The Building Information Modeling (BIM) Panel at Medipol: The digital future of structural design discussed

The Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Construction Technologies Club organized a panel titled “The Digital Future of Structural Design”. The event, which took place at the South Campus Conference Hall, was attended by Dr. Tahir Akkoyunlu from the School of Fine Arts, Design, and Architecture at Istanbul Medipol University, Dr. Vefa Okumuş from the Department of Civil Engineering of the School of Engineering and Natural Sciences at Istanbul Medipol University, Director of Digital Transformation at BIM4TURKEY Hüseyin Fatih Aktaş, and Experienced Infrastructure and Roadwork Engineer Barış Özgürcan Pozantı. Delivering the opening speech and moderating the panel, Dr. Tahir Akkoyunlu stated that catching up with digitalization in the field of architecture is important and added: “Medipol University is in a leading position compared to many universities in Türkiye with its BIM courses. We truly care about the BIM field. We see structural design as part of digitalization. Although artificial intelligence makes the world easier, we are in a professionally challenging and competitive period. Catching up with digitalization is critical in this process. For this reason, I recommend my students to follow structural digital developments.”

DR. OKUMUŞ: THE CURRICULA OF ENGINEERING DEPARTMENTS SHOULD BE UPDATED
Dr. Vefa Okumuş from the Department of Civil Engineering of the School of Engineering and Natural Sciences at Istanbul Medipol University made a presentation on today’s construction principles and areas where BIM is lacking. Dr. Okumuş shared with engineering and architecture students his experiences in building design, structural dynamics, and retrofitting applications. Drawing attention to the lack of BIM applications and software in the field of civil engineering, Dr. Okumuş concluded his words as follows: “Software applications in academia and engineering are not sufficiently integrated. For this reason, efforts should be made to increase the use of international software in Türkiye. At the same time, interdisciplinary studies in the fields of architecture and engineering should be increased and the curricula of engineering departments should be updated.”