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Integrating 3D-CAD and Cost Estimating at the Conceptual Design Stage of Bridge Project

Bridge Information Modeling (BrIM), as a concept, has been introduced to enhance the procedures of the whole phases of a bridge life-cycle starting with concept and design, through construction and operation, and ending with maintenance and rehabilitation. Integrating BrIM and design tools will help improve the methods used in designing and constructing bridge projects at early stages taking into considerations their cost and time constraints. The main objective of this research is to develop an integrated model that helps owners, designers and construction managers visualize bridge projects in a 3D mode and accordingly automate the process of generating preliminary cost estimates during the conceptual design stage. To achieve the above mentioned objective, a proposed methodology will be applied where all the aspects needed to develop an efficiently integrated model are realized. Thus, this research describes the proposed methodology that incorporates three modules, which are the core of the integrated model. These modules are: a knowledge based system module, which is used to generate conceptual dimensions and parameters depending on algorithmic and heuristic knowledge gathered from codes, guidelines and design experts; a conceptual cost estimation module, which is used to generate conceptual cost estimate based on the results of the first module; and a 3DCAD module, which is integrated with the previous modules where users will visualize the proposed bridge in 3D based on the results of the knowledge based module. The successful development of the model would help owners and investors identify the cost and visualize the proposed projects at the early stages of the project life, so they have an idea of the budget required and the aesthetics of the proposed projects. The integrated model is validated through an actual case project to test its workability and output.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:uottawa.ca/oai:ruor.uottawa.ca:10393/32570
Date January 2015
CreatorsAl-Dosary, Bashar
ContributorsJrade, Ahmad
PublisherUniversité d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa
Source SetsUniversité d’Ottawa
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis

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