Estimating materials in foundation structural design using building information modelling

Previous research highlights the importance of material usage in overall embodied emissions and the impact of early-stage decisions on material usage. This study investigates the application of a parametric approach to the foundation structural design of electric system facilities to estimate the quantities of concrete and steel required for construction. The primary objective is to develop a methodology for early design stages, providing insights into the material usage implications of various design choices. The study emphasises the significant cost, environmental, and resource availability implications of material usage, focusing on embodied materials in foundation construction. This paper contributes to the existing literature by reviewing material quantities in foundation structures and by presenting the structural design of a foundation case. The quantities of concrete and steel are influenced by the water table height, foundation length, height, and width. The analysis shows that while concrete and steel quantities decrease at a diminishing rate with increasing water table height, they increase linearly with foundation length. In addition, both materials increase at an accelerating rate with foundation height and at varying rates with foundation width (with constant substation loads), highlighting the complex relationship between these variables and material quantities.