A BIM-Based Tool for Formwork Planning in Reinforced Concrete

Reinforced concrete (RC) remains the most widely used material for high-rise buildings in developing countries, and formwork activities have a significant impact on the efficiency, quality and safety of RC construction. A recent industry research has shed light on the key trends shaping the future of formwork applications, highlighting prefabricated modular formwork as the industry’s preferred solution and rental as the optimal procurement method.

The research points out that prefabricated modular formwork has become the first choice for modern construction projects, primarily due to its ability to reduce on-site labor intensity and improve construction efficiency—addressing the industry’s long-standing pain points of labor shortage and slow progress. In terms of procurement, the study emphasizes that renting formwork, rather than purchasing or leasing, is more advantageous, as it transfers significant investment risks to suppliers, helping contractors better control project costs.

Another key finding from the research is the gap in formwork planning. Currently, most formwork planning relies solely on the experience of contractors, with few effective tools and methods available, especially in the early stage when a formwork supplier has not been defined. While Building Information Modeling (BIM) has been extensively applied in mainstream building projects, its use in the planning and design of temporary structures like formwork remains rare.

To address this challenge, the research developed a BIM-based planning tool specifically for prefabricated modular rental formwork. Using Dynamo for Revit to automate the calculation of formwork quantities, the tool also defines key performance indicators (KPIs) to optimize formwork use, significantly reducing the time and resources required for formwork modeling during the planning stage. This innovation is expected to revolutionize formwork planning, making it more scientific, efficient and data-driven.

As the construction industry moves towards efficiency, cost control and green development, the trends highlighted in the research—modularization, rental procurement and BIM integration—are set to become the new norm. Forward-looking formwork providers like Mould Cube are aligning their development strategies with these industry trends, focusing on modular, reusable and BIM-compatible solutions to support the sustainable development of the global construction industry.