A Product Model based Approach to Interactive CAE Design Optimization

We present a software prototype for fluid flow problems in civil engineering, which combines essential features of Computational Steering approaches with efficient methods for model transfer and high performance computing. The main components of the system are described: - The modeler with a focus on the data management of the product model - The pre-processing and the post-processing toolkit - The simulation kernel based on the Lattice Boltzmann method - The required hardware for real-time computin

The Integration of Architectural Design and Energy Modelling Software

Intelligent and integrated architectural design can substantially reduce carbon dioxide emissions from energy used in buildings. However, architects need new tools to help them to design enjoyable, comfortable, attractive and yet technically rigorous, low energy buildings. This thesis investigates, by means of a Research Through Design approach, how architectural software could be better designed to fulfil this need by the integration of design, energy simulation and decision support systems. The problem domain of the design of buildings with very low energy requirements was analysed. Two case studies were employed to investigate the limitations with current software. User and domain software requirements were recorded and analysed. Conflicting requirements were noted, in particular, dichotomous views of the building model. An investigation was carried out into the different interoperable standards that result in these views and rules on how to compose the building model as a series of Intelligent Spaces proposed. The Intelligent Spaces would be abstract volumes, enclosed by zero thickness surfaces, which have data and rules attached. Early prototyping of integrated software was carried out by means of a series of sketches and diagrammatic examples. The novel feature of the proposal is that it maintains both an abstract and detailed version of the building model through all stages of the building design and use. Key features of the proposed software are: 1) the ability to move iteratively between sketch to detailed design to explore different approaches to the building form and construction, 2) the setting and monitoring of relevant energy targets throughout the different building design stages and 3) the integration of an advisory system linked to energy targets to support decision making. This space based approach to the software has the potential to provide a ‘designerly’ front to the sophisticated processes of a Building Information Modelling environment

Interoperability-based optimisation of architectural design

As a major contributor to the planetary greenhouse effect, construction industry needs to adopt sustainability at the core of its activities - to reverse or slow down the impacts of climate change. Increased collaboration among stakeholders along with analysis/performance based decision making is the way forward for enhanced sustainability. Emphasis is placed on the process of shared creation through multi-disciplinary collaboration, enabled by the implementation of IT (Information Technology) that acts as a platform to augment our ability to communicate. Developments in the Construction IT have been product oriented and aimed at solving particular domain problems usually with a narrow focus - further reducing the accessibility and interoperability of information over the lifecycle stages. Advances in the semantics based interoperable data standards, such as IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) offer significant advantage in removing such barriers to successful vertical and horizontal integration of software tools and process. The use of building simulation in architectural design requires specialist knowledge and a rich set of information about the proposed building which are not available to the design team at early stages. Standards based mapping of information for input processing of the simulation engines can act as an alternative to simplified tools supporting the exploratory nature of design. Detailed based input processing also restricts the use of simulation to occasional validation of solutions - even during detailed design stages. For a directed exploration of the solution space, numerical optimisation methods can be applied to enhance simulation assisted design. Successful application of optimisation methods pivots on the ability of the analysis and decision making components of the software to communicate with each other without the loss of data semantics. To realise this potential, a process-oriented integrated framework based on the interoperability of information and software tools have been developed and implemented in this thesis. For horizontal integration of domain specific tools through intra-software messaging, ardML - an XML (eXtensible Markup Language) based schema has been developed which attempts to connect non-interoperable software tools. Multi-disciplinary environmental design of buildings has been chosen as the domain of discourse. The framework currently employs industry standard zonal building simulation as an analysis tool and gradient-based mathematical optimisation methods for informed decision making. Interoperability among tools, processes and information has been achieved through the implementation of IFC based data model. The modular nature of the object-oriented framework allows incorporation of existing and future tools. The applicability of the framework has been investigated in the early stages of architectural design, in particular the selection of form and orientation - considering the environmental aspects. The implementation of the framework at an ambiguous and exploratory stage of design reinforces its applicability in a wider industry context

A simple interface for building environment simulation codes

Thesis (M.Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2000.Includes bibliographical references (leaf 65).by Charles R. Broderick, III.M.Eng

Real-time integration of IEQ with BIM - user centered approach

Altering indoor environment to increase occupants comfort may increase their productivity and reduce waste in time, energy and resources. This work attempts to understand occupants behavior and comfort to build a platform that visualizes user-centered parameters related to indoor environment in real-time using IoT. User-centered prototype platform was designed, built and tested. Gamification concepts was applied to increase participation. The results were visualized and spatially mapped to the 3D model. This platform may help users build better perception about their indoor environment,i.e in offices, schools, hotels and hospitals, using interactive content and games. Also, it may help decision makers to take faster and better decisions, relying on the abundance of user-centered data, which may help in quality improvement. A test with around 20 users was made to assess indoor and learning environments. Many have found the system useful and easy to use on their mobile devices. Users shared valuable feedbacks and ideas for further developments. The first experiment gave important insights for possible future tests

BIM Assisted Design Process Automation for Pre-Engineered Buildings (PEB)

The effective adoption and implementation of Building Information Modeling (BIM) is still challenging for the construction industry. However, studies and reports show a significant increase in the rate of BIM implementation and adoption in mainstream construction activities over the last five years. In contrast, Pre-Engineered Building (PEB) construction, a specialized construction system which provides a very efficient approach for construction of primarily industrial buildings, has not seen the same uptake in BIM implementation and adoption. The thesis reviews the benefits and the main applications of BIM for the PEB industry as well as challenges of its practical implementation. To facilitate the implementation of BIM in the PEB industry, a BIM framework is adapted from Pre-fabrication (Pre-fab) industry and new workflows, process maps, and data-exchange strategies are developed. As the PEB industry traditionally makes significant use of automation in its design and fabrication process, accordingly this work investigates the technical challenges of incorporating automation into the proposed BIM process. Two new BIM concepts, “Planar Concept” and “Floating LOD”, are then developed and implemented as a solution to these challenges. To define the proper input/output criteria for automated BIM design processes, a numerical study was performed to identify an “Optimum LOD”. A software implementation embodying the research outcomes was developed to illustrate the feasibility of the results. Its step-by-step deployment is analyzed and discussed using an example industry PEB design project. Further, the impact of this work is extended by integrating the developed BIM framework and automated design process with wind engineering design activities and tools and procurement systems. The study concludes that the deployment of the proposed BIM framework could significantly address existing issues in project design through to operation processes found in the PEB industry. Also, the results indicate the developed concepts have the potential for supporting the application of automation in the other sectors of the general construction industry. This thesis is written using the Integrated Article format and includes various complementary studies

Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Indoor Environmental Performance Analysis

The report is a part of a research assignment carried out by students in the 5ETCS course “Project Byggeri – [entitled as: Building Information Modeling (BIM) – Modeling & Analysis]”, during the 3rd semester of master degree in Civil and Architectural Engineering, Department of Engineering, Aarhus University. This includes seven papers describing  BIM for Sustainability, concentrating specifically on individual topics regarding to Indoor Environment Performance Analysis