Collaborative BIM Learning via an Academia-Industry Partnership

This paper focuses on a joint academia-industry Building Information Modeling (BIM) partnership in Ireland. The partnership was based on €3 million design and build project that was developed via a tender process in late 2012 using ‘traditional’ technology (including 2D CAD). The successful tender was led by Clancy Construction and their team gave the tender information to Waterford Institute of Technology for a student BIM project to be completed in the second semester of the 2012/13 academic year (January to May). The students were a mix of Architectural Technology, Construction Management and Quantity Surveying. As part of their scheduled semester modules they developed a BIM model of the proposed building. The industry partners continued to develop the ‘real’ design and build project in parallel with the student BIM project. At the end of the semester a full presentation by the students of their project was made to the design and build team. The paper reviews the general context of BIM in AEC Education and the associated role of academiaindustry partnerships. An overview of both the industry design and build project and the student BIM project is also included and the associated lessons learned are identified. The paper concludes with an overview of the 2013/14 BIM related plans at Waterford Institute of Technology, including the extension to the academiaindustry partnership agreement for everyone’s benefit. Collaborative BIM Learning via an AcademiaIndustry Partnership