Prioritisation of BIM-based safety management features using the analytic hierarchy process.

Abstract

The construction industry is widely recognised as one of the most hazardous sectors due to its dynamic environment, complex processes, and high exposure to safety risks. Improving safety performance, therefore, requires effective management strategies supported by advanced technologies. Building Information Modelling (BIM) has emerged as a valuable tool for enhancing safety management throughout the building lifecycle. This study aims to prioritise key BIM-based safety management features using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Three evaluation criteria, i.e. (i) importance, (ii) effectiveness, and (iii) ease of implementation, were used to assess three major BIM safety feature, including Prevention through Design (PtD), Automated Hazard Identification (AHI), and Emergency planning and simulation (EPS). Data were collected from ten BIM experts through pairwise comparisons, and the results were analysed using AHP. The findings indicate that importance is the most influential criterion. Among the features, PtD ranked highest, followed by Automated Hazards Identification (AHI), and Emergency Planning Simulation (EPS). The results highlight the significance of proactive design-based safety strategies and guide prioritising BIM-enabled safety interventions in construction safety practices.