A tool based on the industry foundation classes standard for dynamic data collection and automatic generation of building automation control networks

The use of Building Automation and Control Networks (BACN) is becoming increasingly wide spread, largely due to the benefits to end-users and energy management companies of controlling the systems installed in buildings. At the same time, the digitalisation of buildings is increasing every day with the adoption of technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), allowing a high level of digital control in all phases of the building life cycle. However, although the use of BIM is spreading to obtain a digital model of the building, it is not very common to include the existing control systems in BIM models. The integration of BACN-to-BIM seems to be the most appropriate process to have all the information of a building, as it would allow to digitalise and connect both the geometric and the logical part, but it is a challenge to be faced in terms of interoperability. This paper shows the BACN2BIM tool, a tool to make it easier for technical users the creation of monitoring networks linked to BIM models of a building, based on Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) standard. The BACN2BIM tool will allow owners and technical users to easily download dynamic monitoring data, real-time data of the measurements obtained from devices installed in their buildings (temperature, humidity, energy consumption, CO2 concentration, etc.) The tool has been tested in a case study and in a real demo case located in Spain, showing a time reduction in updating a BIM model with the devices of an existing monitoring system and in the download of existing monitoring data.

Automated summary

The use of Building Automation and Control Networks (BACN) has many benefits for the control and management of buildings. Integrating BACN with Building Information Modelling (BIM) presents challenges in terms of interoperability.