Unified Network-Based Representation of BIM Models for Embedding Semantic, Spatial, and Topological Data
This work addresses the problem of limited design pattern analysis for construction industry professionals, but it appears incremental as it builds on the existing IFC standard.
The study tackled the lack of effective methods for capturing complex spatial and topological relationships in BIM models by proposing a unified network-based representation that integrates semantic, spatial, and topological data, enabling a more detailed understanding of component interactions and design patterns.
Building Information Modeling (BIM) has revolutionized the construction industry by providing a comprehensive digital representation of building structures throughout their lifecycle. However, existing research lacks effective methods for capturing the complex spatial and topological relationships between components in BIM models, which are essential for understanding design patterns and enhancing decision-making. This study proposes a unified network-based representation method that integrates the "semantic-spatial-topological" multi-dimensional design features of BIM models. By extending the IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) standard, we introduce local spatial relationships and topological connections between components to enrich the network structure. This representation method enables a more detailed understanding of component interactions, dependencies, and implicit design patterns, effectively capturing the semantic, topological, and spatial relationships in BIM, and holds significant potential for the representation and learning of design patterns.