A parametric BIM approach to foster bridge project design and analysis

TLDR

BIM has advanced construction management, yet its building‑centric data schemas struggle with the geometric and semantic diversity of bridge projects, and parametric modeling offers a promising but underexplored solution. This study aims to create a single parametric file capable of generating any bridge type. The file employs a parametric algorithm within design software to model bridge elements and then exports the model for structural analysis.

Abstract

Advancements in technology have contributed significantly to building information modeling (BIM)-based construction project management. However, the BIM approach was developed mainly around building construction projects and few efforts have been devoted to projects related to infrastructures such as bridges. For such projects, there are often significant geometric and semantic variations between structures, making it difficult to use existing BIM data schemas. Recent works indicate that parametric modeling could represent a solution providing greater design efficiency and interoperability, but the literature on the subject remains extremely sparse. The objective of the present study is to develop a parametric file that is able to generate all types of bridges from a single parametric file. The file developed uses a parametric algorithm for modeling bridge elements in a design software application and for generation and analysis of the model in a structural analysis software application.