BIM Implementation in post-war reconstruction of Ukraine

As of January 2024, Ukraine has suffered the extensive destruction of over 160,000 buildings, structures, and infrastructure objects due to the shelling resulting from the ongoing war. After the conflict, the country will undergo large-scale reconstruction, following European standards. However, Ukraine’s construction industry remains somewhat outdated, particularly in digital technologies like BIM (Building Information Modeling). Despite this, Ukraine has a growing number of young professionals providing BIM services to international clients. A collaborative study between Loughborough University (UK) and the O.M. Beketov National University of Urban Economy (Ukraine) examined the current state of BIM in Ukraine. The research aimed to develop a strategy for integrating BIM into post-war reconstruction, based on a review of the design and construction sectors. The findings showed that BIM use in Ukraine is driven by international market demands, requiring changes in how BIM is adopted locally. A survey of 234 employees from Ukrainian outsourcing companies and interviews with seven large construction firms in Eastern Ukraine revealed barriers to BIM adoption. These included low wages, a lack of incentives for large firms, bureaucratic inefficiencies, corruption, outdated construction management, and weak regulations. This study provides recommendations to accelerate BIM integration in Ukraine’s construction industry during the post-war rebuilding phase.