Digitally enhancing interior architecture education: Case of online building surveying class

Interior architecture has a key role in the sustainability agenda of the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry, being directly related to adaptive reuse projects. As adaptive reuse projects rely on the analysis of the existing building and its environment, building surveying (BS) has significant importance for the profession. While the BS practice has significantly evolved through the use of new technology encompassing digital photogrammetry, BS education seems lagging behind. Despite the presence of promising computer-assisted learning prototypes for decades, these methods are far from being implemented broadly into the curriculum. However, this reluctance is challenged by the emergency situation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the need for new digital teaching methods became apparent. This paper describes the development of a digital practice module for BS education for interior architecture students. In an experimental practice based on action research, interior architecture students are introduced to a digital surveying application. After a brief introduction by an expert, students are directed to research sources and third-party video tutorials. They are asked to collaborate in groups to solve how to use the software application themselves. Following the research period, students completed two sets of practices. Although the research period was kept short, the progress of the students’ performance between these two practices, and the results indicate interest in digital practices. The outcomes of the research are promising for implementing digital technologies into the interior architecture department’s BS course curriculum.