Digital transformation and strengthening of spatial skills through BIM environments in Architecture students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22060478Keywords:
Building Information Modeling, spatial skills, higher educationAbstract
Digital transformation has driven the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) tools as a teaching resource to strengthen professional competencies in higher education. However, in architectural education there is still limited evidence regarding its specific contribution to the development of spatial skills. This study aimed to analyze the contribution of the BIM methodology as a didactic environment for strengthening spatial skills in Architecture students. A quantitative approach was used, of an applied type, with a one-group pre-experimental design involving pretest and posttest measurements, applied to an initial sample of 30 second-cycle students selected through non-probabilistic convenience sampling, of whom 27 completed both measurements and constituted the sample analyzed at posttest. A structured questionnaire assessed the dimensions of spatial orientation, manipulation of three-dimensional objects, and spatial reasoning. Results showed a significant increase in the overall mean between the pretest (M = 37.13) and the posttest (M = 47.89), confirmed by the non-parametric Wilcoxon test applied to the 27 complete pairs (Z = -4.547; p < 0.001). Linear regression analysis, performed on this same sample of 27 cases, showed that the pretest significantly predicts the posttest (β = 0.899; R² = 0.808). It is concluded that the BIM methodology strengthens spatial skills, particularly spatial orientation and reasoning, without producing statistically significant changes in the manipulation of three-dimensional objects, and constitutes a relevant strategy to support digital transformation processes in higher education.
Downloads
References
Abrahamzon, L., Galantini, K. & Luna, A. (2024). Augmented Reality for the Development and Reinforcement of Spatial Skills: A Case Applied to Civil Engineering Students. International Journal of Engineering Pedagogy (iJEP), 14(5), 88-108. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijep.v14i5.47473
Apaza, R. & Anahua, R. (2021). Building Information Modeling (BIM) en proyectos de infraestructura civil. ScienceOpen, 12–24. https://doi.org/10.14293/S2199-1006.1.SOR-.PPATOPR.v1
Ashour, Z., Shaghaghian, Z. & Yan, W. (2022). BIMxAR: BIM-empowered augmented reality for learning architectural representations. arXiv. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2204.03207
Berkowitz, M., Gerber, A., Thurn, C. M., Emo, B., Hoelscher, C. & Stern, E. (2021). Spatial abilities for architecture: Cross sectional and longitudinal assessment with novel and existing spatial ability tests. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 609363. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.609363
Böes, J. S., Barros, J. D., & Lima, M. M. (2021). BIM maturity model for higher education institutions. Ambiente Construído, 21(2), 131-150. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1678-86212021000200518
Cabrera, E. & Peñafiel, V. (2025). "Voces del miedo": Podcasts de terror latinoamericano para el desarrollo de la expresión oral de estudiantes de educación básica superior. Cátedra, 8(1), 60-76. https://doi.org/10.29166/catedra.v8i1.7046
Castro, J. J., Gómez, L. K. & Camargo, E. (2023). La investigación aplicada y el desarrollo experimental en el fortalecimiento de las competencias de la sociedad del siglo XXI. Tecnura, 27(75), 140-174. https://doi.org/10.14483/22487638.19171
Darwish, M., Kamel, S. & Assem, A. (2023). Extended reality for enhancing spatial ability in architecture design education. Ain Shams Engineering Journal, 14(6), 102104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2022.102104
Guzmán, Á., Revelo, N., Mejía, G. & Velásquez, V. (2020). Enseñanza del diseño de conexiones estructurales paramétricas aplicando la metodología "design thinking". Advances in Building Education, 4(1), 25. https://doi.org/10.20868/abe.2020.1.4414
Hernández, P. M., Henríquez, C. H., Chamorro, M. H., Lázaro, L. M., Vergara, Y. P. & Rivera, M. V. (2024). Niveles de desarrollo humano en estudiantes de una institución de educación superior en Colombia: caso Corporación Universitaria del Caribe (CECAR). Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental, 18(6), e07917. https://doi.org/10.24857/rgsa.v18n6-166
Khudhair, A., Li, H., Ren, G. & Liu, S. (2021). Towards future BIM technology innovations: A bibliometric analysis of the literature. Applied Sciences, 11(3), 1232. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11031232
Medina, S. (2020). Secuencias didácticas en la dimensión del espacio: prototipando mapas gráficos-espaciales. Cuaderno, 109, 85-104. https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=7471332
Porat, R. & Ceobanu, C. (2024). Enhancing spatial ability: A new integrated hybrid training approach for engineering and architecture students. Education Sciences, 14(6), 563. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14060563
Ramos, C. (2021). Editorial: Diseños de investigación experimental. CienciAmérica, 10(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.33210/ca.v10i1.356
Ruschel, R. C. & Kehl, C. (2024). Curricular BIM implementation plan: Protocol proposal and pilot application in Brazil. Ambiente Construído, 24, e131385. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1678-86212024000100717
Sánchez, A. A. & Murillo, A. (2021). Enfoques metodológicos en la investigación histórica: Cuantitativa, cualitativa y comparativa. Debates por la Historia, 9(2), 147-181. https://doi.org/10.54167/debates-por-la-historia.v9i2.792
Waqar, A., Othman, I., Hayat, S., Radu, D., Khan, M., Galatanu, T., Almujibah, H., Hadzima-Nyarko, M., & Benjeddou, O. (2023). Building Information Modeling—Empowering Construction Projects with End-to-End Life Cycle Management. Buildings, 13(8), 2041. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13082041
Published
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The journal is licensed under the Attribution License (CC BY), allowing the possibility of copying, distributing, displaying, and producing derivative works, as long as the author is acknowledged and cited.
