Framework for Interoperability of Information Resources in the Building Energy Simulation Domain

Designers and facility managers increasingly rely on Building Energy Performance Simulation (BEPS) tools to analyze complex building systems and determine whole building energy performance. A major barrier in the deployment of BEPS tools has been the lack of process interoperability and the magnitude and complexity of the required input data that often results in inaccurate and incomplete simulation models and simulation results. This paper introduces a Simulation Resource Framework that aims to gives end-users access to varied simulation resource libraries and energy-related design decision templates capturing weather data, occupancy activities, construction types and material thermal properties when configuring simulation models. Such templates and resources, bringing in expert know-how from theoretical studies and past experience, are especially valuable in early design where knowledge about the building's performance and components is incomplete but fundamental decisions have to be made. In the paper, we describe the overall concept and development approach of the suggested framework and its integration in a broader Multi-Model environment enabling interoperability of BIM and any needed non-BIM resources hosted in the Simulation Resource Framework (SRF).