BIM Structural Project Applied in A Case Study: Interoperability Analyses, Reinforcement Detailing Drawings and Quantity Take-off

Abstract

Background: The Building Information Modelling (BIM) methodology has been acquiring, worldwide, a growing acceptance in all sectors of the Construction industry, and the study intends to contribute to its implementation within the structural design. The fundamental concept of BIM is based on the generation of a centralized virtual model with all information concerning different specialties. This is supported in efficient interoperability, but within the structural design, this aspect is difficult to achieve completely, as currently, the interoperability of this system is still inefficient. Introduction: This study intends to analyze the degree of interoperability verified in the development of all the processes (modelling, transposition, structural analyses and reinforcement detailing) involved in a structural design using BIM tools. Methods: A structural project concerning a study case was performed in order to identify benefits and limitations, based on the consistency analysis of the transposed data between systems, Revit and Robot, in all steps required in a BIM process. This text describes the stages of modelling, checking the suitability of the analytical model, its transference to the analysis tool in order to proceed with the structural calculations and detailing drawings and, finally, the transfer of drawings to the main BIM model. Results: The limitations verified in the last stage were partially surpassed with complementary work enabling the automatic transfer of drawings and quantities of materials. In addition, the study explores new capacities of BIM, namely, the extraction of information allowing the presentation of specific drawings and maps of the geometry of the reinforcement rods. Conclusion: This study identifies a working strategy that leads to an appropriate use of BIM software contributing to the optimization of labor in a structural office.