BIM Model Partitioning and Indexing for File-Limited Rendering
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Solution Overview
Problem
BIM viewing software applications are limited by file size thresholds, preventing the rendering of large BIM models, and mobile devices lack sufficient resources to run native applications for rendering these models.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for partitioning large BIM models into smaller segments, allowing BIM viewing software to load and render them on an as-needed basis, using a BIM model partitioning and rendering tool that splits models into partitions and generates index files for efficient data retrieval.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If BIM models are stored as single large files to maintain complete model information, then model data完整性 is preserved, but file size exceeds software limits and cannot be rendered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a large BIM model into multiple smaller partitions, each stored as a separate file. Each partition contains a subset of BIM data objects with their geometry data. This segmentation allows the model to be stored in manageable file sizes while maintaining complete model information across all partitions, resolving the contradiction between file size limits and data completeness.
2Quantity of substance
If BIM models are divided into multiple partitions to reduce file size, then software can render the models, but the system complexity increases due to partition management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-generates partition files and creates an index structure before rendering. The index file contains metadata about each partition including the BIM data objects it contains, allowing the rendering software to efficiently locate and load only the necessary partitions. This preliminary organization reduces the complexity of managing multiple partitions during runtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an index file as an intermediary between the partitioned BIM model data and the rendering software. The index file contains metadata that maps BIM data objects to their corresponding partition files, allowing the software to efficiently navigate the partitioned structure without directly managing the complexity of multiple partition files. This intermediary layer simplifies the interaction between the partitioned model and rendering application.
3Power
If mobile devices run native BIM applications to render large models, then rendering capability is sufficient, but device resource requirements and distribution complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the BIM model into smaller partitions that can be loaded and rendered incrementally by mobile devices. This allows standard mobile BIM applications with limited memory and processing power to render large models by loading only the necessary partition files on demand, rather than requiring resource-intensive native applications capable of handling entire large models in memory.
Data Source
AI summary
A computing platform configured to: (i) add a partition for a building information model (BIM) model including BIM data objects to a set of partitions, (ii) for each partition of one or more partitions that each satisfies a threshold, generate a respective partition file by, while the set includes a partition that does not satisfy the threshold: (a) retrieving a partition from the set, (b) if the partition does not satisfy the threshold, (1) determining a center of gravity for the partition, (2) splitting the partition into a first partition and a second partition on opposing sides of the determined center of gravity, and (3) adding the first and second partitions to the set, and (c) if the partition satisfies the threshold, generating a file for the partition, and (iii) generate an index file mapping each of the BIM data objects to a corresponding file.