Enhancing BIM Integration: A Comparative Analysis of Novel Composite Structure Documentation Methods

• Published in: Buildings (Basel) Vol. 14; no. 6; p. 1817
• Main Authors: Szalai, Dóra, Ajtayné Károlyfi, Kitti
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.06.2024
• Subjects: Applications programs; Architectural design; Architecture; Building information modeling; Building materials; Comparative analysis; composite documentation methods; composite structure; Composite structures; Computational linguistics; Construction industry; Design; Document management; Documentation; Energy consumption; Information processing; Internet of Things; Internet software; Language processing; material selection; Methods; Natural language interfaces; Pilot projects; Software; Spreadsheets; Structured data; Students; Word processing; Hungary
• ISSN: 2075-5309; 2075-5309
• DOI: 10.3390/buildings14061817

The proper selection and planning of building materials are crucial tasks in architectural design, as they fundamentally impact the functioning of the structure. In traditional design processes, this information is recorded in text form, typically using word processing software. However, this approach hinders the integration with modern, data-driven design methods and is incompatible with the increasingly popular building information modeling (BIM) processes. To address this, two new methods have been developed: one database-like method in the form of an Excel spreadsheet and the other as a dedicated web application. This article introduces and compares these methods based on pilot projects conducted by university students and an expert. Based on the results of the study conducted among students and expert, the database-like method proves to be the fastest. For students, creating a composite structure took an average of 14–20 min, while for experts, it took an average of 1.2 min. According to the evaluation of participants, the traditional method does not facilitate automatic communication with BIM, while both the database and web solutions promote it. The web-based solution, with its dedicated layout and functionality, offers additional advantages in this regard. The research underscores the importance of structured data in BIM and proposes new methods to streamline composite documentation processes during the design phase.