BIM Methodology in the Teaching of Graphic Expression in Civil Engineering

Abstract

The inclusion of the BIM (Building Information Modeling) methodology in civil engineering degrees is an unavoidable fact. Although BIM is a work methodology that has been implemented mainly in the final-years subjects, it has a very important graphic component. One of the most interesting consequences of BIM related to Graphic Expression is the internal coherence of the project, since it is no longer a series of independent views. Now, we are working with a single model, and each of the generated planes will be always connected to that model and to that geometry. Therefore, BIM teaching implies updating the teaching of Graphic Expression, with innovative strategies that impact student learning. But, it is not the same to teach Graphic Expression through BIM than through traditional methodologies. Some authors state that the need for students to know how to ‘draw’ should be replaced by the ability to ‘model’ structures and their components. However, certain traditional techniques that are still effective should not be rejected, as they could also reinforce BIM learning in the future. Education, therefore, is polarizing into two points of view, which tend to reject and exclude the theories of the contrary, the traditionalist or analogical and the progressive or digital. In the Teaching Unit of Graphic Expression of the ETSI de Caminos, Canales y Puertos de Madrid we think that both points of view are compatible and necessary. In fact, we implement both throughout different subjects, since there is a very wide range of exercises about constructions of great geometric complexity that previously require the study of geometric drawing and classic representation systems, prior to the use of software. This does not mean using the same tools in the same way but supporting the traditional manual process of generating elevations and sections as an intrinsic part of capturing the mental model of the project. In this way, when the volumetric comprehension is complete, modeling with 3D BIM software (within the limits that, at least for now, software involves) is possible. To that end, we teach students how to use the program so that they can adapt the software to their purposes through the generation of their own parametric families. At this point the software becomes useful, since, if we know how to use it, we can model almost any structure, its construction and/or maintenance. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.