2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Infusing Research Know-How into the Construction Sector: Pedagogies to Support Digital Construction in Ireland

Presented at Architectural Engineering Division (ARCHE) Technical Session 3

Building Information Modelling (BIM) and BIM Management (BIMM) support digital construction and have the potential to revolutionize the construction industry. In countries where BIM has been most readily adopted, and national supports and mandates put into place, the use of these digital construction methodologies is yielding results. National governments work in various ways to encourage and support the use of BIM, and research is an important part of moving ahead the knowledge base, usability, and uptake of BIM. This paper focuses on the use of BIM in Ireland, the role of education in the shift toward digital construction, and the value of research conducted in one higher education institution (HEI) in Ireland. This HEI, the Technological University of Dublin, has become a leader in BIM education and research. With hundreds of academic research papers having been produced at TU Dublin at the Bachelors, Masters, and Doctoral levels, the authors believe it is time to review the storehouse of publications to assess its range, quality, and value to the Irish construction sector.
This paper explains existing strategies for the implementation of BIM at national levels, and pedagogies that can be used to support this shift toward digital construction. The paper starts by discussing BIM adoption globally, the increasing use of BIM in Ireland, and the need for BIM education in Ireland. It then explains why research is needed to move the adoption of BIM forward and how student research can support implementation of BIM in industry. It proceeds to describe TU Dublin’s stepped and scaffolded approach for supporting student researchers, and then propose a plan for a study that will systematically map, critically analyze, and systematically review the results of BIM-related research generated at TU Dublin since 2020. The paper concludes with implications for future research.

Authors

Dr. Shannon Chance http://orcid.org/https://0000-0001-5598-7488 Technological University Dublin & University College London [biography]

Professor Shannon Chance, PhD, is a Registered Architect holding bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Architecture from Virginia Tech and a PhD in Higher Education from William and Mary. She is Lecturer and Programme Chair (Honours BSc in Building Information Modeling/Digital Construction) at Technological University Dublin and Honorary Professor at University College London. She also is a LEED Accredited Professional and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) in the UK. Shannon is Deputy Editor of the European Journal of Engineering Education and has served as Full Professor of Architecture in the USA, Chair of the Research in Engineering Education Network (REEN), Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Education, Fulbright Fellow to Ireland, and a Marie Curie Research Fellow (to both Ireland and the UK).
Dr. Barry McAuley Technological University Dublin [biography]

Dr. Barry McAuley is a Chartered Construction Project Manager and Head of Digital Construction and Geospatial Surveying at the Technological University Dublin’s School of Surveying and Construction Innovation. Prior to his current position, Barry spent a number of years working in the AEC sector, which enabled him to develop his managerial skills through employment in a selection of diverse roles. Barry completed a Ph.D. in 2016, which focused on using BIM to demonstrate how early integration of Facilities Management professionals into the design team can reduce life cycle costs. To date, Barry has been involved in both National and International research initiatives and has successfully worked with entities such as Enterprise Ireland, the Department of Education and Skills, and the European Commission in the delivery of funded research projects. At present, he is the principal investigator for TU Dublin on the H2020 Arise project and the chair of the standards pillar for the Build Digital Project. He also currently serves on a number of journal editorial boards, scientific committees, and industry panels which has enabled an active channel of communication between the Irish AEC sector and academia. As a result of his research to date, he has had a significant body of work published through a combination of industry reports, conference proceedings, and journal paper

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