BIM-BASED CAPSTONE PROJECT OF AN ABET-ACCREDITED CIVIL ENGINEERING PROGRAM

Integrating Building Information Modeling (BIM) in construction education can potentially improve students' skills in engineering and related programs. ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) accreditation ensures that engineering programs meet appropriate quality standards, preparing students for professional contexts. This paper explores how implementing BIM in an ABETaccredited civil engineering program can benefit students' educational experience during the development of their Capstone Project, potentially leading to a substantial improvement in their competencies. Analysing the capstone project that incorporates various disciplines such as structural engineering, sanitary engineering, construction planning, and geotechnical engineering, it is evident how BIM facilitates the connection between these disciplines and enhances the understanding of the impact of students' decisions on the project. Significant advantages of incorporating BIM in project development include improved interdisciplinary collaboration, enhanced estimating accuracy, streamlined clash detection, and optimised schedules and budgets. These findings reveal that integrating BIM in capstone projects can provide more comprehensive and practical training in line with the demands of the professional sector.