Complete energy analytical model building information modeling (BIM) integration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for creating energy analytical models from building information models (BIMs) are cumbersome, requiring manual effort and imposing restrictions on the accuracy and completeness of BIM elements, leading to inaccuracies and inefficiencies in energy analysis.
Innovation Solution
A method for automatically creating accurate and reliable energy analytical models from any combination of BIM elements, using virtual elements, point-cloud representation, voxel models, and pixelated surfaces to handle both Conceptual Mass Elements and Architectural Building Elements, allowing for robust and fast energy analysis without requiring an airtight model.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual methods are used to create energy analytical models from BIMs, then the models can be created with some level of accuracy, but the process is cumbersome and requires significant manual effort
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically creates energy analytical models by having the software perform the conversion process itself without requiring manual intervention. The system self-services by extracting geometry from BIM elements, generating thermal zones, and creating analytical models automatically, eliminating the need for manual model creation while maintaining accuracy.
2Reliability
If existing methods are used to create energy analytical models, then the process can be completed, but severe restrictions are imposed on the accuracy and completeness of BIM elements
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameters and properties of BIM elements to create energy analytical models. It extracts geometric parameters from various BIM element types (walls, floors, roofs, windows) and transforms them into analytical model parameters, allowing flexibility in handling different BIM element accuracies while maintaining model reliability through parameter transformation rather than strict geometric requirements.
3Measurement precision
If detailed Architectural Building Elements are used in BIM, then the physical representation is accurate, but the complexity of creating energy analytical models increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the necessary geometric and thermal properties from detailed Architectural Building Elements to create the energy analytical model. It takes out the essential parameters (area, volume, thermal properties) from complex BIM elements while leaving behind the unnecessary detailed geometric complexity, thereby maintaining measurement precision while reducing modeling complexity.
4Ease of manufacture
If Conceptual Mass Elements are used in BIM, then the design process is simplified, but the accuracy of energy analysis decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments Conceptual Mass Elements into discrete thermal zones and surfaces suitable for energy analysis. It divides the simplified massing geometry into analytically useful components (spaces, surfaces, thermal zones) that maintain the design simplicity while providing sufficient accuracy for energy analysis by creating appropriate thermal boundaries and zones from the massing model.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system provide a complete energy analytical model. An input model is acquired and consists of a combination of architectural building elements (ABEs) and conceptual massing elements (CMEs). The input model is pre-processed by extracting information from both the ABEs and the CMEs, and constructing virtual elements that encapsulate the extracted information. A discrete set of points in three-dimensional (3D) space that is distributed over boundary faces of the ABEs or CMEs is determined. The discrete set of points is used to provide a representation of the input model that is used in combination with a 3D cubical grid (a voxel grid) to analyze a spatial structure of the input model. A two-dimensional (2D) discrete approximation of the geometry of the input model is used to determine surfaces of the energy analytical model which is then output.