Teaching Building Information Modeling Courses in Construction Programs

Building information modeling has been widely adopted in the construction industry in the last decade. To better prepare students for the construction industry's needs nationwide, many construction programs either have a BIM course in the curriculum or integrate BIM topics in various courses. Construction-related BIM topics include information modeling, design coordination, clash detection, process virtualization, virtual design and construction, and various integration with technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, drones, and laser scanners. Researchers have advanced BIM studies in recent years. However, the implementation of BIM courses still varies widely in construction management programs. These courses may be taught at different levels, and the content varies significantly among instructors. The authors investigated BIM course learning objectives, outcomes, and contents at various universities and concluded common topics that are essential in the course. Findings suggest that BIM can be taught in four approaches to help construction students understand the various applications of BIM in different project phases, including design, construction, and operation and maintenance. Furthermore, the findings provide valuable insights for educators to improve BIM courses to meet the needs of the construction industry. This paper emphasizes the importance of BIM education and provides recommendations for teaching BIM courses in construction management programs.