Building Information Modeling as support for seismic design

The actual context is characterized by technologic progress in support of seismic design, such as the Building Information Modeling, that allows for visualizing an accurate virtual and parametric model of a building and managing a huge amount of data and complex activities through a system of collaborative processes, related to the life cycle of a structure. In this paper, the applications based on integration between BIM methodology and virtual or augmented reality for the seismic engineering sector, and the related remarkable benefits, are discussed. The main topics deal with structural design criticality, focusing on anti-seismic parameters about structural and no structural elements. First of all, this study shows a framework to visualize, in virtual environment, the steel reinforcement mounting sequences, to verify the feasibility on field and to monitor a greater number of data, because of increasingly complex structural design in seismic zones. Then, the research carries on the response of flexible pipes on eismically base-isolated structure, with elastomeric isolation systems, subjected to a seismic displacement. In order to define the behaviour of these elements, following the occurrence of a seismic event, BIM modelling connected to virtual reality allows to isualize deformed configuration, to identify the degree of strains and to observe the potential interferences.