BIM (Building Information Modeling) Education Program in KSA: A Case Study of BIM program at Prince Sultan University

Abstract

A variety of BIM education programs have been developed and strengthened for future architects and engineers around the world. BIM education curricula as architecture and civil engineering education programs have held an important position in the education institutes. The purpose of the study is to provide future architects and civil engineers with solid hand-on knowledge about BIM through the understanding of its theoretical and historical backgrounds as well as the practical exercise examples of the related various BIM methods, which also shows the benefits of various BIM processes and methods as used by all relevant stakeholders in the AEC industry, such as clients, design teams, construction manager, contractors and maintenance operators etc. Additionally, the paper introduces other related topics as follows through the case studies at PSU for BIM education program, 1) Create 3D BIM models that extract quantities for estimation purposes on the basis of input resources. 2) Operate construction schedule (4D simulation) for project planning. 3) Explore a virtual construction management process that integrated 3D BIM model with scheduling and costing, what is called, 5D simulation. Through the case study, the paper proposes a BIM education guideline appropriate for KSA.