CE 570: BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING FOR COLLABORATIVE

CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
Assistant Professor Burcin Becerik-Gerber
becerik@usc.edu
Spring 2010 Syllabus

Wednesdays 2:00 - 4:50pm, RTH 109

Course Description:
Currently, the building industry is facing enormous technological and institutional changes and
challenges. Among these are globalization, socio-economic changes, sustainability, specialization,
and virtual collaboration. One very important instrument to such change is the use of
information technology. The 21st century engineers and construction managers must be able to
deal with a rapid pace of technological change, a highly interconnected world, and complex
problems that require multidisciplinary solutions.

Students will work in multidisciplinary project teams to simulate engineering and construction
processes for actual projects. In one semester, students will focus on collaboratively designing
and engineering optimal solutions, by utilizing information technology and their individual
strengths – problem solving from engineering students, design from architecture students, and
schedule, cost, quality control and overall management from construction management students.
By providing a cyber-learning platform, where students from multiple disciplines can work
together, students will be able to test ideas, principles, and practices in the way to become
creative and innovative practitioners. In addition, students will collaborate with their peers in
Virginia Tech University (VTU), exploring bi-costal project collaboration and role-based learning.
Distance Education Network (DEN) will enable students from two universities to follow software
tutorials, lectures and participate group discussions.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is argued to be a catalyst for change poised to reduce
industry's fragmentation, improve its efficiency, effectiveness and lower the high costs of
inadequate interoperability. Students will learn BIM authoring and specialty applications and
construction management functions including construction simulation, model based estimating,
energy analysis, clash detection and code compliance.

Students should have familiarity with BIM software environments or willingness to learn them.
All students enrolled in the course are expected to attend special skill building lab sessions. This
course is not intended to make students completely proficient in these environments. Instead, it
aims to demonstrate how construction management functions are impacted by new technologies
and helps students understand the fundamentals and practical uses of the state of the art
information technologies and tools in the building industry. It also promotes project-based
learning through cross disciplinary, geographically distributed, virtual project team
collaboration.

Objectives:
(1) Students will gain experience in how to work in multidisciplinary teams of architecture,
engineering, and construction, in which they are exposed to holistic view of the building
industry;
(2) Students will have hands-on experience with emerging technologies, which support
collaborative and concurrent teamwork, and they will explore the issues around technology’s
impact on organization behavior and performance so that they can produce better and
economical building products;
(3) Students will learn different aspects of collaborative design and engineering (in the context
of multi-disciplinary and geographically dispersed teams) Building on their technical

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competencies, this course focuses on fostering their collaboration skills (dealing with
organization, management, teamwork, and effective use of IT).
(4) Students will learn to how to integrate personal and group knowledge to achieve positive
results in complex engineering and construction tasks.

Methods of Teaching:
A combination of software tutorials, lectures, case studies, peer-to-peer learning and discussions.
Additional out of class time required for directed self learning, seminar assignments, teamwork
and reviewing relevant material.

Learning Objectives:
 BIM skills and knowledge building
 Application of BIM skills/knowledge to construction domain knowledge
 Team work and team building essentials
 Understanding of the requirements needed for successful team collaboration
 “Learning by doing”

Roles & Responsibilities:

Six groups of four students will work on three projects (max 24 students). Each group will have 2
USC and 2 VTU students. Each student in each group will have the following roles:
 Architect/Structural Engineer
 Building Owner/Facility Manager
 General Contractor
 Project Manager

Role Arch. Struct./MEP Energy 4D Estimating Clash Code

Model Model Scheduling Check Compliance
Architect       
Engineer       
Cost       
Engineer
Scheduler       
Construction       
Manager

 Primary role # Secondary role

Guest Speakers:
Project participants of case studies and subject matter experts might participate either remotely or
visit the class.

Teaching Assistant: Farrokh Jazizadeh; jazizade@usc.edu

TA will lead workshop sessions and will hold regular office hours as posted

Office Hours: Other hours by appointment only. Students are advised to make appointments
with the professor ahead of time and be specific with the subject matter to be discussed. Students
should also be prepared for their appointment by bringing all applicable materials and
information.

Assignments/Reports:
All assignments/reports are done within a team. There is no midterm assignment. Instead, there
will be six assignments and three final reports due at the beginning of the class as specified in the

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class schedule below.

Guidelines and additional information will be developed, which will provide a common
vernacular for the assignments. It is crucial that students turn in whatever they have on the due
date. NO assignment will be accepted late. An incomplete grade will only be issued when a
student is unable to complete the work because of documented illness. A letter from your
physician will be required documentation.

Assignment #1:
- Compile scope: PDF drawings and design data/program
- Compile schedule: MS project schedule or equivalent
- Compile cost data: Gather cost and labor information for the design and construction of a
typical building
- Establish group communication/collaboration procedures

Assignment # 2:
- Create a digital model, schedule and cost estimate for the building
- Presentation: Teams present their models: comparable case and expected differences

Assignment #3:
- Complete BIM based cost estimate and scheduling
- Presentation: Teams present findings

Assignment #4:
- Complete energy analysis
- Presentation: Teams present their energy simulation findings

Assignment #5:
- Complete clash checking and code compliance
- Presentation: Teams present their findings

Assignment #6:
- Refine final project model, estimate, schedule based on findings
- Produce 3D marketing documents/videos
- Final presentations

Final Report #1:

Each group will establish their communication/collaboration procedures and choose the tools to
facilitate/support their procedures. Below is a list of suggested communication and collaboration
tools. Each group may test different tools at the beginning of the semester but must choose at
least one tool from each category and use them for group, vendor, and mentor
communication/collaboration throughout the semester. Each group must deliver a report at the
end of the semester. The report must include the following as a minimum requirement:

 Basis/justification for choosing one tool over another

 Pros/cons of each tool they have chosen
 Frequency and method of use and reasoning for it (how much they used and what they
have done and why)
 Unique ways of use
 Use by participants (who used what feature, who initiated the use, for what reason)
 Detailed description of the communication and collaboration procedures established by
the team

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  Explanation of how selected set of tools supported the team’s procedures
 Lessons Learnt: what are the organizational, procedural and technological requirements
for collaborative project development; what has worked and what haven’t and why?

Suggested Tools:

Synchronous Collaboration: Asynchronous Collaboration:

http://tinychat.com/ http://www.ning.com/
http://www.tokbox.com/ http://www.groupsite.com/
http://www.dimdim.com/ http://secondlife.com/
Skype http://www.facebook.com/
MSN messenger http://www.youtube.com/
AOL Instant messenger http://twitter.com/
Yahoo messenger
Google voice and video chat
http://www.icq.com/
Google Wave – not available yet but might be
soon

Final Report #2:

At the end of the semester, each group will deliver a report for two categories: technology and
process. This report will need to be supported by a thorough analysis of the project. The
following areas (for both technology and process) should be covered in the report:

 Interoperability
 Enhancement list
 Value proposition
 Best practices for “how to work collaboratively” on the model

Final Report #3:

Each student will work with assigned industry mentor, software vendor and his/her team
members to define “what is needed” for and from his/her discipline area. Each group will
submit a report at the end of the semester. Some of the questions that will be reported in a
document as well as incorporated into the project are:

 What level of information is needed at each stage (design, construction and operations)
and who is responsible for it?
 What is the level of detail?
 Who generates, produces, and organizes the effort?
 What are some of the liability issues and how to overcome them?
 Who owns the coordinated model?
 Who is responsible for quality control?
 What are some of the standards needed to integrate all discipline's analytical and physical
objects for simulation and performance?

Class Communication:
Scholar will be used for class communication, assignment submissions and reading materials.
Adobe Connect will be used for sharing presentations and desktops. Each lecture will be recorded
by DEN and streamlined via Scholar.

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Grading Schema:
Software Assignments: 60% (10%for each assignment)
Final Reports: 30% (10%for each report)
Participation: 10%

Related Software:
BIM Authoring:
Graphisoft; ArchiCAD Version 13 - http://www.graphisoft.com/ - FREE for students:
https://eduregistration.graphisoft.com/
Revit Architecture 2010/Structures/MEP – FREE for students: http://students5.autodesk.com/

BIM Specialty:
NavisWorks - http://navisworks.com/ (model review & clash detection)
Solibri - http://www.solibri.com/ (model review & clash detection)
Green Building Studio - http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?
id=11179508&siteID=123112 (energy & performance analysis)
Ecotect - http://ecotect.com/home (energy & performance analysis)
Horizontal – http://www.horizontal-llc.com/ (collaboration, estimating, 4D simulation, clash
check)
Meridian Proliance - http://www.meridiansystems.com/ (construction project management)

Recommended Software:
Virtual Construction - http://www.vicosoftware.com/ - FREE for students: can download
software & training guides (4D scheduling, quantity take off & estimating, cost
control/management)
Digital Project - http://www.gehrytechnologies.com/
Innovaya- http://www.innovaya.com/ (quantity take off and estimation)
Espec- http://www.e-specs.com/demo-list.html (specifications)
SpecifiCAD-http://www.cadalytic.com/ (product manufacturer content)

Recommended Readings:
Web Sites & Blogs:
Analysis, Research and Reviews of AEC Technology - AECbytes - http://www.aecbytes.com/
Building Smart Alliance - http://www.buildingsmartalliance.org/
National BIM Standard (NIBS) - http://www.facilityinformationcouncil.org/bim/index.php
FIATECH - http://www.fiatech.org/
Eat your CAD - http://www.eatyourcad.com/
BIM Forum - http://www.bimforum.org/
All Things BIM - http://allthingsbim.blogspot.com/
All Roads Lead to BIM - http://www.digitalvis.com/allroads

Books:
BIM Handbook: A Guide to Building Information Modeling for Owners, Managers, Designers,
Engineers and Contractors- Chuck Eastman, et al.
Building Information Modeling: A Strategic Implementation Guide for Architects, Engineers,
Constructors, and Real Estate Asset Managers - Dana K. Smith and Michael Tardif
Building Information Modeling: Planning and Managing Construction Projects with 4D CAD and
Simulations - Willem Kymmell
BIM and Construction Management: Proven Tools, Methods, and Workflows -Brad Hardin

Class Structure & Schedule:

* Class sequence, dates topics and guest speakers are subject to change as the semester proceeds.
Any revisions will be noted and announced in class.

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Week Date Topic Assignment
Schedule
1 01/13 - INTRODUCTIONS
Instructors, class members and course
Assignments Assign # 1
Team formation; roles & responsibilities Assigned
2 01/20 - INTEGRATED PRACTICE AND COLLABORATION
- FUNDAMENTALS OF BIM
3 01/27 INTEGRATED PROJECT SESSION #1 Assign # 1
Integrated team formation, definition of design intent, responsibilities, cost, schedule Due
and systems benchmarking
4 02/03 BIM application tutorial – Revit & ArchiCAD Assign # 2
- Overview of BIM application: interface, navigation, intro to massing models and Assigned
concept design
- Parametric structures in BIM: using constrains and general modeling family,
setting up stories, creating slabs, etc.
- BIM walls & openings
5 02/10 BIM application tutorial – Revit & ArchiCAD
- Visualization & documentation: extracting information from BIM & drawing
production: measurement data, schedule of values, custom annotations
- Interoperability: model linking, collaboration and team communication within
BIM, translation of relevant data
6 02/17 BIM application tutorial - Navisworks
- Linking MS Project with BIM; 4D simulation in BIM
- Quantity take offs with BIM, schedules, inventories
- Clash detection
7 02/24 INTEGRATED PROJECT SESSION #2 Assign # 2
Virtual model development, analysis: modeling Due
8 03/03 BIM based project management –Meridian Proliance Assign # 3
- RFIs, submittals, estimating, budgets, notices, etc Assigned
9 03/10 BIM based collaboration– Horizontal Glue
- Introduction to web-based BIM
- Spatial coordination, quantities and volumes, simulation, mark-ups, notices,
records in a web-based environment
10 03/17 INTEGRATED PROJECT SESSION #2 Assign # 3
Virtual model development, analysis: schedule & estimating/cost Due
11 03/24 BIM application tutorial – Ecotect & GBS Assign # 4
- Sustainability and BIM: Interface with energy analysis packages for green Assigned
design/construction, design optimization, energy analysis
12 03/31 INTEGRATED PROJECT SESSION #3 Assign # 4
Virtual model development, analysis: energy Due
13 04/07 - FACILITIES INTEGRATION Assign # 5
How to prepare information to link for FM purposes Assigned
Extract and format information involving standards like COBIE
14 04/14 Model Checking & Validation - Solibri
- Code compliance, egress analysis, space usage, quality assurance, program
validation
15 04/21 INTEGRATED PROJECT SESSION #5 Assign # 5
Virtual model development, analysis: clash check & code checking Due
16 04/28 Team Presentations
05/05 Final project delivery Assign #6,
Final
Reports #1,
2, 3

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Academic Responsibilities:

Students with Disabilities

Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register
with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved
accommodations can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure the letter is delivered to me as early
in the semester as possible. Your letter must be specific as to the nature of any accommodations
granted. DSP is located in STU 301 and is open 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday. The
telephone number for DSP is (213) 740-0776.

Academic Integrity
The University, as an instrument of learning, is predicated on the existence of an environment of
integrity. As members of the academic community, faculty, students, and administrative officials
share the responsibility for maintaining this environment. Faculties have the primary
responsibility for establishing and maintaining an atmosphere and attitude of academic integrity
such that the enterprise may flourish in an open and honest way. Students share this
responsibility for maintaining standards of academic performance and classroom behavior
conducive to the learning process. Administrative officials are responsible for the establishment
and maintenance of procedures to support and enforce those academic standards. Thus, the
entire University community bears the responsibility for maintaining an environment of integrity
and for taking appropriate action to sanction individuals involved in any violation. When there
is a clear indication that such individuals are unwilling or unable to support these standards,
they should not be allowed to remain in the University.” (Faculty Handbook, 1994:20)

Academic dishonesty includes: (Faculty Handbook, 1994: 21-22)

Examination behavior – any use of external assistance during an examination shall be considered
academically dishonest unless expressly permitted by the teacher.
Fabrication – any intentional falsification or invention of data or citation in an academic exercise
will be considered a violation of academic integrity.
Plagiarism – the appropriation and subsequent passing off of another’s ideas or words as one’s
own. If the words or ideas of another are used, acknowledgment of the original source must be
made through recognized referencing practices.
Other Types of Academic Dishonesty – submitting a paper written by or obtained from another,
using a paper or essay in more than one class without the teacher’s express permission, obtaining
a copy of an examination in advance without the knowledge and consent of the teacher, changing
academic records outside of normal procedures and/or petitions, using another person to
complete homework assignments or take-home exams without the knowledge or consent of the
teacher.

The use of unauthorized material, communication with fellow students for course assignments,
or during a mid-term examination, attempting to benefit from work of another student, past or
present and similar behavior that defeats the intent of an assignment or mid-term examination, is
unacceptable to the University. It is often difficult to distinguish between a culpable act and
inadvertent behavior resulting from the nervous tensions accompanying examinations. Where a
clear violation has occurred, however, the instructor may disqualify the student’s work as
unacceptable and assign a failing mark on the paper.

Return of Course Assignments

Returned paperwork, unclaimed by a student, will be discarded after a year and hence, will not
be available should a grade appeal be pursued following receipt of his/her grade.