A Parametric HBIM Approach to Geometric Uncertainty Modelling for Heritage Bridge Structural Analysis

INTEGRATING ETABS WITH BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING (BIM) FOR INTELLIGENT STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING

Because it allows for integrated workflows between architectural modeling platforms and finite element analysis (FEA) software, Building Information Modeling (BIM) has greatly altered structural engineering practice. The disparities in data representation, analytical model generation, and information communication standards make it very difficult for BIM authoring tools and structural analysis environments to reliably share structural information. This research examines the reliability of BIM-to-FEM transfer procedures using Autodesk Revit and CSI ETABS by systematically evaluating native API-mediated and IFC-based approaches. Through the use of elementbased accuracy measures that took into account columns, beams, slabs, analytical alignments, and nodes, we assessed the structural information exchange in a five-story reinforced concrete residential structure that served as a case study. Although the analytical axes, node connectivity, and slab section characteristics had to be corrected by hand, the native Revit-ETABS process managed to achieve full transfer reliability for main structural members, with 100% accurate interpretation of beams and columns. While the IFC-based process was more dependable when it came to transferring geometric information, it was less accurate when it came to assigning member properties and interpreting slabs. Instead of a totally automated conversion technique, the findings show that BIMto-FEM interoperability is still a somewhat automated process that needs rigorous verification. To lessen the burden of human correction and increase dependability, we offer an integration process based on checkpoints that uses controlled modeling methods, validates models after transfer, and coordinates federated models. The results add to our knowledge of the constraints on BIM and FEM platform compatibility and provide useful recommendations for structural engineering firms using Revit-ETABS-based BIM processes.

A Geometry-Driven Structural Method for Supporting Archaeological Modelling in Partially Preserved Historic Constructions

The archaeological reconstruction of historic monuments from fragmentary remains requires transforming limited evidence into verifiable hypotheses. This study proposes a methodological framework in which structural analysis plays an active interpretative role, rather than serving merely as verification, provided that input data are independently constrained and modelling assumptions align with the available level of knowledge. The framework is designed to be replicable and transferable to archaeological contexts characterised by incomplete preservation. It combines non-invasive survey techniques—high-resolution digital documentation and ground-penetrating radar (GPR)—to establish reliable geometric and physical constraints. Thrust-based limit analysis, following the Heyman Safe Theorem, is then applied to evaluate reconstruction hypotheses through static equilibrium under self-weight. The methodology is tested on the cavea of the Circus of Maxentius in Rome, a Roman concrete construction in which significant portions of the vaulted substructure are collapsed or buried. Three typological cross-sections are virtually reconstructed using construction-archaeology reasoning, measured geometry, and geophysical evidence. Their stability is assessed through thrust-line admissibility and geometric safety factors. Only one section approaches limit equilibrium when analysed independently, while the others prove inadmissible, suggesting that rear backfills, transverse supporting walls near the imperial corridor, and vaulted structures were essential to the original structural system. Overall, the study demonstrates how integrating non-invasive data and limit analysis reduces interpretative uncertainty in reconstructing partially preserved Roman architecture.

AI ELECTRICAL CIVIL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

An integrated approach for the analysis of historic timber structures combining enhanced photogrammetry and finite element modeling

This study develops an integrated photogrammetry-FEM approach for assessing damaged components in historical timber structures. Using smartphone-captured images and an improved SIFT-WOOD (scale-invariant feature transform for wood) feature extraction algorithm, it achieves robust 3D reconstruction of wood surfaces under challenging lighting and textures via SfM-MVS (structure from motion-multi-view stereo). The reconstructed model is post-processed and incorporated into finite element software, where orthotropic elastic, anisotropic elastoplastic, and viscoelastic models simulate mechanical response and long-term performance. A novel “stress-range volume method” quantifies the correlation between damage volume and load-bearing capacity, with a standards-based classification system. Following minimal intervention principles, controlled simulations identify damage repair priorities and inform a stepwise restoration strategy. The method is validated on two in-service historic timber components, demonstrating its practical applicability. This framework establishes a technical pathway—from geometric digitization to quantitative mechanical evaluation—characterized by low cost and high efficiency, improving the scientific basis of conservation practice.

AI-Assisted Scan-to-BIM for Masonry Arch Bridges: From Point Cloud Segmentation to Parametric Heritage BIM Reconstruction

The results demonstrate the potential of hybrid AI and geometric approaches to improve the efficiency, repeatability, and reliability of Scan-to-BIM processes for historical masonry bridge heritage and show that the geometric quality of the HBIM model depends primarily on the density, spatial distribution and completeness of the structural points, rather than on their total number.

From Terrestrial Laser Scanner Survey to Finite Element Modelling for the Dynamic Assessment of a Historic Masonry Tower: The Torre Del Borgo Case Study

This paper presents a condensed workflow for the structural and dynamic assessment of a historic masonry tower based on terrestrial laser scanner survey, ambient vibration tests, and finite element analysis. The study focuses on the Torre del Borgo in Recanati, Italy, a medieval masonry structure located in a moderate-to-high seismicity area. The investigation compares two geometric modelling strategies derived from the same survey dataset: a point-cloud-driven indirect model and a simplified direct CAD model based on selected sections. Both models were transferred into a finite element environment and calibrated through operational modal analysis results. The comparison highlights the role of geometric fidelity in the numerical interpretation of the dynamic response of heritage masonry structures. The study confirms that high-resolution survey data can significantly improve structural representation, although model usability depends on a careful balance between geometric accuracy, interoperability, and computational manageability.