Interpreted open data exchange between architectural design and structural analysis models

Abstract

The heterogeneity of the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry reflects on digital building models, which differ across domains and planning phases. Data exchange between architectural design and structural analysis models poses a particular challenge because of dramatically different representations of building elements. Existing software tools and standards have not been able to deal with these differences. The research on inter-domain building information modelling (BIM) frameworks does not consider the geometry interpretations for data exchange. Analysis of geometry interpretations is mostly project-specific and is seldom reflected in general data exchange frameworks. By defining a data exchange framework that engages with varying requirements and representations of architectural design and structural analysis in terms of geometry, which is open to other domains, we aim to close the identified gap. Existing classification systems in software tools and standards were reviewed in order to understand architectural design and structural analysis representations and to identify the relationships between them. Following the analysis, a novel data management framework based on classification, interpretation and automation was proposed, implemented and tested. Classification is a model specification including domain-specific terms and relationships between them. Interpretations consist of inter-domain procedures necessary to generate domain-specific models from a provided model. Automation represents the connection between open domain-specific models and proprietary models in software tools. Practical implementation with a test case demonstrated a possible realization of the proposed framework. The innovative contribution of the research is a novel framework based on the system of open domain-specific classifications and procedures for the inter-domain interpretation, which can prepare domain-specific models on central storage. The main benefit is a centrally prepared domain-specific model, relieving software developers from so-far-unsuccessful implementation of complex inter-domain interpretations in each software tool, and providing end users with control over the data exchange. Although the framework is based on the exchange between architectural design and structural analysis, the proposed central data management framework can be used for other exchange processes involving different model representations.

Implementation of Open Data Exchange between Architectural Design and Structural Analysis Models

“…Table 2 gives a brief overview of the research design. The conceptual framework is thoroughly described in [9]. The current work describes the details of the framework implementation, and tests its applicability in practice.…”

“…This can be assigned to three problems: (i) the structural engineers work with established standards and recommendations which are not suitable for automatic data exchange as such; (ii) academic proposals of data exchange solutions are project-or software-tool-specific and vaguely integrate existing data exchange rules, making them unreliable for engineers as they are held responsible for their calculations; (iii) software industry does not manage to answer the heterogeneity of workflows and provides software-tool-specific solutions whose usefulness and usability depend on specific combinations of software applications. Regarding problem (i), in the previous work [9] the existing standards are investigated and included in the new data exchange framework. Rules with digitalization potential found in standards are mainly suitable for the validation step, before the interpretations take place, whereby the rules suitable for interpretation of geometry are rarely found.…”

“…Data exchange concept based on domain-specific classification, non-proprietary interpretations between domains and automation of central storage and proprietary solutions [9] Implementation of the framework with detailed explanation of system architecture (Section 4) Each research step is built around open interpretations, with the aim to identify, implement and verify interpretation methods. The system architecture which is developed for the novel framework is explained in Section 4.…”

“…As interpretations or transformations of building models, we understand the methods that edit geometrical and non-geometrical data available in one domainspecific representation according to the representation requirements of another domain. Based on our novel data exchange framework, supporting multiple open domain-specific data models and interpretations between them [9], we follow with the implementation of this data exchange approach in the presented research. The emphasis of our novel approach is on non-proprietary or open interpretations, realized as transparent to end users, which can be edited or extended for heterogeneous practices typically found in the AEC industries.…”

EDITORIAL: Information technologies for smart city development (CIB World Building Congress 2019 special issue)

“…The second paper was presented by Sibenik and Kovacic (2021). A novel data management framework is proposed to efficiently support the model-based data exchange between architectural design and structural analysis tools based on classification, interpretation and automation.…”