Automated generation of shop drawings in residential construction

Abstract The residential construction industry relies mainly on elementary two-dimensional (2D) design and shop drawings. Building Information Modeling (BIM) and parametric design have proven to be an effective technology for integrating design and construction while maintaining low cost and producing more benefits to owners, designers, and builders. However, architects, engineers, and designers may lack the time and resources needed to generate accurate BIM models or to be able to use the model information to benefit the construction process. In this paper, we propose a methodology for the automation of shop drawings for the wood-framing design of residential facilities based on a parametric model that is incorporated into a 3D-CAD model. The proposed methodology is tested in a number of virtual scenarios within the CAD environment, and is implemented as a computer program referred to in this paper as FRAMEX, a tool developed using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) as an add-on to AutoCAD. FRAMEX adopts the guidelines at the foundation of BIM technology to generate shop drawings in which the information is consistent at every level of detail, from the studs to the panels to the home where all the panels are joined to form a single entity. It also reduces the time required for drafting design by automating the process based on 3D-CAD and parametric modeling.

[1]  Mohamed Al-Hussein,et al.  Combinatorial Algorithm for Optimizing Wood Waste in Framing Designs , 2011 .

[2]  David Harrison,et al.  Rapid design and manufacture tools in architecture , 2002 .

[3]  Ghang Lee,et al.  Editorial - Case studies of BIM in use , 2008, J. Inf. Technol. Constr..

[4]  Rafael Sacks,et al.  Impact of three-dimensional parametric modeling of buildings on productivity in structural engineering practice , 2008 .

[5]  Axel Schumacher,et al.  An automated optimization process for a CAE driven product development , 2003 .

[6]  Branko Kolarevic,et al.  Architecture in the Digital Age: Design and Manufacturing , 2004 .

[7]  Joe Sutphin.  AutoCAD 2004 VBA: A Programmer’s Reference , 2004, Apress.

[8]  Carl T. Haas,et al.  Considering prework on industrial projects , 2005 .

[9]  Na Lu,et al.  Implementation of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in Modular Construction: Benefits and Challenges , 2010 .

[10]  Chris Butterworth,et al.  Value Stream Management , 1998 .

[11]  Saad H.S. Al-Jibouri,et al.  BIM approach for automated drafting and design for modular construction manufacturing , 2012 .

[12]  Scott Curland Chase,et al.  Generative design tools for novice designers : issues for selection , 2005 .

[13]  A. Gibb,et al.  Freeform Construction: Mega-scale Rapid Manufacturing for construction , 2007 .

[14]  Lan Ding,et al.  Intelligent approaches for generating assembly drawings from 3-D computer models of mechanical products , 2002, Comput. Aided Des..

[15]  Salman Azhar,et al.  Building Information Modeling (BIM): Trends, Benefits, Risks, and Challenges for the AEC Industry , 2011 .

[16]  Edward J. Jaselskis,et al.  Approaches to Improving the Quality of Construction Drawings from Owner's Perspective , 2006 .

[17]  Youngsoo Jung,et al.  Building information modelling (BIM) framework for practical implementation , 2011 .

[18]  A Scott Howe,et al.  Designing for Automated Construction , 1997, CAADRIA proceedings.

[19]  Robin Drogemuller,et al.  Parametric and generative methods with building information modelling: Connecting BIM with explorative design modelling , 2012, Proceedings of the 17th Conference on Computer Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA).

[20]  Richard A. Wysk,et al.  An Introduction to Automated Process Planning Systems , 1984 .