Open Access

ARTICLE

Building Information Modeling-Based Secondary Development System for 3D Modeling of Underground Pipelines

Jun Chen^{1, *}, Rao Hu², Xianfeng Guo³, Feng Wu²

1 School of Ocean and Earth Science, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
2 Shanghai Survey and Design Institute (Group) Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 200093, China.
3 China Southwest Geotechnical Investigation & Design Institute Co., Ltd., Chengdu, China.

* Corresponding Author: Jun Chen. Email: .

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Security Enhancement of Image Recognition System in IoT based Smart Cities)

Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences 2020, 123(2), 647-660. https://doi.org/10.32604/cmes.2020.09180

Received 19 November 2019; Accepted 24 January 2020; Issue published 01 May 2020

Abstract

Underground pipeline networks constitute a major component of urban infrastructure, and thus, it is imperative to have an efficient mechanism to manage them. This study introduces a secondary development system to efficiently model underground pipeline networks, using the building information modeling (BIM)-based software Revit. The system comprises separate pipe point and tubulation models. Using a Revit application programming interface (API), the spatial position and attribute data of the pipe points are extracted from a pipeline database, and the corresponding tubulation data are extracted from a tubulation database. Using the Family class in Revit API, the cluster in the self-built library of pipe point is inserted into the spatial location and the attribute data is added; in the same way, all pipeline instances in the pipeline system are created. The extension and localization of the model accelerated the modeling speed. The system was then used in a real construction project. The expansion of the model database and rapid modeling made the application of BIM technology in three-dimensional visualization of underground pipeline networks more convenient. Furthermore, it has applications in pipeline engineering construction and management.

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Citations