OutDet: an algorithm for extracting the outer surfaces of building information models for integration with geographic information systems

ABSTRACT

The integration of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and geographic information systems (GIS) is a promising but challenging topic to solve problems in construction industry. However, loading and rendering rich BIM geometric data and large-scale GIS spatial information in a unified system is still technologically challenging. Current efforts mainly simplify the geometry in BIM models, or convert BIM geometric data to a lower level of detail (LOD). By noticing that only exterior features of BIM models are visible from outdoor observation points, culling BIM interior facilities can dramatically reduce the computational burden when visualizing BIM models in GIS. This study explores the outline detection problem and presents the OutDet algorithm, which selects representative observation points, transforms & projects the BIM geometric data into the same coordinate system, and detects the visible facilities. Empirical study results show that OutDet can cull a large portion of unnecessary features when rendering BIM models in GIS. The use of outlines of BIM models is not an alternative but rather a supplementary approach for current solutions. Jointly using LOD and outer surface can help improve the efficiency of integrated BIM-GIS visualization.Because OutDet retains BIM geometry and semantics, it can be applied to more BIM-GIS applications..

KEYWORDS:

• Outline detection
• building information modelling
• geographic information systems
• integrated visualization

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [71601013, 61871020]; Natural Science Foundation of Ningxia Province [NZ16050]; Beijing Natural Science Foundation [4174087]; Youth Talent Project of Beijing University of Civil Engineering & Architecture; Scientific Research Project of Beijing Educational Committee [SQKM201710016002]; MOHURD Science and Technology Program and Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Future Design [UDC2017033422]

Notes on contributors

Xiaoping Zhou

Xiaoping Zhou is currently an associate professor at the Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture and the chief scientist at the BIMWinner Co. Ltd. He leads the Smart City Digitization Lab. at the BUCEA. He founded the www.bos.xyz in 2018. His research interests include construction big data, social big data and artificial intelligence. E-mail: [email protected].

Jichao Zhao

Jichao Zhao is currently an assistant professor at the CNPC Managers Training Institute. Her research interests are data mining and artificial intelligence. E-mail: [email protected].

Jia Wang

Jia Wang is currently a professor at the Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture. Her research interests are building information model and fire information system. E-mail: [email protected].

Dingding Su

Dingding Su is currently a postgraduate student at the Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture. Her research interests are building information model and fire information system. E-mail: [email protected].

Haiyan Zhang

Haiyan Zhang is currently an associate professor at the NingXia University. Her research interests are data mining and artificial intelligence. E-mail: [email protected].

Ming Guo

Ming Guo is currently an associate professor at the Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture. His research interests are in the areas of LiDAR measurement technology, mobile mapping system, 3D spatial index, 3D model reconstruction and spatial analysis of point cloud. E-mail: [email protected].

Maozu Guo

Maozu Guo is a professor at the Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture. His research interests include artificial intelligence and smart city. E-mail:[email protected].

Zhi Li

Zhi Li is the vice manager of Department of technology, planning and design in Beijing Capital Highway Development Group CO.,Ltd. He was in charge of the planning and design of many national expressways, especially in charge of the BIM technology application of Yanchong Expressway which serves the 2022 Winter Olympic Game and the 2019 World Horticultural Exposition. E-mail: [email protected].