Data retrieval from building information models based on visual programming

• Published in: Visualization in engineering Vol. 5; no. 1; pp. 1 - 14
• Main Authors: Preidel, Cornelius, Daum, Simon, Borrmann, André
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 11.10.2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Building information modeling; Building management systems; Buildings; CAE) and Design; Computer-Aided Engineering (CAD; Construction industry; Data retrieval; End users; Engineering; Engineering Design; Filtration; Industrial Design; Information retrieval; Operators (mathematics); Programming languages; Queries; Relational algebra; Streamlining; Two dimensional models; Visual programming languages; Relational algebra; Visual programming; Information retrieval; Building information modeling
• ISSN: 2213-7459; 2213-7459
• DOI: 10.1186/s40327-017-0055-0

Background With the rising adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the AEC sector, computational models supersede traditional ways of information provision based on textual documents and two-dimensional drawings. The use of models enables the streamlining of workflows, and the included virtual construction increases the quality of the final product, the building. To create a comprehensive description of a planned building, information from different sources must be combined, specified and regularly updated by the project’s stakeholders. The emerging models are highly structured, and instance files entail large amounts of data. However, in an unprocessed state, these models are of limited suitability for performing engineering tasks as the amount and structure does not match the domain-specific and purpose-oriented views. Methods Selection and filtering data for the user’s needs is a well-understood task in computer science, and various approaches are available. A promising approach is the usage of formal query languages. In this paper, selected common query languages are examined and assessed for processing building model information. Based on the analysis, we come to the conclusion that textual query languages are too complex to be employed by typical end users in the construction industry such as architects and engineers. Results To overcome this issue, two Visual Programming Languages representing a new, more intuitive mechanism for data retrieval are introduced. The first one, QL4BIM, is designed for general filtering of IFC models, the second one, VCCL, has been developed for Code Compliance Checking. Both languages provide operators based on the Relational Algebra to allow handling of relations - a highly required feature of BIM QLs. Conclusions The paper concludes with a discussion of the strengths and limitations of visual programming languages in the BIM context.