A framework as an alternative to BIM environment for 2D and 3D conventional drawings

Abstract

The activities of project development within construction industry are information intensive and fragmented due to project uniqueness and requirements of various professionals. Integration of activities is critical to alleviate the efficiency, accuracy and other issues related to construction processes. The current modelling concept called “Building Information Model (BIM)” provides integration among construction processes under BIM environment. This BIM approach is limited to 3D product model drawing and not on 2D or 3D drawings. This study focused on developing an alternative method to BIM for 2D or 3D elements. The proposed method can extract the 2D or 3D elements with their relevant details automatically from the CAD drawings. Then the extracted details are collected and can be used for estimating and planning purpose. This system provides an alternative environment to BIM for 2D and 3D drawings. The study highlights a framework consist of an algorithm that extracts the 2D or 3D drawings with its detail and attach them with the estimating process. In conclusion, the research has formulated an alternative framework to BIM on 2D and 3D conventional CAD drawings.