Mark Morley BE MIEIBIM Manager/Design Engineer RPS

T: +353 (0) 91 400200E: mark.morley@rpsgroup.com

www: www.rpsgroup.com/ireland

BIM in Structural Engineering

The Impact, The Benefits, The Challenges

Clayton Hotel Galway 23rd September

BIM in Structural Engineering

My Background

RPS BIM in Structural Engineering

UHG New Ward Block

Industrial Facilities (North West)

Industrial Facility (Dublin)

Advantages of BIM Approach

Issues with BIM Approach

Summary

My Background

Civil Engineering graduate of both

GMIT & NUIG

6 years experience including 3 with

RPS

First Introduced to BIM in GMIT –

ArchiCAD Virtual Building

Undertook FYP in BIM

Carried out BIM pilot project in RPS

BIM Manger/ Structural Design

Engineer

RPS BIM in Structural Engineering

Before BIM

Engineer develops design concept, produces

sketch's

Technician produces detailed drawings from

sketches

Engineer carries our design analysis

independent of drawing production

Mark-ups used to progress design

BIM alters the entire way in which a project is

procured, delivered, constructed and operated

It is both a process and a deliverable

With BIM

BIM Manager/Design Engineer models basic

structural concept model

Using 1 central live model:

– Coordinates the development of the model/design

– Carries out design analysis on model, input results

directly into model

– Coordinates the production of drawings, schedules

Utilise BIM approach on all structural projects

UHG New Ward Block

3 story steel structure with comflor concrete

slabs

Connecting into 2 existing buildings –

underground M&E tunnel

Exchange 3D information with the contractor

Extract quantities – Issues with suppliers

Industrial Facilities (Northwest)

2 similar steel structures – combined office and

production space – steel and comflor

construction

Large glass expanses – global stability issue

Model developed from Architects massing

model

Tight project deadline – overlapping disciplines

Industrial Facility Dublin

3 story steel frame – comflor slabs

14000m2 of office, production, labs & plant

7000m2 of existing structure to be connected

into

All structural drawings produced form 1 live

integrated Revit model

Design carried out using information transfer

to Robot SA

Industrial Facility DublinAdvantages of Using BIM – Complex Design

Production areas 13 m spans – roof trusses to

hang 2 floor – plant areas on 1st and 2nd floors

Existing facility to remain operational – no

foundations near structure – cantilevered floors

Large canopy to delivery area

5 staircores/lift shaft large spans foundations to

cantilever

Cater for future expansion

Industrial Facility DublinAdvantages of Using BIM – Existing Structure

Connect into existing portal frame structure

Add link corridor, access ramps, remove lift shafts

Add additional brize soleil frame to hide building

Protect existing block façade with protrusions

Industrial Facility DublinAdvantages of Using BIM – Revisions, Revisions, Revisions

Client made numerous changes during

project to adapt to changing market

conditions.

BIM model allowed design team to asses

impact of changes on structure, design and

quantities.

Industrial Facility DublinAdvantages of Using BIM – Exchange of Info with Robot

Information transferred to and from Robot

SA to design and analyse structure.

Industrial Facility DublinAdvantages of Using BIM – Information Extraction

Able to extract steel quantities from BIM model

Issue with availability of ASB’s

Compare IFT and IFC quantities and track

changes

Industrial Facility DublinIssues with Using BIM

Ownership/Transfer of Model

Pre existing contact no provision for BIM –

No EIR or BEP.

Client requested model in native Revit

format

Is a model a drawing?

Existing Work Practices/Understanding

Can’t we just Copy & Paste

Just cheat “make it work”

It has to go Friday.

Sure just CAD that section

Interoperability

Information gets lost during transfer

Issues with IFC Import v Export

Nodes in Analytical model not meeting

Requirement for post processing in

import software.

Summary

Utilise BIM Approach on all structural projects – has entire way in which a

project is procured, delivered, constructed and operated .

Allows detailed information to be developed and extracted at an early stage

Many advantages to allow designers to visualise and analyse design options

Issues still exist in the area of Interoperability, Ownership & Understanding

Mark Morley BE MIEIBIM Manager/Design Engineer RPS

T: +353 (0) 91 400200E: mark.morley@rpsgroup.com

www: www.rpsgroup.com/ireland

Thank You