1.6 Outcome 5 Evaluation of the Framework
1.6.4 Recent graduates
We interviewed the following recent graduates.
Name Role, organisation
Graduate 1 Graduate of 2013; Product manager at tender management
platform
Dan Collins Graduate of 2011; Assistant Development Manager, Mirvac
Graduate 3 Graduate of 2012; Quality engineer in off-site manufacturing Jing Yiing Chung Graduate of 2013; Worked as a quantity surveyor until recently
Table 12 List of recent graduates
The following is a brief narrative and description on each of these research participants in response to question 1, 2 and 3 in the interview:
1. Could you, please, start by introducing yourself?
2. We would like to learn more about how you have learnt BIM 3. Can you tell us about your learning experiences with BIM?
The four graduates, who took part in the research, had a range of experiences regarding BIM. They all graduated in last three years from RMIT University, Construction Management Undergraduate Program. The current roles of these graduates include working as product manager of a technology platform; assistant development manager, quality engineer and junior quantity surveyor. Three of them have been working within the residential construction sector, and one within the commercial arena. Since, most of them have come from the residential sector, their feedback regarding industry perception was very similar; ‘no talk about BIM’. They talked about the resistance within the industry and confusion regarding the uptake of BIM. From the clients point of view, BIM is ‘nice to have’ on their projects but they also range from either have no awareness about BIM to wanting to have BIM on their projects.
With regards to their educational experiences, graduates tended to agree that the more focus during their studies was on gaining technical skills and somewhat less focus on understanding the wider business strategy for using BIM, the way BIM is integrated into construction management core skills, information management and subcontractor management. Some key observations include:
At University I got some familiarisation with the BIM concept and a little technical hands-on skills were taught: At Queensland University of Technology, during 1st year, BIM was mentioned as concept, no examples but we thought one day it will change our life
At RMIT (from 2nd year onwards), there was more talk of BIM; I had heard that RMIT offered Revit design during 1st Year; Final year at RMIT: Google sketch-up was taught, but I felt I had missed something earlier on"
Theoretical knowledge on BIM mostly self-directed through Paul
Wilkinson's blog on BIM best practice in UK
(http://www.extranetevolution.com) to answer queries from boss and clients;
I had only heard about BIM at university; My first real experience with BIM was during an internship in Sweden, where 3D drawings were used on site;
I don’t have any technical skills in BIM, though; the uni course I did in Sweden did not have a BIM component;
I did a BIM related research project in final year at uni which was a very positive experience as I saw it in terms of onsite construction management and workflow;
I had an introduction to BIM at RMIT in construction management classes, 4D time and 5D cost scheduling, but no hands on experience;
I learnt Revit through TAFE course; some AutoCAD knowledge, but have never played with extensions, e.g. fire services
I learnt Revit in 1st year: just basic introduction for 6 weeks;
I had some exposure to Build Soft (take quantities off imported pdf drawings; measure area - take cost per unit - determine costs; as class was too big to ask questions, I learnt it through You Tube videos; Lecturers at uni sometimes mentioned BIM, but not much detail was given
In my opinion, quantity surveyors should at least understand the basics of BIM to be able to communicate with architects who have a BIM model; I believe that BIM benefits are a 3D model, cost and time savings and would deliver more sustainable buildings
Shortcoming of learning in undergraduate course (Year 3&4, CPD2): as it was a group work project, I only learnt part of the software, not the whole software (Sketch Up & Build Soft)
Revit not used again after university;
The graduates had some exposure to BIM through using Revit and so had awareness of how to create a model. In general they were in agreement that their education with regards to BIM was minimal and that there was much more that they could have been exposed to.
Name Graduate 1 Graduate 2 - Dan Collins Graduate 3 Graduate 4 - Jing Yiing Chung
Role Product manager at tender management
platform;
Graduated six months previously (end 2013);
Work experience predominantly as estimator;
Assistant Development Manager, Mirvac; Graduated 3 years previously (end 2011)
responsible for feasibility and leasing of commercial buildings;
Works as a quality engineer in prefabrication, identifying defects in prefabricated modules. Graduated 2012;
Worked as a quantity surveyor until recently;
Graduated in construction management in 2013;
Comes from Malaysia, came to Australia after High School; Organisation type Online tender management platform with
8 employees, servicing the Australian market, for commercial building tenders only
Residential volume builder listed on stock exchange; Company is involved in construction, sales and marketing of properties.
Tier 2 builder that produces modular construction units, ranging from bathrooms to whole apartments; Units sold nationally and exported, too;
Quantity surveying company works for medium and small builders; involved with small - medium sized, low rise residential projects; worked there after graduation for 6 months; Industry perspective Says that only larger clients and designers
want BIM: "if client wants it he is going to get it";
Survey of 70 of his company's most valuable clients said on BIM that it was "nice to have"; frequent response on phone survey was "what is BIM?"
Sees resistance toward BIM in the Australian industry;
Thinks that adoption is led by Tier 1 consultants, then taken up by subcontractors and facility managers; Thinks that quantity surveyors are protecting their positions
Company thinks that BIM is confusing;
external companies do not ask for BIM models
There was no talk of BIM in the quantity surveyor's office
Attitude towards BIM Motivation for increased knowledge of BIM through current role as an in-house
consultant for how construction processes work in real life;
Says that "press one button and get a bill of quantities has always fascinated me, ... but never in my life have I seen it";
Did not feel challenged by BIM as he was familiar with the 3D environment through computer games; Would like to have BIM model to hand over to asset management division aspiration;
3D drawings are easy to comprehend;
"I cannot see the day when you will press a button and out comes the price to build your building. The guys are good but we need to train them to understand how it can empower them." Thinks that Australian industry is far behind;
Would like to have BIM would be good to track the data of quality issues; believes that BIM would enable company to deal with design issues early on; critical to have knowledge of BIM (employees from car industry)
Thinks that BIM is still in its infancy in the Australian industry; thinks that for modular construction hybrid knowledge is needed;
In her opinion, quantity surveyors should at least understand the basics of BIM to be able to communicate with architects who have a BIM model
Believes that BIM benefits are a 3D model, cost and time saving and would deliver more sustainable buildings
Attitude towards BIM education
"BIM is the future", "teaching for the future"
Education is needed, as there is not a lot tech-savviness among builders and contractors;
"[The experience with 3D drawings in Sweden} really made me hate 2D drawings when I came back to Australia"
Believes that BIM is important, but that there are not many positions for graduates in the current industry as only Tier 1 companies use it;
Believes that graduates should know what tools are "out there", how to use them and to keep abreast of the skills;
Hopes that BIM will become more mainstream by the time RMIT has curriculum;
"I would prefer learning more software like BIM";
She sometimes asks friends about new softwares;
Name Graduate 1 Graduate 2 - Dan Collins Graduate 3 Graduate 4 - Jing Yiing Chung
2. … own learning experiences with BIM?
Learning organisation & BIM skills & knowledge learnt
University: familiarisation with BIM concept and a little technical hands-on skills taught:
At Queensland University of Technology, during 1st year, BIM mentioned as concept, no examples but "we thought one day it will change our life";
At RMIT (from 2nd year onwards), there was more talk of BIM; He had heard that RMIT offered Revit design during 1st Year; Final year at RMIT: Google sketch-up was taught, but "I felt I had missed something earlier on"
Theoretical knowledge on BIM mostly self-directed through Paul Wilkinson's blog on BIM best practice in UK
(http://www.extranetevolution.com) to answer queries from boss and clients;
"Most of my learning about industry and real life process has been through working along-side study"
Had only heard about BIM at university;
First real experience with BIM was during an internship in Sweden internship, where 3D drawings were used on site;
Does not have any technical skills in BIM, though;
The uni course he did on Sweden did not have a BIM component;
Did BIM related research project in final year at uni which was a very positive experience as he saw it onsite construction management and
workflow;
Introduction to BIM at RMIT in construction management classes, 4D time and 5D cost
scheduling, but no hands on experience;
Learnt Revit through TAFE course; some AutoCAD knowledge, but has "never played' with extensions, e.g. fire services
Learnt Revit in 1st year: just basic introduction for 6 weeks; Sketch Up used in group project: she drew one floor of the model of the QV building in 3D and duplicated it; someone else looked for sun path;
Also had some exposure to Build Soft (take quantities off imported pdf drawings; measure area - take cost per unit - determine costs); as class was too big to ask questions, she learnt it through You Tube videos;
Lecturers at uni sometimes mentioned BIM, bit not much detail was given
Advantages/disadvantages Shortcoming of her learning in undergraduate course (Year
3&4, CPD2): as it was a group work project, he only learnt part of the software, not the whole software (Sketch Up & Build Soft)
Application in workplace Never really used BIM in workplace; BIM used to some degree in the
company, mostly for 3D renderings to support sales and marketing;
Mirvac - own & operate;
No application of BIM in workplace
Revit not used again after university;
In quantity surveyor's offices, no application of BIM; work was based on 2D drawings.
How it is taught/ Why Learnt in Sweden through
participation in real project
Modes of delivery Learnt on site in Sweden and through
research project
Resources are available
Assessments Revit course- submission of drawing