A data model for integrated building performance simulation

Integrated building performance simulation (IBPS) can improve building design by allowing comprehensive appraisals under realistic operating conditions. However, the complexity of the problem domain can render the approach difficult to apply in practice due to theoretical limitations, component data paucity, ad hoc approaches to performance assessment and partial problem coverage. By presenting the data requirements of several significant technical domains addressed by the ESP-r system, this paper addresses the last issue. Inclusion of such comprehensive data structures would augment the geometric focus of current Building Information Models (BIM) and thereby support integrated performance appraisal.