Optimised strategy by utilising BIM and set-based design : reinforced concrete slabs

Considering the significant amount of material wasted in the construction industry there should be a business case for companies to pay more attention to reducing waste, which would also have a major impact on the environmental issues of the projects. Although structural engineers and architects have different roles in the design process in selecting construction systems and materials, they provide building information together. Building Information Modeling (BIM) could provide an opportunity for all relevant stakeholders to share their knowledge and experiences in the early stages of design and a platform for structural engineers to utilize Set-based Design in considering different alternatives for the optimal design of systems. This research suggests a conceptual strategy for enhancing an decision support model in parallel with stakeholders’ participation to achieve the optimal final solution in terms of material waste, by narrowing down the structural alternatives. The example used in the paper is reinforced concrete slabs, but the same principles are applicable to all structures. This research will focus on describing the BIM features, which could help the structural engineers to rank their criteria and select optimized design solutions