Intelligent BVAC information capturing system for smart building information modelling

Abstract

Building Information Modelling (BIM) has implications for all processes and activities related to construction supply chain and can, thus, make significant contributions to lean construction process. The existing dimensions of BIM not only attend to most aspects of the construction work and processes, but the technology also has the potential to add further dimensions responding to other existing or future challenges. This paper will look into ways in which Artificial Neural Network (ANN)-COBie can help architects and engineers to perform HVAC analysis with the support of a BIM platform. Other applications e.g. HVAC load analysis and life-cycle cost analysis for any system or component associated with a building may be conducted using the ANN-COBie system that can be stored in the BIM authoring application and exported using IFC or gbXML to any analytic software. These applications' associated future challenges will be briefly discussed. © 2013 IEEE.