Providing building information modeling data

Devices, methods, and systems for providing building information modeling data are described herein. One system includes a database having complete building information modeling data associated with a building, and a computing device coupled to the database. The computing device is configured to receive, from a user of the computing device, a request for a particular scope of building information modeling data associated with the building, retrieve, from the database, the building information modeling data in the database that corresponds to the particular scope of building information modeling data requested by the user, and provide, to the user, the building information modeling data that corresponds to the particular scope of building information modeling data requested by the user.

This application is a National Stage Application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application Number PCT/CN2012/071587, filed Feb. 24, 2012 and published as WO 2013/123675 on Aug. 29, 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to devices, methods, and systems for providing building information modeling data.

BACKGROUND

Building information modeling (BIM) can refer to the generation and/or management of data associated with a building (e.g., data associated with the components, equipment, and/or properties of the building). For example, BIM data can include architectural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, sanitary, fire, and/or geometrical information associated with a building.

The leading international standard for describing the data contained within a building information model is called the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC), which is an open standard designed and maintained by the BuildingSmartAlliance. This is a very comprehensive standard that provides for the description of data related to many sub-domains related to the design, build, construction, and/or operation of a built environment (e.g., building).

The amount of BIM data associated with a building, and codified or expressed in the IFC standard, tends to be proportional to the size of the building, and can grow exponentially based on the number of specific sub-domains that are identified and documented in the BIM, including, for example, plumbing, electrical, or HVAC systems. Therefore, even a small building with very complete information for many different systems within the building may have a very large amount of BIM data associated therewith. Accordingly, a BIM model of any building may include a large amount of BIM data, which can increase the amount of time and/or computing resources needed to generate the BIM model of the building, and thus have a negative impact on the end-user, particularly when the user has to respond very quickly to some real-time change in the status of the building or the equipment therein.

In some instances, a user may not desire (e.g., need and/or want) to generate, view, and/or navigate the whole (e.g., entire) model of a building (e.g., the user may not desire all of the BIM data associated with the building). Rather, the user may desire only a portion (e.g., not all of) of the model of the building and/or only a portion of the BIM data associated with the building. For example, the user may desire only the BIM data that is relevant to what the user is doing (e.g., only the BIM data that is relevant to the user's work and/or the particular task that the user is presently trying to perform). That is, the user may require that no BIM data that is not immediately relevant to what the user is doing is presented, and/or waste the time and/or computing resources needed to generate the whole BIM model when only a portion is needed to complete the task at hand.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Devices, methods, and systems for providing building information modeling data are described herein. For example, one or more embodiments include a database having complete building information modeling data associated with a building, and a computing device coupled to the database. The computing device is configured to receive, from a user of the computing device, a request for a particular scope of building information modeling data associated with the building, retrieve, from the database, the building information modeling data in the database that corresponds to the particular scope of building information modeling data requested by the user, and provide, to the user, the building information modeling data that corresponds to the particular scope of building information modeling data requested by the user.

Embodiments of the present disclosure can provide any subset (e.g., portion) of a model of a building that is appropriate to the task at hand. For example, embodiments of the present disclosure can provide only the BIM data associated with the building that is relevant to what a user is doing (e.g., only the BIM data that is relevant to the user's work and/or the particular task that the user is presently trying to perform). Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure can avoid cluttering a BIM model with BIM data that is not relevant to what the user is doing, and/or wasting the time and/or computing resources needed to generate the whole BIM model.

The figures herein follow a numbering convention in which the first digit or digits correspond to the drawing figure number and the remaining digits identify an element or component in the drawing. Similar elements or components between different figures may be identified by the use of similar digits. For example,110may reference element “10” inFIG. 1, and a similar element may be referenced as210inFIG. 2.

As used herein, “a” or “a number of” something can refer to one or more such things. For example, “a number of buildings” can refer to one or more buildings.

FIG. 1illustrates a system100for providing building information modeling (BIM) data in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. BIM data can include, for example, data associated with a building (e.g., data associated with the components, equipment, and/or properties of the building), as will be further described herein.

As shown inFIG. 1, system100includes a computing device102. Computing device102can be, for example, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, or a mobile device (e.g., a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, etc.), among other types of computing devices.

Computing device102can include a memory104and a processor106coupled to memory104. Memory104can be any type of storage medium that can be accessed by processor106to perform various examples of the present disclosure. For example, memory104can be a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable instructions (e.g., computer program instructions) stored thereon that are executable by processor106to perform various examples of the present disclosure.

Memory104can be volatile or nonvolatile memory. Memory104can also be removable (e.g., portable) memory, or non-removable (e.g., internal) memory. For example, memory104can be random access memory (RAM) (e.g., dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and/or phase change random access memory (PCRAM)), read-only memory (ROM) (e.g., electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) and/or compact-disc read-only memory (CD-ROM)), flash memory, a laser disc, a digital versatile disc (DVD) or other optical disk storage, and/or a magnetic medium such as magnetic cassettes, tapes, or disks, among other types of memory.

Further, although memory104is illustrated as being located in computing device102, embodiments of the present disclosure are not so limited. For example, memory104can also be located internal to another computing resource (e.g., enabling computer readable instructions to be downloaded over the Internet or another wired or wireless connection).

As shown inFIG. 1, computing device102also includes a user interface108. User interface108can include, for example, a screen that can provide (e.g., display and/or present) information to a user of computing device102. For instance, user interface108can provide BIM data to a user of computing device102, as will be further described herein.

Additionally, computing device102can receive information from the user of computing device102through an interaction with the user via user interface108. For example, computing device102can receive a request from the user via user interface108, as will be further described herein. The user can enter the request into computing device102using, for instance, a mouse and/or keyboard associated with computing device102. In some embodiments, the mouse and/or keyboard can be a part of user interface108. As an additional example, user interface108can be a touch screen (e.g., computing device102can be a hand-held device, such as a smart phone, with a touch screen, or a tablet PC with a touch screen), and the user can enter the request into computing device102by touching the screen.

As shown inFIG. 1, system100includes a database110coupled to (e.g., in communication with) computing device102. Computing device102and database110can be coupled (e.g., communicate) via a network (not shown inFIG. 1) such as, for example, a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, a local area network (LAN), a personal area network (PAN), a campus area network (CAN), or metropolitan area network (MAN), among other types of networks.

As used herein, a “network” can provide a communication system that directly or indirectly links two or more computers and/or peripheral devices and allows users to access resources on other computing devices and exchange messages with other users. A network can allow users to share resources on their own systems with other network users and to access information on centrally located systems or on systems that are located at remote locations.

A network may provide connections to the Internet and/or to the networks of other entities (e.g., organizations, institutions, etc.). Users may interact with network-enabled software applications to make a network request, such as to get a file or print on a network printer. Applications may also communicate with network management software, which can interact with network hardware to transmit information between devices on the network.

Database110can include (e.g., store) BIM data associated with a number of buildings. Such BIM data can include, for example, data associated with the components, equipment, and/or properties of the buildings. For instance, the BIM data can include architectural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, sanitary, fire, and/or geometrical information associated with the building.

Computing device102can receive a request for one or more of a plurality of types (e.g., type scope) of BIM data associated with a building. That is, the scope of BIM data may include one or more types of BIM data in a field of possible BIM data types within a category (e.g., the plurality of BIM data types). The request can be received, for example, from a user of computing device102via user interface108.

In some embodiments, the particular scope of BIM data requested by the user can include BIM data associated with a particular space in the building (e.g., spatial scope). For example, the user may request BIM data associated with all objects in the building that are within a particular distance (e.g., 10 feet) from a particular (e.g., selected) object in the building or the user's location in the building, which could be either indicated by the user or automatically known to computing device102via a location system. For instance, the user could set a distance of interest, which could move as the user's location changes (e.g., as the user walks around).

In some embodiments, the particular scope of BIM data requested by the user can include BIM data associated with one or more of a plurality of particular types of equipment in the building (e.g., equipment scope). For example, the user may request BIM data associated with HVAC, fire suppression, plumbing, or other type(s) of equipment in the building.

In some embodiments, the particular scope of BIM data requested by the user can include BIM data associated with equipment in the building having a particular relationship to another piece of equipment or a space in the building (e.g., relationship scope). For example, the user may request BIM data associated with equipment in the building that is within a particular number of (e.g., two) connections (e.g., IFC Distribution Port connections) from a particular (e.g., selected) object in the building.

In some embodiments, the particular scope of BIM data requested by the user can be a combination of a number of the above BIM data scopes. As an example, the user can request the BIM data associated with all equipment with an IFC Distribution Port connection (relationship type), from an Industry Foundation Class (IFC) DistributionControlElement (e.g., Sensor type) to an IFC Distribution FlowControlElement (e.g., Damper type), and the BIM data associated with all spaces served by this equipment (Space type). As an additional example, the user can request the BIM data associated with all HVAC equipment (equipment type) connected to IFC distribution control element variable air volume device named “VAV1-19-21” (relationship type), and its served spaces (relationship type). However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to a particular BIM data scope or type, or to a particular combination of BIM data scopes, types, or embodied relationships.

In some embodiments, the particular scope of BIM data requested by the user can be selected by the user. In some embodiments, the particular scope of BIM data requested by the user can be based, at least partially, on the location of the user in the building. For example, computing device102can automatically select the particular scope of BIM data based on the location of the user in the building such that the user does not need to select it. The location of the user in the building could be either indicated by the user (e.g., through direct input such as pointing to a map) or automatically known to (e.g., inferred by) computing device102via a location system (e.g., through sensor data).

In some embodiments, the request for the particular scope of BIM data can include a level of detail (LOD) setting selected by the user. The LOD setting selected by the user can correspond to the user's desired LOD for the particular scope of BIM data being requested by the user (e.g., each scope element can have a corresponding LOD setting). For example, a user desiring a course (e.g., reduced) LOD for the requested BIM data would select a course LOD setting. The LOD setting can be, for example, a contextual relevance LOD setting. That is, the LOD setting can depend on the contextual relevance of the requested BIM data to the user (e.g., the lower the contextual relevance of the requested BIM data to the user, the courser the user may select the LOD setting).

As an example, an LOD setting selected by the user can include an instruction to ignore a particular subset of the particular scope of BIM data requested by the user. For instance, if the particular scope of BIM data requested by the user includes BIM data associated with connected equipment objects (e.g., a control element and a terminal box), the LOD setting can include an instruction to ignore segments and junctions between the connected equipment objects, and/or an instruction to ignore openings between the connected equipment objects.

As an additional example, an LOD setting selected by the user can include an instruction to provide a particular subset of the particular scope of BIM data requested by the user. For instance, if the particular scope of BIM data requested by the user includes BIM data associated with connected equipment objects (e.g., an AHU and all associated devices downstream of that Air Handling Unit), the LOD setting can include an instruction to provide BIM data associated with devices with only a direct connection to that Air Handling Unit, or extend to devices with a second or third level connection to that Air Handling Unit.

The user can select the LOD setting via a slider bar provided to the user by user interface108. Additionally and/or alternatively, the user can select the LOD setting via plus and/or minus buttons provided to the user by user interface108, by providing (e.g., entering) a text and/or image based representative value into user interface108, or any other typical increment and/or decrement technique.

As an example, each object in the building can have an identification (e.g., an identification number) associated therewith, and each object identification can be chained together. To get from one object to another (e.g., from an RTU to a diffuser), the slider bar or other plus/minus technique can be implemented to increase the number of objects to be shown, starting with a particular object. For instance, the user can be provided with a list of object identifications that make up a segment of an HVAC system of the building, and the user can select items from that connected list.

Upon receiving the request for the particular scope of BIM data associated with the building, computing device102can retrieve (e.g., extract) from database110the BIM data in database110that corresponds to the particular scope of BIM data requested by the user and the LOD setting selected by the user for that scope. For example, if the user has requested BIM data associated with a particular space in the building (e.g., spatial scope), computing device102can retrieve the BIM data in database110that is associated with that spatial scope and corresponds to the spatial scope LOD setting selected by the user. As an additional example, if the user has requested BIM data associated with one or more of a plurality of particular types of equipment in the building (e.g., equipment scope), computing device102can retrieve the BIM data in database110that is associated with that equipment scope and corresponds to the equipment scope LOD setting selected by the user. As an additional example, if the user has requested BIM data associated with equipment in the building having a particular relationship to another piece of equipment or a space in the building (e.g., relationship scope), computing device102can retrieve the BIM data in database110that is associated with that relationship scope and corresponds to the relationship scope LOD setting selected by the user.

Computing device102(e.g., user interface108) can then provide (e.g., display) to the user the BIM data retrieved from database110that corresponds to the particular scope of BIM data requested by the user and the LOD setting selected by the user for that scope (e.g., only the BIM data that corresponds to the particular scope of BIM data requested by the user and the LOD setting selected by the user for that scope). That is, computing device102can provide the BIM data that corresponds to the particular scope of BIM data requested by the user without providing any additional BIM data that does not correspond to the particular scope of BIM data requested by the user. For example, if the user has requested BIM data associated with a particular space in the building (e.g., spatial scope) and selected a spatial scope LOD setting, the BIM data that is associated with that spatial scope and corresponds to the selected spatial scope LOD setting may be the only BIM data provided to the user. As an additional example, if the user has requested BIM data associated with one or more of a plurality of particular types of equipment in the building (e.g., equipment scope), the BIM data that is associated with that equipment scope and corresponds to the selected equipment scope LOD setting may be the only BIM data provided to the user. As an additional example, if the user has requested BIM data associated with equipment in the building having a particular relationship to another piece of equipment or a space in the building (e.g., relationship scope), the BIM data that is associated with that relationship scope and corresponds to the selected relationship scope LOD setting may be the only BIM data provided to the user.

In some embodiments, computing device102can generate schematic image of the building (e.g., of a portion of the building) and provide (e.g., display) the schematic image to the user. Computing device102can overlay the BIM data retrieved from database110(e.g., the BIM data that corresponds to the particular scope of BIM data requested by the user) on the schematic image. The schematic image can be a two-dimensional vector image or a three-dimensional image.

For example, computing device102can attach the BIM data retrieved from database110to the schematic image. Computing device102can generate a visual representation of the data attached to the schematic image, and overlay the visual representation of the data on the schematic image.

FIG. 2illustrates a method201for providing building information modeling data in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Method201can be performed, for example, by computing device102previously described in connection withFIG. 1.

As shown inFIG. 2, method201includes receiving a BIM data request220. BIM data request220can be analogous to the request for one or more of a plurality of types (e.g., type scope) of BIM data associated with a building previously described herein in connection withFIG. 1.

As shown inFIG. 2, at block222BIM data request220is parsed into target IFC objects and the requested data scope(s). The specifications of the requested data scope can be defined using Backus Normal Form or Backus-Naur Form (BNF). The target IFC objects are searched at block224, and the related IFC objects satisfying the requested data scope are searched at block226, as illustrated inFIG. 2.

As shown inFIG. 2, at block228BIM data request220is parsed into an LOD setting. The LOD setting can be included in BIM data request220in a manner analogous to that previously described herein in connection withFIG. 1, and can be defined using BNF, for example.

As shown inFIG. 2, at block230the results of the target IFC objects search and the related IFC objects satisfying the requested data scope search are filtered according to the LOD setting, and the resulting portion of BIM data232is exported.

As shown inFIG. 2, at block234the IFC object corresponding to portion of BIM data232is extracted from BIM database210by information retrieval engine236. BIM database210can be, for example, analogous to database110previously described in connection withFIG. 1.

An image of the extracted IFC object can be generated by image generation engine238. For example, a rectangle representing the IFC object can be generated on a vector image, with the boundary of the object in the image. The image can be a two or three-dimensional image, and can be analogous to the schematic image previously described in connection withFIG. 1. The BIM data can be attached to the generated image, and the image and its attached data240can be provided to a user in a manner analogous to that previously described in connection withFIG. 1.

Although some embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in connection with IFC, the leading public standard BIM representation, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to processing or producing IFC-based information. For example, embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to BIM models produced by other commercial applications, or serialized in other formats.