Automated Bridge Design Workflow: The Road to Detailed Design

DENNIS SANGALANG: Hi. Welcome to my class. Automated bridge design workflow-- the road to detailed design. And today, we will push the boundaries of Autodesk AEC collection for infrastructure. I know it's ambitious, it's a lot. And it's challenging because we are discussing about detailed design. I do believe all topics are related. I can't miss any one of them.

I will walk you through the essential processes. All step-by-step process is provided for you in your handout. I am Dennis Sangalang, principal engineer at Arcadis, based in London. I have more than 24 years of working experience, 18 years of which is with Arcadis, experience in multiple disciplines and regions. I developed the Rapid Engineering Modeling or REM in Arcadis.

Our learning objectives are-- to highlight our accomplishments for the rapid engineering modeling using Autodesk AEC collection for infrastructure. Tutorial on creating a parametric part model in Inventor, then converting it to an assembly while maintaining its parametric capability using iLogic. We will apply the created assembly to an InfraWorks project and leverage its parametric capabilities. Finally, we will verify if this assembly works in Revit.

Why we are here. Our goal is to break the common knowledge that Autodesk AEC is limited for concept designing only. In previous AU classes, AEC-automated design workflow for structures amazes us. The seamless update of the structure from Civil 3D, Inventor, ASBD, InfraWorks, and to Revit is amazing.

Despite all of this, whenever we propose this process, it is still generally considered only for concept design, or worse, solely for visualization purposes, which stops them from adopting this workflow. So today in this class, we will learn how to push the boundaries and make it applicable to the detailed design.

When Autodesk released their AEC collection for infrastructure 2024 and its advanced features, I was one of the happiest person in the world. Without these releases, I won't be having this class. Before we start, I would like to express my gratitude to Arcadis and Autodesk for their support in developing the Rapid Engineering Modeling workflow.

Shout out to our Isaac N. of Autodesk who helps me a lot in this process. I hope you will be inspired on our achievements using Autodesk AEC collections for infrastructure.

As part of design automation in Arcadis, we have developed the Rapid Engineering Modeling or REM. It is powered by the Autodesk AEC collection for infrastructure. We apply all its features to real-world projects. The goal is to create a design ecosystem to develop a comprehensive BIM system that can be implemented in detailed design.

We're able to streamline the processes due to the interoperability of software and have added more flexibility to meet client needs. We are aiming to automate not only BIM modeling and design collaboration, but structural analysis as well through Autodesk structural bridge design software. Aims to support data-driven decision making.

Our aspiration is to provide a wide range of digital services, including AR, VR, and 3D printing, not only for bridges but for other disciplines as well. Refine and expand its REM strategy. To provide our clients with more innovative, efficient, and sustainable designs.

Here are some of our projects where REM has been implemented. In fact, two of those are among the biggest projects in Europe. The key in pushing this workflow to detailed design is the Inventor assembly, in my opinion.

Compared to Inventor part or complex Revit family, all subcomponents like the abutment shown are in single solid. You can only assign to one category and embed same metadata. Starting on Autodesk AEC 24 release, deconstructed components with parametric capability is now possible. You can now assign-- you can now categorize and assign metadata on each component.

The benefits in assembly or deconstructed components to subcomponents. You can manipulate the appearance of every category through visibility graphics in Revit to suit the drawing presentation. I will show you later in Revit verification demonstration.

It is easier to detail 3D rebar on its subcomponent like pile cap, wall, column, et cetera. There are Revit plugins that can do auto-detail, typical elements. Since the component is deconstructed, it is now possible to assign metadata on every subcomponent, such as material type, class, cost, embodied carbon, et cetera. We have done it using Arcadis OTL.

OTL or Object Type Library is developed by Arcadis. What it does is we can link Revit or IFC model and asset tag its subcomponents, assign material type, class, cost, embodied carbon, and others. It is our in-house bridge data management tool.

We have created a parent and child relationship to components and subcomponents , and standardize the approach to asset data management. We can customize the schema or format to meet clients requirements. Because we have tagged and assigned metadata on each subcomponents, together with the volumes, it produces rapid and comprehensive quantity and cost and carbon calculation.

Let's go to the most exciting part-- the Inventor. Open Inventor. We will build a parametric retaining wall model. To start a new file, click the dropdown arrow next to New, then select Part. Set our graphics window orientation like left-handed coordinate system. All XYZ pointing in positive direction.

Let's set our unit settings under Tools tab. Document Settings, Units. Change the unit of length to millimeter, mass to kilogram, and set our Display as expression. Click Apply then Close to close the window. Save your file by assigning a Part file name in your desired folder location. You can see at the bottom, we have our part file.

Let's create user parameters. Under Manage tab, Parameters. The parameters window will open. Click Add Numeric button. A new row will appear for user parameters. Type in parameter name, height one, and the value to be 4,000. Hit Enter. Repeat the process to add more user parameters.

Now, let's add parameters with equation instead of values. Type UserDefinedLongSlope_degree. Unit to be deg for degrees, then the equation Converting percentage to degrees. Next height difference. Equation to be a tangent formula.

Then height 2, the total of height 1 and height difference. And other parameters and values for wall thickness, footing thickness, footing width, footing toe width, and blinding thickness. Make sure you check all keys for these user parameters.

Click Done to close the parameters window. Now, we will add UCS to give more control to our model. Under 3D Model tab, click the UCS icon. Left-click anywhere on graphics window, then right-click, then select Finish.

Open Parameters window again. Change the model parameter names to its UCS name. Just add X, Y, Z respectively for linear and Rx, Ry, Rz respectively for angles. Set all the values to zero. Click Done to close the window.

Add another UCS. Then change its parameter names same as earlier, but for uses UCS 2. All values should be 0, except for UCS2x to length and UCS2z to height difference. Click Done to close the window. Notice the move to its designated location.

Go to browser. Collapse UCS1. Press Control and select YZ plane and center point. Right-click then select to check visibility. Do the same for UCS2. Let's zoom in to UCS1 to be ready for the next tutorial.

Let's create our first sketch. In UCS1, right-click YZ plane, then select New Sketch. It will bring you to a 2D workspace. Zoom in to see the center point. On the Sketch tab, click the rectangle icon. Point your cursor at the center point. When the center point turns green, click to start your rectangle. Point your cursor at the bottom right, then click to create your first rectangle.

Let's assign parameters. Still in Sketch tab, click the dimension icon. Select both vertical lines then point and click allocation. Small window will appear. Whilst the value is highlighted, click the arrow key on right then select List Parameters.

Choose parameter name, wall thickness. Then click the green check mark. Make another dimension, but now select both horizontal lines of the rectangle.

From List Parameters, choose height 1. Notice the sketch adjusted accordingly to its values. This will be our wall in sketch one. Create another rectangle, but place it below our wall. This will be our floating sketch.

From Sketch tab, click collinear constraint icon. Select bottom horizontal line of the wall and top horizontal line of the footing. Notice, this snap together. Click the dimension icon again. Select right the vertical lines of wall and floating.

From List Parameters, choose footing toe with. Make another dimension for both vertical lines of the footing. Then assign parameter name footing width. Do another dimension, but now for both horizontal lines of the footing. Assign parameter name footing thickness.

Let's create another rectangle and place it below the footing. This will be our blending sketch. Collinear constraint the horizontal lines of footing bottom and blinding top. Make the dimension for horizontal lines of the blinding.

Assign parameter name, blinding thickness. Then make dimension for both. Write vertical lines of the footing and blinding. Assign the same parameter name, blinding thickness. Do the same for the other side. Zoom out to see your sketch. Then click Finish icon on ribbon. You will go back to 3D workspace.

Let's start building solids. Zoom out to see our sketch. Under 3D Model tab, click Extrude icon. Point your cursor inside footing sketch. When it turns green, click for a new solid to appear. For distance A, use parameter name, length. For body name, use footing 3D. Click OK to close the window. This will be our footing.

On browser, click plus sign beside extrusion one to collapse. Right-click the item below it. Check the visibility to turn sketch one visible again. Click Extrude icon again. Then zoom in under the footing. Click inside the blending sketch.

For distance A, keep it length. For output Boolean, click the icon New Solid. For body name, use blinding 3D. Click OK to close the window.

Now, we will change the material properties of the blinding. On browser, right click extrusion 2 and select Properties. From Feature Appearance dropdown, choose Expose warm, gray. Click OK to close the window. Now we have floating and blinding solids.

Let's go to browser. Let's turn off the visibility UCS1 and sketch one for clarity, because we will create our second sketch. Go to browser. Right-click UCS2 YZ plane, then select New Sketch. A 2D workspace will appear.

Pan to see our footing. Click Project Geometry icon. Then click to select the footing. A yellow boundary will appear. Zoom in to UCS. Click rectangle icon. Hover at the center point. When it turns green, click to start and click at the bottom right area. Let's assign parameters.

Click the Dimension icon, then select both vertical lines. Assign parameter name, wall thickness. Collinear constraint both the bottom horizontal line of the rectangle and top horizontal line of the yellow boundary to snap together. Click the Finish icon on ribbon. This is our wall in sketch to.

Turn back the Sketch 1 visibility from the browser to build our wall solid. Under 3D Model tab, click the Loft icon. Under Sections, click to add. Go to browser, select Sketch 1, then click inside the wall in highlighted sketch.

Click to add sketch again. Now select Sketch 2 from the browser. Click inside the Sketch 2 wall. Click New body icon, then hit OK to close the window.

Now we have our wall. Go to browser again. Collapse solid bodies. Rename solid 3 to wall 3D. Open Parameters window. Make sure all key parameters are checked. Click Export to XML. Click Options. Choose Key parameters only, then click OK. Set these parameters in your desired folder location and hit Close. Then save your file.

Now, we will convert the Inventor Part to an assembly. Under Manage tab, click Make Components icon. A new window will open. Press Control and select all solid bodies from the browser. Click Next. Click OK to close the window. A new assembly file is created.

From the viewcube, change the orientation back to left-handed coordinate system. Zoom out and pan to center of your model. From Assemble tab, click component dropdown arrow and select Place. Browse through your part file, click Open.

Left-click anywhere then right-click, then select OK. Click to select the inserted part. In Productivity panel, hit the dropdown key, then select Ground and Root. Click Apply, then close the window.

On browser, right-click AU24 Ret Wall, then uncheck the visibility. Click the Bill of Materials in Manage panel. Change the AU24 Ret Wall BOM structure to reference. Click Done to close the window.

Open Parameters window again. Click Import from XML. Then browse your exported parameters to XML. Check if all key parameters are imported. Then click Done to close the window.

Go to browser, and logic tab. On the rule, right-click, then select Add Rule. Click OK. Edit tool window will open. Under Model tab, collapse AU24 Ret Wall, then click User Parameters. On right, double-click the first parameter.

Notice a code will populate below. Copy the parameter name. After the close parenthesis, type equals then paste the copied parameter name, then press Enter. Repeat the same process for the rest of the remaining parameters. Press Enter twice. Type component.visible.

Inside the parentheses, copy and paste AU24_RetWall, colon 1, including quotation marks. Close parentheses, equals false. Press Enter. Type InventorVB.documentupdate. Open, close parentheses. Hit Enter. Then be ready to click the Save and run.

Now, let's check if parameters are working. Open Parameters window. Change the values of parameters to see if our model will respond accordingly. Say for height 1, make it six meters. The length six meters as well. And the long slope, say 20%, to exaggerate.

We can see our model is responding correctly. Return to old values. Then click Done to close the window. Save your model and click OK to close the window. Now, we will apply the created Inventor assembly to an InfraWorks project.

Open InfraWorks project. We will import our created retaining wall assembly. Under Manage tab, click Style palette icon. Go to Parametric Model tab. Double-click Generic Objects folder to open. Under Style Editing, click plus sign, then browse to your assembly model.

Under Model Details tab, change the domain name from the dropdown, then choose generic objects. For parent type, check all selections. Go to Part Sizes tab, rename the part size name to AU_RETWALL.

Under UI Appearance tab, uncheck editable for parameters with equation and change the user-defined long slope percentage type to decimal. Under Category Mapping, choose the nearest sensible category for your subcomponents.

For IPT, choose Parts. For blinding 3D, choose Mass for mass concrete. For footing 3D, choose Structural Foundation. Then wall 3D, choose Walls. Hit OK to close the window. Our parametric model is now imported.

Before we add our retaining wall to our bridge, we must understand each arrangement. Here is our bridge project sample. We will place our retaining wall here at the lower left of the bridge. We can get our span between-- span length between start and end of the bridge.

In this bridge, our road chainage line is here after the curb. That defines left width and right width. We can also get that right width in Abutment Properties here. And ballast wall thickness of 0.8 meter.

We set our expansion gap to or off-- expansion gap of 20 ml between abutment and retaining wall. So the offset station for a retaining wall is a span length plus ballast wall thickness plus expansion gap equals to 43.82 meters. Our right width is negative 2.5.

I will show you how we can check those information on InfraWorks and add our retaining wall to this bridge. This is our actual bridge project, single-span integral abutment composite bridge. And this is where we will add our retaining wall.

Click anywhere in the structure, you can see the start of the bridge in lower station and bridge end in higher station. You can also see those in properties palette. Here is our span length. Click on the Abutment. On properties, we can find the right width and ballast wall thickness. Hit Escape and click the road above the bridge.

This highlighted line is the road chainage line. Hit Escape to unselect the road. Click again the bridge structure to activate. Then right-click, go to Add Component. Select Generic Object, then choose AU Ret Wall.

Then double-click within the bridge to place your retaining wall. Zoom out a bit to see. Set your offset station to 43.82 and lateral offset of. negative 2.5, right width. Hit Enter and pan to see the location. We need to change the skew to 90 degrees. As you can see, our retaining wall is now aligned with the bridge.

Before we continue, we must know how to get the level difference between top of an existing barrier plane and top of the retaining wall to set the vertical adjustment. Also, I need to discuss about the behavior of objects on tilting option. In InfraWorks, you can find this in adding generic objects and linear features.

When tilting is on, it means your object will automatically adjust its longitudinal angle perpendicular to road profile. If you have embedded element below the road profile, it will likely clash to each other. The blue rectangles represents our retaining walls in elevation.

When it's off, the retaining walls will be perfectly vertical. We will choose this option because this is the useful practice in constructing retaining walls. Depending on road profile, there will be difference in levels.

Here is the road, bridge, and slope. And this are the Inventor wall parameters equivalent. We will check the road gradient on InfraWorks project, then we will adjust the retaining wall top slope to match the road gradient. We will now apply this adjustments on InfraWorks.

For clarity, let me turn off the city furniture via Modal Explorer. We will check the levels of both barrier plinth and retaining walls. Click the dropdown arrow in measure, select Point Level. Click at the top corner of the plinth. Click to place value.

Click the adjacent top corner of the retaining wall to get the value. Check the difference, then update the offset vertical to 0.186 meter. Hit Enter. The retaining wall level adjusted accordingly. Now, we will update the top slope of the retaining wall to match the road gradient.

Let's view and plan near the retaining wall. Click the retaining wall to check where its gizmo. Go again to measure dropdown, but now select 2D distance and slope. Start click on pavement at the side where the gizmo was, then click to the other side.

You can find the road gradient slope of 0.5%. Go to retaining wall properties, then match the slope percentage, then hit Enter. You can see the top slope is now matched with the road gradient.

Let's pan behind the abutments so we can see our retaining wall in transverse section. Update the floating width to 3.5. Hit Enter. Pan back to elevation. As a bonus, we will add retaining wall as series.

Go to Properties. Under group settings change number to 2. Change the length to 5.5. Change the spacings to 5.51 as 10 mil will be their gap. Hit Enter. You can see you have a series of retaining walls.

Pan back behind the abutment. Click the second retaining wall to activate. Change the height 1 to 2.1. Hit Enter. Let's change the floating width as well to 2.5. All parameters are working perfectly. Pan to view to front elevation. You can see both retaining wall top slope are matched with the pavement.

Now let's publish our bridge to Revit. Click to activate the bridge structure. Right-click. Go to Publish Civil Structures and select Create New. Browse to your desired folder location and change file name. For this class, let's name it AU24_Bridge. And it will be save as an IMX file. Click Save. Then click Create. Wait to finish publishing.

Now, we will verify if our assembly works in Revit. Open Revit. Create new project on your desired folder location. File-name your project. For this class, let's name it AU24 Bridge, then save.

Go to Add-ins tab, click Import Civil Structure. Browse to your Publish IMX file, then click Open. Wait for a while to load. When loaded, click the OK to close the Information window. Go to our retaining wall. You can see the blinding is hidden.

Let's type VV for visibility grabbing settings. Check the category mass. Make sure the parts it's unchecked. Let's check the railings as well.

Make sure structural foundation and wall category are checked. Click Apply then OK to close the window. We can see the blinding is now visible. For clarity, we'll hide the other elements outside the bridge

Zoom in to our retaining wall. Click each subcomponents to check if all in different categories. Let's change the appearance of the wall. Turn it to halftone.

You can see both walls are grayish. Let's change the appearance of the footing. Type VV. Go to Structural Foundation. Override lines. Change pattern to Dashed. Close all windows. As you can see, our retaining walls appearance can be adjusted as per drawing requirement.

Turn the view to Shaded. Let's zoom to other retaining walls. As a tip, you add more features in Inventor for more detailed components for a higher level of details or LOD.

So what did we learn today? In Inventor, we did parametric model programming, conversion to an assembly, iLogic coding.

In InfraWorks, we import assembly, and its settings. How to understand bridge arrangement. Behavior of components in tilting option, add retaining walls. Parametric modeling and publish structure. If you notice, we applied the advanced features of InfraWorks.

In Revit, we import civil structure. We have verified subcomponents are in different categories. We can manipulate appearance for drawing presentation. Not only can provide detailed drawings, it is now possible to manage data as a tag and provide quantity, cost, and carbon calculation.

Folks, that is the automated bridge design workflow-- the road to detail design using Autodesk AEC collection for infrastructure. Any questions?