No abstract

The design, modelling and construction of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) facilities in healthcare buildings must aim for the users’ maximum comfort and meet sanitary criteria for indoor air quality. The environmental impact of 12 HVAC duct types was subjected to life cycle assessment, with a single-score damage category analysis carried out for the midpoint and endpoint levels. The two most favourable duct types for the different impact categories were aluminium with helical steel wire reinforcement and fibreglass insulation, and also copper sheeting with rock wool and polyurethane insulation. However, although the former presented the best environmental impact values, this type is inadvisable for healthcare buildings. This is due to its nature and the subsequent tendency of the system to lose pressure and efficiency, as well as the difficulty of cleaning this type of ductwork and its predisposition to bacterial proliferation. Thus, the copper duct type with rock wool insulation is the most suitable type for healthcare buildings. This came second overall environmentally (1.06 pt/m2), with values 2.83 times more favourable than the polyisocyanurate solution. Finally, the application of the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology to HVAC ductwork was demonstrated to reduce the impact by up to 39.88%.

Debido a las exigencias del panorama profesional actual, surge la necesidad de desarrollar competencias transversales durante la etapa universitaria que faciliten su inserción laboral. Una metodología docente que resulta adecuada en las ingenierías es el aprendizaje basado en proyectos. Implementarlo a través de la metodología BIM reforzará la adquisición de estas competencias transversales a los estudiantes. Este trabajo muestra el marco de trabajo desarrollado para implementar el aprendizaje basado en proyectos a través de la tecnología BIM en ambientes educativos de ingeniería de proyectos. Los resultados ponen de manifiesto una mejor comprensión del proyecto por parte de los alumnos que deriva en una mejora cualitativa de las soluciones técnicas proyectadas.AbstractThe engagement of engineers from various specialties is demanded by construction projects to ensure their success. Its main consequence is the need to create collaborative working environment. Consequently, one of the most demanded competence in professional activity nowadays is the ability to carry out projects in multidisciplinary teams. Project-based learning is a suitable tool for improving this skill in construction projects engineering students.This paper focuses on showing the framework developed for implementing project-based learning through Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology in engineering construction education environments. A collaborative framework managed by BIM execution plan was established. This document assigns roles and tasks for each member of the team, who work on the same digital file hosted in a cloud. Furthermore, it establishes the characteristics and timing of project’s deliverables.The results show a qualitative enhancement in the quality of the work developed by the students with respect to 2D technology previously implemented. Keeping track of their partner’s work improves coordination to design compatible solutions. So, a better coordination among engineers is the reason of this improvement. This methodology aids to develop transversal competences of engineering students by favouring their performance in multidisciplinary teams.