Exchange Building Model - Basic (ER)

A basic building model is defined as 'the set of information that provides both a graphical representation of the design of a building and key pieces of information about the building that can be further used to analyse building performance' (from Autodesk)

The purpose of exchanging a basic building model is to provide information about a building that enables downstream analyses (structural, thermal, lighting, acoustic etc.) to be undertaken. The basic building model provides information about the building, the layout of spaces within it and the main building elements from which it is to be constructed

Particular information that is required with the basic building model includes:

• the name of the project (for identification purposes) and the units generally used throughout the project; additionally, the current phase of the project may be given but this is not mandatory
• configuration of a site on which a building is located including the geographical location (latitude, longitude and elevation above sea level for the site datum) and shape layout
• further information about a site may be provided including land title number and local address
• location of a building in connection with a site or external space on which it is located
• overall shape of a building with its plan shape at various heights and elevation shape at various orientations so that building areas, height, volume and building mass can be established
• configuration of levels or storeys within a building with their plan shape and height so that areas and volumes can be established
• configuration of spaces within a building or building storey, including both partial and complete/room spaces and the association between partial and complete spaces, with their plan shape and height so that areas and volumes can be established; this allows for the definition of atrium spaces that span more than one storey of a building
• spaces should have a name and a type that specifies their function (for later use in analysis)
• dimensional information concerning spaces should enable calculation of areas and volume and include length, width and height information and the plan shape of the room.
• the elevation of spaces above the building reference should be given.
• one or more 3 dimensional shape representations should be defined for the space including at least a 'bounding box' representation (the box that contains the space shape) and probably a more detailed 3 dimensional representation of the boundaries of the space.
• arrangement of major building elements within a building and within the storeys of a building with their shape so their typical length, width, height dimensions can be established; major building elements being defined as walls, floors, roofs, ceilings
• shape representations of building elements should be defined including their 2D profile, bounding box and 3 dimensional representation of their boundaries.
• type or style definitions should be given where a given type or style of building element will be used many times; each occurrence of a building element will be designated as being of a particular type
• provision of openings within buildings elements within which further building elements can be constructed to fill the openings (referred to as 'filling' elements)
• provision of filling elements with their shape so that their typical length and height dimensions can be established; filling elements being defined as doors, windows, skylights/rooflights
• shape representations of filling elements should be defined including their 2D profile, bounding box and 3 dimensional representation of their boundaries.
• type or style definitions should be given where a given type or style of filling element will be used many times; each occurrence of a filling element will be designated as being of a particular type
• relationships between openings and major elements and between openings and filling elements so that the identity of particular filling elements within particular major elements can be determined

Optional information that may be required with the basic building model includes:

• material from which a building element or filling element is constructed
• classification of spaces, building elements and filling elements according to particular classification systems and tables
• connection relationships between major building elements

Information Requirements

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

Referenced by

This list shows all process maps which reference this specific ER.