Towards an Algerian earthquake-resistant BIM software used during the very early schematic design phase of an architectural project

Abstract

The lesson brought by the last seismic events demonstrates that a building can be parasismic only if it is the product of a close cooperation between an architect and a civil engineer as of the early phases of the design. However, in the Algerian context neither cooperation is provided nor device tools are used by architects during the earthquake designing process. And this is mainly due to the inadequacy of these tools to designers, especially architects. They often encounter situations in which they have to find the most suitable solutions in terms of design. Their basic task is to get hold of the maximum amount of information concerning the constraints that serve in backing the designing process. Hence, architects' experimental skills as well as know-how are essential. Here, we aim to provide the various actors with practical Algerian earthquake-resistant BIM (building information modeling) software to understand and integrate safety concepts regarding seismic risks. We propose integrating fuzzy logic to the case based reasoning and to exploit the seismic vulnerability index so as to assist the architect in his/her architectural parasismic design. This tool is based on applying a model of seismic vulnerability assessment from the very early schematic design phase of an architectural project. It gives the designer and the various actors a fragmented estimate in order to distinguish the different analysis/development situations of the project, as well as an overall understanding of the architectural concepts regarding the seismic hazard. Moreover, it offers the actors a concrete illustration so that to better identify the formal relationship between the different attributes that influence the seismic response of the building.