IRJET- Time Optimization of Precast Planning using BIM Software

International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 06 Issue: 11 | Nov 2019 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072
© 2019, IRJET | Impact Factor value: 7.34 | ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal | Page 1776
TIME OPTIMIZATION OF PRECAST PLANNING USING BIM SOFTWARE
S. Madhu Anand1, Ujjwal Kumar2, Arunima Rajish3
1Head- Construction Methods Planning Centre, Residential Buildings and Factories, L&T Construction, Chennai
2,3B.Tech Graduate, Department of Civil Engineering, Pondicherry Engineering College, Puducherry
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Abstract - Time is the essence of any project. Adoption of
precast construction is the key to meetthetimeline foranyfast
track construction projects whereasplanningisavitalpartfor
the successful completion of precast projects. Being precast,
advance planning is necessary. Conventional method is the
most common practice for the planningofanyprecastprojects
whereas BIM software is not yet well-practiced. Hence,
software Tekla (a BIM software) has been adopted for the
planning of a precast construction project of a G+3 structure.
Precast planning involves precast element layout, casting
yard, moulds, production, stacking, transportation, erection,
and finishing of precast elements. This paper emphasizes the
application of BIM software for time optimization of the
planning of precast elements, since it benefits precast
construction planning especiallyinproductionplanning, saves
time in the planning process, prevents human errors,
automation of production and tracking of projects. The model
provides a platform where the information is storedanditcan
be utilized in various phases during the precast construction
process, directly by using functionalitiesinTeklastructures, or
by linking the building information to other software
solutions. Even though the softwarehasmoreadvantagesover
the conventional method, still the awareness of technology
needs more encouragement to meet the global benchmark.
Key Words: Precast Planning, Tekla, Organizer, Palletizer,
Crane Checks, Task Manager.
1. INTRODUCTION
Precast construction is one of the most promising solutions
to the fast-growing infrastructure in any country. Precast
construction has more advantages over cast-in-place
construction including better quality production, speedy
construction, less wastage,lessmanpowerrequirement,safe
construction site, etc. In precast construction, structural
components are standardized based on structural and
production requirements, produced in plants / yards at a
location nearer to the construction site, cured, transported
to the site and erected. Planning is the crucial stage for
successful completion of any precast construction.Effective,
detailed and advance planning is necessary for any precast
construction project
Building Information Modelling benefits the user by
providing a platform which enables to create and manage all
aspects of a building with the help of numerous virtual
models. With BIM, buildings can be created virtually before
they are constructed at the site and have many features
including model-based cost estimation, better builds, better
collaboration, and communication, etc.
1.1 Project Brief
A sample live project, Construction of additional buildings
for boys and girls hostels has been considered. It consists of
1+3 precast buildings of G+3 storey each.
No. of Buildings : 4 no.s
Total Built up Area : 4414.64 sqm per hostel
Plan Size : 69.79 m x 16.94 m
Height : + 17.3 m above GL
No. of Storeys : 4
Type of construction : Precast
2. METHODOLOGY
The challenge is to adopt a BIM software solution which
enables the planning of precast project in an effective
manner. Hence in this paper, Tekla structures has been
analyzed for precast planning and the time optimization in
precast planning using software is studied. All the activities
in a precast construction project, i.e. from quantity
estimation to project monitoring and tracking, can be done
using this BIM software. It helps to collaborate on site
activities with the schedule to track the project as well as to
compensate for the delays.
2.1 Precast Elements Layout
Precast element layout is the basic input for any precast
construction planning. Typical floor layout and thedetailsof
total precast elements for the project are listed below.
Fig -1: Typical Floor Plan

Table -1: Details of precast elements
Element
Total element per
hostel
Total elements need to be
produced
Wall 538 2152
Beam 96 384
Column 47 188
Slab 392 1568
Stairs 24 96
POD 8 32
Total 1105 4420
2.2 Modelling using BIM
The structural drawing can be imported to software, using
Reference model, from which the structure can be
developed. Reference model can be of various file formats
including IFC, DWG, XML, DXF, SKP, PDF, etc. From the
model, quantity estimation, pallet arrangements, lifting
hooks, cranes, stacking, scheduling and tracking has been
done using various tools namely organizer, palletizer, lifting
anchors, crane checker, stacker and task manager
respectively. The model developed is shown below.
Fig -2: 3D View of model
2.3 Quantity Estimation
Model based quantity estimate can be obtained from
software using organizer or reports. Organizer can be used
for managing all model information, for queries regarding
object properties and for object classification. Reports of
various aspects can be created using predefined or user
defined templates.
Software provides individual element estimate and it can be
sorted to get the required quantities. Summary of estimate
obtained from table are given below.
Table -2: Quantity estimate
Elements
Total no. of
elements
(no.s)
Volume of
concrete
(cu. m)
Weight
(ton)
Wall 538 1028.74 2571.78
Beam 96 57.1 142.74
Column 47 15.96 39.91
Slab 392 345.9 864.79
Stairs 24 51.56 128.91
Pod 8 18.55 46.36
Total 1105 1517.81 3794.49
Time optimization for quantity estimation using software is
approximately 85%.
2.4 Palletizer
Factory based production has all standard moulds and only
approximately 30% non-standard moulds need to be
produced for any project specification. Palletizertool isused
for planning the optimal pallet layout for precast elements.
Once the elements are imported to palletizer, it allocates
elements on the production pallets based on geometry,
visualizes them and defines the casting sequence. Limit
values and occupancy ratio (for optimizing) will be
automatically calculated and notified. Manual placing, low
spacing and UDA spacing are various optionsavailable.Even
though options for providing spacing between moulds for
activities like shuttering and de shuttering is not available,it
will provide approximate arrangement of moulds and it can
be exported to pdf. Time optimization is around 60% - 70%.
Fig -4: Pallet arrangement for typical walls

Fig -5: Pallet arrangement for typical slabs
2.5 Lifting Anchor
Lifting anchors is a tool used for assigning hooks for lifting
and handling of precast elements. The location of hooks is
assigned based on the element weight and properties and
hooks for all elements can be assigned together
automatically. Grade, type, diameter, embedded length and
other details of anchors needs to be provided as input and
based on it the lifting hooks will be assignedtoeachelement.
Time optimization approximately 50% on comparison with
conventional method.
Fig -6: Lifting Hooks in wall
2.6 Crane Manager
Crane check helps to assign the suitable crane for erection
based on the model. It is available only in crane manager
role. With the help of crane check, we can check number of
elements that can be erected with the selected crane placed
at specified locations for the assigned crane, lifting area and
rigging details (such as hook weight, capacity, jib length,
limit ratio, etc.). It performs checks for each configuration
and thus optimum configuration can be selected which
allows lifting of majority of elements. Crane model can be
assigned using the components MCTM, MCCM and Tower
Crane. The drawings of the appropriate configurationcan be
created along with lifting plan, lifting view and other lifting
details. Time optimization nearly 45%-50%.
Fig -7: Crane lifting view
2.7 Stacker
Stacker is a tool which is used to plan the arrangements of
elements in the trucks/ trailer. Based on the delivery dates
of elements, stack plan can be obtained, and it can also be
exported to pdf. For stacking planning, import the elements
to stacker and giveinformationlikemaximumcapacity,stack
model and custom model. Elements need to be arranged
manually in the stacker (even in real time model of trucks)
and it will notify when maximum load capacity is exceeded.
Details about how many elements can be transported in a
trip, number of trips required to transport elements needed
for erection and other necessary information regarding
transportation can be obtained. Time optimization upto
50%.
Fig -7: Stack plan for beams
2.8 Task Manager
Task manager enables the users to create and store
schedules and it links the elements to the corresponding
tasks. The tasks can be either created in Task managerorthe

tasks can be imported from other project management tools
such as Primavera P6 or MS Project. It incorporates time-
sensitive data into 3D models and controls the schedule at
various stages throughout the project. Time optimization
nearly 80%.
Fig -8: Schedule using Task Manager
2.9 Project Status
Progress status tool helps to visualize the progress of the
project according to theproduction/erectiondates.Byfixing
the review date, we can track the progress of work on each
day as well as delays in work can also be monitored easily.
The review dates can be adjusted to check the progress at
any span of project duration. Progress monitoring using
project status with the help of object representation is
shown below. Time optimization nearly 80% and helps for
speedy construction.
Fig -9: Progress Monitoring
2.10 Drawings
The software enablesto extractstheshopandformdrawings
from the model automatically and the production data can
also be exported to other formats like BVBS, unitechnik or
Elematic as well as data can be directly transferred to rebar
manufacturing machinery and to differentprecastandrebar
production management software. Cast unit drawingsgivea
better understanding of the production of elements.
Model and the related information can be exported to
different formats including IFC, pdf, drawings, etc. Time
optimization approximately 90%.
3. CONCLUSIONS
The conventional method of planning is based on the
experience of planner whereas software for planning is
based on the model. BIM software benefits precast
construction planning especially in production planning,
saves time in the planning process,preventinghuman errors
in information transfer between detailing and production
and tracking of projects. Some of the key aspects in Tekla
over conventional method are:
 The planning process is dependent on the model as
well as it saves time in planning.
 Progress monitoring and tracking are easy as they
can be tracked with the help of the model by the
collaboration of site engineers and planner.
 Model can be used for storing information and can
be utilized when needed, using various tools
available or by exporting to other formats.
 Trimble Connect is a cloud-based platform which
enables all the stakeholders to track the progress
and for discussions.
 Model-based quantity estimation, optimized pallet
calculation, and stacker, crane assignment basedon
the model, drawings for automated production and
progress monitoring and tracking are some of the
features of the software.
 Optimization of time and resources is a key benefit
of Tekla. Up to 85% of time optimization for
planning can be obtained using Tekla for precast
projects.
 In UK 25% of construction is in precast, 40-50% in
North European countries, whereas in India, only
2% of construction is in precast. Hence, the
awareness of technology needs more
encouragement to meet the global benchmark.
 Build once, build right, build to last.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We express our deep sense of gratitude and indebtedness to
Larsen & Toubro Constructions (L&T), HQ, Chennai for
giving us the opportunity to carry out the study in their
organization. A note of special thanks to Mr. T. Arun Kumar
and Mr. R. Nallasivam for continuous support and
encouragement. We would like to express our special
gratitude and thanks to all other persons who knowingly or
unknowingly helped us throughout the project work.

REFERENCES
[1] Dong Wang, Guiwen Liu, Kaijian Li, Tongjing Wang,
Asheen Shrestha, Igor Martek and Xiaobo Tao (2018),
“Layout OptimizationModel fortheProduction Planning
of Precast Concrete Building Components,Sustainability
2018, 10,1807; doi:10.3390/su10061807
[2] Kuo-Chuan Shih and Shu-Shun Liu (2010), “An
Optimization Model for Precast Project Planning using
Group Concepts”, Journal of the Operations Research
Society of Japan, volume 53, No. 3, pp.189-206
[3] S. Madhu Anand (2016), “Architectural Precast Façade
Construction for High Rise Buildings- Construction
Method Approach”, International Journal of Researchin
Engineering and Technology, volume 05, special issue
20
[4] Shreyanka S. MuraiandAshwinM.Joshi(2018),“Precast
Construction Methodology in Construction Industry”
[5] TEKLA structures for precast, User Assistance-
https://teklastructures.support.tekla.com
[6] An Overview of Construction of Buildings in Precast
Concrete masterbuilder-
https://www.masterbuilder.co.in/an-overview-
ofconstruction-of-buildings-in-precast-concrete/ D.
Kornack and P. Rakic, “Cell Proliferation without
Neurogenesis in Adult Primate Neocortex,” Science, vol.
294, Dec. 2001, pp. 2127-2130,
doi:10.1126/science.1065467.
BIOGRAPHIES
S. Madhu Anand, Post Graduate in structures with field
experience of more than 20 years in L&T Constructions as
Head of Construction methods planning for Residential
Buildings & Factories. Provided methods for landmark
buildings in India. Good knowledge in latest construction
technology, precast methods and high rise building
construction, trouble shooting at construction site and
expertise in selection of right Site logistics, Suitable
formwork, Plant and Machineries, erection scheme for
structural steel and shoring system for deep excavation.
Ujjwal Kumar completed B.Tech in Civil Engineering from
Pondicherry EngineeringCollegein2019.UndergoneProject
Internship in L&T Construction on precast construction
planning using conventional methodandsoftwareapproach.
Arunima Rajish completed B.TechinCivil Engineeringfrom
Pondicherry EngineeringCollegein2019.UndergoneProject
Internship in L&T Construction on precast construction
planning using conventional methodandsoftwareapproach.

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