Online Architecture, Engineering, & Construction (AEC) Training

Architecture, Engineering, & Construction (AEC) are rapidly evolving industries where new technology is playing an important role and changing the way our built environment comes to life. From residential and commercial construction through large infrastructure and transportation projects the needs of the AEC industry are complex and rapidly changing.

These industries are seeing large scale digital transformation and BIM is at the core of these changes. It is important for engineers, architects, contractors and everyone involved in the build process to understand BIM. For talent development pros, establishing the right learning programs for employees to learn the technologies and concepts of BIM can make all the difference in keeping projects on track.

Before any talent development leader can improve a training program for AEC professionals, it’s important to understand BIM and the value it is bringing to these industries.

BIM stands for Building Information Modeling. BIM is not software, it’s an intelligent 3D model-based process that gives AEC professionals the tools and concepts to more efficiently plan, design, construct, and manage buildings and infrastructure. BIM is transforming the way that buildings and infrastructure are designed, built and operated, and it’s helping to the improve decision making and building processes.

For many large AEC companies, training follows the same format as other traditional training programs. When the organization decides a team needs to get up to speed on new technology employees attend off-site training or trainers are brought in for workshops. These crash courses have problems, often people can’t attend or miss portions of the training and retention is not great. This has never been the most efficient way to help employees learn.

Software now changes constantly with updates throughout a year and keeping up is more difficult than ever. Helping your workforce stay up to date with the relentless pace of new technology, you need access to online courses that are current and allow employees to learn at their own pace.

Software for the AEC industry is not new. In fact, it’s been evolving since the mid-1960s when the IBM Drafting System introduced the cost efficiencies of moving beyond manual drafting.

Software training for the AEC professionals can range anywhere from high-level introductions to specific software, to granular, comprehensive overviews of specific tool features. This is why every industry training program will look a bit different.

Here are a few examples of online AEC courses that may fit into your overall plan to help employees learn the tools and concepts the industries need:

• AutoCAD 2019 Essential Training: AutoCAD from Autodesk is the most popular CAD software used to create precise 2D and 3D designs. It’s grown so much over the years that starting out with the software can be intimidating for designers and engineers. But with this comprehensive beginner’s course, employees can learn the basics of the UI and get ready to use the software to deliver business value.
• SketchUp 2018 Essential Training: This easy-to-use software enables designers to create 3D drawings and renderings. In this beginner course, designers can become familiar with the interface and start manipulating objects, drawing in 2D and 3D space, working with materials, and applying textures.
• Revit 2019 Essential Training For Architecture (Imperial): Revit BIM software includes features for architectural design, MEP and structural engineering, and construction. Revit supports a multidiscipline, collaborative design process. In this beginner course, learners can approach Revit from the ground up by getting comfortable with the Revit environment. 
• Civil 3D 2019 Essential Training: Autodesk Civil 3D software is a design and documentation solution for civil engineering that supports building information modeling (BIM) workflows. By learning to use Autodesk Civil 3D, you can improve project performance, maintain consistent data, follow standard processes, and respond faster to change.
  
  

These online AEC courses can prove valuable for your growing training program. However, inundating designers with on-demand, self-guided courses won’t necessarily be more efficient than traditional training.

Instead of simply providing access to online courses, talent development leaders should focus on leveraging learning paths within their continuous education plans.