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Employing 3-D SketchUp Graphic Models for Teaching Construction Drawing Language Abstract

Students entering Construction Management have increasingly less experience in drafting or field construction. Historically students have taken high school courses in carpentry or mechanical drawing. From those experiences, they have acquired the beginning basic language of construction drawings through hands-on experience. However, today’s students are not so prepared, and it is imperative that a new learning tool be employed to educate students to understand the language of construction and construction drawings.

This paper addresses the need for developing such a learning tool. Using the computer program SketchUp, a catalog of 3D manipulative computer models were created and incorporated into a variety of academic Construction Drawing and Analysis class exercises. This tool enabled students to manipulate, orbit, zoom in/out, and have selective viewing of construction components learning models. These activities allow students to dissect a building structure and develop an understanding how building components inter-relate. The analysis of comparative students using the models showed a positive direction in understanding construction and will be a basis for suggestions on how to implement, incorporate, and utilize SketchUp to develop basic language skills of Construction Management students.

Introduction

Students entering Construction Management have increasingly less experience in drafting or field construction. Historically students have taken high school courses in carpentry or mechanical drawing. From those experiences, they have acquired the beginning basic language of construction drawings through hands-on experience. However, today’s students are not so prepared, and it is imperative that a new learning tool be employed to educate students to understand the language of construction and construction drawings.

When students are taught for the first time how to read and understand Construction Drawings, there is a noticeable lack of understanding three-dimensionality of the drawings. Working in a 2- D document, with its myriad of different line types and designations leaves many students lost in the adequate reading of the drawings. Students can be provided with static 3D drawings, isometric drawings, videos and photographs to assist in understanding building details. In addition, students may be allowed to visit construction sites to assist them in visualizing the construction components and systems. These processes, however, are minimal measures to assist in student learning. Because of this problem, the author has investigated different variations of representing the image to improve understanding of the construction process and details.

Previous applications of understanding construction drawings have used photographs and isometrics to help explain 3-dimensional applications.1 Site visits and walk-throughs have also enabled students to visualize conditions in real-life instances. Both methods have been

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Batie, D. (2006, June), Employing 3 D Sketchup Graphic Models For Teaching Construction Drawing Language Paper presented at 2006 Annual Conference & Exposition, Chicago, Illinois. 10.18260/1-2--71