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13 Methodology The research team adopted multiple approaches to ade- quately address the breadth and depth of issues of the research objectives. First, a detailed literature review was conducted to collect information about the CIM tools and functions that are used on projects, their implementation challenges, and result- ing lessons learned. The scope of the review included pertinent FHWA and NCHRP publications, state DOT specifications, academic journals, and other reliable open source data on CIM (Chapter 2). This process was followed by two nationwide sur- veys designed to capture the levels of integration of CIM tech- nologies for project delivery across all DOTs. The outcomes of the review led to refining the queries for the surveys, making them focused on issues relevant for CIM. The analysis of the survey data helped identify projects that have demonstrated successful integration of one or more CIM technologies (Chapter 5). The research team investigated these projects to determine the characteristics and delivery processes that led to the effective use of CIM technologies. The team obtained detailed information for each project through interviews with representatives from each agency and project team. The research team also documented lessons learned concerning benefits and challenges to synthesize the best practices for implementation (Chapter 6). The team developed the three- stage framework that will help agencies assess their current level of CIM integration, determine the future investment needs, and consider the contract and legal issues arising as a result of digital project delivery (Chapter 7). Figure 4.1 dis- plays the research methodology and the associated processes. Chapter 2 gave an overview of the CIM tools and their impact on different functions that constitute the project deliv- ery process. It provides an understanding of how these func- tions interact to enable the transition to digital workflow on projects. It describes a workflow for CIM that encompasses key concepts and components that will form the major require- ments of digital project delivery in the future. Data, rather than documents, will form the central component for projects using CIM (Guo et al. 2014). C H A P T E R 4 Figure 4.1. Research methodology.
