Effective quality monitoring of infrastructure projects using building information modelling (BIM): a systematic review

Quality management in infrastructure construction projects remains one of the most persistent challenges confronting the civil engineering sector, characterised by fragmented processes, inadequate real-time information, and heavy reliance on manual inspection methods that are both time-consuming and error-prone. Building Information Modelling (BIM) has emerged as a transformative digital platform capable of fundamentally restructuring how quality is planned, monitored, and assured in infrastructure projects. This paper presents a comprehensive systematic review of 30 peer-reviewed studies, conference proceedings, and research articles published between 2011 and 2025, examining the application of BIM for quality monitoring in infrastructure construction. The review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework, with literature sourced from Scopus, Web of Science, ASCE Library, and Google Scholar using a structured search protocol. Thematic synthesis was performed across five major domains: (i) foundational BIM quality management frameworks for infrastructure; (ii) BIM-based clash detection, dimensional accuracy, and code compliance monitoring; (iii) integration of BIM with IoT, GIS, and advanced sensing technologies for quality monitoring; (iv) 4D and 5D BIM for integrated schedule, cost, and quality management; and (v) empirical evidence from case studies on BIM quality monitoring performance. Findings demonstrate that BIM-enabled quality monitoring reduces construction defects by 25–35%, project timelines by 15–20%, and associated rework costs by 10–20%, while significantly improving stakeholder communication and regulatory compliance. Critical research gaps are identified, particularly the scarcity of validated field-based BIM quality monitoring models for large-scale infrastructure projects in developing economies. A conceptual framework for BIM-based quality monitoring in infrastructure projects is proposed, and priority directions for future research are articulated. This review contributes to the growing body of knowledge on digital quality management in construction and provides a structured foundation for researchers and practitioners advancing BIM adoption in the infrastructure sector.