Modelling and coordination of building design: an experience of BIM learning/upskilling

ABSTRACT

The implementation of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operations (AECO) industry requires multidisciplinary teams equipped with new technical and managerial skills. Professionals that are inexperienced or unfamiliar with the BIM design process face difficulties in transposing complex concepts into BIM modelling and coordination practices, despite governments, industry bodies, and academia's efforts. With this issue in mind, this article's objective is to present the teaching-learning strategies and tools adopted in a practical case of modelling an existing building on a BIM platform. In terms of method, a phenomenological approach has been taken to report on an exploratory didactic experience. The Cognitive Load Theory (CLT) was used to assess learning based on the authors’ perceptions. The research has been structured into the following five stages: Literature Review; Analysis of Brazilian and International BIM Standards and Guides; Didactic exercise; Experience Assessment; and Conclusions. The results reveal aspects of BIM processes that can be widely investigated in an academic environment, such as the BIM design and coordination process model, which can be explored as a tool in the BIM teaching-learning process. Also, difficulties related to teaching BIM management processes were identified, thus calling for different didactic approaches. The contributions made by the research come from reporting and analysing the process of learning complex BIM content from the perspective of inexperienced professionals. The work also contributes to the field through the BIM learning assessment proposal and the BIM process model resulted from the authors’ practical experience.

KEYWORDS:

• Project disciplines
• federated model
• BIM coordination
• learning

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the Brazilian financial support by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) Grant 88881.188668/2018-01 and Grant 88882.379077/2019-01, São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) Grant 2019/05640-4 and National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) Grant 306998/2018-1. We also thank the USP São Carlos Campus City Hall, in particular the architect Sônia Costardi, who provided the building's original designs and authorisation for use.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 “Guia Boas Práticas em BIM” (ASBEA, 2013) developed by the Brazilian Association of Architecture Offices (ASBEA); the “Coletânea Implementação do BIM para Construtoras e Incorporadoras” (CBIC, 2016) proposed by the Brazilian Chamber of the Construction Industry (CBIC); and the “Coletânea Guias BIM” (ABDI, 2017) developed by the Brazilian Agency for Industrial Development (ABDI) in partnership with federal government.

2 https://www.omg.org/

3 https://www.bizagi.com/pt/plataforma/modeler

4 The Integrated Model (Central File in Revit), integrates in a single file all the models of the different disciplines. The procedure for collaboration takes place by synchronising the information generated by the different participants.

5 The federated model is a solution in which the information for each discipline is modelled in separate files, making it possible to link the models on demand from the participants. The processing impact is reduced, since the individual properties are not merged into a single database, and different software can be used by each professional to fulfill their functions in the BIM process (BIM Initiative, 2019).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by CAPES: [grant number 88881.188668/2018-01,88882.379077/2019-01]; CNPq: [grant number 306998/2018-1]; FAPESP: [grant number 2019/05640-4].