Civil Engineering students’ response to visualisation learning experience with building information model

Abstract

The paper presents a study of Civil Engineering students’ responses to a questionnaire on their visualisation learning experience with Building Information Modelling (BIM). Fourth-year undergraduate students of the Civil Engineering Course at Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, were participants of the survey. BIM was introduced and incorporated into two subjects (called Units hereafter), namely Construction Technology (CT), and Integrated Design and Construction (IDC). Training was provided to students on the use of the modelling tool, structural engineering software, construction scheduling and simulation software, and how to transfer files in a BIM environment. In the CT Unit, the use of BIM tools was demonstrated through worked examples and students were given assessment tasks to create a model, perform structural analysis and design, and produce construction scheduling and simulation. In the IDC Unit, the assessment task contained a larger scope requiring a more collaborative approach and roles changing to simulate the complete process of the design, tender and construction phases of a project; however, the use of BIM tools was optional. Details of the work tasks given in the Units and the learning outcomes will be presented. The results from the questionnaire survey show that students were very enthusiastic and agreed that learning BIM technology would benefit them, with many respondents indicating they preferred to start learning from as early as in their first year. This outcome enforces the much-needed paradigm shift in teaching and learning from being traditional to more technology-based learning.