The creation of building projects is faced with an increasing complexity by covering new technical and environmental requirements (e.g. low energy buildings, short time cycles, combination of materials etc.) and integrating many different professional actors. Therefore the provision of adequate and up to date technical and social skills at the side of the building professionals is a key factor for meeting the technical requirements of smart buildings.  

By building and construction actors we mean: civil and supply engineers, architects but not only the planning level as well the building production level is important: with skilled workers in bricklaying, carpentry, underground work, building machinery, electricity, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, metal work etc. and this on different coordination levels, such as in Germany as “Vorarbeiter, Werk Poliere, Geprüfte Poliere, Industriemeister” in UK building managers and/or controllers.

The need for better integration and higher coordination to guarantee the envisaged building quality should avoid such situations in which the vocational professionals are not well informed on the building projects; basically at the interface between planning and making difficulties can occur while interactive cooperation practises are missing. The IT systems of the applicant B&C companies are often not networked or integrated by an common technical interface so that an exchange of information e.g. based on digital artefacts do not exist.

To overcome such difficulties the Building Information Modelling (BIM) was created. BIM can be understood as a cooperative working method which combines different domains and building occupations in such a way that the whole life cycle (planning, erection, equiping, building facility management, re-modernisation and demolition) is represented by virtual software artefacts whoch go beyond computer aided design tools. Relevant and thorough information and demonstration on the building object is centrally stored in a BIM cloud. BIM is a involving the generation and management of digital representations of physical and functional characteristics of places.

This improves communication under all building professionals from planning and construction. The dimensions height, whidth and depth are enhanced by information on time, costs and producers. This is stored with the intention to deliver for more transparency and efficiency as well as monitoring information of the building process in real time. In an early stage risk can be studied und minimised by involving the relevant actors, conflict can be overseen much earlier to avoid damages and accidental situations. By these new instruments a more cooperative culture is seen be supported while this can help to avoid damages and stress!

The introduction of BIM (Building Information Modelling) Systems will change construction and production processes quite drastically. This could mean that the work on the building site can be better used for giving construction workers an proactive work instrument. By showing construction process in 3 D and in advance the building site is not only an execution site but also a learning site where work processes can be simulated and coordination could be trained beforehand. A reflection about future risk and conflicts is more easyly possible, this on team level within a construction company.

The key research question would be, which kind of pro-active up-skilling measure (Curricula, Training, Competence assessment) wil be needed to overcome barriers and risk arising from the BIM technology. There is still the danger that BIM of not involving the direct building construction level into this BIM Cycle! Not a good scenario would be: BIM is getting officially obligate but it ‘cuts off’ the construction workers while they are not well prepared. If the topic of BIM is not dealed within the curricula as well as not in teacher training it might be difficult to develop the human and shaping advantages for this technology.

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