Development of an FMI-Based Data Model to Support a BIM-Integrated Building Performance Analysis Framework

The lack of modularity in building design information within multi-domain building performance analysis environments impedes efficient multidisciplinary analysis during the building design process. This study proposes a Functional Mock-up Interface (FMI)-based data model to facilitate the translation of building design information into a Building Information Modeling (BIM)-integrated building performance analysis framework that can be seamlessly integrated with object-oriented physical models. The proposed data model employs both FMI and BIM to decouple the design information required for physics-based analysis from existing Building Information Models. It then generates a physical BIM-based Functional Mock-up Unit (PBIM-FMU), which encapsulates the necessary building design information and can operate independently within a multi-domain building performance analysis environment. The PBIM-FMU can be readily interfaced with object-oriented physical modeling (OOPM)-based analysis models, as demonstrated in this study through its integration with an OOPM-based thermal analysis model for estimating annual building energy demand. To validate the proposed framework, simulation results from a manually constructed thermal analysis model were compared with those from a model integrated with the PBIM-FMU. The results were consistent, confirming that the data model supports accurate data exchange between BIM and multi-domain building performance simulation platforms.