The BIMclay project is, in its nature, the production and development of multimedia materials based on BIM and taking into account challenges related to LCA (Life Cycle Analysis) of clay products, to be used as training material for both VET students and professionals in the sector, in order to satisfy a series of main objectives. The motivation behind the project BIMclay is the consideration that clay products is one of the most sustainable construction materials and, in spite of the changes of technology and design across the years, it lasts as the main construction material for different works: building facade, outside pavements, inside pavements, inside walls, etc. But the value of clay products totally depends on the quality of manufacturing and quality of the placement. Related to the manufacturing, during the last decades, the most of European companies in this industry have increased a lot the quality of their products. However, concerning placement, the development has not been the same, and it is much lower than required by the sector. Furthermore, if in the clay products manufacturing European stakeholders have created clear standards, in placing the clay products it has not been the same, using, except for some specific products, as building facades, the traditional methods, whether they are the most suitable or not. It is necessary to define and compile the most appropriate methods for placing clay products using the latest BIM technologies, those which bring high levels of effectiveness, starting from the local traditional methods, but comparing them, selecting the best ones for any specific clay product, and incorporating them into the curricula of the training organizations in the sector, both for initial training and for continuous training. Taking advantage of this situation of raising the BIM tool in countries with scope of our consortium, and also counting on a partner of a leading country and precursor of this tool, we consider that a perfect framework for the realization of this project is created with the firm purpose to make education more plausible in the processes of placement and execution of clay products. Life Cycle Thinking implies a form of global analysis that not only includes the traditional parameters (manufacturing and production), but also considering all the processes that take place throughout its life cycle (from the cradle To the grave). In this way, the hidden impacts surface and the transfer of loads is avoided; Helping to make decisions and identify options. Institutions such as the United Nations Environment Program (through the UNEP-SETAC Life Cycle Initiative) or the European Commission (through the European Platform for LCA) promote its application for the environmental improvement of products and processes in all sectors, Including construction. OBJECTIVES The idea of the proposal has arisen from the conclusions of different meetings of the European associations, aimed to solve the multiple demands of the national associations whose member companies, were aware that the placement has a big influence in the market of the clay products manufactured products, giving an extra value to the product, when it is placed following the best practices, or making it looks like an “unsuitable” material, when the placement procedures are not the proper ones. PRODUCTS The main results of the project are: O1. Establishment of common learning outcomes on clay placing methods, life cycle analysis and relative regulations. O2. BIMclay Multimedia Materials. New Interactive BIM-learning methods (IT production of BIMclay Multimedia Cards and Interactive BIM Tool). O3. ONLINE RESOURCE CENTRE. CONSORTIUM AND IMPACT APICER (Associação Portuguesa das Indústrias de Cerâmica e de Cristalaria), HISPALYT (Asociación Española de Fabricantes de Ladrillos y Tejas de Arcilla Cocida), decided to start a project to improve the quality of clay products placement across Europe, and got in contact with CTM (Business Association of Research for Marble, Natural Stone and Materials Technology Centre), CTCV (Centro Tecnológico Da Cerâmica E Do Vidro) and IED (Institute of Entrepreneurship Development), organisations with a wide experience in coordinating EU projects in these fields. These partners have the biggest competences in placing the clay products, being aware of the importance of them represent the main European clay products areas and, then, the most comprehensive knowledge about this matter. Finally, the schools in the project come from all countries of the project, where all partners have close cooperation with VET providers. In addition, all of them can bring to the project different uses of the clay products and different techniques for placing it, as well as the energy saving and sustainable design with the aim to achieve the foundation of a good design, and the whole society is aware of these facts.
The BIMclay project is based on the production and development of multimedia materials based on BIM and with the integration of LCA criteria of clay products, to be used as training material for both VET students and professionals, in order to meet the current training demand of the ceramic sector in these issues. BACKGROUND The implementation of BIM in Europe is a reality already present. In the northern Europe, the buildings in BIM are already conceptualized, constructed, managed and exploited economically. In Spain, today its widespread use is low, but it is a rising resource, since it has established the obligation to use BIM in infrastructure projects in 2019. In Portugal, there are technological implementations within the public sector as is open electronic management and there are several organizations working to promote and accelerate the adoption of BIM in the Portuguese construction industry. On the other hand, the European Commission has a short-term focus on the construction sector by 2020 based on the criteria of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. The partners, APICER and HISPALYT as national associations of manufacturers representing the clay industry, through the demands of their associates were aware of the need the companies have as they suffer every day from the lack of properly trained personnel in this field, as well as the lack of clear rules regarding the methods of placement of most clay products. In fact, in the seminars and congresses of the sector this problem is always put on the table, but no decisive action has been taken to overcome it. OBJECTIVES Within the above context, the general aim of our project is to increase the skills of workers in the field of placing the clay products, particularly in placing different type of floors and walls in buildings and urban environments, in order to increase the quality of the final work, the permanence of the work and the environmental sustainability, by using methods without non-recyclable and/or non-ecofriendly materials. The specific objectives allocated to the project to achieve the general aim are: -To research about the most suitable placement methods for the main clay products being used across Europe, analysing the results, selecting the best practices and deciding on how to improve them. -To make available the information about the defined best methods of placing clay products in the site, structured according to clay products types, uses and methods of installation. -Develop an interactive BIM tool that has a database integrated by the clay placement methods collected in the research. -Promote those placement methods that prolong the life of clay products, especially those that allow a second use according to the criteria of environmental sustainability. -Provide the interactive tool for user-accessible information for the LCA of clay products, as well as their environmental impact and energy cost with the intention of promoting their sustainability. -Develop an ORC to support the implementation of resources created from the research, made up of multimedia materials developed in the project. RESULTS The main results developed in the project are: O1 Establishment of common learning outcomes on clay placing methods, LCA and relative regulations -Comparative study on the normative for placing the clay products -Sustainable construction methods and procedures used for placing clay products -Comparative study on LCA of clay products in the participant countries -Report on the Workshop in Coimbra -Clay Placing Course Curriculum based on ecological challenges and BIM technologies O2 BIMclay Multimedia Materials. New Interactive BIM-learning methods -IT production of BIMclay Multimedia Cards -Interactive BIM Tool -Pedagogical test and implementation of IT improvements of BIMclay Multimedia Cards -Technical test and implementation of IT improvements of BIMclay Multimedia Cards -Report on the results of the Seminar in Madrid O3 ONLINE RESOURCE CENTRE -IT production of ORC. -Pilot BIMclay course implementation: environment test and technical improvements -Report on the results of the Seminar in Coimbra CONSORTIUM This project has been developed by 5 partners: APICER-Associação Portuguesa das Indústrias de Cerâmica e de Cristalaria HISPALYT-Asociación Española de Fabricantes de Ladrillos y Tejas de Arcilla Cocida CTM-Business Association of Research for Marble, Natural Stone and Materials Technology Centre CTCV-Centro Tecnológico Da Cerâmica E Do Vidro iED-Institute of Entrepreneurship Development IMPACT These partners have the biggest competences in placing the clay products, being aware of the importance of them represent the main European clay products areas and, then, the most comprehensive knowledge about this matter. Finally, the schools in the project come from all countries of the project, where all partners have close cooperation with VET providers and ceramic enterprises.