BIM in Public Investment Projects: Adoption, Impact, Policies and Future Directions

The digital transformation of the public construction sector is a strategic imperative for governments seeking to optimize resources and make processes transparent. Building Information Modeling (BIM) emerges as a central methodology in this transition, integrating multidisciplinary data to manage projects throughout their life cycle. Globally, the BIM market reached USD 8.85 billion in 2024, projecting growth of 11.2% annually until 2034. In Latin America, eight countries make up the BIM Network of Latin American Governments, evidencing a regional commitment to accelerate the digitalization of the public sector. Methodology, this study adopts a systematic review approach, analyzing literature indexed in high-impact scientific databases (Scopus Q1-Q2), complemented by technical reports from multilateral organizations such as the IDB and recent sectoral reports (2021-2025). Implementation experiences in Spain, Chile, Brazil and Peru were examined, identifying adoption patterns, persistent barriers and critical success factors through multilevel comparative analysis. Results and Discussion, empirical evidence demonstrates significant quantifiable impacts: reduction of deadlines between 15-25%, reduction of costs of 10-30%, and elimination of design errors by up to 70% through early detection of interferences. Spain recorded a 230% increase in BIM tenders between 2017-2020 after implementing mandatory mandates, while Chile consolidated its regional leadership through the BIM Plan integrated with academia and industry. However, substantial barriers persist in emerging economies: high initial investment, shortage of skilled professionals (affecting 50-65% of organizations), and outdated contractual frameworks that hinder collaboration. 4D/5D BIM applications demonstrate transformative potential, reducing unbudgeted costs by up to 40% and integrating time scheduling with real-time cost estimation. Digital twins represent the technological frontier, with the potential to improve public sector efficiency by 20-30%. Conclusions, the successful adoption of BIM in public investment requires holistic strategies that combine regulatory mandates, economic incentives, professional capacity building, and collaborative contractual frameworks. Context-specific policies, university curriculum integration, and standardization through ISO 19650 are key pillars for overcoming regional disparities and maximizing the return on investment in public infrastructure.