Physical BIM and Analysis Model Linking for Structural Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current computer-aided modeling systems lack an efficient mechanism to associate digital physical models with digital analysis models, leading to challenges in synchronizing changes between these models, which are crucial for accurate structural engineering and analysis.
Innovation Solution
The proposed method establishes associations between digital physical parts and digital analysis parts, allowing for bidirectional updates between digital physical models and digital analysis models. This is achieved through the use of identifiers and correspondence detection units within the modeling system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If digital physical models and digital analysis models are maintained separately without association mechanisms, then model independence and simplicity are preserved, but synchronization accuracy and data consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an association mechanism that acts as an intermediary between digital physical models and digital analysis models. This mechanism uses identifiers to link corresponding parts across different model types, enabling automatic synchronization without direct coupling. The intermediary layer allows changes in one model to be propagated to the other while maintaining model independence, thus resolving the contradiction between synchronization accuracy and model complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a copying mechanism where identifier information from digital physical models is copied and associated with digital analysis models. This allows the analysis models to reference and synchronize with physical model data without requiring complex bidirectional relationships. The copying approach maintains simplicity while achieving accurate synchronization through identifier-based linkage.
2Productivity
If manual synchronization methods are used between digital physical models and digital analysis models, then system simplicity is maintained, but time consumption and productivity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an automatic feedback mechanism where changes in digital physical models are detected and automatically propagated to associated digital analysis models through identifier matching. This feedback loop eliminates manual intervention, significantly reducing synchronization time and improving productivity. The system continuously monitors for changes and automatically updates relevant models, preventing data inconsistency without requiring user action.
Solution Approach 2:
The synchronization system performs self-service by automatically detecting changes in digital physical models and propagating them to digital analysis models using identifier-based associations. This eliminates the need for manual synchronization operations, reducing time loss and improving efficiency. The system serves itself by autonomously maintaining data consistency across different model types through automated change detection and propagation.
3Reliability
If detailed correspondence tracking is implemented between model parts, then data consistency is improved, but system complexity and computational requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential correspondence information by using only identifier data to link digital physical parts with digital analysis parts. This extraction approach focuses on the critical linking element (identifiers) while omitting unnecessary detailed tracking mechanisms. The result is a simplified correspondence system that maintains data consistency through identifier matching without the complexity of comprehensive part-by-part tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent copies only the necessary identifier information from digital physical models to establish associations with digital analysis models. This selective copying approach maintains data consistency by ensuring unique identification and linkage while avoiding the complexity of copying or tracking all detailed attributes. The identifier copying mechanism provides sufficient correspondence tracking for synchronization purposes without overwhelming system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A digital model of a structure comprises a physical BIM model and one or more analysis models for structural engineering, wherein a piece of the structure may have one digital representation, called a physical part, in the physical BIM model, and one digital representation, called an analysis part, in one of the analysis models, but there may be analysis parts without corresponding physical parts, and vice versa. Association information associating an analysis part with a corresponding physical part allows a soft relation between the parts, the soft relation being usable for indicating that a part's corresponding part has changed without changing the part correspondingly.