How is a digital replica of a building created? Students at the Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH) explored this question as part of the ‘Building Information Modelling (BIM)’ course. Equipped with folding rulers, tablets and laser rangefinders, they set off across the campus to survey buildings and selected outdoor areas with millimetre precision – with the aim of creating detailed three-dimensional building models.
Under the supervision of Dr Alexander Chmelnizkij from the Institute for Digital and Autonomous Construction (IDAC), the students worked in four groups and examined a total of four campus buildings in detail. In addition to interior spaces, elements of the immediate outdoor surroundings were also recorded – such as paths and park benches. The aim is to produce digital models that do not depict the buildings in isolation, but embed them within their actual spatial context. “We surveyed only publicly accessible areas so as not to disrupt normal campus operations,” explains Alexander Chmelnizkij. The data collected forms the basis for so-called BIM models – a digital working method in which all relevant information about a building is consolidated into a smart 3D model.
Digital modelling of buildings
The surveying work forms part of an extensive project within the BIM module. The aim of the course is to prepare students to introduce, manage and further develop digital planning and construction processes in companies and public institutions. In doing so, they learn not only how to use modern software tools, but also the fundamental methods behind the digital modelling of buildings and infrastructure. The combination of theory and practice is particularly valuable in this context. Whilst lectures cover topics such as geometric modelling, data management, BIM data exchange and process modelling, students can apply the knowledge they have acquired directly to real-world structures on the TUHH campus.
However, the resulting models are not merely of ‘educational value’. They could also prove of practical use to the university in the future. ‘Such digital building models can, for example, support construction firms or planning offices working on campus that need quick access to up-to-date building data,’ says Chmelnizkij. And perhaps one day, tangible models will even emerge from the digital data: The idea of a 3D-printed campus building for the foyer in Main Building A is still a long way off at present. However, Chmelnizkij could envisage it becoming a reality by the time the university celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2028.
