Model Transformation from SimModel to Modelica for Building Energy Performance Simulation

This paper demonstrates a model transformation tool between the Building Information Model (BIM) and Modelica schemas for Building Energy Performance Simulation (BEPS) purposes. Automated reuse of data in BIMs to accelerate BEPS model development is now a promising approach for engineers. However, using BEPS tools such as Modelica to generate building simulation models is currently difficult and time consuming due to the largely manual data input. The ability to import data of a BIM into Modelica-based BEPS tool would improve this process significantly. In order to address the challenge, this paper proposes a model transformation prototype to convert Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) based BIMs into object-oriented Modelica simulation models. The proposed approach uses SimModel data model as a placeholder for IFC. SimModel currently contains richer HVAC data definitions than IFC for the purposes of BEPS and can be easily extended to store the additional data required by Modelica. This prototype demonstrates the potential to reduce development time of Modelica models by reusing building information data stored in BIMs.