Bi-functional 3D Grid for Building Component Interchangeability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The design and build process in construction is hindered by the lack of compatibility and interchangeability between different software tools and products from various manufacturers, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs due to translation errors and data incompatibility.
Innovation Solution
A digital platform utilizing a bi-functional 3D grid for dimensional and positional coordination, enabling the creation of interchangeable building components and systems, with a library of integrated assemblies that enforce standard dimensions and placement rules, allowing for flexible and efficient design and build processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If different software tools are used for different phases of the design and build process, then each tool can be optimized for its specific phase, but translation errors and data incompatibility occur between tools
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal data structure that can represent building information across multiple phases and tools. This data structure serves as a common language that all software tools can read and write, eliminating translation errors while preserving the ability of each tool to be optimized for its specific phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary data structure that acts as a bridge between different software tools. This intermediary layer translates between tool-specific formats and a standardized representation, ensuring data compatibility without requiring changes to the optimized phase-specific tools.
2Adaptability or versatility
If products from different manufacturers are used, then customer choices increase, but interchangeability and compatibility between products decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by standardizing the dimensional and positional parameters of building products. By enforcing standard grid alignments and dimensional increments, products from different manufacturers can be interchangeably used as long as they conform to the standardized parameters, maintaining both selection freedom and compatibility.
3Reliability
If particular design and build tools support only products from single or limited vendors, then data compatibility is maintained, but customer choices and flexibility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal data structure that can represent products from any vendor in a standardized format. This allows design tools to support multiple vendors without sacrificing data compatibility, as all vendor-specific products are translated into the universal representation that maintains consistent data structures and relationships.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-aided design method for a building comprises the step of receiving, by a processor, an object to be placed in a grid that represents at least a subset of a building, the grid including a macro grid and a micro grid. The type of the object is determined by the processor. Based at least in part on determining that the type of the object is shell, the processor provides a user with the macro grid for placing the object, otherwise the processor provides the user with the micro grid for placing the object. A segment size of grid lines displayed in the macro grid is larger than the segment size of the grid lines displayed in the micro grid. The object is placed in a location in the grid based at least in part on instructions received from the user, and the grid is displayed to the user.