A streamlined parametric workflow for enhanced bridge structural design and adaptability

The increasing demand for new bridges highlights the need to digitalise bridge design and construction. In addition to the fragmented nature of the detailed design stage, where separate workflows are done for geometric modelling and finite-element analysis, the existing methods often require recreating complex bridge components from scratch due to limited interoperability and a lack of reusable parametric templates. This study presents a streamlined workflow that incorporates existing software tools such as Rhino.Inside.Revit and the SOFiSTiK–Rhinoceros interface. The proposed workflow uses Revit families of bridge components as input to simultaneously create geometric and analytical models, while maintaining the parametric control within the Revit environment. A comparative analysis with other parametric cross-section modelling methods, such as Grasshopper scripting and JavaScript object notation (JSON)-based definition, shows that only the proposed workflow supports parametricity within building information modelling (BIM) and allows for multiple configurations with lower technical barriers for use. While offering a methodological advancement for researchers by bridging parametric modelling and structural analysis within a BIM environment, the proposed workflow offers practical benefits to the practitioners, including enhanced efficiency, design reuse and improved coordination during detailed design. This approach aligns with the broader goals of digital transformation in infrastructure.