Application of building information modeling in campus facilities management : A case of Universiti Utara Malaysia

This study aims to explore the feasibility of applying Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the campus facilities management of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), serving as a representative case of facilities management scenarios in Malaysian higher education. With the expansion and aging of building assets in universities, the traditional management model has gradually exposed problems such as fragmented information, delayed response, and weak cross-departmental collaboration. As a digital integration platform covering the entire building lifecycle, BIM has demonstrated significant advantages in global construction management. However, its application in Malaysian higher education facilities management remains in its infancy. This study adopted a qualitative case study method, using semi-structured interviews with staff from UUM’s Development and Maintenance Department (JPP) as the primary data source, and conducted open, axial, and selective coding analyses using NVivo. The research identified key issues and their underlying causes in the current management system, and through thematic analysis, distilled five feasibility dimensions for BIM implementation: system adaptability, management improvement drive, organizational willingness to accept, capacity and resource guarantee, and strategic promotion mechanism. The findings indicate that BIM is conditionally feasible in UUM, with successful implementation depending on organizational commitment, technical readiness, and supportive policies. This research fills a gap in the application of BIM in campus facilities management in Malaysian universities and provides a structured practical pathway and theoretical reference for the digital transformation of higher education institutions