Automated CAD-to-BIM generation of restroom sanitary plumbing system

Abstract

Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) system experts often have difficulties in converting their designs, in computer-aided design (CAD), into building information models (BIMs) owing to excessive repetitive work, lack of BIM skilled workers, frequent BIM recreations, etc. Therefore, this study aimed to formalize the CAD-to-BIM process of MEP systems, focusing on sanitary plumbing system, including soil, drain system, hot water supply, and cold water supply system. Each system’s process is composed of a combination of the following five common modules: pipeline processing module, pipe connection module, initial level setting module, addition riser nipple module, and clash resolution module. Consequently, a prototype developed based on the formalized process produced a sanitary plumbing BIM model that is identical to the CAD drawings and has no clashes. This study contributes to the MEP BIM theory by identifying considerations for CAD-to-BIM conversion of sanitary plumbing system and formalizing the process reflecting them.