A goal-oriented planning approach for two-dimensional cutting components in architectural design: Coupling BIM and Parametric design (PD)

Abstract

Two-dimensional (2-d) cutting components are essential in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. However, due to the complexity of computing cut components' reuse, the 2-d cutting component still lacks appropriate design-aid tools to generate accurate graphical and numerical results in the architectural design process, leading to material waste and hindering the entry of intelligent technologies. This research proposed a grid-based planning workflow based on the BIM and parametric design (PD) to accurately generate and optimize 2-d cutting components' planning. The proposed workflow combined the “2-d bin packing problem” problem-solving method in operations research to compute the components' reuse. Moreover, an evolutionary algorithm was used to enable the workflow can goal-oriented optimize the design alternatives according to requirements, expanding the workflow's adaptability. A prototype system was developed to verify the proposed workflow. The results show that compared with current design-aid approaches, the proposed workflow can generate accurate graphical and numerical results while reducing material waste by 7%–12% due to the refined design. The outcomes improve the intelligence of the AEC industry while promoting the industry's sustainable development.