BIM Integration in Architectural Education: Where Do We Stand?

Abstract

AbstractConsidering the redefinition of the roles of AEC professions -and reflectively education- through Building Information Modeling (BIM), this research is interested in the integration of BIM tools and technologies into formal architectural education at the higher education level. Starting with the first attempts as a transition from teaching AutoCAD to BIM in stand-alone computer courses, the recent studies show that BIM integration in education has expanded towards adapting the architectural curriculum to prepare students for a BIM-oriented practice. Acknowledging the trends and positing possible shifts in the field, this study uses a systematic review method to map the actual experiences of researchers and academics for the integration of BIM tools and technologies into architectural education. In the Scopus database, publications that focus on BIM integration into architectural education are scanned for a period between 2005 to 2021. After the bibliometric analysis, 42 studies are selected to evaluate based on their reflection of an actual case experience in a higher education setting that engages in the integration of BIM in architectural education. Evaluating various approaches addressing the design studios and complementary courses and the challenges faced in architectural education as part of the efforts to integrate BIM is examined concerning the emerging themes. As the most frequently encountered theme in the selected studies, a particular emphasis is put on the concept of collaboration.KeywordsArchitectural designArchitectural educationCurriculumBIM integrationCollaboration