BIM for the Realization of Sustainable Digital Models in a University-Business Collaborative Learning Environment: Assessment of Use and Students’ Perception

Abstract

This paper develops an assessment of an academic implementation of building information modeling (BIM) carried out in an expert project subject of a School of Industrial Engineering. The objectives were for the students discover sustainable industrial during the design process and the students understand and participate in a real process of the implementation of industrial projects through real collaboration between academic and business contexts. The outcomes of this academic initiative were evaluated using academic results as well as students’ perceptions. Academic results were analyzed using the FUZZY VIKOR method. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to determine whether the use of BIM, the proposed university-enterprise environment and the sustainability proposal rate of the students’ projects had statistically significant effects on the results. Students´ perception evaluation was based on a Likert survey with five levels, and the results were interpreted using fuzzy k-means clustering and classification tree analysis. The results show that 77.8% of students consider that for learning, it is more effective to carry out a project related to an existing company, with the realization of the project with BIM methodology being of great value. The sustainability aspects were applied more easily thanks to the proposed methodology, and they were positively valued by the company.