New Approach to Learning Construction Concepts Through BIM Methodology

Technical education approaches the learning of construction through traditional methods such as lectures, practical classes or the use of audiovisual materials such as photographs, plans or videos. The present research proposes a different way of learning construction bypassing the theoretical and facing the design and 3D modelling directly through the BIM methodology. For this purpose, groups of first-year students of the Degree in Industrial Design and Product Development Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Cartagena have participated in the study, within the framework of the subject “BIM Methodologies in Construction”, which is taught in the first four-month period. These students, who are newcomers to the University, model construction elements using an innovative design methodology such as BIM. They are confronted with a highly complex design without having any knowledge of any kind. The results of this research show that the BIM methodology provides an innovative teaching tool and is very suitable for teaching technical subjects, as it offers an approach to real elements from a different perspective that they come to understand thanks to the modelling of the entire construction process.