Multi-objective optimization in floor tile planning: Coupling BIM and parametric design

Floor tiles, an essential building material with high annual consumption, pose a serious challenge to sustainable development because they contribute significantly to construction waste. The current design-aided methods are inadequate for optimizing the layout design of floor tiles from multiple perspectives, resulting in material and labor wastage. This paper proposes a framework to optimize the layout design of floor tiles based on a multi objective optimization (MOO) method that uses building information modeling (BIM) and parametric design (PD). Moreover, the proposed framework includes a method to efficiently select optimal trade-off solutions. Based on the proposed framework, a prototype system is established using the ArchiCAD (BIM) and Grasshopper (PD) platforms. Compared with the current design-aided approaches, the proposed prototype system optimizes the specified objectives by reducing 1) the investment by up to 5%, 2) the waste rate by up to 12%, and 3) the number of cut tiles by 5%. The results show that the proposed framework is effective, enabling users to 1) optimize floor tile planning with multiple objectives, 2) select optimal trade-off solutions, and 3) generate construction drawings for floor tile planning based on mathematical functions. The proposed framework facilitates the development of design-aided floor tile methods and broadens the applicability of MOO methods in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry.