Towards integration of BIM into construction management curriculum learning activities

The utilization of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) by the construction industry and transformations in work practices, such as implementation of Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), have proven to increase construction productivity and efficiency in the delivery of building projects. The education of the construction professionals has now instigated the use of highly collaborative teaching methods reinforced by extreme utilization of ICT to increase the efficiency of information distribution and knowledge development.
Building Information Modeling (BIM) methodology, which integrates advanced ICT with stakeholders’ collaboration, has emerged as one of the most effective project development and delivery methods currently available within the AEC industry. Increasingly, construction managers become involved in BIM methodology due to its capabilities of simulating and assisting the project management processes. The technology portion of the BIM methodology integrates software usage with design, analytical and simulation capabilities to produce interoperable information outputs for productive use by project stakeholders. The collaboration instigated by the BIM methodology enables integration of modeling information and stakeholder ideas in order to produce a Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) platform.
This paper introduces learning methodology based on BIM concept and IPD philosophy in regards to its higher education application within the construction project management discipline. The usage of the Learning Management System (LMS) utilized as the learning dissemination platform was compared between comparable learning units to evaluate the contribution of BIM methodology to effectiveness of the learning processes and its impacts on expected outcomes. The paper concludes that BIM methodology supplemented by IPD provides unique opportunities to develop and manage knowledge.