# BIM-Based Method for the Verification of Building Code Compliance
## 1 Introduction
Adopting the Brazilian specific case, the master plan establishes several zones to impose different urban indexes for an orderly use of that territory, according to the construction site location and building use. These zones are studied, evaluated and changed according to the city's expansion and use. After identifying which land zone is the building in, it is required to analyse which kinds of buildings and characteristics are allowed for the referred region. Master plans define both the building types and uses (such as commercial, institutional, residential and mixed, among others) for each identified zone. Depending on the building use, the master plans also identify a set of specific urban indexes that must be followed to guarantee safe and comfortable constructions. These indexes are usually defined by national and local governments and are mandatory for any project approval. Urban indexes are composed of different rules to aid and regulate constructions, both to provide a better quality of life for its inhabitants, as well as to ensure a correct framing of buildings with their surroundings. According to the basis for the Brazilian master plans, the following indexes must be addressed for all the municipalities:  
* Utilisation coefficient: represents the relationship between the built-up area and the site area. It indicates the maximum amount of gross square metres that can be built. * Occupancy rate: is the percentage of the site that can be occupied by any kind of construction, including the building's projection. * Permeable rate: corresponds to the construction site permeable area percentage, to ensure proper and natural soil permeability. This permeable area must ensure the water reaches the groundwater table without any barrier during its path. * Number of levels: maximum number of useful levels that the building can have in a specific location. * Maximum height: represent the maximum limit for the building height. It is calculated through the relation of the distance between the street level and the highest point of the building. * Building offset distances are also mandatory and are often seen as setbacks for the building implementation:
* Front offset: represents the maximum distance between the building's front facade and its parallel street. * Back offset: represents the maximum distance between the building's back facade and its parallel street. * Lateral offset: represents the maximum distance between the building's lateral facades and its parallel streets. Together with the city zoning, urban master plans also contain the building code, which defines rules to organise the internal spaces of cities and the requirements for building habitability. These rules are valid for both new and existing buildings and aim to provide a healthy room environment for users. Some of the most commonly established requirements are:  
* Minimum window area: minimum window area to ensure proper lighting and ventilation. * Minimum room area: minimum room dimensions to serve its purposes and functionality. * Minimum ceiling height: minimum distance between the floor and ceiling of a room. All of the presented indexes are applied in every Brazilian city with small variations on its limits, depending on the city characteristics and building type but are always mandatory for project approval. Another set of requirements concerns the accessibility standards for Brazil, namely the NBR9050 [17], which provides criteria and parameters for installing equipment and adapting spaces to enhance users' accessibility. To establish these criteria and technical parameters, different mobility conditions and environment perceptions are considered, including the use of assistive devices (such as prostheses), support equipment, wheelchairs,tracking canes, assisted listening systems or anything else that may complement human individual needs.