Integrating generative and parametric design with BIM: A literature review of challenges and research gaps in construction design

Abstract

Parametric Design (PD), Generative Design (GD), and Building Information Modelling (BIM) have emerged as transformative tools in the construction industry, offering significant potential for design optimisation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and data-driven decision making. This paper presents a comprehensive literature review to evaluate the current state of PD, GD, and BIM integration, highlighting practical applications and identifying research gaps. In addition to mapping the academic discourse, the review also highlights selected practical implementations from existing literature to illustrate how these technologies are being translated into applied workflows. Furthermore, the methodology section critically reflects on the limitations of the keyword-based search strategy and suggests future directions to mitigate potential literature gaps. While many studies demonstrate efficiency gains in early design phases, the integration of these technologies across the full building lifecycle remains limited. Key challenges include insufficient interoperability between platforms, lack of standardisation, and minimal adoption of GD-BIM combinations in construction and logistics. Furthermore, few studies address the regulatory compliance and real-world scalability of AI-assisted generative models. The review concludes that although these digital methods can accelerate innovation and sustainability, their practical implementation requires further research in construction management, code-based automation, and human-in-the-loop design workflows.