The Potential of BIM in Disseminating Knowledge about Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems: Learning through the Design Process

Abstract

Despite the low rate of sewer service coverage in developing countries, especially in small towns and rural areas, decentralized wastewater treatment systems (DEWATS) are alternatives to ensure public health. Nonetheless, understanding the physical or functional aspects of these system constructions remains difficult when there is no bibliography, a teaching professional, or even a prototype that allows technical conclusions about specific processes. Although resource combination in a BIM environment works as a facilitator to obtain compact and sustainable results, the purpose of this collaboration is not only to simplify the design process. This paper aims to propose a way to use BIM concepts as a learning tool throughout the modeling process. To do so, we developed a BIM template with specific DEWATS characteristics in order to provide not only information needed for construction, but also information that can favor learning. We measured how much the level of development (LOD) can influence learning about these systems during the design process, directing users to make the best implementation choices. The adoption of qualitative analysis of a questionnaire answered by three groups of professionals (general CADD software users, BIM software with generic template users, and BIM software with specific DEWATS template users) allowed us to identify differences among them, such as the number of DEWATS known, considered LOD, learning, and handicaps in the design of these systems. The results pointed out that the BIM tools can influence learning about new and unknown specific systems, which is directly related to the LOD of a model.