Process-Oriented Approach of Teaching Building Information Modeling in Construction Management

It is widely accepted that the evolution of building information modeling (BIM) is increasingly affecting the roles of construction management professionals in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Since the transition from 2D drafting to BIM is more of a process transformation, the use of BIM also affects how information is managed by and for construction management professionals. Teaching BIM in construction engineering and management (CEM) curriculum requires more emphasis on learning BIM as a process improvement methodology rather than only a technology. This paper describes the implementation of a graduate level course called “Building Information Modeling for Capital Projects” that was developed to educate next-generation construction managers to understand BIM and effectively use an existing BIM in plan execution for building construction projects. This is a project-based course where students gain knowledge on the implementation of BIM concepts throughout the life cycle of a building. A process-oriented teaching approach was applied in the course and is introduced in the paper. Findings and lessons learned to date from the teaching experience are documented.