Ethics and Data Privacy in BIM

Nura ALHallak^1,*, Hassan M. Ali², Mohamed Shaban³

¹Building Information Modeling and Management Master Programme, Syrian Virtual University, Damascus, Syria

²Doctorate student of construction Engineering & Management Dept., Civil Eng. Faculty, Homs University, Syria

³Professor in the Master's Program in Building Information Modeling and Management at the Syrian Virtual University, Damascus, Syria

Emails: noura95arc@gmail.com; Engmangment999@gmail.com; t_mshaban@svuonline.org

Abstract

The rapid advancement of Building Information Modeling (BIM) has revolutionized the construction industry, enabling collaborative workflows among architects, engineers, contractors, and clients. However, it has introduced critical ethical and legal challenges related to data ownership, intellectual property rights, and privacy. This thesis explores these issues by analyzing legal frameworks, contractual agreements, and ethical considerations governing BIM data ownership. It examines stakeholder roles, recurring disputes, and the impact of BIM’s collaborative environment, with a focus on global and regional contractual adequacy. Findings reveal frequent conflicts between engineering teams and clients over intellectual property, highlighting the need for explicit contractual provisions and ethical guidelines addressing privacy, consent, and data control. The study proposes actionable recommendations to establish a robust framework for equitable, transparent, and sustainable data management in the construction sector.

Keywords: Legal / Contractual frameworks; Stakeholders in BIM projects; Contractual issues; Intellectual Property Rights (IPR); Model ownership; BIM contract practices; Contractual governance; Contractual / Legal risks; Contract requirements