32 research outputs found
Slogging and Stumbling Toward Social Justice in a Private Elementary School: The Complicated Case of St. Malachy
No full textThis case study examines St. Malachy, an urban Catholic elementary school primarily serving children traditionally marginalized by race, class, linguistic heritage, and disability. As a private school, St. Malachy serves the public good by recruiting and retaining such traditionally marginalized students. As empirical studies involving Catholic schools frequently juxtapose them with public schools, the author presents this examination from a different tack. Neither vilifying nor glorifying Catholic schooling, this study critically examines the pursuit of social justice in this school context. Data gathered through a 1-year study show that formal and informal leaders in St. Malachy adapted their governance, aggressively sought community resources, and focused their professional development to build the capacity to serve their increasingly pluralistic student population. The analysis confirms the deepening realization that striving toward social justice is a messy, contradictory, and complicated pursuit, and that schools in both public and private sectors are allies in this pursuit
BIM Collaboration in Student Architectural Technologist Learning
No full textThis paper is the result of a qualitative case study which investigated the influence of building information modelling (BIM) collaboration on the learning of student architectural technologists based around a studio group project. The purpose of the paper is to disseminate knowledge gained into a new learning environment facilitated by the collaborative properties of a BIM application. A qualitative case study approach has been used to undertake the examination of the learners’ experiences during the project. This approach allowed the author to map the complex interaction between the participants during the stages of the collaborative design project. The paper provides evidence of a new learning environment created in the studio setting. This learning is facilitated by the collaboration tools and work-set methodology of the BIM application. This case study will support higher education institutions proposing to introduce collaborative BIM applications into a built environment curriculum and also may act as a catalyst to encourage educators to adopt a similar approach to teaching in a range of other professions. This research supports a need in higher education to provide for transition from theory to workplace practice and identifies a potential for higher level learning facilitated by collaborative BIM technologies and methodologies
Could Autodesk Revit Be Automated for Code Compliance Checking and Demonstration with A Focus on Fire Safety Regulations?
No full textOften a subject to ambiguity and interpretation, building codes and compliance with them require years of expertise to understand and to integrate into good design. Automation of code compliance through Building Information Modelling (BIM) removes the human aspect from these processes and ensures building codes are correctly adhered to. In this paper, the author reviews current code compliance systems implemented internationally and, with a focus on fire codes, compares them to the current fire certificate application in The Republic of Ireland. By conducting interviews with an Executive Fire Prevention Officer of Dublin Fire Brigade and a Fire Consultant practicing in Ireland, the author determines the process of the two professionals and attempts to automate the demonstration of compliance for 4 items from these processes. The author attempts to contain these solutions within a Revit Template File. By doing so, the solutions can be applied to any number of BIM models, demonstrating compliance for each design and, in turn, making a leaner compliance checking process for designers. By checking 4 items from the processes the author hopes to show that in theory, Revit can be automated for code compliance checking and demonstration
BIM: Building Information Management (not Modelling)
No full textBeing aware of something is not the same as having knowledge of or ability in the selected subject matter. Much of the Irish Architecture Engineering & Construction (AEC) industry is now aware of Building Information Modelling (BIM) as highlighted in a national survey from an Academic Industry Body (2016) which shows that a total of 90% of respondents reported that their awareness of BIM has improved to some degree in recent years. However, it is a legitimate question to ask if the industry does have knowledge and understanding of the processes? Defining these processes would be: knowing the difference in maturity levels; adhering to associated standards of that level; producing the associated documentation in accordance with those standards; and managing and sharing the information correctly. BIM software is being utilised throughout industry. One of the key findings of this paper concluded that 100% of respondents of a survey conducted by the author have a stated use of 3D BIM Modelling Software with 86% of respondents using Revit. However, it is important to realise that this is not doing BIM, as Donoghue (2015) highlights that Revit is a tool that merely enables the BIM process. These figures would highlight that the use of software is not a major issue when it comes to BIM implementation. The literature review outlines these BIM processes. Surveys have been conducted to date that highlight the level of adoption of BIM within the industry, however, some conflicting information has materialised. The author will critically analyse these national surveys and outline the results of a targeted survey that was aimed at industry to identify the level of these processes being implemented. Some of the key findings of this paper concluded that the level of BIM that companies say they are operating at conflicts with the procedures followed and documents produced within that company in alignment with that level. The results of this targeted survey shown a lack of knowledge and ability to implement these processes within their BIM operational level. This research paper set out to investigate levels of knowledge of BIM process in the Architecture & Engineering industry in Ireland by breaking down BIM into technologies and process and breaking down process in accordance with PAS 1192-2:2013 to achieve a more specific understanding of the current state of BIM implementation in Ireland. A quantitative research methodology was used to investigate the problem and results and conclusions are presented in this paper
A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study into the impact of BIM on the Social Dynamics of the AEC professional in the workplace.
No full textA review of the literature published surrounding new digital design and construction technologies and associated processes described within the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) community as Building Information Modelling (BIM) or Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) reveals a gap in the theoretical understanding of the impact these technologies are having on professionals who work in this industry. The central aim of this research is to discover if there has been a shift in social dynamics as a result of the adoption of BIM in the workplace and, if there has been, to discuss the meaning of this for the industry and the community who educate these professionals. This study is important as it seeks to develop an understanding of the impact of BIM from the perspective of those AEC professionals affected. The study of human beings is referred to as Anthropology. It is a social science and is characterised as the study of human societies, cultures, and development often affected by social or technical intervention. BIM is an example of a technological intervention that has been introduced into the complex design and construction industry. This multidisciplinary industry has relied on representation in the form of paper-based communication documents for 500 years. However, with the introduction of new technologies, the AEC industry is experiencing a digital transformation, characterised by a move from representation to simulation. The author has conducted a study examining the lived experience of AEC professionals who have come into contact with the subject phenomenon in their workplace. The workplace is the locus for this research. It is defined as the place where the AEC professionals conduct their day to day business. The subjects of this research study are a purposeful selection of industry professionals who have experienced the phenomenon and have told the Author their stories. These lived experiences have been analysed and interpreted using a suitable methodology to address the research question; in this case, Hermeneutic Phenomenology. The data analysis has identified four themes: Identity, Empowerment, Disarrangement and Collaborative Practice. The emergence of these themes and the discussion around them will add new knowledge into the subject area. The study concludes by discussing the implications of this research for the design and construction industry and educational institutions
BIM: postgraduate multidisciplinary collaborative education
No full textBIM technologies and processes are steadily increasing in the design and construction industry. The amount of undergraduate courses delivering BIM based applied and theory courses is also on the rise. These students will be entering a job market where their skillsets in digital modelling and collaborative practice will be in demand. However, existing AEC (architectural, engineering, construction) professionals are recognising the changes happening in the industry. Each domain is influenced and challenged by BIM. The traditional process and workflows will change as BIM adoption grows. AEC professionals are seeking out training and education courses to upskill. Perhaps the greatest challenge faced by professionals seeking to move their work to BIM is the conceptual move away from pushing data out to the stakeholders in a traditional detached procurement process in favour of bringing the stakeholders to the data in a collaborative process. Collaboration is not something that comes easy in a design and construction industry that has its roots in a division of intellectual effort over technical know-how going back over 500 years. For PG (postgraduate) students who have been taught in domain based silos then professionally educated within demarcation boundaries of one’s discipline based on a hierarchical system of design responsibility, the idea of setting this to one side so that you open yourself to a collaborative process is a daunting prospect. Specialist education programmes must be developed to teach such professionals how to collaborate. AEC professionals can take full advantage of the technologies and the integrated collaborative process it promotes. This paper will report findings on a case study of postgraduate multidisciplinary collaborative learning module in the School of Multidisciplinary Technology’s CPD BIM programme in the Dublin Institute of Technology
"Defining Job Titles and Career Paths in BIM"
No full textIreland is undergoing a digital transformation. Some industries particularly in the areas of travel and retail have been radically transformed. However many industries are facing their biggest challenge in their existence already weakened by the economic crisis and constrained by their legacy business, it will be difficult for them to adapt and embrace the new rules dictated by digital change. Irelands design and construction industry is on the cusp of a digital transformation with early adopters now deriving some benefits from a move to a building information modeling (BIM) process. Digital transformation cannot happen unless there are personnel with the right skillsets to tackle the new methods of working. This move opens new dynamics into which domain specific skillsets supported by BIM technologies often overlap. New skillsets emerge while traditional ones submerge. One of those skillsets that has emerged is in the creation and management of building information through the digital model. New roles have emerged and are organically growing. Some of these roles are titled BIM Technician, BIM Coordinator and BIM Manager but here is confusion in the industry as to the meaning and interpretation of these titles. With a design and construction industry that is made up of traditional domain specific professionals where does industry go to find these “BIM” specific professionals. Do 3rd level education providers create new courses to fill this need or is there a design and construction course that has already many of the competencies required to fulfill the role? This paper sets out to explore these questions
A design decision support tool to visualise embodied carbon at early design stage?
No full textAs designers increasingly recognise the crucial role of the built environment in combating climate change, the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology can become pivotal. BIM offers a transformative approach to design and construction processes through digital models and now data visualisation. With the urgency of addressing embodied carbon emissions in construction, this research aims to develop an automated BIM workflow that enables designers to visualise and mitigate the environmental impact of material selection within domestic construction projects in Ireland and the UK, aligning with national targets for emissions reduction by 2030. Using comprehensive data mapping and digital visualisation tools, problematic areas in material selection are identified, allowing for informed material substitutions that can significantly reduce the building's carbon footprint. The authors have developed a tool and process that technical building designers can use to identify selected materials and the validated embodied carbon values of these materials
The Automation of BIM for Compliance Checking: a Visual Programming Approach
No full textA study by FIATECH confirmed that human interpretation causes inconsistencies in applying building compliance & regulations (Solihin & Eastman, 2015). Producing, updating and quality assuring such processes is inconsistent and unreliable (Preidel & Borrmann, 2016). A barrier to interpretation of building regulations is that software is designed by developers that are separate to local authorities (Solihin & Eastman, 2015). The current literature suggests Singapore, Norway, USA & Australia have all implemented BIM automation systems for building regulations. This study reviews current automation systems and based on this proposes a system of creating a checking system is efficient in the control of professionals skilled with local authority and building regulation knowledge. Dynamo visual programming software is selected as the software to assist the automation due to the open source availability and widespread adoption in the BIM field. A methodology of Design Science is applied to diagnose the problem of manual checking through review of the current literature (Kehily & Underwood, 2015). An automation solution is proposed and evaluated in a design office. Architectural professionals provide feedback of the implemented solution and this feedback is applied iteratively to a second automation solution, where feedback is also obtained from users to further improve the solution. Results show a change in workflow and an improvement of traditional compliance checking. The study concludes by proposing a similar BIM automation approach could be applied in local government, within the Irish Planning and Building Control (BCAR) system
