Research into a BIM-based transparency and trust mechanism for the Irish construction supply chain: a pathway to systemic delivery

Large-scale public infrastructure projects in Ireland consistently face cost overruns and delivery delays, yet research has not fully clarified how digital systems function as governance mechanisms rather than mere coordination tools. This study examines how BIM, within a broader Industry 4.0 and digital governance context, influences project delivery by shaping information transparency and cross-organizational trust.

This study adopts a qualitative comparative case study of the National Children’s Hospital and MetroLink projects, supported by systematic content analysis of publicly available project documents, government reports, audit materials, and parliamentary records. The analysis compares different levels of institutional embedding of BIM across the two cases.

The findings indicate that BIM does not automatically improve project outcomes. Its value is realized only when project information is embedded into contractual rules, access rights, audit trails, and accountability mechanisms, ensuring that information is authoritative and verifiable across organizations. Where institutional embedding is weak, transparency remains fragmented, leading to interpretive conflicts and unstable performance. Conversely, stronger embedding fosters stable expectations, coherent governance, and reduced downstream risks.

This research contributes by conceptualizing BIM/CDE as governance infrastructure, framing transparency as an institutional outcome rather than mere information visibility, and showing how institutionalized transparency supports trust and systemic delivery.