Course syllabus adopted 2026-02-10 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).
Overview
- Swedish nameDigitalt byggande och automatisering
- CodeACE690
- Credits7.5 Credits
- OwnerTISAM
- Education cycleFirst-cycle
- Main field of studyCivil and Environmental Engineering
- DepartmentARCHITECTURE AND CIVIL ENGINEERING
- GradingUG - Pass, Fail
Course round 1
Teaching language
SwedishApplication code
61131Maximum participants
60Minimum participants
20Block schedule
Open for exchange students
NoOnly students with the course round in the programme overview.
Credit distribution
Module | Sp1 | Sp2 | Sp3 | Sp4 | Summer | Not Sp | Examination dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0126 Project 7.5 c Grading: UG | 7.5 c |
In programmes
Examiner
- Mikael Johansson
- Researcher, Construction Management, Architecture and Civil Engineering
Eligibility
General entry requirements for bachelor's level (first cycle)Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements
Specific entry requirements
The same as for the programme that owns the courseApplicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements
Course specific prerequisites
BOM206 Introduction to civil engineering and the built environment
BOM240 CAD
Aim
The purpose of the course is to introduce modern digital tools and methods for building design and engineering, and to provide students with an understanding of how digital models, structured information, and data-driven approaches can be used to plan, coordinate, and control construction projects.
The course is based on Total BIM and the Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) framework, where BIM, Integrated Concurrent Engineering (ICE), Project Production Management (PPM), goals, and metrics interact to support decision-making and project control in line with the clients and the projects objectives.
The course highlights the differences between traditional, data-informed, and data-driven approaches, as well as how automation and AI can be used to support information management and design.
Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)
- Explain how digital models, structured information, and the VDC framework are used in the construction process to support planning, coordination, and project control.
- Describe how the VDC componentsBIM, Integrated Concurrent Engineering (ICE), and Project Production Management (PPM)interact in the design process, including how goals and metrics are used to create applications and processes that support monitoring and decision-making.
- Identify and explain roles, functions, and working methods in a digital design context and how these contribute to project delivery in relation to the clients and the projects objectives.
- Relate to and analyze differences between traditional, data-informed, and data-driven approaches in design, and assess how the choice of approach affects coordination, quality, and efficiency.
- Use digital models and structured information for coordination, information control, and basic analysis in design-related tasks.
- Apply and evaluate automation and AI as support for information management, design, and decision-making, and critically assess their potential and limitations.
Content
- Fundamental concepts and principles of Total BIM and Virtual Design and Construction (VDC), including BIM, Integrated Concurrent Engineering (ICE), Project Production Management (PPM), goals, and metrics as support for project control.
- Digital design and coordination with a focus on information content, data quality, and lifecycle perspectives in construction projects.
- An overview of how digital methods and model-based approaches affect different phases of a construction project, from design to production and facility management.
- Roles, functions, and working methods in a digital design context and how these contribute to coordination and control toward the clients and the projects objectives.
- Application of BIM, digital models, and structured information for design, coordination, information control, and analysis.
- Differences between traditional, data-informed, and data-driven approaches, and how information requirements, rules, and metrics can be used to govern the design process.
- Basic applications of automation and AI to support a more efficient design process.
Organisation
The course consists of lectures, seminars, workshops, computer-based laboratory exercises, and a project assignment.
Lectures and workshops provide an introduction to Total BIM and Virtual Design and Construction (VDC), including fundamental concepts, roles, working methods, and the differences between traditional, data-informed, and data-driven processes.
During the computer laboratory sessions, BIM and digital methods are applied, including basic automation and AI support for information management and design.
The project assignment is carried out in groups and is based on a design case where students apply digital models, structured information, and VDC principles for planning, coordination, and control. Within the project, basic automation and AI are also applied to support a more efficient design process and to implement data-informed and data-driven processes for information management and analysis.
The results are presented both orally and in writing, with analysis and justification of both technical solutions and chosen working methods.
Literature
Distributed material and material available on the course website.Examination including compulsory elements
Completed project assignments and computer labs will be the base for grading. Assessment consists of oral seminars, submission of a written report, and mandatory attendance at presentations. In addition, project assignments linked to the computer laboratory exercises and BIM tools must be completed, presented, and submitted.The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers about disability study support.