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EXPLORING POTENTIALS OF USING BIM DATA

FOR FORMWORK DESIGN THROUGH API
DEVELOPMENT

Conference Paper · June 2016

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 EXPLORING POTENTIALS OF USING BIM DATA FOR
FORMWORK DESIGN THROUGH API DEVELOPMENT
Singh M. M.1, Sawhney A.1, Sharma V.1 and Kumari S. P.1

1 RICS School of Built Environment, Amity University, Noida, 201301, India

ABSTRACT: Utilising advances in computing – like Building Information

Modelling (BIM) – Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC) industry has
leaped forward tremendously through automation. Iterative tasks and
calculations that were earlier synonymous with design process have now been
made redundant by utilising and further developing BIM tools. This paper uses
BIM authoring tool and its Application Programming Interface (API) to automate
one such iterative production-oriented activity – design of formwork for
structural concrete walls. Inputs are extracted from the BIM data available to
contractors, then this extracted information from semantic BIM model is
transferred to API environment. Computation is carried out on the raw data
pulled out from BIM to design formwork systems and yield their quantities and
specifications, hence streamlining design processes and reducing the effort
expended by construction planners. The paper elaborates upon the
development of API to extract, process and yield information using BIM data.
Building further, this research provides the basis for automation of formwork
design, production, layout, and even 4-dimensional simulation, hence holding
tremendous commercial potential. Additionally, when worked out in unison with
the site database, this can further fine-tune construction logistics planning.

Keywords- Building Information Modelling, API Development, Formwork

Design, Parametric Modelling, Design Automation.

1. INTRODUCTION

Design and planning of formwork is a very crucial task in the construction of

concrete structures (Kannan & Santhi 2013). A major portion of the cost of
concrete work is constituted by that of temporary construction (Mueller & Smith
2014). Its calculation is mostly done either on lump-sum basis or according to
the surface area of concrete or the building’s built-up area. Designing the
formwork and its documentation is a tedious task that involves collection of
information – like materials used, structural dimensions, connections etc. –
about the concrete elements being cast-in-situ. BIM is useful in generating
informative data that has found its application in many design and construction
activities. Various researchers in the past have suggested and proved its utility
in structural analysis, energy analysis, sustainability management, change
management, construction planning and facility management (Cavieres et al.
2011; Ahn et al. 2014; Jalaei & Jrade 2015; Wang et al. 2014; Moon et al.
2014). As BIM facilitates interoperability of modelled data, it significantly
reduces the effort required for remodelling of data for construction activities thus
reducing coordination issues and errors (Sawhney & Maheswari 2013). BIM
authoring tools are also useful in generating design options based on design
constraints (Abrishami et al. 2014). BIM’s potential towards advancing
Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC) industry through automation
allows designers to expend more efforts on decision-making tasks (Sawhney
2014). The process of construction planning can be eased by automation of
formwork design through efficient use of Building Information Modelling (BIM)
semantic data. Essentially, BIM authoring tools provide a specialised platform
for the purpose of generating information about building components. It allows
storage, reuse, sharing, and exchange of information for tasks like visualisation,
documentation and quantification (Monteiro & Poças Martins 2013; Vanlande et
al. 2008). BIM authoring tools do not only generate information in the form of 3D
solid objects but also allow their enrichment with semantic information (Heloisa
Tonissi Buschinelli Goes et al. 2011). The ability of BIM to take information –
more than just 3D geometry – along with its object-oriented nature makes it
unique for further using the information stored for downstream activities
(Borrmann & Rank 2010). Re-using BIM data for downstream activities like
construction planning, structural analysis, estimating cost etc. can minimise
errors that inadvertently occurs in the traditional designing process
(Christiansson 2004).

This research work utilises BIM data for automating formwork design via
Application Programming Interface (API) development. A framework is
proposed to demonstrate the application of BIM data for the design of formwork
elements.

2. LITERATURE REVIEW

The proposed framework requires a background study of three research areas

– parametric modelling, semantic BIM data and API for BIM authoring tools.

2.1 Parametric modelling

Variables used in BIM environment for storing informative data about building
elements are called parameters. Thermal, mechanical, geometrical or visual
properties of building elements in BIM environment are stored using these
variables. These parameters aid and permit designers in defining geometrical
relationships (Eastman et al. 2004) and incorporating domain-specific
information (Lee et al. 2006). Complex and intricate building systems can be
modelled using parametric capabilities of BIM (Cavieres et al. 2011). Various
advantages of parametric modelling abilities include generation and updation of
building information leading to reduced time and efforts (Lee & Ha 2013) and
less technical flaws and errors (Singh et al. 2011). The four important features
of BIM from the aspect of reusability of its data are information management,
updating, editing, and interoperability, which are possible through parametric
modelling only. This paper documents how parametric modelling capabilities of
BIM authoring tools can been utilised for placing customised formwork elements
associated with a particular wall.

2.2 Semantic BIM data

BIM has been a key area of interest for many researchers in the industry for
enhancement of design and construction process (Yalcinkaya & Singh 2015).
Scholars have shown a keen interest in BIM environment for various reasons
such as its ability to distribute the efforts to early phases of designing, digital
recording of data, and for automation of repetitive activities (Singh et al. 2015).
The model that gets generated through BIM authoring tools is object oriented,
parametric, and intelligent digital representation of building facilities. The data
available in BIM environment is more than just 3D solids hence differentiating it
from conventional Computer-Aided Design and Drafting (CADD) tools (Tse et
al. 2005). The semantics associated with BIM objects facilitate their recognition
for computational design tasks. This is difficult in CADD environment.

2.3 API for BIM authoring tools

With introduction of API with BIM authoring tools, users get access to the
information saved in BIM database for performing computational design tasks.
The design and analysis activities can be automated by developing algorithms
with API. This helps in reducing input steps for executing commands by
combining them. The output of previous commands can be used to provide
input for the upcoming ones, hence reducing users’ efforts. API also enables to
incorporate domain specific expertise in BIM application like reinforcement
detailing (Lopez 2011) and interactive modelling (Lee & Ha 2013).

3. BIM FRAMEWORK FOR DESIGN AUTOMATION

BIM authoring tools have Graphical User Interface (GUI) to create 3D geometry
and associate element data for visualisation and scheduling of objects.
Proprietary BIM authoring tools have the feature to create geometrically
constrained customised building elements like windows, doors and walls. A
framework is needed that has the ability to include increasingly complex and
industrially relevant knowledge in BIM besides automating the whole process.
API environment in this defined framework can help the user in designing and
generating information useful for construction planning. There is a scope for
automation of activities that involve iterative steps based on clearly defined
mathematical logic and calculation. As explained in Figure 1, BIM environment
offers a GUI to generate building element data, facilitate parametric modelling
and object modelling. An API environment allows access to elemental data
stored in BIM model, while also providing an application development platform,
incorporating mathematical logic and automating repetitive tasks. Further, it can
provide element information to BIM environment to generate BIM elements in
the model.

BIM Model Authoring Environment

Building Element Data

Parametric Modelling
Object Modelling Application Development Platform
.NET Language C#
Mathematical Logics
Automation of Repetitive Tasks

API Development Environment

Figure 1. Data and Information flow cycle between BIM and API Development
Environment
The authors have selected structural concrete walls to demonstrate the utility of
proposed framework. BIM authoring tools for building design from Autodesk –
Revit – along with its software development kit have been used to develop a
programme. After performing design computations, the API generates
information using which formwork elements can be created in the model.

4. FRAMEWORK FOR FORMWORK DESIGN AND LAYOUT

Using dimensional data about concrete cast in-situ walls received from the BIM
model in use, along with assumptions and structural details of formwork
elements, API programme calculates numbers, size and span of various
formwork elements. As depicted in Figure 2, initial step collects locational and
geometrical data such as wall location, its length, thickness, height, and
element ID. The second step of the programme uses this data, along with other
assumptions from the user as input for formwork element calculation tool. The
formwork element calculation tool calculates loads on the elements, followed by
their design (explained further in section 4.2). A parametric formwork object is
placed in BIM environment after tweaking its parameters using the output from
the previous step, and formwork objects are generated in the BIM authoring
tool. This formwork object with all the associated information is useful for
visualisation and for quantity scheduling once it is placed in BIM environment.
This framework helps in faster formwork layout generation by eliminating time-
consuming manual calculations.
BIM BIM
API Development Environment
Environment Environment
Dimensional
and
BIM Model
Locational
Detail of Wall
Formwork
Calculation Formwork
Calculation
output Object
Tool
Assumptions
& Structural
Detail of
Elements Formwork Object
configured for
particular wall

Figure 2. Framework for automating formwork design & layout using BIM and
API

4.1 Data Collection from BIM Model

The formwork element calculation tool requires various information for the
design of formwork. Some data relevant to construction activity and structural
properties of formwork elements need to be provided by the user, as these may
be case specific. The data related to cast-in-situ elements can be extracted
from BIM model. For concrete walls, dimensional data such as length, thickness
and height are extracted for each wall. Also, its location is required to generate
formwork elements in BIM environment. The programme first selects all
concrete walls and then iterates a sequence of steps through each wall within
the model to collect specific dimensional and locational information.
4.2 Formwork Element Calculation Tool

The formwork element calculation tool calculates maximum pressure on the

elements followed by design of formwork elements. Construction Industry
Research and Information Association (CIRIA) formula is used to calculate
lateral pressure exerted by wet concrete on formwork (Jha 2012). The
developed programme is used for calculating the number and distribution of the
formwork elements; these are – sheeting, studs, wales, and tie rods. This
calculation is performed based on the load carrying capacities of the formwork
elements. Figure 3 demonstrates the design calculations for studs in which the
maximum allowable span is found using three criteria – maximum allowable
bending stress, maximum allowable shear stress, and permissible deflection.
Out of these criteria, the one giving the smallest span is accepted for designing.
Using formwork elements calculation tool in API, spacing between elements,
their adequacy to sustain bending, shear stress and deflection are computed.
Input Formwork Element Calculation Tool Output
Load Calculation based
Dimensions of Wall on Dimensions of Wall
and Assumptions

Check span
Input related to for Bending
construction activity Stress

Check span Select

Number and Spac ing of
for Shear minimum
Formwork Elements
Structural Properties of Stress span
Formwork Elements
Check span
for
Deflection

Figure 3. Design Calculation for Formwork Elements

4.3 Generating parametric model in BIM authoring tool

The BIM authoring tools can be utilised for creating geometrically constrained
elements of formwork through parametric modelling. A formwork object
including sheeting, studs, wales, and tie rods is developed. The number and
spacing of formwork elements can be suitably adjusted by parameters. As
explained in Figure 4 a formwork object is created in BIM environment after
adjusting its parameter using the output from the formwork element calculation
tool.

API Environment BIM Environment

 No. of Elements Object

Calculation Output  Size of Elements Object
of Formwork Design  Spacing of Element
Parameter

Formwork Formwork Object cutomised

Object for Particular Wall

Figure 4. Customising formwork object for a particular wall using calculation

output
The formwork object so placed is customised for the particular wall using
instance parameter. It now has all the parameters associated with preparing
schedule of quantities. Figure 5 shows a formwork placed along a wall in BIM
environment. It represents all the formwork elements in the form of 3D solids
besides having quantification information for construction planning.

Wall Sheeting

Studs Formwork
Elements
Wales

Tie Rods

Figure 5. Visualisation of Formwork Element in BIM Environment

FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

BIM is expanding its horizon in the construction phase of built environment after
gaining popularity at the design stage. Though BIM provides a variety of useful
implications, it is still not widely accepted for pre-construction planning activities
(Karan & Irizarry 2015). The suggested framework for using BIM authoring tool
and its API for automation of formwork design provides remarkable prospects to
ease the pre-construction planning and designing activities. The construction
team will benefit from the fact that it will eliminate the requirement of data
remodelling for formwork calculation , thus reducing inconsistencies and save
time for decision-making processes. Furthermore, it will allow automatic
generation of drawings and quantity schedules for formwork elements in
complete coordination with building elements in BIM environment. This will
enable the team to perform visual checks beforehand. In this paper, the authors
have only established the framework for formwork design of a cast-in-situ wall.
This can be easily extended for other cast-in-situ building elements such as
beams, columns, slabs, etc. Furthermore, the framework can be broadened to
incorporate logistical data of site inventory to streamline the formwork planning
process.
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