The Georgia Institute of Technology and Skanska, one of the world’s leading construction and development firms, have teamed up to offer a new professional course for Building Information Modeling (BIM), a virtual process that uses intelligent 3D models to help architects, engineers and contractors plan, design and build projects prior to construction.
The course will be held May 9-12 at Georgia Tech’s Digital Building Laboratory, where students will gain a working knowledge of virtual design and construction processes that have real-world applications. The emergence of new technologies and advanced processes such as BIM have improved collaboration and building quality while also reducing opportunities for error. With the rapid adoption of BIM in the industry, the new course was created to address the growing need for BIM training specifically for construction professionals.
The four-day course will introduce students to the most popular BIM tools and preview the newest related technologies such as laser scanning, mobile devices and drones. Students will learn how to navigate and analyze a model and how to apply BIM to project execution tasks such as planning and sequencing, spatial coordination and clash detection, and operations and facility management. Most important, students will walk away with a solid understanding of industry best practices and lessons learned on how to implement a BIM-enabled project.
Developed collaboratively by Georgia Tech and Skanska, the course will be taught by a team coordinated by Professor Chuck Eastman, one of the original developers of BIM technology who also co-authored one of the first handbooks on BIM tools and processes.
“While drawings have been used to plan and construct buildings for centuries, the value of BIM has been recognized worldwide in the last decade, supporting fundamental improvements to design and construction, and the resulting transformations have just begun,” says Eastman.
Skanska USA Building’s Director of Learning Strategy and Design Mike Choquette and Regional Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) Director Oliver Smith assisted in developing the curriculum. Smith will also serve as a guest teacher during the course, focusing on real-world applications of BIM in the construction management field.
“At Skanska, we need people who have an understanding of the tools and delivery methods that help us remain competitive,” said Smith. “This new course will empower construction professionals of all levels and provide them with the experience and know-how they need to start applying BIM to their work environments.”
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