  Citation: Akhmetzhanova, B.; Nadeem, A.; Hossain, M.A.; Kim, J.R. Clash Detection Using Building Information Modeling (BIM) Technology in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Buildings 2022, 12, 102. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings 12020102 Academic Editor: Jurgita Antucheviciene Received: 18 November 2021 Accepted: 12 January 2022 Published: 21 January 2022 Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affil- iations. Copyright: © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/). buildings Article Clash Detection Using Building Information Modeling (BIM) Technology in the Republic of Kazakhstan Botagoz Akhmetzhanova 1 , Abid Nadeem 1, * , Md Aslam Hossain 2 and Jong R. Kim 1 1 Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan; botagoz.akhmetzhanova@nu.edu.kz (B.A.); jong.kim@nu.edu.kz (J.R.K.) 2 School of Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University Malaysia, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia; mdaslam.hossain@monash.edu * Correspondence: abid.nadeem@nu.edu.kz Abstract: Research on the digital built environment in the context of identifying and minimizing clashes is a critical area to investigate owing to the significant influence of clashes on the construction process. This research aims to identify the current state of building information modeling (BIM) enabled clash detection in the architecture, engineering, and construction and operation (AECO) industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan. It further identifies the main reasons for clash occurrence, methods, and practices used to decrease the workload on BIM project teams. It also recognizes the existence of BIM departments (their type and functionalities). It aims to answer whether the transition from clash detection to clash avoidance is possible in a country where BIM technology has just penetrated. This research conducted a literature review and review of current regulatory documents regarding BIM technology, interviews with industry professionals, and a survey among construction companies and design organizations. Although the AECO industry of Kazakhstan has just entered the BIM environment, this research has shown that BIM-enabled clash detection and resolution processes are trying to evolve in parallel. It was concluded that the transition is difficult in a country where document assistance with clash detection and resolution is not well developed. Keywords: BIM technology in Kazakhstan; clash detection; reasons for clash occurrence; BIM departments 1. Introduction One of the biggest concerns in construction projects is clashes and their early identifi- cation. Manual identification of clashes is time-consuming and requires the synthesis of exceptional design skills and experience. Digital technology, known as building informa- tion modeling (BIM), assists design professionals and contractors in simulating a digital space before construction has begun with an information database [1]. It helps to prevent and solve clashes before they emerge on construction sites using but not limited to personal computers. Pärn et al. [2] defined ‘clash’ equivalently to ‘collision’ or ‘conflict’, because both mean positioning errors where elements overlap when connected. This research does not distinguish or separate these terms. According to Chahrour et al. [3], clashes appear as a result of falling design rules, design errors, design uncertainty, model inaccuracy, and tolerance. Based on detecting clashes through BIM tools, there are two general types of clashes: relevant and irrelevant. However, the classification of clashes in the literature has various forms (Table 1). If clashes lead to productivity loss, interruptions, and rework, they are relevant in the project [4]. Therefore, relevant clashes are the clashes that need to be resolved. In contrast, irrelevant clashes do not need resolution, as they can be one error repeated many times throughout the project or intentionally created clashes [2]. Considering that thousands of clashes might be caught in some projects via specialized software [4], proper identification of clashes, including relevant and irrelevant clashes, and the appropriate allocation of clash resolution among BIM project teams have an important Buildings 2022, 12, 102. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12020102 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/buildings