It is not correct to generalize, much less with a career as short as mine, but I have asked each and every one of the structural engineers with whom I have lived (I am a jr. structural engineer, by the way) why they do not userevit,Let's not say BIM anymore. The fact that the entry question is that and not one like "How long have you been using BIM software?" It gives an idea of what I have come across in the structural world of work. I know that there are offices that occupyTekla, Revit, Staad Pro, RAM Connection, Cype, etc.,but of the entire universe of structural offices, they are the least. I am also sure that most of that small sample of offices that use some BIM software, do so because of the client's request and not because of their own conviction; by force then. Why is this?

 

I have asked myself that question for years, it seems incredible to me that a branch of engineering that generates so much information has not fully embraced theBIM methodology.Can you imagine having the structuralist talking and listening to the constructive opinion of a construction resident? that is the dream, everything would be fluid and no decisions would be made without the consent of the calculator, as very often happens in the country. Completely pass on the results of the percentage of reinforcing steel necessary in concrete elements to the builder and that he understands perfectly, to give an example.

 

I understand that one reason is the inertia that you have in the way you work, you know the algorithm of a structural engineer: a blueprint arrives, you propose structuring, the architect doesn't like your columns, you solve the structuring with incredible 20 m spans, that is approved by the client and then you proceed to the detailed engineering and documentation. Throughout this process, who knows how many plans were generated (which ended up in the trash), who knows how many mathematical models were made and for each mathematical model, who knows how many analyzes of gravitational and dynamic loads were made. Do you realize the enormous amount of information that is generated and remains only in the niche of structural engineering? The only way to communicate our results as calculators is through plans and their justification through calculation reports, but only God knows if they are really understanding our calculations. And it is not because they feel superior to their fellow builders, but it is simply not their obligation to know how to do our job, rather it is our obligation to transmit the information we generate in a good way.

 

That's itBIM, the "I" of Information is not for decoration.The information generated by the structural area should be able to be interpreted in a good way by any other engineering area. Or put another way, you fellow structuralist, you shouldn't have to struggle with going 4 versions of plans back to the version the architect has, nor should you have to spend most of your time developing plans instead of revising your design. , nor to be finding out that (in construction) a PVC pipe has crossed the heart of the trabe that you designed with love.

Why don't we use the mathematical model to interact with models from other disciplines? If you still haven't made the leap to BIM because it means investing in other types of software and learning new things, I can tell you (I swear) that I have sent ETABS models to Revit without any problem, automatically modeling the sections of the structural elements and preserving their mechanical properties. Not much more is needed, surely if you read me from Mexico you use someCSI software;Well, there are already many plug-ins that facilitate the transition of information from mathematical models to BIM software, and most of the time, the only thing that is needed to do an interference detection analysis in Navisworks (for example) is the dimensions of the structural elements. It's as easy as lifting the model, analyzing it, doing your iterative design process and when it's ready, send the mathematical model to Revit and the structural BIM model will be generated automatically.

 

Reinforcing steel modeling is done in Revit, and it doesn't have to be a tedious and repetitive process becausethere are tools that automate this step,the same happens with the detailing of the connections in metallic structures. In fact, there are programs like IDEA StatiCa Connection that analyze and design metal connections, and send the designed connection to Revit through a plug-in.

 

The subject has been addressed from the Revit-ETABS interaction because they are the most used programs, but it is worth emphasizing thatBIM IS NOT REVITand the integration of the structural area with BIM is not only the symbiosis between programs, it is aboutimplement a collaborative work methodology and always have the mentality of team building.That is what BIM tools and software are for, to facilitate communication with other disciplines.

 

This that I have commented is only the tip of the iceberg of all a way of working different from the traditional one, it can also besend the Revit model to ETABS, create fancy geometry in ETABS through Revit tools, generate databases with precise quantifications, update the Revit model with changes made to the mathematical model, model hundreds of connections with a single click, generate plans automatically, detect interferences, integrate information that throws the structural analysis to the BIM model without having to go through draughtsmen or modelersand many more things that could be addressed in other posts on this blog. Today, what I want to convey to you is that I have involved BIM in my structural projects and I can spend more time analyzing different structuring proposals than generating the documentation to communicate these proposals.