The BIM Concept: The Role of the Engineering School

Introduction

The management of all information, in its entirety, concerning the different phases of the life cycle of a building, from architectural design to post-occupancy maintenance, can be supported on a single common technological environment. This concept is the basis of Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology. There is now a growing interest in the adoption of this technology within the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. A BIM model is a parametric model, strongly associated with visual presentation (the geometric model), but it is, in fact, a model rich in information (Succar, 2009). The immediate benefit of BIM is that the three-dimensional (3D) model is automatically generated from the 2D lines drawn and the properties of the elements within the software. But, there is more to BIM than visualizations, as each building element is an object with its own information and identity. Within BIM software, relationships and behaviors are defined between elements such as door, window, pipe or wall. Moreover, with a BIM, quantities can be calculated automatically by the software, making the automatic generation of template bills of quantities, door and window schedules an instant operation. Once the major building elements are in place, it is possible for architects, structural engineers and mechanical engineers to work together on the same BIM. The spatial relationships defined can then ensure that there are no clashes between, for instance, the mechanical engineer’s duct work and the structural engineer’s steelwork (Hamil, 2010).

Although is still at an early stage of development and implementation, the BIM is one of the most promising technologies for the integration of teams working on the same project. The ability for interoperability, that still must be made possible by BIM, is the basis of the integration of collaborators in the project (Hallberg & Tarandi, 2011). Today, it is being used by many in the construction industry to make efficiency savings and to improve the accuracy and coordination of documentation (Hamil, 2010), although it is still common for building information to be held in different models. For creating and handling a BIM model the user should acquire knowledge concerning the identification of data involved in each phase of the project, the analysis of its organization and classification and the study of modes of reuse and data depending on which additional phases are to be developed or coordinated for that model. The implementation of this concept involves multiple actors from different sectors of the AEC industry. At present, the professional architecture and engineering community is embracing new technology quickly, incorporating new opportunities to streamline the design process and to save time and money (Race, 2012), whereas the academic community moves more deliberately and thoughtfully to incorporate new technology and to offer new courses (Sabongi, 2009). However, as the pressures increase both to control costs and save time, it is inevitable that Civil Engineering education will move into a world which demands that students and new professionals are adept at using tools like BIM.

The mission of the school of Architecture and Engineering is to prepare future professionals in those fields, and as such, must provide education on those topics relating to all aspects of those professions. As part of this, the school must focus on the changes in Information Technology (IT) tools, used in the project office which could be used in the realization of collaborative, interconnected and therefore more effective projects. For this reason, students need to acquire knowledge of basic BIM technology, both because it is innovative technology and because there is a growing interest in its application in the design office.