No abstract

<p>BIM application in bridge engineering is becoming more and more requested. However, many solutions do currently not yet address the special needs of bridge construction.</p><p>The paper explains the relevant features of the new approach, developing the bridge structure for detailing and analysis purposes in one parametrical model by using appropriate mathematical prescriptions. Specific characteristic of this solution is the combination of an intelligent database and a user interface tailored for engineers.</p>

<p>BIM application in bridge engineering is becoming more and more popular and authorities are worldwide starting to request BIM as a prerequisite for contract awarding. However, some 20 years after the first mention of the term BIM, the postulated processes are to a great extent still piecemeal in this industry.</p><p>The heart of the BIM process is hereby a sophisticated digital model of the bridge. The quality of this model,</p><p>i.e. the integrity and completeness of its data structure, essentially governs the straight-forward usability for differing purposes, and thus the effectiveness of the BIM process. The advantage of end-to-end data management is often lost, when the dataset is confined to geometric data with ignoring the time as 4<span>th</span> dimension, and when applications like structural analyses require laborious data conversion and supplementation.</p><p>A strictly parametric model description is a key-point in this context. I.e. the description contains planning criteria and development rules as part of the model. This data structure allows the direct use for many different applications like visualization, quantity take-off, detailing, draft production, structural analysis and strength assessment. Other key-points are an intelligent and self-explaining user interface and an open structure allowing easy communication over different platforms.</p><p>To check the potential savings due to BIM we investigated effectivity issues cropped up in the planning process of a typical concrete bridge. Difficulties and backlashes encountered in the BIM process have been explored. In addition, a pilot project was used for testing an alternative process with a new software tool. By this means we checked, whether the detected problems concerning data conversion and learning phases for using different tools can be avoided by using an approach combining geometric BIM model and analytic model for static analyses.</p>

<p>A new BIM solution tailored for bridge engineering has recently been developed, with the ambition of successively covering all tasks related to bridge design, construction, and management throughout lifetime.</p><p>Currently, the solution already contains a variety of bridge design functionality from parametric modeling to structural analysis and checking procedures. Based on an intelligent 4D model of the structure including the construction timeline in addition to the parametrically described geometric model, an appropriate analysis model is automatically created.</p><p>The paper describes the current functionality and recent successful practical use cases and gives an outlook to the considered future extensions.</p>

Prosperity and quality of life of our modern society is also based on a well-established road network for movement of goods and passenger traffic. Bridges are a vital, but also vulnerable part of this network. They are expensive in construction and maintenance – about 1-2% of the construction expenses have to be invested into maintenance per year. Because of their important role in the transportation network, great care must be taken during the design and construction phase and in the following surveillance while it is in service.<p>Bridge design and analysis is an iterative process. During this process the engineer is looking for the best solution for given criteria by changing specific system parameters. Engineering experience helps to reduce the time required, but there will still be a need for many iteration steps until the design criteria are met. Computer programs nowadays should provide the best possible support for this design process. The construction sequence combined with long-term effects has an influence on the target engineering design. Within structural analyses, it is necessary to account for long-term effects in the calculation and to minimize undesired influences.