INVESTIGATING THE EXTENT OF USE OF BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING (BIM) IN DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE, COVENANT UNIVERSITY OTA, NIGERIA

Abstract

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is gradually gaining wider acceptance in the Nigerian Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry and the education industry should match that level of acceptance by training future professionals in the Nigerian AEC industry on the concept and its practice. BIM describes the process of designing a building collaboratively using one coherent system of computer models, rather than as separate sets of drawings. This allows for proper and effective management of information which in turn creates smarter and more informed professionals in a construction industry that loses billions per year, due to ineffective communication. This research aimed at examining the extent of use of BIM in Covenant University‘s department of architecture focused on three major variables; awareness, effective use and application of the subject matter outside the classroom. The result of this research however suggests that the more advanced facets of BIM are used at marginally low levels, compared to the rather basic facets such as 2D and 3D BIM. Nonetheless, this research did not give room for fallacy of generalization as extensive means of cross analysis were used to properly examine awareness, use and application of BIM outside the classroom‘ (amongst other variables) across the several levels of study. Hence, allowing for more detailed and precise findings