Overview

This unit specifies the skills and knowledge required to develop building information modelling (BIM) for residential, commercial or industrial building design projects. It includes evaluation of HVAC system. It also covers WHS requirements and performance analysis of the system.

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-August-2026
01-November-2026
Last self-enrolment date
16-August-2026
Census date
01-September-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
22-September-2026
Results released date
08-December-2026

Unit learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  1. Analyse BIM processes and schedules when using engineering applications
  2. Design and analyse HVAC system when planning engineering projects
  3. Evaluate BIM modelling, costing and energy simulation when planning engineering projects
  4. Monitor building environmental conditions when undertaking engineering projects
  5. Use appropriate analysis techniques and simulation software when planning and undertaking engineering projects
  6. Analyse relevant OHS/WHS regulations, standard procedures and sustainabilitiy requirements when undertaking engineering projects

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)

On-campus
Lecture

2.00 16 weeks 32
On-campus
Lab
4.00 16 weeks 64
On-campus
Class
1.50 16 weeks 24
Online
Learning activities
1.00 16 weeks 16
Unspecified Activities 
Independent Learning
0.88 16 weeks 14
Total     150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULOs
Major Project Group 30-50 % 2,3,4,5,6
Online Quizzes Individual 20-30 % 1,6
Test Individual 20-30 % 2,3

Hurdle

As the minimum requirements of assessment to pass a unit and meet all Unit Learning Outcomes to a minimum standard, a student must achieve:

(i) an aggregate mark of 50% or more, and
(ii) at least 40% in the final exam.

Students who do not successfully achieve hurdle requirement (ii) will receive a maximum of 45% as the total mark for the unit.

Content

  • architectural styles and terminology
  • basic principles of structural engineering
  • building designers’ duty of care to ensure quality and safety of designs
  • region modelling techniques
  • solid modelling techniques
  • development of sectioned models
  • use of pre-drawn library files and primitives to produce a 3-D model
  • application of basic rendering techniques to a 3-D model
  • benefits and challenges of adopting a BIM approach to design production and documentation
  • conventional and sustainable construction materials and methods, including their  application, behaviour, characteristics, performance and interactions with other materials
  • sustainability implications of HVAC systems, including consideration of energy sources and energy efficiency
  • thermodynamic concepts related to HVAC
  • WHS and regulatory requirements, codes of practice, standards, risk management and registration requirements
  • heat transfer, conduction, convection and radiation
  • thermal properties of buildings and building materials

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.