2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Integrating BIM into Sustainable Design: Perception and Awareness of Architecture and Construction Management Students

Presented at Architectural Engineering Division (ARCHE) Technical Session 2

Integrating Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology into Sustainable Design (SD) can significantly improve Architectural, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) practices. However, there is a concern that students may not have a practical understanding and application of BIM principles in Sustainable Design projects despite an increasing emphasis on BIM in academic curricula. This discrepancy raises important questions about the effectiveness of current educational approaches in preparing students for practical challenges in SD projects. This study investigates the alignment between architecture and construction management students' perceptions of BIM with SD. The research objectives are to (1) identify gaps, (2) assess students' current knowledge, and (3) evaluate teaching methods to enhance education. The study involves students from _ State University (_SU). It compares perceptions across majors and educational experiences to shed light on the influence of students' backgrounds on their understanding of Sustainable Design. The study's main findings reveal that students' experiences significantly impact their comprehension of SD and construction options. Therefore, educators must refine curricula and implement BIM and SD effectively. This research contributes to advancing BIM and SD education, offering valuable perspectives on students' awareness and perceptions within their academic journey. The study will help students apply Sustainable Design in the real world by bridging the gap between theory and practice.

Keywords: Building Information Modeling, BIM, Architecture, Construction Management, Student Learning Outcome, Sustainable Design, Curriculum Development.

Authors

Mr. Tran Duong Nguyen http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0024-4828 Georgia Institute of Technology [biography]

Tran Duong Nguyen is a licensed architect and master planner with more than 12 years of experience in various project management stages. He has conducted research on Sustainable Design and Energy Efficiency, focusing on Building Information Modeling (BIM), Digital Twin (DT), and Modular Construction (MC). Tran is also working on developing performance certification techniques for green building rating systems and Life Cycle Assessments. He is an enthusiastic doctoral researcher with a Master of Science degree in Construction Management from Kennesaw State University and is continuing his academic career as a Ph.D. student in Building Construction at the Georgia Institute of Technology in the Fall of 2022. Tran is passionate about research and teaching and has published numerous papers addressing critical challenges in the construction industry. He aims to enhance sustainability by integrating emerging technologies.
Dr. Sanjeev Adhikari http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5051-0346 Kennesaw State University [biography]

Dr. Sanjeev Adhikari is faculty from Kennesaw State University. Previously he was faculty at Morehead State University from 2009 to 2016 and faculty at Purdue University – Indianapolis from 2016 to 2019. He completed a Ph.D. degree in civil engineering, focusing on construction management, from Michigan Technological University in 2008. He has an extensive teaching background with 22 years of the academic experience at five different universities. Students and
departments have always praised him for his outstanding teaching and research excellence. He has been involved in numerous professional societies to supplement his teaching and research, including ASCE, ACI, ASEE, ASC, ATMAE, and TRB. His research output has been well disseminated as he has published 100+ journal papers and conference papers. His research interests are 1) Creating Innovative Sustainable Materials, 2) Digital Construction, 3) BIM and VDC, 4) Virtual Testing Lab, 5) Construction Education, and 6) Sustainability.

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