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The Building Information Modeling (BIM) methodology considers the representation of the building as a virtual BIM model and its main concept is to centralize all the information generated throughout the development of the project. Structural design involves a set of tasks, namely, structure definition, structural analyses, and after the generation of drawings and technical documentation. In all processes, it is required confidence in data transferred between the BIM systems used, and to support this, a high level of interoperability is claimed. The present study aims to evaluate the degree of interoperability between the BIM-based platforms, ArchiCAD (Graphisoft), Revit (Autodesk), and ETABS (CSI). Two-way data flows between these systems were explored using distinct transfer strategies: add-in applications; Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) standard data format. The research made allows identifying the most appropriate procedure to be adopted by structural engineers, given the interoperability limitations verified, enabling the establishment of a practical guide of sequential procedures on the development of structural designs using BIM tools.

The growing interest within the construction industry in the preservation, rehabilitation, and conversion of heritage-value buildings has led to the implementation of Historic Building Information Modelling (HBIM) across all sectors. The rigorously accurate representation of old construction solutions for roofs, floors, and walls, and of the decorative details and finishes, commonly used in historic buildings of patrimonial value, requires specific geometric modelling processes in order to generate relevant libraries of parametric objects. This study addresses the generation of parametric families of representative architectural geometry in the context of the conversion of a building of patrimonial value. A collection of historical information and a detailed inspection in situ, recorded by means of digital images and sketches with annotative dimensions of the architectural forms, were first carried out to support the accurate representation of the building. Several families of objects were generated, namely, guillotine windows, glazed doors, ornamental stonework, staircases, and handrails, thus creating a reference library for use in further similar building projects. The study improves the potential of the BIM process for its application to buildings with distinctive architecture in the context of the preservation or conversion of heritage buildings.

The methodology and technology associated with building information modeling (BIM) provide architects, engineers, and historians with concepts and tools that support the development of heritage projects. However, this specific form of BIM orientated towards buildings of patrimonial value—known as historic building information modeling (HBIM)—requires a distinct and additional view, accounting for aspects which are normally not attended to on projects involving new buildings. In an HBIM context, the parametric modeling process, the basis of any BIM procedure, involves the study of shapes, patterns, or standards for the establishment of particular collections of parametric objects, as well as the record of the available technology used to capture digital geometric data. In addition, all the information collected and generated through an HBIM process must be adequately managed, maintained, and archived. In the present study, we intend to list the most recent features of HBIM, based on a bibliographic review, encompassing distinct building situations (preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, and structural assessment), different technical equipment (drones, scanners, and photogrammetry), as well as diverse forms of geometric characterization (patterns, geometric rules, or curve generation) and ways of archiving data (stratigraphy, old drawings folders, or as-built models). With the aim of identifying, as an overview, we have presented the principal modeling strategies, technologic devices, and archive procedures, as a contribution to systematizing and organizing the dispersed practical and theorical studies related with HBIM.

The building information modelling (BIM) methodology supports collaborative works, based on the centralization of all information in a federated BIM model and on an efficient level of interoperability between BIM-based platforms. Concerning the structure design, the interoperability capacity of the most used software presents limitations that must be identified and alternative solutions must be proposed. This study analyzes the process of transfer of structure models between modeling and structure analysis tools. Distinct building cases were performed in order to recognize the type of limitations verified in the transfer processes concerning two-way data flow between several software. The study involves the modeling software ArchiCAD 2020, Revit 2020, and AECOsim 2019 and the structure analyzes tools SAP 2020, Robot 2020, and ETABS 22020. The transfer processes are realized in two ways: using the native data format, using a universal standard data transfer, the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) format. The level of maturity of BIM in structure design is still relatively low, caused essentially by interoperability problems, but despite the limitations detected, this study shows throughout the development of several building case, that the methodology has clear advantages in the development of the structure project.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) offers the Construction professionals the tools to optimize and increase the automation of various design and construction tasks, namely, the Quantity Take-Off (QTO). In a construction project, this task is essential for accurate preliminary cost estimations, investment analysis, cost and resource planning, and control and supporting decision-making processes. The BIM methodology is progressively being implemented in Construction, bringing recognized benefits in the quality of the final product and in the efficiency of the design and construction processes. As BIM is based in the generation and updating of a centralized model, containing all the information of the construction project, it presents a valid alternative to the traditional process, allowing consistent results concerning the QTO activity and facilitating the information management in construction. However, the implementation of BIM in QTO processes, by a majority, is still hindered by the lack of BIM-based measurement rules and is thus often looked upon with reservations in the industry. This paper aims to contribute to the knowledge and dissemination of the benefits of using BIM as a tool for automated QTO. The study demonstrates the main advantages of a BIM/QTO activity and discusses solutions to overcome the limitations identified in a practical case study.

The Building Information Modelling (BIM) methodology is currently the main work platform in the construction industry, and all sectors have been enhancing its applicability. The demonstration of the benefits registered in the development of various activities motivates the great interest. affirmed by architects, engineers and managers, in knowing its concept and the scope of its applicability. Recently, higher education technical schools have been following this interest, introducing changes into their curricular programs and also offering short courses to construction industry professionals. In recent years, the Department of Civil Engineering of the University of Lisbon, Portugal, has organized courses concerning BIM with the aim of meeting the professionals’ needs. To this end, the most recent short course offered to the technical community covered aspects, from the parametric modelling concept to the analysis of the interoperability capacity of the software. The text presents the course program - concept, practice, structures and construction - and the assessment of the degree of satisfaction of participants, based on their pre-course expectations and interest they had in attending the course. It can be concluded that the school and the industry should continue to collaborate in order to reinforce the efficiency of the construction sector.ResumenLa metodología Building Information Modelling (BIM) es actualmente la principal plataforma de trabajo en la industria de la construcción, y todos los sectores han estado potenciando su aplicabilidad. La demostración de los beneficios registrados en el desarrollo de diversas actividades motiva el gran interés, verificado por arquitectos, ingenieros y gestores, por conocer su concepto y el alcance de su aplicabilidad. Las escuelas técnicas han estado siguiendo este interés, introduciendo cambios en sus programas curriculares y ofreciendo también cursos cortos a profesionales de la industria de la construcción. El Departamento de Ingeniería Civil de la Universidad de Lisboa, Portugal, ha estado organizando cursos sobre la cuestión BIM, en una perspectiva de lograr las necesidades de los profesionales. En este caso, el curso corto más reciente ofrecido a la comunidad técnica abarca varios aspectos, desde el concepto de modelado paramétrico hasta el análisis de la capacidad de interoperabilidad. El texto presenta el programa del curso (concepto, práctica, estructuras y construcción) y la evaluación del grado de satisfacción de los participantes, confrontado con sus expectativas e interés en asistir al curso. La escuela y la industria han estado colaborando para potenciar la eficiencia del sector de la construcción.

Building Information Modelling (BIM) enables the Civil engineers professional to accomplish the digital requiremnts and also the integration and collaboration on the elaboration of projects and maintenance of buildings. BIM methodology is currently the main subject of investigation and application in the construction industry and the education have been exploring the introduction of this issue in curricular programs. The students of civil engineering and architecture, as future professionals, must updated their skills with the most recent innovative technology and knowledge. Several academies better classified within the architecture and engineer sector, were selected and its curricular programs were analyzed: the didactic strategies of inserting BIM teachings are similar in the main concept and practice, but depending of the expertize of the school, the aspects related to architecture, structures, construction or planning are deeper taught; the level cycles of introduction BIM (bachelor, master or postgraduate), the professional courses offered to architects and engineeres and the main subjects were discussed. The principal aim of the curricular research is the characterization of BIM education in distinct academies. A resume of actions and organization of topics that promotes an adequate updating of the students skills was achived, helping BIM educators in their activity.

Building Information Models (BIM) have revealed themselves as a good tool to support construction actions, due to their ability to store all the information in one digital model and to promote collaboration between all participants in a project. Teaching Civil Engineering requires a permanent updating of knowledge concerning procedures and technologies used in the construction industry. In this sense, the school should seek to adapt its curriculum to include innovative issues to support new technologies. So, in an educational context, the aim of the present work is to disseminate knowledge concerning the benefits provided when implementing BIM in several aspects within the construction activity. In a Civil Engineering school some topics of BIM application were developed by students within MSc researches. The text describes in detail some of the main topics, showing distinct use of BIM: Generation and use of a 4D/BIM model to support construction planning; coordination of construction project based on BIM methodology; conflict analysis based in an architectural 3D/BIM model. Several study cases were modelled and analyzed, confronting the BIM use with the traditional way when performing the same tasks, and consequently recommendations were carried out. This work contributed to demonstrate the advantages of employing BIM for building tasks purposes when compared with the traditional process, and in a didactic context the main objective is to add competitive skills in the training of future civil engineers.

During the initial project phase the decisions have a greater importance on a building, so it is necessary that different designers can use a centralized information model, allowed by Building Information Modeling (BIM) methodology. The study evaluates the capabilities of BIM on the use of precise and updated information related to the construction solutions of exterior walls and floors, throughout the management of the building life-cycle, namely, in the perspective of an energetic simulation. The work carried out involves the creation of a BIM model and the establishment of a library of parametric objects representative of current walls and floors. The information introduced in the model, together with the parameters, concerning physical proprieties, added to the walls and floor objects, are used in the development of sustainability tasks supported in the BIM model. The main advantages are identified when comparing alternative constructive solutions, and shown BIM ability to support decisions by stakeholders during the development of a project.

The attention of Civil Engineering is currently oriented to the methodology Building Information Modelling (BIM), a new concept that is based on recent scientific advances concerning the ability of computer systems to store, manage and manipulate large amounts of information, and established as the big breakthrough in the construction industry. Being the school the main actor in the formation of new engineers, it has the mission to offer disciplines or training workshops to prepare students for the professional activity, giving the knowledge concerning the current most advanced computer technology. In the context of implementing BIM, the future engineer should acquire the ability to apply basic BIM tools in different domains and recognize the advantages in developing collaborative projects provided by BIM platforms. In Portugal, the involvement in terms of design offices and construction companies, have been growing and as so this interest the Construction industry is an incentive that justifies the inclusion of BIM within the curriculum of the Master Course of Civil Engineering.

Teaching Architecture and Civil Engineering requires a permanent updating of knowledge concerning procedures and technologies used in Construction industry. In this sense, the school should seek to adapt its curriculum to include innovative issues to support a better construction. The Building Information Modeling (BIM) methodology involves the concept of information centralized in a unique geometric model and promotes collaboration between all participants. An important role of teaching is to organize actions to stimulate the insertion of new issues in school. The present report presents several uses of the 3D/BIM model, the main limitations found in the development a nD/BIM models and the most remarkable benefits of the BIM methodology when supporting multitasks, within an education context. Several examples of BIM applications developed by students as MSc researchers are described in detail: 2D/BIM technical drawing representations; conflict analysis based in a 3D/BIM model; coordination of construction project supported on a 3D/BIM model; structural analyses using 3D/BIM models; 4D/BIM model for construction planning; materials take-off supporting 5D/BIM models; energetic analyses based on 6D/BIM model; development of 7D/BIM model in maintenance activity. The concept of multiuse of the 3D/BIM model becomes very clear for students, from the development of different nD/BIM models. The objective is to add competitive skills in the training of future civil engineers.

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 potential of Building Information Modeling (BIM) to support a transformation of the processes of design and construction has been evident in the construction industry. A current BIM topic that requires attention is the integration of BIM with Virtual Reality (VR), where the user visualizes a virtual world through interactive devices or a total immersion. VR combines several devices for interaction, creating virtual environment, and this must followed by studies concerning how to use devices or how to establish links for the presentation of information contained in a BIM model. By adding VR, the BIM solution can address retrieving and presenting information and increasing efficiency on communication and problem solving in an interactive and collaborative project. The text presents a review of actual perspective of the use of VR applied in 4D/BIM models.

The development of a building design requires the participation of several parties involved in different disciplines, and a efficient conflict analysis between disciplines is essential to guarantee a well-developed design. The building information modeling (BIM) methodology and tools associated with it present themselves as an excellent asset to support the process of conflict analysis, as they make it possible to merge all disciplines in an integrated virtual environment. In addition, a good maintenance depends on the analysis of the anomalies detected during the inspection of the site and the BIM model is a good tool on the support of maintenance activities, due to their ability to store enough information in one digital model. The aim of the research work was to implement the benefits provided by BIM on a software tool used as support to maintenance of buildings and to evaluate the practical capabilities of the BIM concept in the conflict analysis between building services, namely, the water supply and drainage systems design, and the architectural and structural design. This work contributes to demonstrate the advantages of BIM in the conciliation and coordination between different specialties, as well as the benefits of its application in maintenance activity.

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.