Advanced Building Information Modeling
Design and construction of modern buildings requires not only professional skills, but also the ability to collaborate in multi-disciplinary teams and knowledge of and proficiency in the use of sophisticated information technologies. Building Information Modeling (BIM) tools are essential for design, for engineering and management analyses of various kinds, and for communication and management.
In this course students will learn advanced concepts of Building Information Modeling through formal lectures, but they will also have the opportunity, through hands-on group projects, to apply the theoretical knowledge to development of a building project from conceptual design, through engineering and cost analyses, to detailed design and fabrication of models using rapid prototyping technology.
On completion of the course you will have a good understanding of the capabilities and the limitations of BIM technology. You will also have first-hand experience of the ways in which BIM can be used to support professional and multi-disciplinary teamwork, and you will be competent in operation of a broad set of tools appropriate for your particular profession. You will also have a detailed understanding of the ways in which other professions in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction domain use BIM.
The course is a joint offering of the Faculties of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Structural Engineering and Construction Management Unit) and the Faculty of Architecture and Town Planning.
Term Project
Students will work in teams of six students (one or two from each discipline) to prepare a term project. The project will be developed and presented using BIM tools, with no paper drawings at all. At each stage of the course, the students representing each profession – architecture, design, structures and construction management – will model and analyze the different aspects of your building project using the tools discussed. You will be required to present in class and submit the appropriate design and analyses of your own projects each two weeks as ongoing homework assignments, and to present your project at mid-term and at the end of the course in a studio setting. You will also be required to fabricate the necessary parts using 3D printing, laser-cutting and CNC milling machinery and assemble your structure.