In classic structural planning, the engineer provides various services such as preliminary statics, static calculations and implementation planning with component and mass lists derived from them. Today he does this with various statics and CAD programs without a consistent building model being available. If a change occurs, all work steps that are affected must be run through again, which is time-consuming, error-intensive and costly. These changes to the structure then have to be communicated to all those involved in the project, which often leads to misunderstandings and additional work for the other planners in the plan-based working method.

When planning the building digitally, the structural engineer works in a model that he sets up at the beginning of the project. If changes occur, he incorporates them into his model and all associated data such as static systems, plans and the associated component and mass lists are automatically adjusted in the software environment we have developed. Dimensions and quantities, which serve as the basis for cost calculation and tendering, can be called up right from the start and can be recalculated at the push of a button.

The creation of three-dimensional formwork and reinforcement plans also offers considerable advantages for us and our customers.

• The trend towards shortening the construction times through a high degree of prefabrication requires BIM data exchange with the manufacturing companies.

• Thanks to the 3D representation of the reinforcement in real time, we are able to identify installation problems at an early stage and react to them.

• Since changes are automatically reflected in all derived views and sections, errors are minimized.