BIM concepts and workflows offer an unquestionable potential in the academic environment as contributory teaching methodology, so to improve the over-all teaching and learning process in the degree.... Show More

BIM concepts and workflows offer an unquestionable potential in the academic environment as contributory teaching methodology, so to improve the over-all teaching and learning process in the degree. Therefore, it must certainly develop an optimised implementation format to successfully undertake the challenge of proving capable to adapt to current academic formats and resources. In the Bachelor´s Degree of Architecture at UEM a framework of implementation of BIM methodology has been configured in a first experimental phase with valuable and transposable data. The implementation framework pivots on four main focuses: delimited teaching activities in conventional subjects, integrated project development in interdisciplinary workshops, extracurricular tools training and finally specific postgraduate programs and research projects. This exhaustive arrangement of academic formats outlines a global framework to achieve the highly diverse requirements of a gradual implementation, crystallizing in a coherent and synergic learn flow.

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is part of a wider digital innovation that has arrived as an epochal transition in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) Industry. Although the... Show More

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is part of a wider digital innovation that has arrived as an epochal transition in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) Industry. Although the benefits of BIM within the supply-side of the industry have been widely explored, its impact on the value for clients and end-users has been researched in a limited manner so far. The paper reviews some of the BIM-related technologies which could effectively support client and end-user involvement in the briefing process. Four main types of information technologies are considered and grouped as (1) rule-based validation tools (i.e. briefing software; rule-based model checking) and (2) simulation-based validation tools (i.e. gamification, immersive virtual environments). Those technologies are analysed and compared in order to identify what has already been done, possible future trends, evaluate their integration in the briefing process and, finally, take into account both their advantages and disadvantages in supporting the effective involvement of the demand-side of construction in digitally-enabled processes.

The implementation of BIM in higher education (HE) curricula for architecture and engineering is limited and does not meet the demand for competency in the industry. BIM education is mostly... Show More

The implementation of BIM in higher education (HE) curricula for architecture and engineering is limited and does not meet the demand for competency in the industry. BIM education is mostly initiated by enthusiasts offering software training in isolated courses. The transfer of educational experiences is limited and partial. This conceptual paper explores the use of pedagogical frameworks to enable the systematic implementation of BIM in higher education. The following pedagogical frameworks are explored: (a) Integrated Design and Delivery Solutions (IDDS), (b) Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK), and (c) Trinity of BIM as building information model/ -modelling/ -management (BIM3P). BIM-related methods are connected to the pedagogical framework to illustrate applicable implementation. This enable BIM to be integrated into most architecture and engineering subjects without separate training in software. Focus is given to understanding relevant information to support design and fact-based decisions. The approach is learning BIM for learning architecture and engineering.

Interoperability is a key factor for BIM and helps to simplify the communication and the cooperation between different actors during the project life-cycle. IFC appears as the best option to... Show More

Interoperability is a key factor for BIM and helps to simplify the communication and the cooperation between different actors during the project life-cycle. IFC appears as the best option to exchange data between different software platforms. The purpose of this paper is to offer a proposal for exchanging data by merging IFC-based BIM models. We consider a BIM project model like a large system of multi modules where each part represents a structure (building, road, bridge and tunnel) and should be completed by an IFC model. This article presents a numerical tool which allows the co-design step through a Graphical User Interface (GUI) developed in Java language using the IfcToolsProjects libraries. This work is situated in non-automatic merging models being problematic. The proposal is clearly a co-design assistance. This Interface allows the merging of many buildings represented by different IFC files and produces a new IFC-based buildings complex model. The result is fully exploitable without any data loss. The new merging approach avoids the disadvantages of the “linking” function.