IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v11y2019i5p1316-d210431.html

An Empirical Study on the Acceptance of 4D BIM in EPC Projects in China

Author

Listed:
  • Pan Gong

    (School of Construction Management and Real Estate, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China)

  • Ningshuang Zeng

    (Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44780 Bochum, Germany)

  • Kunhui Ye

    (School of Construction Management and Real Estate, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China)

  • Markus König

    (Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44780 Bochum, Germany)

Abstract

The engineering-procurement-construction (EPC) method has the potential to help construction projects achieve sustainable performance, e.g., the contractor’s early involvement, cost savings, and a reduced schedule. However, high uncertainties and complexities are contained in EPC projects. 4D BIM (Building Information Modeling) with abilities to simplify the time and space relationships of construction activities and support multi-party information sharing is beneficial to EPC project management. The behavior pattern of the project personnel toward accepting 4D BIM information systems or tools needs to be explored. Therefore, a research model of the acceptance of 4D BIM in EPC projects with eight latent constructs is proposed through a literature review of technology acceptance theories. Data is collected from a questionnaire survey and interviews. Research hypotheses are examined using PLS-SEM (partial least squares-structural equation modeling). Empirical evidence is collected from China, and implications to the developing countries facing the challenge of developing a technology-intensive construction industry are provided: (1) Adopting 4D BIM in the EPC project is beneficial; (2) the task-technology fit plays a leading role in technology acceptance; (3) the management incentive is inefficient at the operational stage. Suggestions for future research on 4D BIM acceptance in complex construction projects with abundant data and alternative models are provided.

Suggested Citation

  • Pan Gong & Ningshuang Zeng & Kunhui Ye & Markus König, 2019. "An Empirical Study on the Acceptance of 4D BIM in EPC Projects in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-19, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:5:p:1316-:d:210431
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/5/1316/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/5/1316/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kumar, Bipul, 2012. "Theory of Planned Behaviour Approach to Understand the Purchasing Behaviour for Environmentally Sustainable Products," IIMA Working Papers WP2012-12-08, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Research and Publication Department.
    2. Ajzen, Icek, 1991. "The theory of planned behavior," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 179-211, December.
    3. John D'Ambra & Concepción S. Wilson & Shahriar Akter, 2013. "Application of the task‐technology fit model to structure and evaluate the adoption of E‐books by Academics," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 64(1), pages 48-64, January.
    4. Necmi K. Avkiran & Christian M. Ringle (ed.), 2018. "Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling," International Series in Operations Research and Management Science, Springer, number 978-3-319-71691-6, March.
    5. Kuo-Yu Huang & Yea-Ru Chuang, 2016. "A task–technology fit view of job search website impact on performance effects: An empirical analysis from Taiwan," Cogent Business & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 3(1), pages 1253943-125, December.
    6. M. Motiar Rahman & Mohan Kumaraswamy, 2002. "Joint risk management through transactionally efficient relational contracting," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(1), pages 45-54.
    7. Viswanath Venkatesh & Fred D. Davis, 2000. "A Theoretical Extension of the Technology Acceptance Model: Four Longitudinal Field Studies," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 46(2), pages 186-204, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Zezhou Wu & Mingyang Jiang & Yuzhu Cai & Hao Wang & Shenghan Li, 2019. "What Hinders the Development of Green Building? An Investigation of China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-18, August.
    2. Dewu Zhu & Mohd Nizam Ab Rahman & Nor Kamaliana Khamis, 2025. "Quantifying the Impact of Lean Construction Practices on Sustainability Performance in Chinese EPC Projects: A PLS-SEM Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-17, June.
    3. Mohammad Mayouf & Jamie Jones & Faris Elghaish & Hassan Emam & E. M. A. C. Ekanayake & Ilnaz Ashayeri, 2024. "Revolutionising the 4D BIM Process to Support Scheduling Requirements in Modular Construction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-17, January.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Abdul Waheed Siyal & Ding Donghong & Waheed Ali Umrani & Saeed Siyal & Shaharbano Bhand, 2019. "Predicting Mobile Banking Acceptance and Loyalty in Chinese Bank Customers," SAGE Open, , vol. 9(2), pages 21582440198, April.
    2. Anurag Singh & Utkarsh Goel & Shailendra Kumar & Amar Johri, 2025. "Unveiling the attitudinal factors: an integration of TPB and SCT in understanding investor intention towards equity investments," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-14, December.
    3. Sudarsan Jayasingh & T. Girija & Sivakumar Arunkumar, 2021. "Factors Influencing Consumers’ Purchase Intention towards Electric Two-Wheelers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-20, November.
    4. Zhang, Kai & Cheng, Xiaoting, 2025. "Determinants of consumers’ intentions to use smart home devices from the perspective of perceived value: A mixed SEM, NCA, and fsQCA study," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    5. Mäntymäki, Matti & Salo, Jari, 2013. "Purchasing behavior in social virtual worlds: An examination of Habbo Hotel," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 282-290.
    6. Fatima Zahra Barrane & Gahima Egide Karuranga & Diane Poulin, 2018. "Technology Adoption and Diffusion: A New Application of the UTAUT Model," International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management (IJITM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 15(06), pages 1-19, December.
    7. Joan Torrent-Sellens & Cristian Salazar-Concha & Pilar Ficapal-Cusí & Francesc Saigí-Rubió, 2021. "Using Digital Platforms to Promote Blood Donation: Motivational and Preliminary Evidence from Latin America and Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-17, April.
    8. Alfiero, Simona & Battisti, Enrico & Ηadjielias, Elias, 2022. "Black box technology, usage-based insurance, and prediction of purchase behavior: Evidence from the auto insurance sector," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    9. Cowan, Kelly R. & Daim, Tugrul U., 2011. "Review of technology acquisition and adoption research in the energy sector," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 183-199.
    10. Chia-Chien Hsu & Brian Sandford & Chia-Ju Ling & Ching-Torng Lin, 2021. "Can the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) Help Explain Subjective Well-Being in Senior Citizens due to Gateball Participation?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-15, August.
    11. Asmussen, Katherine E. & Mondal, Aupal & Bhat, Chandra R., 2022. "Adoption of partially automated vehicle technology features and impacts on vehicle miles of travel (VMT)," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 156-179.
    12. Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih & Ibrahim A. Elshaer, 2023. "Risk-Taking, Financial Knowledge, and Risky Investment Intention: Expanding Theory of Planned Behavior Using a Moderating-Mediating Model," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-17, January.
    13. Peter Bou Saba & Régis Meissonier, 2016. "Conflict contagion effects from previous IT projects: action research during preliminary phases of a DST implementation project [Effets de contagion de conflits de projets TI antérieurs:Une recherche-action lors des phases préliminaires d'un proje," Post-Print hal-02161336, HAL.
    14. Sanjeev Verma, 2015. "Harnessing the Benefit of Social Networking Sites for Intentional Social Action: Determinants and Challenges," Vision, , vol. 19(2), pages 104-111, June.
    15. Queiroz, Maciel M. & Fosso Wamba, Samuel, 2019. "Blockchain adoption challenges in supply chain: An empirical investigation of the main drivers in India and the USA," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 70-82.
    16. Sarv Devaraj & Ming Fan & Rajiv Kohli, 2002. "Antecedents of B2C Channel Satisfaction and Preference: Validating e-Commerce Metrics," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 13(3), pages 316-333, September.
    17. Gansser, Oliver Alexander & Reich, Christina Stefanie, 2021. "A new acceptance model for artificial intelligence with extensions to UTAUT2: An empirical study in three segments of application," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    18. Chua Chang Jin & Lim Chee Seong & Aye Aye Khin, 2019. "Factors Affecting the Consumer Acceptance towards Fintech Products and Services in Malaysia," International Journal of Asian Social Science, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 9(1), pages 59-65, January.
    19. Liobikienė, Genovaitė & Mandravickaitė, Justina & Bernatonienė, Jurga, 2016. "Theory of planned behavior approach to understand the green purchasing behavior in the EU: A cross-cultural study," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 38-46.
    20. Triadi Agung Sudarto & Dodik Juliardi, 2022. "The effect of perceptions on tax evasion and tax sanction on ethical behaviour of accounting student compliance," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 11(10), pages 206-216, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:5:p:1316-:d:210431. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.