From 2D Drawings to VR-enabled BIM: Developing a Building Construction Systems Course at the UAEU

Authors

  • Khaled Galal Ahmed, Aysha Al-Sheebani, Fatema Al-Zaabi, Maitha Al-Nuaimi, Mona Megahed

Abstract

The transformation from traditional 2D drawings into 3D Building Information Modeling (BIM)-enabled Virtual Reality (VR) Interactive Models is gaining momentum in the architectural, structural, and construction industries. On the other hand, the results of related research about improving construction education through the use of virtual reality suggest that students can understand construction projects much better when advanced visualization tools are used. Accordingly, VR tools has been rapidly recognized and implemented in Construction Engineering Education and Training (CEET) especially when combined with BIM. The research, funded under the SURE+ Projects Program by the UAEU, examined the application of VR-enabledBIM techniques, in one of the Building Construction Courses,that is currently traditionally taught at the Abet-Accredited Architectural Engineering (AE) Program at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), as a pilot investigation for applying the new tool in all Building Construction Courses. Through a three phases investigative process, the research has defined the potentials and the obstacles that were associated with the pilot implementation of applying the VR-enabledBIM method in teaching the topics of the Arch 316 Building Construction Systems Course. The outcomes of the research proved that this new interactive tool has significantly enhanced the attainment of 2 out of the 4 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) of the examined course, namely, ‘Explaining construction methods and building construction systems’, and ‘Expressing graphically and technically building materials and construction systems and methods’. Accordingly, adopting the VR-enabled BIM tool is highly recommended in other Building Construction, Building Design, and Graduation Projects, at the UAEU. This would much better prepare the AE Program graduates to the industry and significantly increase their employability rates.

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Published

2020-05-17

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Articles