Development of BIM-Based Tunnel Information Modelling Prototype for Tunnel Design

Abstract

The advancement made in the field of Building Information Modelling (BIM) are not limited only to buildings but are also contributing a major portion to other construction fields like bridges, underground spaces, and tunnel modelling. Tunnel modelling is a complex and tiresome process as several different software’s are used simultaneously for tunnel modelling. In this research, a prototype is developed for the tunnel modelling process and keeping the process of tunnel modelling limited to only the Autodesk Revit and an excel sheet. The prototype integrates the different formulas and relations used to define the different tunnel geometries and rock support elements in Revit software, which will help in modelling the tunnel according to the real ground conditions. The main goal of the prototype is to use a single software for tunnel design and review process that can help tunnel designer to model tunnels in Revit without requiring to switch between different softwares, that will help to improve the productivity of BIM models for tunnel designing process. A case study of a newly built tunnel has been conducted using the developed prototype to model the tunnel according to the coordinates of the ground dataa. Tunnel models are developed with the help of this newly developed prototype which turns out to bbeneficial in technological integrations, productivity of designers, accuracy, number of software involved, time consumed, and the effort required for the variation of design. Three case studies were conducted to compare the efficiency of conventional design method (CDM) with the newly developed tunnel modelling prototype. After conducting prototype usage comparison, Quantity take-off (QTO) comparison and statistical analysis, the tunnel modelling prototype is proved to be increasing the efficiency, productivity, and accuracy of tunnel designers for tunnel design and review process.