Web-based approach for systematic analysis and interactive visualization of the industry foundation classes data: a case study in duct design

ABSTRACT

Existing model checkers of building information modeling (BIM) can open industry foundation classes (IFC) files and perform clash detection between mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) and architectural as well as structural models. However, there are few applications of IFC data in MEP engineering, specifically in interactive visualization between calculation results and BIM models. This study focuses on the systematic analysis of a BIM model and interactive visualization of IFC data for MEP engineering. First, the systematic analysis method for a ventilation system is proposed using the critical path class. Second, referring to the IFC relationship of connections between duct elements, elements in the same system are sorted into different levels of critical paths. Furthermore, ifcPressureViewer is developed based on the interactive visualization methodology by connecting Three.js, a JavaScript 3D library, with Echarts, a JavaScript visualization library, which is applicable for desktop computers and mobile tablets. This is followed by a case study that demonstrates the application of the interactive visualization process. Finally, the conclusions of this study are summarized, and directions for future research are discussed.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• IFC-Property sets
• critical path
• node
• pressure loss
• balancing rate

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author, [L.X.]

Notes

¹ The name of the IFC attribute is in italic.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 21K04375

Notes on contributors

Hongxia Deng

Dr. Hongxia Deng is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science, Taiyuan University of Technology. She received her Bachelor's, Master's and PhD degrees in engineering from Taiyuan University of Technology in 1998, 2006 and 2013, respectively.

Ying Liu

Mr. Ying Liu recently graduated from the graduate school of Taiyuan University of Technology. He received his B.E degree from Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang in 2019, and M.Eng degree from Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan in 2022.

Yumeng Liu

Ms. Yumeng Liu is a PhD student at the graduate school of Tohoku Institute of Technology. She received her B.Eng degree from Shenyang City University in 2019, and MSc degree from Tohoku Institute of Technology , Japan in 2022.

Lei Xu

Dr. Lei Xu is a Professor at the Faculty of Architecture, Tohoku Institute of Technology. He received his BSc degree from East China Institute of Technology, Nanjing in 1992, MSc degree from Tongji University, Shanghai in 1998, and PhD degree from Waseda University, Tokyo in 2003.

Chongen Wang

Mr. Chongen Wang is a Professor at the Department of Architecture, Taiyuan University of Technology. He received his BSc and MSc degrees from Taiyuan University of Technology， in 1999 and 2003, respectively.