2024 Challenge Overview
For the 2024 challenge, each faculty advisor and student team worked with their local NECA chapter and contractors to deliver a proposal containing various building information modeling (BIM) tasks for the Trimble Phase 2 project. The students placed themselves in the role of an electrical contractor, performing tasks related to the layout and coordination of various electrical systems. The team used the same computer software employed by industry leaders. During the competition, the student teams faced challenges similar to those encountered by BIM engineers, such as creating a BIM execution plan, a detailed work assignment log, a prefabrication plan, and installation drawings. They worked with software like Revit for electrical system modeling, Navisworks, and Trimble Connect for coordination, along with Trimble technology solutions for office and field use.
The teams collaborated with their local NECA chapters and contractors, conducting interviews and office meetings to learn how contractors had handled similar projects in the past. Close cooperation with NECA electrical contracting partners was crucial to identifying methods that considered real-world parameters like schedule, cost, workforce, and weather. All interactions with NECA chapters and contractors, including meetings, training sessions, site tours, and jobsite visits, were documented in the final proposal.
Electrical Contractor’s Innovation Challenge Winners
1st Place: University of Wisconsin, Madison
2024 ECIC Winners:
- 1st Place: University of Wisconsin, Madison
- 2nd Place: Iowa State University
- 3rd Place: Wayne State University
- Most Innovative Use of Technology in Oral Presentation: Iowa State University
- Best Presenter: Claudia Rea
- Most Detailed BIM in Written Proposal: University of Wisconsin, Madison
- Most Innovative Use of XR-10 in Written Proposal: Penn State University
- Most Influential Media Campaign: Dunwoody College of Technology