EAGER/Collaborative Research:Science-Based Exploration of Invariant Signatures of Architecture/Engineering/Construction Objects to Enable Interoperability of Building Info Modeling

建筑信息建模将三维模型与基础设施项目的物理和功能特征集成在一起，并有可能在同一项目的整个生命周期(从设计和施工到维护和操作等)中促进参与的不同各方之间的信息交换。然而，基本问题--缺乏互操作性(即，由于模型不一致和信息缺失而无法在不同平台之间交换信息)--阻碍了此类信息的交换。解决这种缺乏互操作性的现有研究工作主要集中在标准化和语义建模上。这些标准方法没有解决根本问题，仍然依赖于所涉及的计算机模型。这个早期概念探索性研究补助金(AGER)项目旨在科学和经验地研究建筑、工程和施工(AEC)对象的内在属性并发现不变特征，例如基脚、板、墙、梁和柱，以支持建筑信息建模的无缝和通用互操作性。AEC对象的不变签名被定义为该对象的一组固有属性(例如，几何、位置、材料)，这些属性将其自身与其他对象区分开来，并且不会随着软件实现、建模决策和/或语言和文化背景而改变。涉及几何定理、计算机算法和材料力学的跨学科方法将被用来探索和量化这些内在属性。如果成功，该方法有望为建筑信息建模分析的全自动化打开大门，这将显著提高项目各方面的绩效。该项目的基本假设是，由基于笛卡儿点的几何、相对位置和方向以及材料力学属性共同定义的AEC对象的不变签名将使建筑信息建模(BIM)软件在从建筑设计和初步结构设计到详细结构分析和施工成本估算的各个分析阶段实现无缝和通用的互操作。该项目分为两个步骤：1)测试假设，特别是针对可从广泛的AEC对象中识别为固有签名的几何、位置和材料签名的类型；2)测试所发现的签名在自动数量提取和结构分析场景中支持BIM互操作性的能力。公开可用的BIM数据将用于支持对不变签名的探索和对这些签名的测试。该项目是第一个旨在测试利用AEC对象的固有属性来支持BIM互操作性的想法的系统工作，这与专注于AEC对象的数据模式标准化和/或基于术语的语义的现有工作完全不同。如果基本假设得到支持，这项研究有可能改变未来BIM标准的开发和使用方式，以支持所有建模和工程分析任务之间BIM模型的无缝和通用互操作性。本研究成果可广泛应用于建筑工程及其他领域，并最终导致：(1)BIM模型的无缝和通用互操作性；(2)BIM分析的全自动化；(3)未来不同环境下施工材料选择的优化规格。这一项目的方法和成果将纳入两个合作机构的大学课程。该项目还将扩大任职人数不足群体的参与，在招聘研究助理时优先考虑妇女/少数群体学生。

Building Information Modeling integrates 3D models with physical and functional characteristics of an infrastructure project and has the potential to facilitate the exchange of information between different parties involved in the same project throughout its lifecycle, ranging from design and construction to maintenance and operation, and beyond. However, the fundamental problem -- lack of interoperability (ie., inability to exchange information between different platforms), due to model inconsistency and missing information -- prevents the exchange of such information. Existing research efforts to address this lack of interoperability have been heavily focused on standardization and semantic modeling. These standard methods do not address the underlying problem and still depend on the computer models involved. This EArly-concept Grant for Exploratory Research (EAGER) project aims to both scientifically and empirically study the intrinsic properties and discover invariant signatures of architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) objects, such as footings, slabs, walls, beams, and columns, to support seamless and universal interoperability of Building Information Modeling. Invariant signatures of an AEC object are defined as a set of intrinsic properties (e.g., geometry, location, material) of the object that distinguish itself from other objects and that do not change with software implementation, modeling decisions, and/or language and cultural contexts. An interdisciplinary approach involving geometry theorems, computer algorithms, and material mechanics will be employed to explore and quantify these intrinsic properties. If successful, the approach is expected to open the door for full automation of building information modeling analysis, which will significantly improve the project performance in all respects.The underlying hypothesis of the project is that invariant signatures of an AEC object collectively defined by the Cartesian points-based geometric, relative location and orientation, and material mechanical properties will enable seamless and universal interoperability of building information modeling (BIM) software in various analysis phases from architectural design and preliminary structural design to detailed structural analysis and construction cost estimation. The project is divided into two thrusts: 1) test the hypothesis particularly on the kinds of geometric, locational and material signatures that can be identified as inherent signatures from a wide range of AEC objects; 2) test the ability of discovered signatures to support BIM interoperability in the automated quantity takeoff and structural analysis scenarios. Publicly available BIM data will be used to support the exploration of the invariant signatures and the testing of these signatures. This project is the first systematic effort designated to test the idea of leveraging the intrinsic properties of AEC objects to support BIM interoperability, which is radically different from the existing efforts that are focused on data schema standardization and/or term-based semantics of AEC objects. If the underlying hypothesis is supported, this research has the potential to transform the way future BIM standards are developed and used to support seamless and universal interoperability of BIM models among all modeling and engineering analysis tasks. The results of this research could be widely applicable in construction engineering and beyond, and could ultimately lead to: (1) seamless and universal interoperability of BIM models; (2) full automation of BIM analysis; and (3) optimized specifications of material selections for future construction in different environments. The methods and results of this project will be integrated into university coursework at both collaborating institutions. This project will also broaden the participation of underrepresented groups by giving priority to women/minority students when recruiting the research assistants.