2 - Spatial Structure Elements - Exchange Building Model - Basic (ER)

Spatial Structure Elements

Part of Exchange Building Model - Basic (ER).

Type of Information	Information Needed	Man	Opt	Actor Supplying	Functional Part
Site	A site generally represents place where construction work takes place. In IFC, it has the additional definition of being a defined area of land, possibly covered with water, on which the project construction is to be completed such that a site may be used to erect building(s) or other AEC products. Therefore, a site has both a geographic context and the context of being a place of work. Since a building must be placed on a site within the overall definition of the IFC model, the geographic context therefore takes precedence. Because a building project may span several different workplaces (sites) and because there can only be one project referenced by an IFC based exchange, several sites may be used. These may be grouped into a site 'complex' or broken down in to site 'parts'.The information presented in this functional part is sufficient for the exchange of a basic building model. This information includes: Specification of site name and description if required An extended name for the site may also be specified if required Dimensional information about the site may be given to enable the creation of a shape representation Particular forms of shape representation may include survey point representation 2D footprint representation facetation representation body representation Specification of whether the site concerned is a complex of several sites, an elemental (single) site or a part of a site. Where the site is a 'complex', identification of the elemental sites that are nested into the complex. Where the site is a 'part', identification of the site into which the part is nested It should be noted that the 'part' breakdown of a site may give rise to parts that overlap in terms of their shape content. Therefore, the overall shape of a site should not be derived by adding together the shapes of parts. The reference elevation above sea level of the site may be given. This provides a reference height from which the elevation of elements relative to the site may be determined. The reference latitude of the site may be given. The reference longitude of the site may be given. The postal address for the site may be given. The land title number of the site may be given. This is the identification given to the site within the local geographical planning context.	X		Building Design (RS)	Model Site (FP)
Terrain	Shape of the surface of the site.		X	[Bulding Design (RS)]	[Model Design (FP)]
Building	A building represents a structure that provides shelter for its occupants or contents and stands in one place. The building is an element within the spatial structure hierarchy for the components of a building project (together with site, storey, and space). A building is (if specified) associated to a site. It is therefore a requirement that, before a building can be specified, a site must exist. Refer to the functional part [Site (FP)] for further information. A building may span over several connected or disconnected buildings. To allow for this, a 'building complex' can be defined which comprises several elemental buildings. Similarly, a building can also be broken down into several identifiable parts or sections. To allow for this, a 'building part' can be defined such that an elemental building comprises several building parts. The information presented in this functional part is sufficient for the exchange of a basic building model. This information includes: Specify the site on which the building is contained Specification of building name and description if required An extended name for the building may also be specified if required Dimensional information about the building may be given to enable the creation of a shape representation if the building shape cannot otherwise be found from the building elements (wall, roof etc.) from which the building is constructed. This would be particularly the case during early stages of design where the building mass needs to be established but the building itself is not broken down into parts. Overall building shape might also be provided for communication with geographic information systems. The form of shape representation used for a building may differ at various stages of a building project and these are specifically identified within exchange requirements. Particular forms of shape representation may include 2D footprint representation with additional height information given as a quantity 3D body representation The length, width and height dimensions of the building may be established by the bounding box shape representation Specification of whether the building concerned is a complex of several buildings, an elemental (single) building or a part of a building. Where the building is a 'complex', identification of the elemental buildings that are nested into the complex. Where the building is a 'part', identification of the building into which the part is nested It should be noted that the 'part' breakdown of a building may give rise to parts that overlap in terms of their shape content. Therefore, the overall shape of a building should not be derived by adding together the shapes of parts. The reference elevation above sea level of the building may be given. This provides a reference height from which the elevation of individual building storeys and other elements in a building may be determined (where the reference height is considered to be 0.0 for measurement purposes). The reference height is usually specified as being at the ground floor level of a building or the level at which the main entrance to the building is located. The reference elevation above sea level of the terrain around the building may be given. This provides a reference height for the surrounding site that can be used for measurement purposes. Note that this may be used in conjunction with the reference elevation of the building for calculation purposes referring to a datum point. The postal address for the building may be given. The occupancy type of the building may be given according to the local/national building codes to specify the use or purpose of the building (and therefore how it will be assessed for building codes, fire codes etc. and what design parameters may need to be later applied).	X		Building Design (RS)	Model Building (FP)
Building	Additional quantities may be applied to a building including: Total height measured from the level of terrain to the top part of a building Gross volume These may be provided according to particular methods of measurement applied in different locations.		X	Building Design (RS)	[Apply Quantity (FP)]
Building Storey	A building storey represents an aggregation of spaces at a particular horizontal (or nearly horizontal level within a building. The building storey is an element within the spatial structure hierarchy for the components of a building project (together with site, building, and space). A building storey may exist at several levels within a building (the floor level of a particular building storey may change several times). To allow for this, a building storey may be broken down into parts, each part representing a different floor level. Similarly, several building storeys may be brought together vertically to represent a single vertical space in a building that is characterised as a building storey (although it may, for instance, be described as an atrium). For this purpose, a building storey complex can be established. The information presented in this functional part is sufficient for the exchange of a basic building model. This information includes: Specification of building storey name and description if required An extended name for the building storey also be specified if required Dimensional information about the building storey may be given to enable the creation of a shape representation if the shape cannot otherwise be found from the building elements (wall, floor etc.) from which the building storey is constructed. This could be the case during early stages of design. The form of shape representation used for a building storey may differ at various stages of a building project and these are specifically identified within exchange requirements. Particular forms of shape representation may include 2D footprint representation with additional height information given as a quantity 3D body representation The length, width and height dimensions of the building storey may be established by the bounding box shape representation Specification of whether the building storey concerned is a complex of several building storeys, an elemental (single) building storey or a part of a building storey. Where the building storey is a 'complex', identification of the elemental building storeys that are nested into the complex. Where the building storey is a 'part', identification of the building storey into which the part is nested It should be noted that the 'part' breakdown of a building storey may give rise to parts that overlap in terms of their shape content. Therefore, the overall shape of a building storey should not be derived by adding together the shapes of parts. The elevation of the building storey above the reference elevation of the building may be given. An indication of whether this is the storey of the building at which the main entrance to a building is located may be given. An indication of the whether the building storey concerned is above or below ground level may be given.	X		Building Design (RS)	Model Building Storey (FP)
Building Storey	Additional quantities may be applied to a building storey including: Total height measured from the bottom surface of the floor, to the bottom surface of the floor or roof above Gross volume These may be provided according to particular methods of measurement applied in different locations.		X	Building Design (RS)	[Apply Quantity (FP)]
Spaces/Rooms	A space is defined as representing an area or volume bounded actually or theoretically. In IFC, spaces are further defined as areas or volumes that provide for certain functions within a building. However, a space may equally be defined as providing for functions outside a building. The information presented in this functional part is sufficient for the exchange of a basic building model. This information includes: Specification of space (room) name which should be the unique name (or space number) for the space (equivalent to the space number identifier from a plan. Note that international standards exist for room naming and it is recommended that these be used if possible Specification of space (room) description which can be used for any further qualifying information about a space Specification of an extended (long) name for the space (room) to capture the full name of the space. This is often used in addition to the name. For instance, if a number is assigned to the room, then the descriptive name is exchanged as LongName Specification of the space type, which usually identifies the functional category of the space (e.g. b edroom, kitchen, office etc.) Dimensional information about the space may be given to enable the creation of a shape representation if the space shape cannot otherwise be found from the building elements (wall, roof etc.) bounding it. This would be particularly the case during early stages of design where the space needs to be established but the building itself is not broken down into parts. Overall space shape for external spaces should also be provided for communication with geographic information systems. The form of shape representation used for a shape may differ at various stages of a building project and these are specifically identified within exchange requirements. Particular forms of shape representation may include 2D footprint representation with additional height information given as a quantity 3D body representation using swept solids 3D body representation using clipping of solids Specification of whether the space concerned is a complex of several spaces, an elemental (single) space or a part of a space. Where the space is a 'complex', identification of the elemental spaces that are nested into the complex. Where the space is a 'part', identification of the space into which the part is nested It should be noted that the 'part' breakdown of a space may give rise to parts that overlap in terms of their shape content. Therefore, the overall shape of a space should not be derived by adding together the shapes of parts. The level of flooring of the space relative to the reference elevation of the building; the average level should be taken where the space ground surface is sloping or if there are level differences within this space. Identification of whether the space is internal or external Common properties of a space required to identify: Reference to the type of space from a defined list of types for the project. Occupancy type from classifications given in the relevant local code and number of occupants anticipated. Occupancies may be given according to the form of activity of the occupant within the space. Indication of accessibility to a space for the public and disabled persons.	X		Building Design (RS)	Model Space (FP)
Space/Rooms	Additional quantities may be applied to the room space including: Average height (floor/ceiling, floor/floor) Perimeter distance measurement (if not otherwise derived) Room volume These may be provided according to particular methods of measurement applied in different locations.		X	Building Design (RS)

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Spatial Structure Elements