Software Platform for the Integration of Design Code Checks into Building Information Modelling

As a processing technology of data and information, building information modeling (BIM) is often used for producing digital engineering model and promoting interoperability among participants involved in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. The real values of BIM largely depend on effective information integrating and sharing among different stages or disciplines through the whole building lifecycle. To this day, although BIM has made a substantial contribution to the Chinese AEC industry, there are still some debates on its roles. Moreover, due to the complexity of structural design process, the weak link between structural model and BIM model makes its deep application even harder. To address these issues, this paper discusses the roles of BIM from the perspective of structural engineers through comparing with the traditional CAD. Then, the BIM structural model is studied by analyzing the model conformation, design mode, and Industry Foundation Classes (IFC)-format structural model. By comparing the differences between BIM physical model and structural mechanical model, an indirect method for the data transformation from BIM model to structural analysis model isproposed. An interface is developed based on the analysis of data formats and mapping rules. Three typical cases are adopted to demonstrate the data transfer efficiency by using the interface. The case study shows that the proposed method achieves higher efficiency for the data transformation from BIM model to structural analysis model.

As the AEC industry strives to establish integrated knowledge exchange protocols utilizing building information models (BIMs), structural engineering practices of all sizes will profit from the ability to effectively communicate with the design team supported by a strongly integrated structural design process. At Thornton Tomasetti, custom tools are developed to automate the exchange of structural design data between 2D and 3D analysis models and BIMs. These tools are unique because they allow the engineer to manage partial models and data sets as independent sub-systems of complete virtual models. These sub-systems are often described in plan or elevation, while their counter parts reside in the 3D setting of the overall BIM. Custom automation of processes at Thornton Tomasetti helps to meet deadlines, exceed expectations of clients, and increases the quality of the work product. We cite three examples illustrating custom usage of application programming interfaces (APIs) and address typical challenges met when pursuing in-house development projects. The case studies include the utilization of conventional CAD documents as basic structural information models (SIMs), the automatic assembly of structural elements of complete towers in a BIM, and efficient bent management assisting the design process of stadiumlike structures. 1. BIM METHODOLOGY IN THE AEC ENVIRONMENT Following building information modeling (BIM) methodology, members of the AEC design team communicate by exchanging knowledge through a virtual model of the project, usually referred to as “BIM.” Currently, BIM compliments the traditional information flow - drawings. The industry trend moves toward using BIM as the primary tool, and if needed, drawings can be compiled as views or reports on demand. Building information modeling methodology focuses primarily on the following two objectives: a) Visualization and Coordination: Allowing the members of the AEC design team to virtually construct a digital model of the project, very similar to the WYSIWYG concept (“what you see is what you get”) in word processing. A model has to look right, be measurable, allow an assessment of constructability, and “know” when parts

Cen, F.; Yang, D.F., and Li, M., 2019. Application of the building information model in the design of marine architectural structures. In: Li, L.; Wan, X., and Huang, X. (eds.), Recent Developments in Practices and Research on Coastal Regions: Transportation, Environment and Economy. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 98, pp. 255–258. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.Aiming at the problem of low visual accuracy in the design of offshore building structures, this paper puts forward the application of the building information model (BIM) in the design of offshore building structures. In the process of using BIM technology, the design of unmarked marine building structures can be effectively marked by BIM technology. To evaluate the effectiveness of the algorithm, a hybrid feature is used to represent the structural design of offshore buildings so that the stereo disparity generation process can be completed quickly. The experimental results show that the proposed BIM can effectively generate stereo parallax in virtual scenes.

Building Information Modeling: Framework for Structural Design introduces a structure and architecture synergy (SAS) framework that helps develop and enhance the understanding of the fundamental principles of architectural analysis using building information modeling (BIM) tools. Based upon three main components: namely, the structural melody, structural poetry, and structural analysis, along with the BIM tools as the frame enabler, this new framework allows users to explore structural design as an art while also factoring in the principles of engineering. The framework stresses the influence structure can play in form generation and in defining spatial order and composition. By highlighting the interplay between architecture and structure, the book emphasizes the conceptual behaviors of structural systems and their aesthetic implications and enables readers to thoroughly understand the art and science of whole structural system concepts. Key Features: Is updated throughout Adds new exercises; cutting‑edge information on the use of AI, Machine Learning (ML), and modelling; and issues of sustainability. Presents the use of BIM technology as part of a design process or framework that can lead to a more comprehensive, intelligent, and integrated building design. Places special emphasis on the application of BIM technology for exploring the intimate relationship between structural engineering and architectural design. Includes a discussion of current and emerging trends in structural engineering practice and the role of the structural engineer in building design using new BIM technologies.

The implementation of Building Information Modelling (BIM) technologies has become increasingly central in the design, construction and maintenance of both civil structures and infrastructures. As more and more software houses develop new BIM software solutions and a wide range of private and public stakeholders employ them, several educational institutes across the globe strive to expand their teaching portfolio to encompass learning and teaching of BIM. This dataset deals with the perceptions expressed by all the civil engineering undergraduate students who attended an academic course specifically about BIM at University of Stavanger (UiS), Norway, during the second semester 2022. The survey was divided into five parts and collected information regarding as many overarching aspects: socio-demographic data, perceptions about BIM before and after course attendance, satisfaction about the academic course and the way it was conducted. Considering the very moderate sample size (28 students) and potential biases due to the specific context of the University of Stavanger, the dataset can provide a useful insight into teaching approaches and future curriculum development, rather than indicating major and generalized trends in BIM education. As the questionnaire responses shed light on the feedbacks and perceptions expressed by university students dealing with BIM for their first time, the formed dataset can offer a straightforward appreciation of students’ cognitive behaviour in BIM education.

Building structural designs, utilizing materials such as steel, concrete, and cross-laminated timber, contribute significantly to embodied carbon emissions in construction projects. However, traditional carbon accounting methods employed to quantify and record these emissions are often characterized by a lack of traceability, transparency, and immutability. This limitation undermines the reliability of emissions data, making it challenging for stakeholders to establish credible emissions records and implement regulatory strategies, such as carbon credits, taxes, subsidies, and green certifications, for building’s structural designs and materials. This paper addresses these challenges by proposing a transformational emissions accounting system that integrates Building Information Modeling (BIM) for automatic extraction of emissions-relevant data, alongside blockchain-enabled smart contracts to ensure traceability and immutability of emissions records. The proposed system enables data-driven decision-making for low-carbon structural designs and materials, while also facilitating the application of emissions regulations to support their implementation based on trustworthy emissions accounting.

Many manual calculations and repeated modeling are required during the traditional structural design process. However, due to the high cost, rural buildings in China cannot be professionally designed and verified by designers as urban buildings, and their safety and economy cannot easily meet the requirements. Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology and intelligent optimization algorithms can effectively improve the structural design process and reduce design costs, but their applications in the field of rural residential buildings in China are limited. Therefore, this paper presents an innovative framework that realizes the structural design of rural light steel frame structures on the BIMBase platform (widely used BIM software in China, BIMBase 2023R1.3). Based on the parametric library of structural components built on standardized component coding, the framework completes the rapid modeling of rural light steel frame structures and the interaction between the BIMBase platform and structural analysis software, SATWE. The improved two-stage simulated annealing (SA) algorithm is applied to the structural design of rural buildings to obtain a design scheme that meets the design requirements and reduces the material consumption as much as possible. Two prefabricated rural light steel frame structures were analyzed to evaluate the efficiency of the proposed framework. The results show the feasibility of the proposed framework. Compared with traditional manual design methods, the design period can be reduced by six times while maintaining comparable levels of material consumption and structural design indicators.

This paper presents the findings of a study conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in enhancing student learning in structural concrete design courses. In reinforced concrete design, three dimensional (3D) visualization of concrete members can advance students understanding of reinforcement details and rebar-placement. BIM facilitates the usage of 3D views in teaching such courses and provides opportunities to address the challenges faced by the students during the visualization process. A study involving the use of BIM 3D views were conducted in two courses over a one-semester period. In the study, improvements in student performance were observed in several of the problems presented when 3D models were used. BIM has the potential to provide faculty with a tool that can improve teaching of structural design courses in a more visual and interactive way and greatly enhance the educational experience of the students.

Automated clash resolution for reinforcement steel design in concrete frames via Q-learning and Building Information Modeling

Construction planning and management is carried out as an attempts to find out various aspects that will be use in facilitating the construction, so it is following the applicable requirements, building functions, and economy. In construction projects, problems are often found at the planning stage or during construction, such as clashes between design elements or between schedules which can cause delays in project construction, large amounts of waste generated after construction, cost overruns during construction, and other problems caused by a lack of accuracy and poor coordination that can disrupt the productivity of construction projects. As technology develops, Building Information Modeling (BIM) is use as a solution to overcome various problems in the construction sector with a system that can collect and manage important data in the construction planning process that is integrated into accurate 3D modeling. In this final project, Building Information Modeling (BIM) will be used to plan the 6-floor Flats of the Ministry of Social Affairs BBRSPDF Surakarta City. Outputs be generated can be in the form of superstructure and substructure plans, namely the design of foundation structures, columns, beams, and plates, 2D Detail Engineering Design (DED), 3D modeling, and construction management plans in the form of Budget Plans, and scheduling.

Digitalisation in the construction industry has been progressing continuously and bringing major changes for everyone involved in virtually all areas. Austrian Federal Railways ÖBB has been pushing BIM (Building Information Modelling) for the construction and rehabilitation of their infrastructure. By means of various pilot projects, the basics and the processes required for design and construction are developed and applied with a strong focus on system operation. For Granitztal tunnel and a total length of ≈6.1 km, the as‐built design of the civil structures is done with an element‐based, open BIM model. As part of the handover to the maintenance and operation division, the data of civil structures relevant for operation are derived from the BIM model, validated by means of automatic methods and transferred to the facility management system (AVS, Anlagen‐Verzeichnis‐System). In the absence of an IFC (Industry Foundation Class) structure tunnel, a semantic and spatial data structure is developed. Furthermore, the model will be enriched with components of railway equipment. On the other hand, there is the over‐100‐year‐old Karawanks tunnel as part of the railway section between Villach and Jesenice. The line has been in operation since 1906 and includes the ≈8 km‐long, single‐tube Karawanks tunnel. The current situation of the tunnel including the superstructure and technical equipment no longer meets performance, safety and durability requirements and is being rehabilitated within an international cooperation project between Austria and Slovenia. The focus in this BIM project is set on the as‐built design and merging data of the existing historic tunnel structure with information of new components implemented during refurbishment. A core task is the structured transfer of data contained in the BIM model to the facility/asset management system of ÖBB (AVS) and the Slovenian infrastructure operator. The case histories of Granitztal tunnel and Karawanks tunnel are used to describe the implementation of BIM, including the development of required data structures, validation mechanisms and data delivery to the asset management.

\n It has been decades since the impact of information technology (IT) on structural engineering started to be discussed. The first documentation and analysis software prototypes date from the 1950s and 1960s. In the 90s, a survey indicated that a great number of structural engineers already agreed that IT was accelerating engineering. This close relationship evolved with the increasing power of computation. Nowadays, it is possible that engineers explore an amplified design space before reaching a final solution, mainly through parametric modeling combined with analysis. This culminated in large and complex data being generated during design. At the same time, the popularization of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and its focus on information present an opportunity for engineers to use BIM models as databases for enhancing design and collaboration. To fully leverage this data, it is imperative to condense it into meaningful and actionable visualizations. In this context, this research investigates and tests a workflow for structural design in BIM, named an \\"augmented BIM workflow for structural engineering through data visualization\\". The general objective is the enhancement of collaboration within a design team. A computational tool for enabling this workflow is proposed and implemented at a proof of concept (PoC) level, combining data from FEA (Finite Element Analysis) and BIM models. Extraction, transformation, and load processes from these data sources into a data warehouse in a visualization software solution are executed. The proposal was presented to engineers and BIM specialists. Feedback was collected to base the construction of a set of standard dashboards for data visualization. The final dashboards had their utility validated by the professionals. Technical limitations on the current implementation and underlying barriers to adoption are discussed.\n

The current manner in which engineering data, especially the structural details of buildings and infrastructure, is managed is highly inefficient and leads to a wide variety of unnecessary costs and risks. The revolution in Building Information Modelling (BIM) has given designers the ability to perform useful technical analysis on lifelike models and representations of a future structure. Consequently, the quantity of information being produced for a typical project, and the cost of producing that information, has increased substantially. This is driving a shift towards better systems of data storage and sharing. It is the contention of this report to demonstrate that structural design is a process which can be largely divided, automated, and outsourced. The conclusion reached is that a Building Information Model, when linked with a Geographical Information System (GIS), could provide enough information to conduct the entire design process. It is upon this basis that a radical new system for the post-construction storage and sharing of BIM is proposed.

This paper presents the work performed by an undergraduate student group at the American University in Cairo as a first phase of their graduation project that mimics a state-of-the-art industrial experience in structural and geotechnical design of a high-rise building using building information model (BIM). A 3-D BIM was developed for the structure and used to generate an analytical model which is exported to a structural numerical analysis program, followed by a full design of the building elements and foundation. The considered building is 218 m high, in which the architectural design requires a successive 2-degrees twist per floor through the building height, resulting in a total twist of 80 degrees between the first and last floors. The architect also retracted the slabs every six stories from a group of columns, leaving 24 m-height laterally unsupported peripheral columns. As such, the vertical and horizontal building irregularities present challenges in the structural modeling and design and requires thorough analyses, particularly for seismic and wind considerations. Due to the high water table at the building site and the existence of a 12.5 underground basement, a special dewatering technique was proposed, along with the full tanking design consideration of the building basement.

More and more mega-complex bridge projects are being or will be built worldwide. At the same time, the design and construction of such projects involve more and more challenges, e.g., complex structural designs, complicated construction environments, etc. This research study aims to apply BIM (Building Information Modelling) to bridge projects to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of design and construction. Through the analysis of the characteristics of bridge projects and relevant, associated problems, a BIM-based solution to improving design and construction is developed, including conceptual design optimization, detailed design optimization, the optimization of construction sequences, construction scheduling, construction management, and construction process monitoring. Furthermore, a real-life bridge project is presented to demonstrate the feasibility and validity of the BIM-aided approach to design and construction. It is shown that BIM has the potential to improve the design and construction of bridge projects. It is expected that this research could contribute to the extensive application of BIM in mega-complex bridge projects to aid in design and construction in the future.