What does BIM mean for Structural Engineers?

Defining the need for BIM

How Cost Changes with Time

Cost

This must be avoided This is the ideal place for change to occur, ie where it is cheap!

Egan stated that up to 30% of construction is rework

Feasibility

Concept Design

Detailed Design

Construction

Post Construction

Time

To cost of post construction change is many times the cost of change during design

& Knowledge Data, Information ,

Information Flow across the Project Life-Cycle

? Practice Current

Concept

Design

Construction

As Built

Handover

Date atrophy during project lifecycle due to: Information exchange via 2D drawings/Sketches/Reports/Conversations... Upfront simulation is limited and for some disciplines simulation is not accurate We start the final production phase commence before design is complete. Often without production of prototypes (Most buildings are unique!)

E x a m p le

Today's trends & Tomorrows challenges.

Todays Trends We live on a planet with finite resources. Scarcity of resources is resulting in rising material and energy costs. Tomorrows Challenges Efficiency must be improved in terms of resources & energy consumed during whole life of the project including construction.

Today's trends & Tomorrows challenges.

Todays Trends Desire for sustainable development means that economic decisions are taken with environmental and social issues Tomorrows Challenges Projects must provide best value; socially, economically and environmentally.

Three planets needed to support current EU consumption

Today's trends & Tomorrows challenges.

Todays Trends Globalisation of the design and construction market will change the way we work. Tomorrows Challenges Project teams must have the tools to enable effective management and collaboration within globally distributed teams

Today's trends & Tomorrows challenges.

Todays Trends Economic and political drivers will change procurement methods such as PFI, PPP, D&B Tomorrows Challenges Project teams require better information during the bidding process in order to make confident decisions

Today's trends & Tomorrows challenges.

Todays Trends The consumer/end user is more discerning in terms of desires and expectations Tomorrows Challenges Projects must be delivered on time and budget, no matter how complex.

Fractured Processes within the Construction Industry

Faade Design

Quantities Extraction

Defining BIM

Ove Arup
The term Total Architecture implies that all relevant design decisions have been considered together and have been integrated into a whole by a well organised team empowered to fix priorities Sir Ove Arup The Key Speech - 1970

This This is is an an ideal ideal which which can can never never or or only only very very rarely rarely be be fully fully realised realised in in practise, practise, but but which which is is well well worth worth, for striving for artistic wholeness or excellence depends on it, and for our own sake we need the stimulation produced by excellence

Defining BIM
"BIM involves representing a design as objects vague and undefined, generic or product-specific, solid shapes or void-space oriented (like the shape of a room), that carry their geometry, relations and attributes.

* Representing design as objects

Defining BIM
"The process of BIM is revolutionary because it provides the opportunity to migrate from practices that are centred around human craftsmanship to a more augmented and modern machine craftsmanship - and all that this might imply."

* Transition: Traditional to Digital

Defining BIM
A coordinated digital dataset that contains appropriate computable information necessary to design, build, operate and ultimately decommission a project

* A shared knowledge resource

Defining BIM
Building Information Modelling (BIM) is the process of generating and managing building data during its life cycle.

* Parallels with PLM

Is BIM a Virtual Prototype?

Virtual (adj) not physically existing as such but made by software to appear to do so Prototype (noun) the first example of something from which all later forms are developed The sum is more than the individual parts: Prototype Philosophy Set of standard procedures or process

A 3D model that
Contains no object attributes Has no parametric intelligence Is composed of only 2D CAD references Is not geometrically accurate Cannot be shared or requires another party to duplicate information or processes and allows you to bodge things

...Is not BIM!

BIM is....
Project Team members need to be able to exchange and stored project data quickly and with confidence

Information Communication Technology

Building Information Model (Management)

Project Team members need coordinated up to date information to be able to do modelling & calculations

Geometrical & BIM Project Technical Information Simulations Management (Virtual Prototype)

Project Team members need carry out tasks in such a way that they are easily coordinated, recorded and verified

Defining the framework for BIM

Process is essential to successful BIM Inputs Process Output

Task

Main Players at the Design Stage Structural model

Framing elements Foundations Typical details

Architectural model
Walls & ceilings Room spaces Materials and finishes

MEP Services model

Space reservation Plant rooms Plant systems

Main Players at the Design Stage

Architect Building Setting Out Spatial Planning

Structural Engineer

Adds building elements & foundations Main concrete walls & floor slabs

Architect

Adds walls, soffits, false floors

MEP Engineer

Adds space reservation for main service routes & Plant Rooms

Many Project Stakeholder

Unified Approach to BIM(M)

Asset Management

Supply Chain Management

4D Modelling

Engineering Optimisation

Whole life costing

Interior Design & Fit out

Faade Design Building Information Modelling/ Management

Quantities Extraction

Building Services

Architectural Design

Real-time progress reporting & RFI

Real time value Engineering

Clash detection & coordination

Structural Design

Adaptive Survey & Drawing

Digital Fabrication

Information Flow across the Project Life-Cycle

& Knowledge Data, Information ,

Whole Lifecycle Information Management

? Practice Current

Concept

Design

Construction

As Built

Handover

E x a m p le

Library object used in concept GA - simple plan view

Object carried into design development . 3 D view for spatial fit . Schedules & takeoffs.

Object data fields completed progressively . Schedules & takeoffs .

As -built changes incorporated & data set updated as necessary .

Object included in handover data set with corresponding population of AIM .

... and the Structural Process

Key Components of Structural BIM

Process Mapping Parametric Modelling Component & Adaptive Modelling Data Exchange Optimisation

Structural Process Map

DP/Revit

DP/Rhino

Structural Process Map

Process mapping essential to: Understanding the process Identify blockages and re-work Improving efficiency Managing changes Resource planning Facilitate research and implementation of new technology

Parametric Modelling

Parameter
noun a constant or variable term in a function that determines the specific form of the function but not its general nature

L-Systems
Biomechanical parametrics

Parametric Modelling = DNA for buildings

Thermal Performance Acoustic Performance

Loading
Circulation Structural System

Parametric Modelling on Stockholmsarenen

Roof truss geometry

Parametric Modelling = DNA for buildings

Component & Adaptive Modelling

If Parametric Modelling is DNA,

Component Modelling is the Skeleton that everything else hangs from. The change from representing a building as a series of 2D images to a collection of components is the most important paradigm in the road to BIM

Adaptive Modelling
The continued use of parametric associative component models during construction

P(x,y,z)

Q(x,y,z)

Data Exchange

Data Exchange FC Shakhtar

Data Exchange
Global Geometric Model

FC Shakhtar

Data Exchange
Structural geometric model

FC Shakhtar

DataFC Exchange Shakhtar

Structural data map
data .txt file
MS Excel

VB Macros Data generation

VB Macros VB Macros Data input

Data generation Data management

Catia
Geometry Data attributes Loading etc

data .xls file

MS Access

Section data .mdb file

VB.Net Management App

Proprietary .faf file

GSA analysis

MS Excel

FC Shakhtar

Data Exchange
Structural analysis model

FC Shakhtar

Data Exchange
Interoperability

Data Exchange
Interoperability

Data Exchange
Interoperability

Structural Optimisation
Large Analytical Models

Automated Design of Elements

Spreadsheets

Hard Code

Optimisation for Minimum Weight Optimisation for No of Elements

Optimisation

Structural Optimisation
PROCESS INTEGRATION Automated data flow between CAD / CAE applications Applications available over computer network

DESIGN OPTIMIZATION Bespoke computational algorithms Methods demonstrated to be superior to other published methods Scalable to large problems Can be implemented in a parallel computing environment

Computing tasks

Sample Integrated Process Flow

Structural Optimisation
GEOMETRY MODEL

node coord.

KEY
=

Subspace cycle (sizing)

FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS MODEL

steel weight, memb. stress, displacement

System cycle (shape)

memb. sizes

SUBSPACE OPTIMIZER: MEMBER SIZING

steel weight, crit. constraint

shape param.

SYSTEM OPTIMIZER: SHAPE

Roof space frame sizing optimization

PROBLEM FORMULATON: SPACE FRAME SIZING OPTIMIZATION
OBJECTIVES Minimize steel weight VARIABLES 1955 member size variables (~20 size choices)
x
ANALYSIS LAYER Element list: 2106 2107 Scale: 1:12.60

DESIG

Scal e:

Rectangular Hollow Section (RHS)

ANALYSIS LAYER Element list: "upper plane" Scale: 1:992.5

ANALYSIS LAYER Element list: 1939 1940 Scale: 1:17.88

CONSTRAINTS Strength (BS5950 2000) Deflection (SPAN / 360 for SLS) Architectural requirements

y x

ANALYSIS LAYER Element list: 2456 Scale: 1:7.091

Circular Hollow Section (CHS)

Universal Beam (UB) Section

z y x
z

x y

Roof space frame sizing optimization

BASELINE DESIGN
ANALYSIS LAYER Element list: "upper plane" Scale: 1:985.4 Area, A: 1000. cm/pic.cm 700.0 cm 600.0 cm 500.0 cm 400.0 cm 300.0 cm 200.0 cm 100.0 cm 80.00 cm 60.00 cm 40.00 cm 20.00 cm 0.0 cm

ANALYSIS LAYER Element list: "steel roof" Scale: 1:1264.

OPTIMIZED DESIGN

Area, A: 5000. cm/pic.cm 2000. cm

ANALYSIS LAYER Member list: "topSurface" Scale: 1:993.8

1500. cm 1000. cm 500.0 cm 400.0 cm 300.0 cm 200.0 cm

Area, A: 1000. cm/pic.cm 700.0 cm 600.0 cm 500.0 cm 400.0 cm 300.0 cm 200.0 cm 100.0 cm 80.00 cm 60.00 cm 40.00 cm 20.00 cm 0.0 cm

Increasing Steel 100.0 cm 50.00 cm 0.0 cm Area

z
y x

Top Surface

y x

ANALYSIS LAYER Element list: "bottomSurf_real" Scale: 1:985.4 Area, A: 1250. cm/pic.cm 700.0 cm 600.0 cm 500.0 cm 400.0 cm 300.0 cm 200.0 cm 100.0 cm 80.00 cm 60.00 cm 40.00 cm 20.00 cm 0.0 cm

ANALYSIS LAYER Member list: "bottomSurface" Scale: 1:993.8 Area, A: 1000. cm/pic.cm 700.0 cm 600.0 cm 500.0 cm 400.0 cm 300.0 cm 200.0 cm 100.0 cm 80.00 cm 60.00 cm 40.00 cm 20.00 cm 0.0 cm

z
z y x

Bottom Surface

y x

Defining the Barriers

Barriers to change
The Clients Business Model How does the client make money? What is the drivers for the clients business? What are the reasons behind the project? The Clients Financial Model How does the client fund the project? How is cash flow controlled? Empty Site Syndrome Why is there pressure to start before the design is complete? Who has set the completion date and why?

Barriers to change
Design management and tendering process How can late change be reduced by bringing suppliers and fabricators in much earlier into the design process Resistance to front end loading or investment in technology It easier to see the headline figures instead of the savings. Why? Professional Indemnity Lawyers!!!! Enough said! Aversion to Innovation Why are you innovating on my project?

The AEC Industry

Braking the Barriers

BIMis seen as having the greatest potential to transform the habitsof the industry.
- Low Carbon Construction IGT

Emerging Professions
The Technology Manager
Responsible for setting up ICT, Modelling and Simulation strategies for the whole project team from feasibility through to operation.

The Toolmaker
Responsible to creating bespoke tools and interfaces to allow exchange of ideas, information and data between different project team members.

The Modeller
Responsible for creating accurate geometry and component based models required for the virtual prototype or embedding knowledge required for simulation

The Researcher
To bridge the gap between theory and application and speed up implementation

One Final Thought:

In 1988 it employed 145,300 people and made a profit of $1.17bn on $13.3bn revenue In 2009 it employed 19,900 people and made a quarterly loss of $111m Who? Kodak Why? The rise of the Digital Camera (even though they invented it in 1975)
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