BIM-Digital Twin Data Mapping for Automated Building Exchange

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current building management systems face labor-intensive and error-prone data exchange challenges between Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Digital Twin (DT) instances, requiring manual handling and lacking efficient interoperability.

Innovation Solution

A system that enables data exchange between BIM and DT instances through an information modelling unit, converter engines, and extractors/compositors, utilizing meta-models, ontologies, and natural language processing to convert and populate data between models, reducing manual handling and enhancing interoperability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual handling of information between BIM and DT is used, then flexibility in processing different model formats is maintained, but labor intensity and error rate increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanual handling flexibilityVSAvoiddata exchange efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an information modelling unit as an intermediary component that contains descriptions of both BIM and DT models along with their relationships. This intermediary enables automated extraction and conversion of data between BIM and DT instances, eliminating the need for manual handling while maintaining accuracy and efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of data handling with an automated converter engine that uses algorithms and conversion rules to transform data between BIM and DT formats. This substitution eliminates human labor while maintaining or improving data exchange quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If automated conversion between BIM and DT is implemented, then productivity and accuracy improve, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata exchange efficiencyVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the data exchange system into distinct functional modules: an information modelling unit for model descriptions, extractors for data extraction from BIM and DT instances, a converter engine for data transformation, and compositors for data integration. This segmentation manages complexity by organizing functions into separate, manageable components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The converter engine is designed as a universal component that can handle multiple model formats and data types through configurable conversion rules. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by using a single versatile converter rather than multiple specialized conversion tools.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If different software applications are used for BIM and DT, then specialized functionality is maintained, but interoperability and data exchange become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesoftware specializationVSAvoiddata exchange reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The information modelling unit serves as a standardized intermediary that contains formal descriptions of BIM and DT models including their schemas, data types, and relationship structures. This intermediary enables reliable data exchange between different specialized software applications by providing a common reference framework.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses parameter-based conversion rules that can be configured to handle different model formats and data structures. By changing conversion parameters and rules, the system adapts to different software applications while maintaining reliable data exchange, without requiring changes to the core architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4099240A1System and method for building data exchange
Publication Date: 2022.12.07 ABB (SCHWEIZ) AG
  • EP4099240A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4099240A1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP4099240A1 patent drawing

AI summary

System for building data exchange, comprising: an information modelling unit (60), comprising a description of a digital twin, DT, model (MDT), a BIM, building information modelling, model (MBIM) and relations between the DT model (MDT) and the BIM model (MBIM), wherein the information modelling unit (60) is configured to provide modelling data (DM) comprising information of the DT model (MDT), the BIM model (MBIM) and/or relations between the DT model (MDT) and the BIM model (MBIM); a BIM extractor (10), being configured to determine extraction BIM data (DBIM_EX) from a BIM instance (IBIM) of the BIM model (MBIM) of the building using the modelling data (DM); a DT extractor (30), being configured to determine extraction DT data (DDT_EX) from a DT instance (IDT) of the DT model (MDT) of the building using the modelling data (DM); at least one converter engine (50), being configured to convert the extraction DT data (DDT_EX) into converted DT data (DDT_CONV) using the modelling data (DM) and being configured to convert the extraction BIM data (DBIM_EX) into converted BIM data (DBIM_CONV) using the modelling data (DM); a BIM compositor (20), being configured to populate the converted DT data (DDT_CONV) into a converted BIM instance (IBIM_CONV) using the modelling data (DM); a DT compositor (40), being configured to populate the converted BIM data (DBIM_CONV) into a converted DT instance (IDT_CONV) using the modelling data (DM).