Optimization and simulation in infrastructure projects using BIM

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis and systematic literature review focused on optimization and simulation practices in infrastructure projects using Building Information Modeling (BIM). The main objective of this article is to systematically identify methods proposed in the literature that use optimization or simulation with BIM in infrastructure projects and subsequently analyze and correlate these applications. The analysis, involving 22 documents from various journals and conferences, concentrates on bibliometric trends, in which notable sources are "Transportation Research Procedia" and "Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology". The publication count exhibits a fluctuating trend over the years. Italy emerged as a leading contributor, actively engaging in significant international collaboration. Citation analysis reveals 197 citations, in which the most cited publication received 67 citations. Key terms extracted from abstracts included "Building Information Modeling," "Infrastructure Projects," and "Geographic Information System (GIS)". Digital Simulation was the most often applied technique, closely followed by Artificial Intelligence algorithms, particularly the Genetic Algorithm. Autodesk tools, especially Civil 3D and Revit, were widely used alongside interfaces such as Dynamo, Grasshopper and programming languages such as Python. Overall, the research sheds light on the current state of these practices in infrastructure projects using BIM and provides valuable insights for researchers and practitioners. The diverse range of objects, objectives, phases, tools, and techniques in the optimization process opens avenues for future investigations in this evolving domain, benefiting various infrastructural contexts.