Towards an Interoperable Approach for Modelling and Managing Smart Building Data: The Case of the CESI Smart Building Demonstrator

Abstract

Buildings have a significant impact on energy consumption and carbon emissions. Smart buildings are deemed to play a crucial role in improving the energy performance of buildings and cities. Managing a smart building requires the modelling of data concerning smart systems and components. While there is a significant amount of research on optimising building energy using the smart building concept, there is a dearth of studies investigating the modelling and management of smart systems’ data, which is the starting point for establishing the necessary digital environment for representing a smart building. This study aimed to develop and test a solution for modelling and managing smart building information using an industry foundation classes (IFCs)-based BIM process. A conceptual model expressed in the SysML language was proposed to define a smart building. Five BIM approaches were identified as potential ‘prototypes’ for representing and exchanging smart building information. The fidelity of each approach is checked through a BIM-based validation process using an open-source visualisation platform. The different prototypes were also assessed using a multi-criteria comparison method to identify the preferred approach for modelling and managing smart building information. The preferred approach was prototyped and tested in a use case focused on building energy consumption monitoring to evaluate its ability to manage and visualise the smart building data. The use case was applied in a real case study using a full-scale demonstrator, namely, the ‘Nanterre 3’ (N3) smart building located at the CESI campus in Paris-Nanterre. The findings demonstrated that an open BIM format in the form of IFCs could achieve adequate modelling of smart building data without information loss. Future extensions of the proposed approach were finally outlined.

Incorporating smart objects into BIM: A comprehensive review

“…The findings from RQ4, designed to uncover the advantages and challenges associated with the implemented processes, are consolidated and elaborated upon in the discussion section. [8], [9], [11], [19], [20], [21], [22], [23], [24], [25], [26], [27], [28], [29], [30], [31], [32], [33], [34], [35], [36], [37], [38], [39], [40], [41], [42], [43] (2) Construction [3], [5], [15], [38], [41], [42], [44], [45], [46], [47], [48], [49], [50], [51], [52], [53], [54], [55], [56], [57], [58], [59],…”

“…Smart Buildings [7], [11], [13], [22], [23], [24], [27], [33], [83], [84], [85], [86], [34], [87], [88], [89], [90], [91], [92], [93], [94], [95], [96], [97], [98], [99] As-built BIM [6], [20], [72], [73], [74], [75], [76], [77], [78], [79], [80], [81], [82]…”

“…They can embed predefined rules or integrate data related to specific code requirements, automatically checking these rules during the design phase. This helps identify potential code violations early in the process [25,28,34]. Beyond providing real-time feedback on other design elements, smart objects can be programmed to adapt to changes in building codes.…”

“…The process of implementing smart buildings unfolds as follows: initially, a digital twin of the building is generated within a model environment. Subsequently, integrated sensors embedded in smart objects facilitate the exchange of data between the physical building and its virtual counterpart [11,22,34]. The gathered information is stored in a cloud-based environment and disseminated to relevant smart objects based on their respective categories, facilitated by plug-ins like Dynamo [94].…”

Systematic Literature Review of Open Infrastructure BIM

“…The authors analyzed the advantages of Open BIM in data and information management, emphasizing how the adoption of this approach can improve data quality, collaboration between the various actors in the infrastructure sector, and the efficiency of information management. Emphasizing the importance of obviating the loss of information, the case study conducted at the CESI Campus in Paris-Nanterre, for the realization of an intelligent building, demonstrated that IFC-based Open BIM allows for proper modeling without data loss [59]. Concerning the improvement and control of quality during the design phase, a study conducted by Häußler and Borrmann [60] proposed a standardized method to validate design quality by means of fourteen quality parameters.…”