Recent advances in SEMERGY: A semantically enriched optimization environment for performance-guided bui lding design

and refurbishment

U. Pont, F. Shayegenfar, N. Ghiassi, M. Taheri, C. Sustr & A. Mahdavi

Department of Building Physics and Building Ecology, Vienna University of Technology

S. Fenz, J. Heurix, A. Anjomshoaa, T. Neubauer & A.M. Tjoa

Inst. of Software Technology and Interactive Systems, Vienna University of Technology

Performance-Assessment-Guided Design – Barriers and Expectations

� Early-stage performance assessment can drastically affect final performance of

the building

� Currently assessment tools are used for certification and labeling of the final

product rather than to support design decisions

� Less than 10% of the developed tools are targeted for architects and designers

Source: Attia 2011

Performance-Assessment-Guided Design – Barriers and Expectations

� Intelligence: capability to analyse results, draw meaningful conclusions, and

suggest clear guidelines to improve design

� Usability: Facility of accumulation and entry of input information and performing

computations

Source: Attia 2011 Source: Mahdavi et al. 2005

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SEMERGY: Concept

� Laymen� Architects� Municipalities

� Building products

� Performance assessment

� Life Cycle Analysis

Source: w

ww

.data2save.com

� Building products� Building codes� Subsidies

� Life Cycle Analysis� Cost estimation

OPTIMIZATION

Evolution of Web to Web of Data

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Tim Berners Lee‘s Data star schemeQuality Level Description Format / example

� Available on the web but with an open license, to be Open Data

whatever format

�� Available as machine-readable structured data

Excel instead of image scan of a table

��� as (2) plus non-proprietary format CSV or JSON instead of

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��� as (2) plus non-proprietary format CSV or JSON instead of Excel

���� All the above plus, Use open standards from to identify things

RDF, SPARQL

����� All the above, plus: Link your data to other people’s data to provide context

Linked RDF

Database Hugging Disorder (DBHD)Hans Rosling

• My basic idea is that the world has changed so much, what people need is a new mindset.

• To heal DBHD, we need to encourage:– those who provide the datasets– those who provide new technologies to access or process

them– and those who ‘play’ with them and give data meaning

http://www.thinkwithgoogle.co.uk/intl/en_uk/quarterly/data/hans-rosling-a-data-state-of-mind.html

SEMERGY: Structure

Use

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Source: Mahdavi et al. 2012

Use

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User Interface

� Novice users: SEMERGY Graphical Web-Based User Interface

� Experienced professionals (architects): Extended SEMERGY Graphical Web-Based

User Interface, with import possibility from BIM and CAD

� Area municipalities or other local authorities: Import from GIS data

Semantic Interface

� Acquisition of data from different sources

� Restructuring of the acquired data to enable specific queris

� Extension of restructured data with additional information to allow precise

search and implementation of rules

SE

ME

RG

Y

…

Baubook

Data Source : Baubook

<owl:NamedIndividual rdf:about="#solidwood_2142705277"><rdf:type rdf:resource="#SolidWood"/>

<rdfs:label l:lang="de">Brettsperrholzplatte</rdfs:label><rdfs:comment xml:lang="de„> Großformatige Massivholzpaneele aus

Kreuzweiseverleimten Brettlagen ... </rdfs:comment><semergy:heatTransferCoefficient>0.12</semergy:heatTransferCoefficient><semergy:acidificationPotential>0.00341</semergy:acidificationPotential><semergy:acidificationPotential>0.00341</semergy:acidificationPotential><semergy:notRenewablePEI>8.04</semergy:notRenewablePEI><semergy:gloablWarmingPotential>-1.26</semergy:gloablWarmingPotential>

</owl:NamedIndividual>

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Reasoning Interface

� Incorporation of computational engines (performance simulation, normative

assessment tools,

� Identification of design alternatives

� Optimization of the initial design towards better performance within the limits of

the user defined constraints

SEMERGY

LCA, Cost estimation,…

Optimization procedure

Alternative Identification

SEMERGY Workflow

SEMERGY Building Data Model

Requirements:

� Compliance with integrated

computational engines

� Extensibility for future

Study of some existing building

data formats:

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Cal

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data formats:

� IFC

� gbXML

� Shared Object Model for

SEMPERG

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Derivation of Detailed Simulation Model Based on Si mplified User Input

� Identification of spaces, space

enclosures and space boundary

conditions, detection of errors

� Generation of 3d vertex information

based on 2d user input and room

height. Generation of roof geometry

based on type,knee wall height, ridge

height and or angle and position of height and or angle and position of

gables

� Populating space properties and

material properties with default or

actual data based on user preferences

Occupied roof space

Type: Gabled roof

Knee wall height:…

Ridge angle:…

Ridge height:...

Identification of alternatives and optimization

� Study of common building constructions;

Creation of basic templates for various

constructions

� Determination of rules for products allowed in

each layer based on properties of products

(format, function, position)

� Extension of the ontology information with

Template: Massive wall with

outside insulation

Function: Insulation

� Extension of the ontology information with

additional properties:

� Imposition of the rule-based logic on the

ontology for identification of possible

candidates for each construction layer

� Creation of alternative layer combinations for

each building component; Filtering of the

results based on U-value regulations

Format: stable

Position: Outside wall, Outer

layer

Identification of alternatives and optimization

� Optimization of constructions in view of

investment costs, environmental impact and

energy use. Each individual consists of

constructions for each building component.

*Genetic algorithms are used to reduce

computations

* Initial optimization is done using normative

computational engines computational engines

� The Pareto optimal front is subjected to

simulation for the identification of the final

solution set

� Final solution set is suggested to the user

SEMERGY Graphical User Interface

� General Information: location, date of construction, building usage, number of

stories, roof form, heating system.

� Geometry and operational information: floor plans, doors, and windows

dimensions, wall types, space height, orientation, space functions.

� Semantic information and material properties: selection of construction systems,

determination of frameworks of optimization (user-defined constraints).

Ongoing Activities and Future Challenges

� BIM import possibilities for expert users

� Cost estimation

� HVAC

� GIS data import and generation of an SBM model based on this data

� Development of a data release format for product manufacturers to enable � Development of a data release format for product manufacturers to enable

seamless retrieval of product information

� Integration of active solar technologies

Institute of Building Physics and Building Ecology:

Univ. Prof. DI Dr. tech. Ardeshir Mahdavi

DI Dr. Tech. Ferial Shayeganfar

DI Ulrich J. Pont

M.Sc. DI Neda Ghiassi

DI Mahnameh Taheri

B. Sc. Christian Sustr

B.Sc. Arch. Kristopher F. Hammerberg

SEMERGY Team

Institute of Software Technology and Interactive Systems:

O.Univ.Prof. DI Dr.tech. A Min Tjoa

Mag. DI Dr. rer. Amin Anjomshoaa

DI Dr. tech. Stefan Fenz

Mag. Johannes Heurix

DI Dr. tech. Thomas Neubauer

B.Sc. Arch. Kristopher F. Hammerberg

B.Sc. Dawid Wolosiuk

B. Sc. Vaibhav Jain