Industrialised, Integrated, Intelligent sustainable Construction - I3con

HANDBOOK 2 SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION
Building Information Modelling (BIM)
Building Information Modelling (BIM) is typically an enabling technology. The essence of BIM is
that all building information is stored in a computer model: geometry, material, decomposition
structure, functions, performance characteristics, etc. through the building life cycle (Eastman et al.
2008).
BIM is obviously an enabling technology for parametric design systems for industrialized building as
described above. But also approaches such as value-based construction and dynamic control of
projects can benefit from BIM. It seems fair to say that almost any innovation in construction uses
information technology, and in many cases BIM technology. The specific attention of our group is on
Dynamic MIB.
In a Dynamic BIM model the elements are loose (variable) in dimensions, materials, etc. and the
relationships (geometries, actions/relationships) are fixed (constant). The Dynamic BIM is concurrent
and consists of existing building works and alliances. It is both a top-down system with specified
client-oriented systems with all elements and relationships as a bottom-up and standardised system
with all specified elements and relationships.
Sustainability and Life-Cycle Approach
Sustainable construction and life-cycle thinking are approaches for construction that have been around
for a number of years, but still have not been fully adopted by the construction industry.
Interest in these themes has significantly increased in recent years as a result of the growing
awareness of the effects of global warming, of limits on the supply of energy and other resources, and
of the impact of waste on the environment. Recent milestones in this awareness development are the
publication “An Inconvenient Truth” by Al Gore (2006) and “Cradle To Cradle” by McDonough and
Braungart (2002).
Furthermore, the European Commission has identified Energy Efficient Building as a key area, if not
as the most important theme for construction innovation for research and development for the coming
years (EeB PPP 2009).
From Vision to Curriculum
The great challenge for our group is to incorporate the vision and the themes - described above in the
curriculum of the civil engineering study. This section describes how and to what extend this is done.
First the BSc stage is discussed, in which Design Projects play a crucial role. Next our two MSc
tracks are discussed: the Design and Construction Processes track and the Construction Management
and Engineering track. These two tracks are partly overlapping, but the first track puts more emphasis
on design and modelling, while the second track puts more emphasis on policy and management.
The Bachelors Stage: Design Projects
As mentioned earlier, in the Bachelor’s phase of the civil engineering study, students have mostly
mandatory courses and only a few elective courses. In the mandatory program, a key role is played by
the Design Project courses.
In the Design Project courses students must develop a civil engineering design (often in the area of
infrastructure) in a project team setup. In the BSc phase, all students follow three design courses: one
each year, with a study load of 4-6 ECTS each (112-168 study hours).
The Design Project in the first year is in essence a first introduction and experience with design for
most students. Many students make a serious design drawing for the first time in their life in this
course. Also for the first time, students learn to deal with design requirements and learn how to
develop a solution for these requirements. Moreover, they develop basic skills in the area of
teamwork, holding meetings, taking minutes, collecting information (both from the library and from
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