Synchronized Building Workflows for Interpretable Energy Modeling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Building analysis software often produces complex results that require significant interpretation by users, making it difficult to achieve timely and integrated holistic design, especially in diverse and complex building designs, which can be challenging for users to navigate effectively.

Innovation Solution

An integrated analysis and design environment with modules such as the design advisor, workflow navigator, intelligent room groups, model merge, and smart templates facilitates user guidance, productivity, and error reduction by providing automated analysis, navigation, and data management, enabling users to interpret results more effectively and efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If building analysis software produces comprehensive analysis results, then the quality and depth of design information is improved, but the complexity of interpretation and user navigation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign information completenessVSAvoidsoftware navigation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a workflow navigator as an intermediary component that mediates between the complex building analysis software and the user. This navigator provides structured guidance through the analysis process, organizing comprehensive results into manageable workflows and steps, thereby reducing the perceived complexity while preserving information completeness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the comprehensive building analysis into distinct workflows and modular components. By dividing the complex analysis process into separate, manageable workflow segments, the system makes interpretation easier while maintaining the completeness of the overall analysis results

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If users manually interpret complex building design results, then analysis depth is improved, but time consumption and productivity decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanalysis interpretation accuracyVSAvoiddesign decision speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements automated analysis and interpretation capabilities that allow the system to serve itself in interpreting building design results. The workflow navigator automatically processes analysis data, generates interpretations, and presents findings without requiring extensive manual user interpretation, thereby maintaining accuracy while significantly improving productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates automated feedback mechanisms that provide interpretable results and recommendations based on the analysis. This feedback loop enables rapid design decision-making by automatically translating complex analysis data into actionable insights, reducing both time consumption and manual interpretation requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple analysis workflows are integrated, then holistic design capability is improved, but system complexity and error potential increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveholistic design capabilityVSAvoidworkflow integration error rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal workflow navigator that can handle multiple different building analysis workflows through a single integrated interface. This multi-functional navigator manages diverse workflows consistently, reducing integration errors while maintaining holistic design capability across different analysis types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary organization and validation of multiple workflows before execution. By pre-configuring and validating the integration of different analysis workflows, the system reduces potential errors while maintaining the ability to deliver comprehensive holistic design analysis

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS7912807B2Method and system for modeling energy efficient buildings using a plurality of synchronized workflows

Publication Date: 2011.03.22 INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS LTD

AI summary

A system and method of analysis, including, but not limited to: receiving raw data related to at least one project; receiving user preferences in at least one workflow, wherein each step in the a workflow constitutes a single instance of a component of a workflow such that the state of a unique component is always the same if the same component is comprised in other workflows; determining metrics related to the at least one project; analyzing the data & metrics to identify patterns; drawing conclusions from the data, metrics and patterns; and generating at least one report that presents the metrics, patterns and conclusions.