ADAPTE Process-Based Strategic Framework Development for National BIM Adoption: The Case for Sustainable Advancement in Mongolia

Globally, the architecture, engineering, construction, and operations (AECO) industry faces rapid urbanization and environmental urgency. However, developing economies often lack the strategic capacity to utilize BIM for sustainable development. This study addresses this gap by developing a strategic, evidence-based BIM adoption framework tailored to the Mongolian context. Originating in the health sector, the ADAPTE process is a systematic method that enables the cost-effective adaptation of existing high-quality guidelines to new target contexts. The research applies a framework adaptation methodology, based on the adaptation phase of the ADAPTE process, to recontextualize benchmark international strategies for the specific environment of Mongolia. In the result, our work proposes a national BIM adoption framework which follows a three-phase implementation timeline (2027, 2030, and 2035) as per ISO 19650 maturity stages. Additionally, it has a three-point action plan of policy/legal systems, common resources, and promotion in the sphere of industry, people, and technology. The result offers a practical framework for Mongolia to advance the adaptation of BIM practices, positioning digital transformation as a catalyst for sustainable development. Furthermore, the methodological framework developed in this work serves as a scalable blueprint for other developing economies to systematically craft their own context-specific strategies.