Relating geometry descriptions to its derivatives on the web

Sharing building information over the Web is becoming more popular, leading to advances in describing building models in a Semantic Web context. However, those descriptions lack unified approaches for linking geometry descriptions to building elements, derived properties and derived other geometry descriptions. To bridge this gap, we analyse the basic characteristics of geometric dependencies and propose the Ontology for Managing Geometry (OMG) based on this analysis. In this paper, we present our results and show how the OMG provides means to link geometric and non-geometric data in meaningful ways. Thus, exchanging building data, including geometry, on the Web becomes more efficient

Including widespread geometry formats in semantic graphs using RDF literals

The exchange of building data involves both geometric and non-geometric data. A promising Linked Data approach is to embed data from existing geometry formats inside Resource Description Framework (RDF) literals. Based on a study of relevant specifications and related work, this toolset-independent approach was found suitable for the exchange of geometric construction data. To implement the approach in practice, the File Ontology for Geometry formats (FOG) and accompanying modelling method is developed. In a proof-of-concept web application that uses FOG, is demonstrated how geometry descriptions of different existing formats are automatically recognised and parsed

Verificação da conformidade dos dados de projectos de construção com Linked Data

O sector da construção tem assistido nos últimos anos a uma tendência crescente para a digitalização, resultando num aumento substancial de dados. No entanto, es‑ tes dados tendem a ser segregados em sistemas e formatos de ficheiros específicos, o que dificulta a criação de uma representação abrangente do ativo construído. Uma solução potencial para colmatar a lacuna entre estes diversos modelos de dados é a aplicação dos princípios de Linked Data. A utilização de Linked Data leva à criação de uma representação estruturada e explícita do conhecimento, permitindo a ve‑ rificação da conformidade dos dados provenientes de várias fontes. Apesar do seu potencial, a escalabilidade da aplicação de Linked Data no domínio da construção tem sido impedida pela ausência de diretrizes de modelação claras. Estas diretrizes foram oficialmente introduzidas em 2022 com a norma EN 17632-1:2022: Building Information Modelling (BIM) – Semantic Modelling and Linking (SML). Esta norma de‑ fine um modelo de informação de alto nível e um conjunto de padrões genéricos de modelação da informação. Dado que o esquema de dados Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) é um esquema largamente utilizado ao longo do ciclo de vida de um ativo construído e normalizado a nível internacional (ISO 16739-1:2018), este estu‑ do examinará e demonstrará o processo de alinhamento do IFC com as orientações descritas na norma EN 17632. Além disso, estabelecerá uma ligação entre o IFC e o modelo de informação de alto nível, conforme especificado pela norma EN 17632. Por último, o estudo analisa o potencial de verificação da conformidade quando se trata de conjuntos de dados IFC convertidos.Esta investigação foi realizada com o apoio da União Europeia através da Bolsa Eras‑ mus Mundus, no âmbito do Mestrado Conjunto BIM A+ Erasmus Mundu

Scan-to-BIM output validation : towards a standardized geometric quality assessment of building information models based on point clouds

The use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) for existing buildings based on point clouds is increasing. Standardized geometric quality assessment of the BIMs is needed to make them more reliable and thus reusable for future users. First, available literature on the subject is studied. Next, an initial proposal for a standardized geometric quality assessment is presented. Finally, this method is tested and evaluated with a case study. The number of specifications on BIM relating to existing buildings is limited. The Levels of Accuracy (LOA) specification of the USIBD provides definitions and suggestions regarding geometric model accuracy, but lacks a standardized assessment method. A deviation analysis is found to be dependent on (1) the used mathematical model, (2) the density of the point clouds and (3) the order of comparison. Results of the analysis can be graphical and numerical. An analysis on macro (building) and micro (BIM object) scale is necessary. On macro scale, the complete model is compared to the original point cloud and vice versa to get an overview of the general model quality. The graphical results show occluded zones and non-modeled objects respectively. Colored point clouds are produced and integrated in the BIM. On micro scale, the relevant surface parts are extracted per BIM object and compared to the complete point cloud. Occluded zones are extracted based on a maximum deviation. What remains is classified according to the LOA specification. The numerical results are integrated in the BIM with the use of object parameters

BIM Workflow for Mechanical Ventilation Design : Object-Based Modeling with Autodesk Revit®

This study is conducted for the Belgian engineering firm CENERGIE, whose main business activities are within the fields of building systems and sustainable buildings. The company wants to change their current design workflows to adapt the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) with Autodesk Revit The research focused on the development of a BIM workflow where no models are exchanged between building partners. The aim of this study was to develop such a Revit BIM workflow for the design of mechanical and hybrid ventilation systems in non-residential buildings. Two sets of process maps were created to visualize the current and new workflow. A practical workflow is developed by examining and testing different modeling methods in the software. Besides two Revit templates and several custom-made elements, additional tools were developed with Autodesk Dynamo®, the visual programming add-in for Revit. Customization was necessary because some built-in Revit modeling methods follow North-American design habits and standards. Revit was successfully customized by using the earlier described methods. The steep learning curve implies that an adequate learning process and/or collaboration with specialized BIM companies will be necessary. Further research should incorporate the implementation of BIM in other CENERGIE business domains such as electricity, cooling systems, etc. Strategies for future BIM collaboration should be investigated as well

Representing Geometries in a Semantic Web Context

This project contains the data and created scripts that are used in the article "Representing Geometries in a Semantic Web Context"

Comparative analysis of approaches for automated compliance checking of construction data

While the domain of Automated Compliance Checking (ACC) has gained track, the construction industry has been flooded with different approaches. This paper studies these different approaches for use in compliance checking of construction data. The approaches are compared by defining constraints for the same set of five requirements, each of a different category, stemming from the Flemish building regulation on accessibility. Eight approaches have been selected for comparison: two IFC-based approaches (Solibri Model Checker and the upcoming buildingSMART standard IDS), two general data standards and their accompanying schema definition languages (JSON Schema and XSD), and four Linked Data approaches (OWL, SWRL, SPARQL, and SHACL). Besides the pure functional analysis, the relative uptake and support in tooling are also considered. While XML/XSD and JSON/JSON Schema and the Linked Data approaches are in essence domain-independent, only the latter has an extra layer for agreeing on high-level data modeling (and thus data validation) patterns in the construction domain with the EN17632-1:2022 standard. SHACL is considered the most adept method from the Linked Data approaches since it is fully standardized for both inputs and outputs and was developed for validation use cases

An ontological model for the representation of damage to constructions

The Damage Topology Ontology (DOT) is presented, a web ontology that provides terminology to represent construction-related damages and their topology as well as relations to affected construction elements and spatial zones. Besides the topology, classes and properties for documentation management and a minimal structural assessment have been proposed in DOT. In this regard, DOT provides all classes and properties needed for practical use in construction inspections and damage assessment. The ontology is developed to be used with the modular Linked Building Data ontologies structure, where DOT works as core damage ontology which can be extended with multiple modules related to detailed damage classification, damage assessment, mechanical degradation and other application scenarios. Geometrical damage representations are separated from the topology, so that it is possible to initially record damages during the inspection without any geometrical properties and link it later with a corresponding representation using terminology from geometry-related ontologies. In conclusion, DOT can be applied as a stand-alone web ontology to represent damages in a machine-interpretable format and replace conventional record approaches. Therefore, a generic terminology is used that enables the inclusion of various types of damage, which can be extended with domain-specific information.status: Published onlin

Representing construction-related geometry in a semantic web context: A review of approaches

The exchange of construction-related data over the Web via Semantic Web Technologies is gaining interest in current research. However, most research focuses on non-geometric data, neglecting the description of geometry. While several methods to include geometry descriptions into a Semantic Web context exist, no uniform approach or general recommendation exists for the endeavour of describing building components in their entirety – including geometric descriptions –, leading to an increased suspension in applying Semantic Web Technologies in the construction domain. To therefore ease the description of geometric data in a Semantic Web context, we conduct an extensive literature review and analyse the identified, oftentimes isolated implementations for geometry descriptions in that context, with focus on requirements set by domain-specific use cases. Based on this analysis, we group the currently available implementations into approaches and compare them to offer means for deciding on which approach or implementation suits individual use cases. The identified approaches vary in their depth of the geometry description's integration into the Semantic Web and are subsequently studied regarding their overall aptness and characteristics in consideration of their application for future industry and research projects. In respect of the ongoing research in the field of the application of Semantic Web Technologies, not only in the construction domain, this article poses as an important foundation by giving a clear overview of existing implementations and relevant open research questions. Having this overview, the suspense for adapting to Semantic Web methods for describing geometries can be overcome by users more easily, while software developers can start to connect their clients' use cases to suitable approaches and related implementations to represent geometry in a Semantic Web context