Automation of CAD models to BEM models for performance based goal-oriented design methods

This work presents a new methodology to automate the derivation of Building Energy Models (BEMs) from complex 3D Computer-Aided Design (CAD) geometry. The goal is to combine current parametric modeling, digital fabrication, and computer graphics techniques to automatically generate the geometric input of an energy model from any digital 3D model of a building. Such automation facilitates the use and implementation of goal-oriented design methods that integrate energy performance with other types of building performance models. In this work, mesh planarization algorithms, which are currently Used in computer graphics and in digital fabrication methods, are used and adapted to automate and optimize the parsing of non-planar surfaces to EnergyPlus (E+), a popular BEM engine. The proposed methodology facilitates the modeling of thermal zones with double-curved envelopes, which is a time-consuming task that typically requires a high level of expertise from the energy modeler. The proposed single, streamlined workflow generates digital models that are suitable for both energy optimization and digital fabrication, thereby facilitating the integration of two parallel design procedures at the core of an architectural design process. Through this workflow, a single CAD model generates solutions that are energy efficient and feasibly fabricated using digital techniques. This goal-oriented design workflow is applied in the study of fritting pattern densities for three complex double-curved building geometries. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.