Construction students first in UK to use digital learning resource

Construction students at LJMU are the first in the UK to benefit from an industry-standard design resource.

LJMUbim.com – an online portal providing Building Information Modelling training – will be accessible to more than 800 students across six course areas.

Spencer Kelly, senior lecturer in the School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment, said: “LJMU prides itself on providing students with skills they can use once they enter the world of work. So we’re especially proud to be the first UK university to provide them with a dedicated BIM training solution.”

Building Information Modelling (or BIM) is a way of designing buildings and infrastructure that reduces errors by facilitating better coordination of project information. BIM is fast becoming the de facto way of working for many international multidisciplinary architectural, engineering and construction companies.

Essential skills

LJMUbim.com will provide students with essential skills in the use of Autodesk premier BIM authoring software REVIT.

The software allows a full 3D virtual model of the design to be developed, coordinated, tested and costed - all before the contractor starts on site.

Students will first adopt the system to complete the Level 4 inter-disciplinary collaborative project where they work with peers from other construction disciplines to design and build a virtual model.  

Developed by Ian Nichols, of BIMscape Ltd in tandem with LJMU’s Spencer Kelly and Mike Farragher, the new portal contains step-by-step guides to give students the essential skills they need for both their time at LJMU and the world of work they will enter.

Which courses?

Online curriculums are tailored for students of Architectural Technology, Building Surveying, Architectural Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Construction Property and Construction Management and include cross-discipline core skills.

Added Spencer: "The LJMUbim Portal is the culmination of a strong collaboration between LJMU and BIMscape. It’s very flexible in order to reflect changes in the both the software and the industry’s use of it.”