An Algorithm to Translate Building Topology in Building Information Modeling into Object-Oriented Physical Modeling-Based Building Energy Modeling

Object Oriented Physical Modeling (OOPM), formerly known as MOOSE, and its implementation of behavior multimodels provide an ability to manage arbitrarily complex patterns of behavioral abstraction in web-friendly simulation modeling. In an OOPM mode, one object stands as surrogate for another object, and these surrogates cognitively map to the real world. This `physical object' principle mitigates impact of incomplete knowledge and ambiguity because its real-world metaphors enable model authors to draw on intuition, facilitating reuse and integration, as well as consistency in collaborative efforts. A 3D interface for modeling and simulation visualization, under construction to augment the existing 2D GUI, obeys the physical object principle, providing a means to create, change, reuse, and integrate digital worlds made of digital objects. Implementation includes Distributed Simulation Executive, Digital object MultiModel Language, Digital Object Warehouse, and multimodel Translator. This approach is powerful and its capabilities have steadily grown; however, it has lacked a formal basis which we now provide: we define multimodels, represent digital objects as multimodels, transform multimodels to simulations, demonstrate the correctness of execution sequence of the simulations, and closure under coupling of digital objects. These theoretical results complement and enhance the practical aspects of physical multimodeling.

Recently, interoperability between BIM (Building Information Model) and BEM (Building Energy Model) has been highlighted. Even though it has been widely recognized that there are significant potentials in BIM by data sharing and reuse, BIM has not been actively utilized for building energy simulation. With this in mind, in this paper, the authors investigated several issues: (1) limitation of Industry Foundation Class (IFC) and BIM authoring tools, (2) immature IFC data schema, (3) data mapping problem between BIM and BEM. Firstly, IFC files exported from major BIM authoring tools are not consistent with each other and don't include significant thermal parameters. In addition, building geometry, e. g. underground wall, is not properly exported. IFC data schema are not ready to describe detailed information on thermal and dynamic properties (efficiency, performance curves, etc.) of mechanical systems (HVAC, AHU), delivery systems (fans, pumps), and plants (boilers, chillers), which are very essential for BEM. Finally, most of the efforts on BIM-to-BEM are focused on data conversion (data-driven approach), without considering dynamic architectural design process which involves many different stakeholders. In near future, BIM-to-BEM interface should take into account design context and rational decision making so called 'process-driven approach'.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) efficiently integrates environmental analysis into the design and delivery of high-performance buildings. Building Energy Modeling (BEM), a subset of BIM, employs various simulation tools for predicting the environmental performance of buildings. As the demand for high-performance buildings has increased, BEM has facilitated the delivery of buildings that meet expected performance requirements. The research objectives were to: 1) evaluate various BEM tools, and 2) develop guidelines for using BEM tools in design and delivery of high-performance buildings. Twelve BEM tools were evaluated using four criteria: interoperability, user-friendliness, available inputs, and available outputs. The top three programs (Autodesk Ecotect, Autodesk Green Building Studio, and IES ) were selected based on this evaluation. Each of these selected BEM tools was used in the case study to simulate energy consumption, daylighting performance, and natural ventilation for two buildings, one LEED certified and one non-LEED certified. The results of the case study were used to compare the environmental performance of the two buildings and to develop guidelines for using BEM tools to analyze building environmental performance.

This study demonstrates the research and development of a visualization method called thermal performance simulation. The objective of this study is providing the results of thermal performance simulation results into building information modeling (BIM) models, displaying a series of thermal performance results, and enabling stakeholders to use the BIM tool as a common user interface in the early design stage. This method utilizes a combination of object-oriented physical modeling (OOPM) and BIM. To implement the suggested method, a specific BIM authoring tool called the application programming interface (API) was adopted, as well as an external database to maintain the thermal energy performance results from the OOPM tool. Based on this method, this study created a prototype called the thermal energy performance visualization (TEPV). The TEPV translates the information from the external database to the thermal energy performance indicator (TEPI) parameter in the BIM tool. In the TEPI, whenever BIM models are generated for building design, the thermal energy performance results are visualized by color-coding the building components in the BIM models. Visualization of thermal energy performance results enables non-engineers such as architects to explicitly inspect the simulation results. Moreover, the TEPV facilitates architects using BIM as an interface in building design to visualize building thermal energy performance, enhancing their design production at the early design stages.

BIM-based object mapping using invariant signatures of AEC objects

Building Information Modeling (BIM) describes a central data pool covering the entire life cycle of a construction project. Similarly, Building Energy Modeling (BEM) describes the process of using a 3D representation of a building as a basis for thermal simulations to assess the building's energy performance. This paper explores the intersection of BIM and BEM, focusing on the challenges and methodologies in converting BIM data into BEM representations for energy performance analysis. BEMTrace integrates 3D data wrangling techniques with visualization methodologies to enhance the accuracy and traceability of the BIM-to-BEM conversion process. Through parsing, error detection, and algorithmic correction of BIM data, our methods generate valid BEM models suitable for energy simulation. Visualization techniques provide transparent insights into the conversion process, aiding error identification, validation, and user comprehension. We introduce context-adaptive selections to facilitate user interaction and to show that the BEMTrace workflow helps users understand complex 3D data wrangling processes.

We describe our research experiences in the study of web- based model repositories, and in model design in general. The web has increasingly become the repository for all knowledge and data, and so it may not be too surprising that model representations will similarly be situated predominately in the web. Our research work began with an Object-Oriented Physical Modeling (OOPM) package, and then progressed to a more immersive, shared, 3D structure using the Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML). We arrive at a new way of dynamic modeling in 3D, and have evolved issues and challenges for modeling in the discipline of computer simulation.

In recent years, the research about energy waste and CO2 emission reduction has gained a strong momentum, also pushed by European and national funding initiatives. The main purpose of this large effort is to reduce the effects of greenhouse emission, climate change to head for a sustainable society. In this scenario, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) play a key role. From one side, advances in physical and environmental information sensing, communication and processing, enabled the monitoring of energy behaviour of buildings in real-time. The access to this information has been made easy and ubiquitous thank to Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices and protocols. From the other side, the creation of digital repositories of buildings and districts (i.e. Building Information Models - BIM) enabled the development of complex and rich energy models that can be used for simulation and prediction purposes. As such, an opportunity is emerging of mixing these two information categories to either create better models and to detect unwanted or inefficient energy behaviours. In this paper, we present a software architecture for management and simulation of energy behaviours in buildings that integrates heterogeneous data such as BIM, IoT, GIS (Geographical Information System) and meteorological services. This integration allows: i) (near-) real-time visualisation of energy consumption information in the building context and ii) building performance evaluation through energy modelling and simulation exploiting data from the field and real weather conditions. Finally, we discuss the experimental results obtained in a real-world case-study.

Due to the Energy Performance of Building Directive 2010/31/UE (EPBD) recast, new and existing buildings have the aim to achieve the Zero Energy Buildings (ZEBs) requirements, in order to reduce the carbon emission and the energy building demand. Therefore, the building process cost is increasing, related to the applications of performant construction and efficiencies energy systems. In literature, several studies highlight the importance of innovative approaches in order to reduce the cost of the ZEB targets achievement, during the early stage design process. In this framework, Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a useful process that integrated building design since the first design stage, providing high-performance energy solutions and obtaining a single model reducing time and cost during the building design. In fact, in Italy, the regulatory obligations are progressively defined: with the Ministerial Decree 560 of 1 December 2017 (Baratono Decree), the time scale with which the obligation to use BIM will come into force has been established. The obligation started from 1 January 2019 for public tenders for an amount equal to or greater than 100 million euros, then there will be a gradual entry up to 2025 for public works contracts worth less than one million. The research proposes a new workflow that allows to performing energy analysis through the BIM and Building Energy Modeling (BEM) optimization interoperability, allowing to support the zero-energy building during the early stage design.

Appropriate level of development of in-situ building information modeling for existing building energy modeling implementation

In recent years, the demand for Building Information Modeling (BIM) has increased in the construction industry. BIM is becoming a vital tool for streamlining processes throughout a building's life cycle. While implementing BIM into the design process may present several challenges, it can be highly beneficial to the Architectural, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry when effectively adopted. Additionally, BIM is a process that involves designing, constructing, and operating a building or infrastructure asset using an electronic, object-oriented information model [1]. One of BIM's main roles is to introduce new dimensions, enabling integration between the 3D model and the necessary data. Moreover, this study aims to explore the definitions, benefits, implementations, and ways BIM is transforming project construction. Additionally, the paper presents the results of BIM adoption across various case domains. The findings highlight the use of BIM in architectural and structural applications, 3D model design, and architectural visualization to improve work and project life cycles.

As a processing technology of data and information, building information modeling (BIM) is often used for producing digital engineering model and promoting interoperability among participants involved in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. The real values of BIM largely depend on effective information integrating and sharing among different stages or disciplines through the whole building lifecycle. To this day, although BIM has made a substantial contribution to the Chinese AEC industry, there are still some debates on its roles. Moreover, due to the complexity of structural design process, the weak link between structural model and BIM model makes its deep application even harder. To address these issues, this paper discusses the roles of BIM from the perspective of structural engineers through comparing with the traditional CAD. Then, the BIM structural model is studied by analyzing the model conformation, design mode, and Industry Foundation Classes (IFC)-format structural model. By comparing the differences between BIM physical model and structural mechanical model, an indirect method for the data transformation from BIM model to structural analysis model isproposed. An interface is developed based on the analysis of data formats and mapping rules. Three typical cases are adopted to demonstrate the data transfer efficiency by using the interface. The case study shows that the proposed method achieves higher efficiency for the data transformation from BIM model to structural analysis model.

Interoperability and data exchange within BIM platform to evaluate building energy performance and indoor comfort

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a technology that potential to increase effectiveness and productivity in projects. Implementing BIM in the project not only can simultaneously represent the physical modelling of a building but also can reduce waste and optimize time and resources as the aims of green construction. Nevertheless, unfortunately the level of BIM adoption in Indonesia is lower than other developing countries. The aim of this research is to analyse factors and barriers to implementing BIM to support green construction in Indonesia. This study uses a quantitative research method in a questionnaire survey of 20 construction projects in Indonesia to determine the factors driving BIM adoption and barrier to BIM adoption on construction projects in Indonesia. The result finds five factors driving the implementation of BIM in Indonesia i.e requirements from the government, BIM is believed to improve performance, BIM is believed better than existing method, technology and resources readiness, and support from top management. Despite the driving factors, the implementation of BIM also has barriers i.e lack of information, lack of BIM training for workers, reluctance to change, lack of owner requirement, and high the initial cost.

Modelling building ownership boundaries within BIM environment: A case study in Victoria, Australia