Application of BIM for structural engineering: a case study using Revit and customary structural analysis and design software

Building information modelling (BIM) represents a workflow whose application on a construction project will enable all involved players to compile as well as work with information on every aspect of a building in a common model/database. Through BIM, the entire building can be virtually designed and built on a computer. BIM touches every part of a building’s life cycle starting from the design phase well into the construction phase and beyond that into asset management. This research examines the experiences of early adopters of BIM and use that insight to introduce BIM, specially focusing on the structural analysis and design stage of a building. The study demonstrates how all structural design activities can be integrated with each other and how cross-discipline collaboration with the architect can be achieved through the adoption of BIM without leaving ones customary structural design platform. As a demonstration, a sample building is modelled using Revit along with conventional structural software packages ETABS and SAFE. Plugins and applications were developed for these software packages to facilitate interoperability amongst them so that they all act together as a single platform. Modelling, analysis, design and clash detections were facilitated by applying BIM. Major benefits of employing BIM in a structural design project are illustrated through this research.