Model Validation Using Invariant Signatures and Logic-Based Inference for Automated Building Code Compliance Checking
Publication: Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering
Volume 36, Issue 3
Abstract
Fully automated building code compliance checking (ACC) requires accurate information extraction from both building information models (BIMs) and building code chapters, and equally (if not more) importantly, a precise matching between the two. Although research on information extraction has been extensively conducted for ACC, there is a lack of investigation of automated and practical information mapping between the extracted information, from BIMs to building code requirements. To address this gap, the authors proposed a new method for BIM model validation to validate an input Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) model with regard to building code concepts. This validation method was supported by creating invariant signatures of architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) objects that capture the geometric nature of the objects. Target concepts from building codes are classified into four categories: (1) explicit concepts, (2) inferable concepts, (3) user-assisted concepts, and (4) system defaults. Identification algorithms are developed for all four categories based on the invariant signatures of AEC objects. An experiment was conducted to test the proposed method on validating five real commercial project models with selected concepts from a current building code. Compared with a manually developed gold standard, 99.8% precision and 99.6% recall were achieved. This demonstrates that the proposed method is promising in supporting information matching between BIMs and building code concepts for ACC purpose.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the National Science Foundation (NSF). This material is based on work supported by the NSF under Grant No. 1827733. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF.
References
Adán, A., B. Quintana, S. A. Prieto, and F. Bosché. 2018. “Scan-to-BIM for ‘secondary’ building components.” Adv. Eng. Inf. 37: 119–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aei.2018.05.001.
Azhar, S. 2011. “Building information modeling (BIM): Trends, benefits, risks, and challenges for the AEC industry.” Leadersh. Manage. Eng. 11 (3): 241–252. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)LM.1943-5630.0000127.
Ding, L., R. Drogemuller, M. Rosenman, D. Marchant, and J. Gero. 2006. “Automating code checking for building designs: Design check.” In Clients driving innovation: Moving ideas into practice, 1–16. Brisbane, Australia: Construction Innovation.
Ding, L., K. Li, Y. Zhou, and P. E. D. Love. 2017. “An IFC-inspection process model for infrastructure projects: Enabling real-time quality monitoring and control.” Autom. Constr. 84 (Dec): 96–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2017.08.029.
Eastman, C., J. Lee, Y. Jeong, and J. Lee. 2009. “Automatic rule-based checking of building designs.” Autom. Constr. 18 (8): 1011–1033. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2009.07.002.
Fenves, S. J. 1966. “Tabular decision logic for structural design.” J. Struct. Div. 92 (6): 473–490. https://doi.org/10.1061/JSDEAG.0001567.
Fernández, M., I. Cantador, V. López, D. Vallet, P. Castells, and E. Motta. 2011. “Semantically enhanced information retrieval: An ontology-based approach.” Web Semant. 9 (4): 434–452. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.websem.2010.11.003.
Gallin, D. 2011. Intensional and higher-order modal logic with applications to Montague semantics. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier Science.
Garrett, J. H., Jr., and S. J. Fenves. 1987. “A knowledge-based standard processor for structural component design.” Eng. Comput. 2 (4): 219–238. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01276414.
Hamledari, H., B. McCabe, and S. Davari. 2017. “Automated computer vision-based detection of components of under-construction indoor partitions.” Autom. Constr. 74 (Feb): 78–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2016.11.009.
Haubler, M., S. Esser, and A. Borrmann. 2021. “Code compliance checking of railway designs by integrating BIM, BPMN and DMN.” Autom. Constr. 121 (Jan): 103427. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2020.103427.
Hjelseth, E., and N. Nisbet. 2011. “Capturing normative constraints by use of the semantic mark-up (RASE) methodology.” In Proc., CIB W78 2011—28th Int. Conf.-Applications of IT in the AEC Industry. Rotterdam, Netherlands: Conseil International du Bâtiment.
Holzer, D. 2015. BIM manager’s handbook. Best practice BIM. EPart 1. West Sussex, UK: Wiley.
ICC (International Code Council). 2009. “2009 International Building Code.” Accessed November 4, 2021. https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IBC2009.
ICC (International Code Council). 2015. “2015 International Building Code.” Accessed November 4, 2021. hhttps://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IBC2015.
ICC (International Code Council). 2018. “2015 International Fire Code.” Accessed November 4, 2021. https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IFC2018.
Jeong, J., and G. Lee. 2009. “Requirements for automated code checking for fire resistance and egress rule using BIM.” In Proc., Int. Conf. on Construction Engineering and Project Management, 316–322. Seoul, Korean: Korea Construction Management Association.
Kasim, T., H. Li, Y. Rezgui, and T. Beach. 2013. “Automated sustainability compliance checking process: Proof of concept.” Accessed January 2, 2021. http://itc.scix.net/paper/convr-2013-1.
Khemlani, L. 2011. “CORENET e-PlanCheck: Singapore’s automated code checking system. AECbytes.” Accessed January 2, 2021. http://www.aecbytes.com/feature/2005/CORENETePlanCheck.html.
Kim, H., Z. Shen, I. Kim, K. Kim, A. Stumpf, and J. Yu. 2016. “BIM IFC information mapping to building energy analysis (BEA) model with manually extended material information.” Autom. Constr. 68 (Aug): 183–193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2016.04.002.
Lopez, L., S. Elam, and K. Reed. 1989. “Software concept for checking engineering designs for conformance with codes and standards.” Eng. Comput. 5 (2): 63–78. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01199070.
Lopez, L. A., and R. N. Wright. 1985. Mapping principles for the standards interface for computer aided design. Gaithersburg, MD: National Bureau of Standards.
Martins, J. P., and A. Monteiro. 2013. “LicA: A BIM based automated code-checking application for water distribution systems.” Autom. Constr. 29 (Jan): 12–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2012.08.008.
Nadkarni, P. M., L. Ohno-Machado, and W. W. Chapman. 2011. “Natural language processing: An introduction.” J. Am. Med. Inf. Assoc. 18 (5): 544–551. https://doi.org/10.1136/amiajnl-2011-000464.
Naeem, K. J. 2014. A defeasible logic programming-based framework to support argumentation in semantic web applications. New York: Springer.
Nawari, O. 2012. “Automating codes conformance.” J. Archit. Eng. 18 (4): 315–323. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)AE.1943-5568.0000049.
Nawari, O. 2018. Building information modeling: Automated code checking and compliance processes. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Nguyen, T., and J. Kim. 2011. “Building code compliance checking using BIM technology.” In Proc., 2011 Winter Simulation Conf. (WSC), 3395–3400. New York: IEEE.
Paliouras, G., C. D. Spyropoulos, and G. Tsatsaronis. 2011. Knowledge-driven multimedia information extraction and ontology evolution: Bridging the semantic gap. Berlin: Springer.
Puente, I., H. González-Jorge, J. Martínez-Sánchez, and P. Arias. 2014. “Automatic detection of road tunnel luminaires using a mobile LiDAR system.” Meas. J. Int. Meas. Confederation 47 (1): 569–575. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.measurement.2013.09.044.
Quintana, B., S. A. Prieto, A. Adán, and F. Bosché. 2018. “Door detection in 3D coloured point clouds of indoor environments.” Autom. Constr. 85 (Jan): 146–166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2017.10.016.
Sacks, R. 2018. BIM handbook: A guide to building information modeling for owners, designers, engineers, contractors and facility managers. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Sarawagi, S. 2008. “Information extraction.” Found. Trends Databases 1 (3): 261–377. https://doi.org/10.1561/1900000003.
Sionov, R. V., S. A. Vlahopoulos, and Z. Granot. 2015. “Regulation of BIM in health and disease.” Oncotarget 6 (27): 23058–23134. https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.5492.
Solihin, W., and C. Eastman. 2015. “Classification of rules for automated BIM rule checking development.” Autom. Constr. 53 (May): 69–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2015.03.003.
Tan, X., A. Hammad, and P. Fazio. 2010. “Automated code compliance checking for building envelope design.” J. Comput. Civ. Eng. 24 (2): 203–211. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0887-3801(2010)24:2(203).
Volk, R., J. Stengel, and F. Schultmann. 2014. “Building information modeling (BIM) for existing buildings—Literature review and future needs.” Autom. Constr. 38 (Mar): 109–127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2013.10.023.
WBDG (Whole Building Design Guide). 2021. “Common building information model files and tools.” Accessed July 20, 2021. https://www.wbdg.org/bim/cobie/common-bim-files.
Wimalasuriya, D. C., and D. Dou. 2010. “Ontology-based information extraction: An introduction and a survey of current approaches.” J. Inf. Sci. 36 (3): 306–323. https://doi.org/10.1177/0165551509360123.
Wu, J., H. L. Sadraddin, R. Ren, J. Zhang, and X. Shao. 2021. “Invariant signatures of architecture, engineering, and construction objects to support BIM interoperability between architectural design and structural analysis.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 147 (1): 04020148. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001943.
Wu, J., and J. Zhang. 2019a. “Introducing geometric signatures of architecture, engineering, and construction objects and a new BIM dataset.” In Proc., 2019 ASCE Int. Conf. on Computing in Civil Engineering, 264–271. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Wu, J., and J. Zhang. 2019b. “New automated BIM object classification method to support BIM interoperability.” J. Comput. Civ. Eng. 33 (5): 04019033. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CP.1943-5487.0000858.
Xu, X., and H. Cai. 2020. “Semantic approach to compliance checking of underground utilities.” Autom. Constr. 109 (Jan): 103006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2019.103006.
Yang, Q. Z., and X. Xu. 2004. “Design knowledge modeling and software implementation for building code compliance checking.” Build. Environ. 39 (6): 689–698. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2003.12.004.
Yang, Z., H. Yu, J. Tang, and H. Liu. 2019. “Toward keyword extraction in constrained information retrieval in vehicle social network.” IEEE Trans. Veh. Technol. 68 (5): 4285–4294. https://doi.org/10.1109/TVT.2019.2906799.
Yehia, E., E. Boshnak, S. AbdelGaber, A. Abdo, and D. S. Elzanfaly. 2019. “Ontology-based clinical information extraction from physician’s free-text notes.” J. Biomed. Inf. 98 (Oct): 103276. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbi.2019.103276.
Zhang, J., and N. El-Gohary. 2015. “Automated information transformation for automated regulatory compliance checking in construction.” J. Comput. Civ. Eng. 29 (4): B4015001. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CP.1943-5487.0000427.
Zhang, J., and N. El-Gohary. 2016a. “Extending building information models semi-automatically using natural language processing techniques.” J. Comput. Civ. Eng. 30 (5): C4016004. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CP.1943-5487.0000536.
Zhang, J., and N. El-Gohary. 2016b. “Semantic NLP-based information extraction from construction regulatory documents for automated compliance checking.” J. Comput. Civ. Eng. 30 (2): 04015014. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CP.1943-5487.0000346.
Zhang, J., and N. El-Gohary. 2016c. “Semantic-based logic representation and reasoning for automated regulatory compliance checking.” J. Comput. Civ. Eng. 31 (1): 4016037. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CP.1943-5487.0000583.
Zhang, J., and N. El-Gohary. 2017. “Integrating semantic NLP and logic reasoning into a unified system for fully-automated code checking.” Autom. Constr. 73 (Jan): 45–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2016.08.027.
Zhang, R., and N. El-Gohary. 2019. “A machine-learning approach for semantic matching of building codes and building information models (BIMs) for supporting automated code checking.” In Proc., GeoMEast 2019 Int. Congress and Exhibition. New York: Springer.
Zhou, N. 2014. “B-Prolog user’s manual (version 8.1): Prolog, agent, and constraint programming.” Accessed April 1, 2021. http://www.picat-lang.org/bprolog/download/manual.pdf.
Zou, Y., A. Kiviniemi, and S. W. Jones. 2017. “A review of risk management through BIM and BIM-related technologies.” Saf. Sci. 97 (Aug): 88–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2015.12.027.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering
Volume 36 • Issue 3 • May 2022
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 6, 2021
Accepted: Sep 23, 2021
Published online: Feb 7, 2022
Published in print: May 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Jul 7, 2022
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.
Cited by
- Jiansong Zhang, Fan Yang, Building a Bridge between Building Information Modeling and Digital Twins: Introducing Invariant Signatures of Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Objects, Digital Twins in Construction and the Built Environment, 10.1061/9780784485606.ch2, (37-62), (2024).
- Fan Yang, Jiansong Zhang, Application of Graph Convolutional Networks to Classification of Building Code Requirements, Construction Research Congress 2024, 10.1061/9780784485262.085, (836-845), (2024).
- Hang Li, Jiansong Zhang, Information Extraction for Semantic Enrichment of BIM for Bridges, Construction Research Congress 2024, 10.1061/9780784485262.064, (629-638), (2024).