Order Description

Construction industry has a long history of poor projects delivery due to fragmentation, lack of appropriate training, lack of automation, and slow uptake of Information Technology (IT) among many other issues. Various industry and government reports have tried to address these problems and there has been a considerable improvement in the last decade. However, it is the use of IT solutions that seems to have galvanized processes in construction industry in the recent past.

Aims
a) To explore a construction management issue (topic) in relation to its implications on the management of construction.
b) To develop students analytical, evaluative and critical thinking skills

General coursework objectives
1. Develop through appropriate research, an understanding of IT as tool for effective integration of construction projects
2. Critically analyse the implications of IT in construction processes.
3. Evaluate, using your research, how IT has affected the management of construction projects and possible developments in the future.

Task
There is a consensus across the construction industry that, the current approach to the use of Information Technology or IT is fragmented, with each party developing IT tools/solutions tailored to resolve sectorial problems in isolation; in other words IT solutions lack an integrative (collaborative) element that could streamline the process from inception to end of life of a construction.
The application of BIM is seen as one of strategic solutions to the problems of integration and delivery of a seamless process from inception to completion and maintenance of a completed facility.
Critically analyse the impact of BIM on the construction process with particular emphasis on its effect to the role of the construction manager.

Assessment criteria

Understanding of the scope and form of ICT & BIM solutions in a project 20%
Research into the potential for BIM in the construction industry 15%
Quality of the discussion of the effects of BIM on the construction process 20%
Discussion of the effects of BIM on the role of the construction manager 20%
Conclusions and recommendations 15%
Structure of presentation; use and appropriateness of referencing 10%