Designing an application to improve cloning of BIM drawings - a feasibility study

Abstract: Construction drawings have gotten a lot more sophisticated through the years. Most companies today use Building Information Modeling (BIM) which is the process of creating a digital representation of physical places. These models save time and reduce the risk of errors during the construction process, but are time-consuming to create. Companies are therefore interested in improving this process using software solutions. Tekla Structures is a BIM-software that enables the creation of 3D-models. These models can in turn be used to generate a 2D-drawing using a built-in cloning algorithm. This method saves a considerable amount of time when creating construction drawings, but the algorithm does not perform well when used for more complex tasks.  This thesis is written in collaboration with the architecture and engineering consultancy Sweco. The study aims to analyse the feasibility of solutions for improving or replacing the Tekla Structures cloning algorithm. An elementary application is developed to answer the research question. During development methods such as architectural design and prototyping were employed as construction tools and used to identify constraints. In the later stages of development Human-computer interaction (HCI) guidelines are followed to create more user-friendly software. Tekla Open API has been used as an interface to interact with Tekla Structures, providing useful methods and classes. This study emphasises the complexity of creating these kinds of applications. While it is true that similar tools can and should be developed in the future, it is suggested that the focus should be on creating custom solutions using the built-in Tekla cloning algorithm.