Structural Analysis Ready Building Information Modelling: A Requirement Analysis

Structural analysis is utilised to evaluate the behaviour of structures under applied loads to ensure their safety and stability. It is crucial in designing, assessing, and retrofitting buildings and structures. With the growing adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry, using BIM for conducting structural analysis enables professionals from different disciplines to collaborate efficiently throughout a building’s lifecycle. When no BIM is available from a structure, scan-to-BIM can be employed to produce a BIM from point clouds generated through laser scanning or photogrammetry approaches. An essential step in scan-to-BIM is requirement analysis which optimizes scan-to-BIM by identifying essential data and avoiding the inclusion of unnecessary information. This study conducts a comprehensive requirement analysis, identifying five essential structural elements namely, columns, primary beams, secondary beams, floor systems, and shear walls that must be included in a Structural Analysis Ready BIM (SARBIM) for Reinforced Concrete (RC) structures. Additionally, three critical information categories - Material Mechanical Properties (MMP), Reinforcement Content (RCo), and Cross-Section Information (CSI) - are outlined as key information for these elements. Furthermore, this study presents essential modelling considerations to enhance the accuracy and reliability of SARBIM models. By refining BIM models for structural analysis, this research contributes to the advancement of SARBIM in the field.