Education and information and communication technologies (ICTs)/building information modelling (BIM)

Citation

Shelbourn, M. (2012), "Education and information and communication technologies (ICTs)/building information modelling (BIM)", Structural Survey, Vol. 30 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/ss.2012.11030baa.001

Education and information and communication technologies (ICTs)/building information modelling (BIM)

Education and information and communication technologies (ICTs)/building information modelling (BIM)

Article Type: Editorial From: Structural Survey, Volume 30, Issue 2.

In this editorial I would like to share with you some thoughts on how educational institutions may like to tackle the ever increasing use of ICTs – in particular the use of BIM in the construction industry, and what sort of teaching/learning we should provide to our students in this area.

Having been part of research teams and conducting my own research over the past 13 or so years in this area, I/we have seen a drastic change in the way ICTs have influenced the processes/methods of construction and the management of construction projects. But how do educational institutions keep up with this change when the bureaucracy of changing courses/programmes/modules is such an arduous task?

The debate on education and training has been raging for a number of years now, and this subject will only add fuel to that debate. From a personal perspective it is hard to give a definitive answer as the use of such ICTs is diverse given the discipline that one teaches them in. For example does a construction manager or facilities manager need to fully understand the suite of software tools to design in a 3D environment – as an architect would – or do they only need to be able to view and comment on such models in that 3D environment. The level of teaching is very different in this scenario.

Research suggests that an educational framework may be needed to try and provide information to lecturers and teachers as to the level of teaching required at the different disciplines of the construction sector. Such research is being conducted through an Australian Learning and Teaching Council Grant (Australian Government funded) at three universities in Australia. The University of Technology, Sydney; the University of South Australia; and Newcastle University are working together to design and develop an educational framework that could enable course/program/module leaders/coordinators to better incorporate ICTs into their curriculums. The framework should allow for the differences in levels of requirements of ICTs in the teaching of the different disciplines, but more importantly it will provide a means for students to work closer together across these disciplines in a more “integrated” way through shared project-based learning through better designed programs/courses/modules.

However, research conducted by myself has shown that industry professionals still want the graduate student to have the fundamentals of the different disciplines taught to the students. For example, the principles of good design are still needed by an architect, the use of ICTs is just a tool to enable them to better communicate that design not only to the client/owner, but to the rest of the project team. Construction managers still require the knowledge and understanding to programme the construction site activities (and associated labour, materials, etc.) the new ICTs enable them to do it in a more efficient way by allowing them to conduct what if analyses before ground is even broken.

The success of such research is in the implementation and measurement of take up in the natural built environment courses/programmes/modules across Australia initially and then by influencing international teaching thereafter. I will report on progress in the future.

The papers for this issue

In issue 2 of volume 30 we have five papers. The first paper comes from Chaudhary – a professional engineer in Windsor, Canada. This paper entitled “Implications of rising groundwater level on structural integrity of underground structures – investigations and retrofit of a large building complex” discusses the issues surrounding the durability, stability and strength of the structural components of a 40,000 m² basement when groundwater levels rise. Different options are explored for retrofitting the basement to ensure that the basement stays dry and operational as a result of the rise in groundwater levels.

Paper 2 comes from a number of authors working in organisations in France. Their paper entitled “Cracks and stains on façade-cladding made of carbonate rock thin panels” investigates and reports on disorders affecting the stone panels of façade claddings. They particularly assess the mechanical and chemical disorders of a building at the University of Cergy-Pontoise. They found that mechanical disorders tend to be as a result of vandalism or poor implementation of the installation. Spalling (chemical) are disorders very likely to occur as part of the evolution of the panel, and increase over time. Stains tend to occur due to the silicone destabilisation products used. A model is presented to try and alleviate the problems discussed in the paper.

Paper 3 is a joint submission from the North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University in the USA, the Kwome Nkrumah University of Science & Technology in Ghana, and Birmingham City University in the UK. The paper entitled “Exploration of management practices for LEED projects: lessons from successful green building contractors” explores the management practices – that may be different from a traditional approach – to achieve the successful implementation of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) projects. The paper finds that such management practices can be implemented using the six Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award criteria. These are: leadership; strategic planning; customer focus; measurement; analysis and knowledge management; workforce focus and operation focus. The paper provides an intuitive framework on management practices to enhance the success of LEED projects.

The penultimate paper in the issue comes from Richardson and Galloway from Northumbria University in the UK. Their paper entitled “External para-aramid fibre – concrete reinforcement” continues the research into alternative materials to steel that could be used to reinforce concrete to increase its performance in tension. The paper has found that using external fibre reinforcement to structural elements has the advantage of allowing structural members to be repaired or the loading capability increased whilst maintaining the operational utility of the structure/building. Applying such materials to the exterior of buildings also provides a moisture barrier to prevent further attack of the steel reinforcement and helps to save lives in earthquake zones or in reducing the flying debris when buildings are subject to attack with explosives.

The final paper from Fewkes at Nottingham Trent University in the UK is a “Review of rainwater harvesting in the UK” and provides a review of the technology, design and application of rainwater harvesting from the UK context. The results of the paper inform future areas for research and development of such systems. Areas of research and development could include the different types of system and their components; storage capacity; rainwater quality and factors that influence the use of such systems in the residential and commercial contexts. The paper concludes with a discussion of potential benefits of such systems and how they can be used to supply non-potable water.

Once again all five papers show the diverse range of activities/issues that face buildings and their management. The journal is proud to continually support the efforts of industry and academia in reporting their interesting findings within the journal.

Mark Shelbourn