manage the data during lifecycle to increase the productivity in design and construction process.
BIM is a method or process that to produce 3D modelling of buildings created by designers
or contractors to integrate the drawings and documents in project team (Gardiner, 2013) which
merged the information of data into constructing and maintenance model. With BIM, the data and
process are working by sharing with maximum effectiveness without gaps between stages.

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2.2 The Advantage of Building Information Modelling in Interior Design

The BIM technology will convey a new paradigm in the construction industry especially for
interior design. There are several factors that can improve interior design by using BIM technology.
Based on previous studies, the benefits of BIM are divided in two situations. Short-term benefits
are more to acknowledging and as a learning process while going through the project using BIM.
Long-term benefits require a completed project before proceeding to another project (McGraw,
2012). The integration of BIM technology ensures increased project performance such as cost,
improved communication and information sharing, and enhancing the quality and productivity to be
more efficient compared to the conventional or traditional project methods (Byrde et. al., 2013).

Table 1 Advantage of BIM Technology for Interior Design (Yi and Wang, 2016)
Factors
Information Modelling
Visualisation Analysis
Visual Detailing
Information Sharing and
Collaboration
Description
With BIM software, the component of library were stored as several entities
to establish the member composition with automatically generated interior
design components and drawings.
BIM is helping design to develop a model results in multiple aspects for the
visual analysis such as spatial analysis and effect analysis to ensure the
quality of the design making it more convenient.
The several aspects such as lighting, material and finishes, furniture and
design process requires attention and detailed development. With BIM
technology, it enables the designer to easily conduct visual analysis to get
the final results of the design.
BIM will provide coordination and communication for all the basic aspects in
the construction works with the database and information integrated and
stored to expand the collaborative design through the network platform.

The implementation of BIM technology for interior design has developed 3D software for
multiple-used during the construction development, conceptual analysis, visual renderings and
compilation of documentation incorporated between the design drawing to ensure the direction,
efficiency and quality is improved. The industry players have proved that BIM technology is very
sufficient and effective in the spatial conceptual process to achieve the optimal design information
(Yi and Wang, 2016).
According to CIDB (2016), the readiness level of BIM usage among the construction
industry in Malaysia are still low which is 41% the construction industry lacking to understand the
policies on BIM implementation while 72% lacking on financial incentive to using BIM.
Furthermore, 64% of construction players failed to invest in training BIM and 67% failed to invest
for software and hardware for BIM adoption.

2.2 The Adoption of BIM in Interior Design

The task for interior designers is to design and develop space to be aesthetically pleasing
and a functional interior environment based on the client’s needs. As an interior designer, the
responsibility to solve problems with integration of space planning, material and finishes,
ventilation and lighting system collaborate between BIM technology and interior space in the
development process. The 3D visualisation in BIM model can communicate and comply with
functions by different alternative solution and modification in BIM technology.
The efficiency of BIM technology has proven in many factors such as the communication
and information process, cost and time, and integration between other tasks with intelligent
technology can help improvement space planning, designing and construction method, and
infrastructure development (Holzer, 2015 and Autodesk, 2014). By implementation of BIM, interior
design scope can be divided into panorama visualisation, construction review, clash detective and
others (Figure 1).

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 Figure 2 The Different BIM Implementation in Interior Design ( Jhang and Lin, 2016)

Panorama
Visualization

Alternative Clash
Selection Detective

BIM

Constructio
Custom n Sequence
Modification
Review

Interface
Review

3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The research method was develop based on the literature and data collection. This study
was conducted using mix-methods to find out the level of satisfaction of BIM implementation for
interior design firms in Malaysia context. Several approaches were acknowledged in collecting
data such as review on previous research, interviews with expertise in interior design,
questionnaire survey and preliminary study in quantitative and qualitative methods. This method
was conducted with pilot study to find out the variables and key factors on implementation of BIM
in the interior design industry. The pilot study was conducted by choosing several interior design
firms in Klang Valley to get a pre-review from practitioners and expertise.
In this study, the aims are to justify the level of satisfaction of BIM usage among interior
design firms from the perspective of the interior design industry in Malaysia. The focus group were
chosen among interior design firms in Klang Valley which are divided into three (3) sizes of
organisation which is small, medium and big firms which total into sixty-three (63) interior design
firms as respondents in this survey. Most of the interior design firms are well established and
already known in Klang Valley region. The selection of interior design firms in this study are based
on the firms are registered with Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia (LAM). Several justifications were
needed to select because not all the registered companies under LAM are interior design firms,
some of them are architect firms, contractor and decoration company.
In this methodology, the process to develop a questionnaire design is based on the validation
from expertise which are from among the interior design industry and academicians. In this stage,
the preliminary and pilot study was made to ensure the process for validation and collecting data
are accurate and reliability (Figure 2). The questionnaire survey was developed from literature
review and discussions with interior designers based on the problems and issues from previous
studies. The data analysis was analysed through empirical analysis by using Statistical Package
for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The discussion and result are discussed in the outcome of this
study.

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 Figure 2 Research Methodology Process

4. DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION

This study was conducted with a mix-method (Quantitative and Qualitative); questionnaire
survey was distributed to sixty-three (63) interior design firms in Klang Valley area, and interviews
were done with interior design expertise that used BIM in practice. The respondents were chosen
according to the registered company with Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia (LAM) and divided in three (3)
groups which is small, medium and big organisations.

4.1 Background of Respondents

According to Figure 3, its shows the sizes of interior design firms; small, medium and big
firms. These categories are; 1 – 6 staffs for small size, 7 – 15 staffs for medium size and 16 and
more staffs for big size interior design firms.

Figure 3 Size of Interior Design Firms

The pie chart shows twenty-seven (27) or forty-three percent (43%) respondents for small
interior design firm, twenty-one (21) or thirty-three percent (33%) respondents for medium interior
design firm and fifteen (15) or twenty-four percent (24%) respondents for big interior design firm.
The small interior design firms are the most significant respondents in this survey. Most of the
category of big interior design firms are more established if compared to of small interior design
firms.

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4.2 Categories of Firms

In this study, it was find out the categories of interior design firms. It is divided in interior
design consultant, design and build, contractors and others. According to Figure 4, the category of
interior design consultant is the highest category with sixty-eight percent (68%) respondents and
followed by the design and build categories with twenty-five percent (25%) respondents. However,
only seven percent (7%) in contractor category in this survey. From that, the categories of the
interior design consultant are very prominent with more fifty percent (50%) which are consultant
type businesses.

Figure 4 Categories of Firms

4.3 BIM Implementation and Knowledge

Implementation of BIM is still new in interior design industry as compared to other

disciplines in the construction industry in Malaysia. The Malaysian interior design industry is still
lacking of knowledge regarding BIM usage. According to the Table 2, there are sixty percent (60%)
respondents that do not have knowledge, compared to forty percent (40%) respondents that know
about BIM. It is clearly shown that small interior design firms still have a massive gap regarding
BIM with twenty-seven (17) respondents represent twenty-seven percent (27%). There is very
crucial for the interior design industry, who are left behind as compared to others profession in the
construction industry in Malaysia.
BIM technology is very important to enhance and develop the process in construction
industry especially in architecture, engineering and construction (AEC). For that, the
implementation of BIM must apply in interior design industry. Based on the Table 2, eighty-one
percent (81%) respondents are not using BIM compared nineteen percent (19%) respondents are
using BIM. This shows a huge gap among interior design firms using BIM technology.
There are thirty-seven percent (37%) respondents from small interior design firms that do
not use BIM technology, followed by medium interior design firms with twenty-five percent (25%)
and big interior design firms with nineteen percent (19%). The main factors why they are not using
BIM technology is cost and still using conventional practice methods.

Table 2 Implementation and general knowledge of BIM

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4.4 The Level of Satisfaction Using BIM in Interior Design Firms

BIM implementation in the construction industry is important to enhance the knowledge and
skill. In this study, the several factors of the satisfaction level were identified among interior design
firms. According to Table 3, the level of satisfaction was analysed through descriptive analysis
which is a mean score of 4.32 for small interior design firms, followed by medium interior design
firms with a mean score of 4.05 and big interior design firms with a mean score of 3.29. The small
interior design firms are higher with a mean score of 4.32 which is a higher satisfaction level. The
highest factors of satisfaction level with a mean score of 4.75 use BIM in the organisation,
Software usage in BIM and Service Performance compared to other variables. Therefore, other
factors is an implementation of BIM in the design stage with a mean score of 4.50 for small interior
design firms.
The descriptive analysis was used for medium interior design firms with mean score of 4.05
where is the most satisfying level with mean score 4.40 are BIM users in the organisation and
design stage. It shows that the success in the design stage is a result of using BIM. The
satisfaction level for medium interior design firms are average with mean score of 4.00 with the
lowest mean score of 3.60 for software usage. There are two factors with mean score 3.80 which
is the relationship between stakeholders and data processing for medium interior design firms.

Table 3 The Level of Satisfaction Using BIM

However, the overall mean score is 3.29 for big interior design firms with the lowest
satisfaction level is working methods when using BIM with mean score of 2.33 and the highest
mean score of 4.67 for service performance satisfaction level. Even though there are differences
with service performance satisfaction level and working methods satisfaction level, it is still having
a good potential for a better service. Overall mean score in range is 3.00 which is for big interior
design firms, which are still waiting to see how effective and beneficial BIM is for their firms.
In this study, it is shown that the service performance satisfaction level is the highest with
mean score 4.54 followed the implementation of BIM in the design stage with mean score of 4.10
and BIM implementation in the organisation with mean score of 4.05. The other satisfaction factors
with mean score of 3.82 is data processing and followed with mean score of 3.80 which is software
usage in BIM technology. For the working methods when using BIM with mean score of 3.59,
some of the interior design firms who are willing to use BIM technology and some of them
preferred traditional method such as AutoCAD software. The lowest mean score shows that the
relationship between stakeholders with mean score 3.35.

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4.5 The Level of Readiness and Awareness in BIM Implementation.

The BIM technology is still new and uncertain for future implementation in the interior
design firms in Malaysia. In this study, Figure 5 shows the Level of Awareness and Readiness of
BIM implementation among interior design firms in Malaysia based on data survey.
The data shows that from the twenty-seven (27) respondents, only ten (10) respondents
from small interior design firms that show the level of awareness as moderate, followed eleven (11)
respondents from twenty-one (21) respondents for medium interior design firms that are aware the
implementation of BIM. Otherwise, out of fifteen (15) respondents only eight (8) respondents from
big interior design firms are aware of BIM usage.

Figure 5 The Level of Awareness and Readiness of BIM Implementation in Interior Design Firms

This descriptive analysis also shows the readiness level for interior design firms in Malaysia
as shown in Figure 5. The data illustrate that only twelve (12) small interior design firms are ready
to use BIM technology, followed the medium interior design firms with three (3) respondents and
the big interior design firms with six (6) respondents extremely ready to implement BIM technology
in their interior design practice.

5. CONCLUSION

This study is focusing on the level of satisfaction of interior design firms in Malaysia using BIM
technology with exploration data and survey. The data shows that the diversity of variables and
barriers are contributing factors of why the interior design industry are still behind form using BIM
technology compared to other AEC professionals in Malaysia. The data gathered justify that small
interior design firms are tougher to implement BIM technology because due to financial constraints
and are still new to BIM.
Several factors form this study justifies the importance and awareness of using BIM technology
in the interior design industry. Some of the interior design firms are ready to using BIM but due of
several constraints such as financial and technological issues, they are not willing to implement
BIM technology.
The satisfaction level among interior design firms considering BIM are extremely moderate and
are ready to use BIM technology. Some incentives are needed to promote BIM such as subsidies
and further promotion from the government to encourage the interior design industry to use BIM
technology for submission drawing and projects.

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