Automated Building Interface Generation from BIM Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual generation of user interfaces for building management systems is time-consuming and difficult for control engineers, requiring them to create graphics and widgets from smaller elements.
Innovation Solution
Automatically generating operational user interfaces using geometrical and relationship information from building information modeling objects, assigning state variables, and associating them with control points in the building management system, allowing for dynamic updates based on user input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If user interfaces are manually generated by control engineers from smaller graphic elements, then the user interface can be customized and tailored to specific building management needs, but the process becomes time-consuming and difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically generating the user interface framework, graphic elements, and widget structures before the control engineer needs to customize them. The building information modeling data is pre-processed to extract graphical representations and hierarchical relationships, creating a ready-to-customize interface foundation that eliminates time-consuming manual creation work while preserving customization capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates copies of interface elements by automatically generating graphical representations of building components from building information modeling data. Instead of manually creating each graphic element from scratch, the system copies and adapts standardized interface widgets and graphical elements based on the building's hierarchical structure, significantly reducing creation time while maintaining adaptability through configurable parameters.
2Manufacturing precision
If control engineers manually create and build user interface components, then precise control over interface design and functionality is achieved, but the complexity and difficulty of the task increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically generating user interface components from building information modeling data without requiring manual intervention for each element. The system extracts hierarchical relationships, generates appropriate graphical representations, and configures widgets automatically based on the building's structure and control requirements, reducing both complexity and maintaining precision through algorithmic consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface generation process is segmented into distinct automated steps: extracting hierarchical relationships from building information modeling data, generating graphical representations for each building component, creating appropriate widgets based on component types, and assembling the complete interface. This segmentation reduces overall complexity by breaking down the complex manual task into manageable automated subprocesses while maintaining design precision through systematic processing.
3Loss of information
If comprehensive building information is displayed in the user interface, then operators can effectively monitor and control building systems, but the interface becomes more complex and harder to generate manually
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies universality by using a standardized set of interface widgets and graphical elements that can represent multiple types of building components and information. Instead of creating unique custom elements for each building component, the system uses multi-functional widgets that can adapt to display different information types (temperature, humidity, equipment status, etc.), reducing interface complexity while maintaining information completeness through configurable parameter sets.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, methods, and systems for generating an operational user interface for a building management system are described herein. One method includes generating a widget using geometrical information associated with a building information modeling object and relationship information associated with the building information modeling object, assigning a state variable to the widget by analyzing properties of the building information modeling object or an ontology definition of the building information modeling object, associating the state variable with a point from the building operation system by mapping the point to the state variable, and changing the state variable based on input received from a user.