Civil Engineering

The subjects of the Civil Engineering Undergraduate Program must have a relationship between them so that students may find a connection between contents. One of the main problems of current curricula is that the facilities to integrate knowledge to solve the engineering problems that may arise in professional life are not provided to students, who show lack of abstract reasoning and limited 3D problem-solving skills. 

In this regard, the Civil Engineering Undergraduate Program of Universidad de Lima proposes that the subjects should be related to the requirements of national companies. To this end, the areas of study have been divided into different fields of action: Construction and Architecture, Structures and Management, which are the areas that are more associated with the handling of building information. In order to facilitate this process, recourse is made to information systems called BIM and cutting-edge tools that enable linkage of theoretical content with reality.

Thanks to the integration of this methodology into the curriculum, civil engineering students of Universidad de Lima may obtain partial certifications related to each of the dimensions of the BIM as they advance in their studies:

• 3D BIM: Creation of three-dimensional architectural and structural models with information.
• 4D BIM: Addition of the time parameter for the virtual construction of the three-dimensional architectural and structural project.
• 5D BIM: Addition of the costs of the elements that make up the virtual model.

• Engineering modeling methods: product, organization and process.
• Model-based analysis and design methods: quantity take-offs, schedules, costs, process risks (BIM tools).
• Information visualization methods.
• Business metrics and strategic management approach.
• Economic impact analysis: models of the cost and value of capital investments.

In addition to the fundamental tool called BIM, VDC is based on project production management (PPM). The detailed monitoring of the virtual information and metrics generated from both (BIM and PPM) converges in the decisions taken in the sessions called integrated concurrent engineering (ICE), the great catalyst of this methodology.

This methodology brings a series of benefits for the entire construction process, both in virtual and physical format. First, it significantly improves collaborative work between the different agents involved in the project; secondly, and as a result of the first point, it reduces time and costs, if any unexpected event occurs, by reducing incompatibilities in the design and providing more detailed information for making decisions.

This alliance is essential for Universidad de Lima given that it represents two opportunities: research and education. As for research, the CIFE works with member companies in order to document problems, and develop and test new innovative ways enabling to model, visualize, analyze and evaluate the multidisciplinary performance of design and construction projects, and validate results. As for education, the idea is to increase knowledge and competence to use methods, and understand the VDC value and costs that represent for professionals and students.

How is all this achieved? Through academic exchange agreements of students, professors and researchers with the University of Stanford, the access to projects implemented by the CIFE itself under the VDC methodology, and the opportunity to offer a VDC program aimed at training the professionals in the construction industry by using new technological tools.

The purpose of these committees is to develop Peruvian Technical Standards (NTP) that standardize quality and ensure safety in constructions with a view to preventing accidents during earthquakes or disasters. Their work is to propose standards according to the guidelines and good practices necessary to ensure quality in constructions. To this end, technical, environmental, social, economic, innovation, and occupational safety and health aspects are considered.

The objective of the BIM Committee is to prepare the guidelines of a new national technical standard for the development of projects with the use of BIM methodology. Therefore, this Technical Committee for Standardization aims at homogenizing the technical characteristics that a model of this type should contain as a minimum. The standard, called BIM Model, will allow the application of the methodology used globally for collaborative works in construction projects. This standard is addressed to public sector entities, so that they may integrate the technical guidelines of the BIM methodology into their procurement process. Thus, it is intended to optimize resource management, and save time and costs of a construction.

It is worth mentioning that, in Peru, the BIM model was incorporated in 2010, and it was therefore necessary to standardize the minimum technical guidelines with a view to optimizing project management, and promoting collaborative work.