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Technical Drawing is based on standard rules established to be applied in technical documentation allowing communication between collaborators in the development of a project. Teaching Technical Drawing to engineering students has been progressed over the years in the history of engineering: Leonardo da Vinci, based on the resources and expertise achieved at his time, contributed to the two-dimensional graphical representation of three-dimensional machines supported in perspectives, shadows and descriptive notes; the influence of Gaspar Monge in the graphical documentation of a project is enormous, with his new science the Descriptive Geometry; the director of the first school of engineering in Portugal, Alfredo Bensaude, recognizes the practice in the execution of drawings as essential for the training of engineers. The text is focused in a brief historical evolution of the Technical Drawing as a science applied in projects and in the importance of its introduction in the engineering schools curricular programs.

A Museum, when inserted in a Technical University, is a privileged place for the preservation of the historical memory concerning the construction techniques evolution along ages. The construction industry has been evolved in teaching methods, in the use of specific equipment and applied technologies, and in the way of presenting and making drawing. The Museum presents a reminder of how the technology advanced to the current methodologies of work. The Museum of Civil Engineering of the Instituto Superior Tecnico (IST) contains a significant collection of elements offered by teachers and entities which is in exhibition, in a proper room, inserted within the University space. Elements such as: a model of the Pombaline cage, illustrating the constructive technique anti-seismic applied after the earthquake of 1755 or the wooden models of roof frames are examples that are preserved and kept in adequate conditions, contributing to the dissemination of the technical heritage and to the memory and history of the Construction. In the context of the congress some elements used to support teaching and related with traditional building technologies are described in detail.

The reference to Building Information Modelling (BIM) methodology includes the combination of a set of technologies related to the generation of the model and with the handling of a large amount of data. BIM supports the ability to promote a high level of interdisciplinary collaboration, desirable in the development and analysis of the project, contributing to achieve better productivity and quality in the design, construction and maintenance of buildings. BIM tools support the process of geometric modeling based on parametric objects and advanced levels of 3D realistic visualization abilities, but additionally incorporate other capabilities, namely, conflict detection features. Created a 3D/BIM model, with information considered relevant, generated and added throughout the development of the project, an analysis of conflict detections concerning the overlap and the proximity of elements (inconsistency between specialty projects) can be applied. Current BIM tools admit the overlap of three disciplines, architecture, structures and systems and support the definition of each component by direct analysis of conflicts identified by the BIM-based tool with the issue of inconsistency. The modeler adjusts the modelling process to every conflict situation. The analyses of conflict detections concerning inconsistency between specialty projects, is described in the present text.

The main objective of the research was to develop a technological tool to support the maintenance activity of buildings. There were analyzed three main components of the building: roofs, facades and interior walls. A building's roof covering of ceramic tiles constitutes a component of its surrounding and possesses an important function in its protection against the permeation of moisture and rain water; Facade coatings play a significant role in the durability of buildings, since they constitute the exterior layer that ensures the protection of the wall against the aggressive actions of physical, chemical or biological nature; The paint coating applied to interior walls conveys their aesthetic character, performs an important function of protection, and is exposed to agents of deterioration related to the building use. A survey of the main anomalies that occur in these components, the respective causes and the adequate interventions, in order to plan maintenance strategies was conducted. The information collected serves as a basis in the implementation of applications using interactive visualization technologies, to support the planning of building maintenance. This research work brings an innovative contribution to the field of maintenance supported by emergent technology.

The management of the totality of information concerning different phases of a building can be supported on a common environment. This concept is the basis of the technology Building Information Modelling (BIM). The text describes how the BIM concept has been introduced in the Department of Civil Engineering. The school itself has been promoting dissemination of BIM based on short training courses, seminars and technical sessions, involving credible designer offices and involving students in research projects, PhD theses and MSc dissertations. The basic BIM technology must constitutes one of the essential tools in student's training, helping them, in the future, to facilitate their integration in a demanding and competitive work environment.

In the execution of bridge or overpass decks several construction processes are applied. A geometric model 4D (3D + time) in a Virtual Reality (VR) environment which simulates the construction of a bridge deck composed of precast beams was implemented. The model allows viewing and interaction with the various steps and the main elements involved in the construction process. In order to develop the virtual model, the components of the construction, the steps inherent in the process and its follow-up and the type and mode of operation of the required equipment were initially examined, in detail. Based on this study, the 3D geometric modelling of the different elements that make up the site was created and a schedule that would simulate an interactive mode of construction activity was established. As the model is interactive, it allows the user to have access to different stages of the construction process, thus allowing different views in time and in space throughout the development of construction work, thereby supporting understanding of this constructive method. Since the model is didactic in character it can be used to support the training of students and professionals in the field of Bridge Construction. The VR application is currently used to support Bridge classes.

The interaction allowed by Virtual Reality (VR) technology, as a complement to 3D modeling, could make an end to passive attitudes of learners as an opposition to traditional teaching systems, leading to a better communication between teacher and student. VR technology was applied on the development of a didactic model concerning the construction process of bridges. The VR application allows the visual simulation of the physical progression of the work and the method of operation of the equipment applied in it. This text describes the modeling and programing processes concerning the virtual simulation of the construction work of a bridge deck formed of precast beams.

This paper describes the application of virtual reality technology on the development of didactic models related to the construction activity and to the design of roofs. The models, showing construction processes, allow the visualization of the physical progression of the work following a planned construction sequence, the observation of details of the form of every component of the works and carry the study of the type and method of operation of the equipment applied in the construction. The roof model supports student to draw up plan drawings of roofs and the correspondent 3D model, tasks which relies on an understanding of the three-dimensional nature of the respective constructive process. The models present distinct advantage as educational aids in first-degree courses in Civil Engineering. The use of Virtual Reality techniques in the development of educational applications brings new perspectives to the teaching of subjects related to the field of civil construction.

This communication describes a virtual reality technology application in the construction-training domain. A prototype was developed that serves as a didactic tool for civil engineering students of disciplines concerned with building construction. Geometric modeling and virtual reality techniques are used on the visual simulation of construction processes and to define user-friendly interfaces in order to access construction information, which could prove useful to civil engineering professionals. The construction of a double brick wall is the case studied. The wall is defined as a three-dimensional geometric model formed with the several components needed to construct it. Using the wall's virtual model it is possible to show, in an interactive way, the sequence of the construction process and observe, from any point of view, the configurations in detail of the building components. This is a didactic application in the construction processes domain of great interest to civil engineering students