Desenvolvimento de modelos 3D interativos para o ensino de conceitos fundamentais de mecânica dos solos no curso técnico em edificações

Abstract

This research addresses the context of teaching Soil Mechanics in the Building Construction technical course at IFBA – Salvador Campus, highlighting the importance of geotechnical understanding as a relevant issue for the design of buildings that require stability and safety due to soil heterogeneity , especially in cities like Salvador, with irregular topography marked by slopes and areas of instability . The problem addressed is the need for greater integration between theory and practice, which is often limited by the use of traditional passive methodologies that hinder the visualization of complex phenomena such as stress and permeability . The overall objective was to develop interactive 3D models for teaching foundations and evaluate their pedagogical potential as an active learning strategy . The methodology followed an applied and exploratory nature, based on the principles of OpenBIM and the interoperability of the IFC format. The BonsaBIM Blender software extension was used for three-dimensional modeling, while practical experimentation with students was facilitated by the BIM V ision (offline) and Autodesk V iewer (online) viewers, allowing manipulations such as cuts and exploded views. The choice of tools also took into account that they are free to use and therefore do not require major investments and are more accessible to students and teachers. The main results of the study indicated that, before the intervention, 61.3% of students pointed to "foundations" as the most challenging topic and 41.9% reported specific visualization difficulties. After the experiment, 100% of participants stated that the models facilitated the understanding of the geometry and composition of footings, with 90% attributing the highest level of effectiveness to the tool. In the discussion, it was evident that digital interactivity overcomes the limitations of conventional teaching materials. The final considerations summarize that 3D models are effective in integrating empirical and scientific knowledge, recommending their expansion to other disciplines within the technological field.