The University of Huddersfield has signed a deal with Beijing Construction Engineering Group (BCEG) to help develop its Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology.

As one of the world's top 50 contractors, BCEG employs 20,000 people around the world and is part of a consortium investing £800 million in Manchester City Airport.

A five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has now been agreed between the Chinese firm and the University, where staff and students at the School of Art, Design and Architecture have developed expertise in BIM.


Song Wu, Professor of Surveying and IT at the University, said: "BIM improves collaboration at the design stage, reduces changes during construction and also improves facility management at the operational stage."

It is understood the deal involves developing joint projects, hosting special events and creating placement opportunities at BCEG for undergraduate and postgraduate students of the University.

In addition, the School of Art, Design and Architecture has a new MSc course titled 'Design Integration and Building Information Modelling', which was launched in September 2015.

(LM/CD)