BIM, 3D cadastral data and AI for urban management - A case study for energy consumption monitoring

Abstract

Nowadays, many rapid and sudden changes take place in the economics, political and environmental sectors upstirring a sense of uncertainty and causing daily costs to skyrocket. The reduction of energy consumption and cost savings are extremely vital for an auspicious daily life. Another characteristic of the present times, is the catapult of the Artificial Intelligence technology and its utilization for the betterment of the functionality of scientifical, fiscal, social, ecological, communicational, engineering, etc. fields. Amidst all the above, this paper is a part of an ongoing research aiming to create a pioneering low – budget methodology for eventually constructing the complete virtual simulation of an urban neighborhood as a DT (Digital Twin) combining both AI – generated data on energy consumption and 3D cadastral information. This paper aims to combine BIMs (Building Information Models) with an API (Application Programming Interface) for the timely tracking of the functionality of building devices through AI generated sensors. The BIMs of the various buildings, old and new, are modelled utilizing 2D open data and 3D free – to - use platforms, cutting down on production costs and encouraging public participation. The various legal spaces and properties are represented as 3D prismatic volumes, with the insertion of additional cadastral, semantic and geometrical information. The BIMs are equipped with building elements, operational equipment and everyday furniture. The equipment entails electrical, mechanical, communicational and pluming devices. It also involves lighting fixtures, heating, ventilation and air conditioning units. The devices become smart, as they are interconnected with AI – generated sensors that provide dynamic data on energy consumption, efficiency and cost for the time period of an entire day. Sensors can be turned on or off indicating the status of the respective device, fixture or system. Each device can have numerous types of sensors resulting into different groupings. The sensors provide data such as temperature, luminance, voltage, duration of operation, capacity, etc. An interactive virtual interface is created that allows the user to temper with the different types of sensors, load and manage multiple data about the functionality of the household devices. The sensor management interface and the BIMs are all combined in a cooperative and open source platform that: a) presents each 3D building model and the 3D property areas (private and common) that it entails and their according semantic information, b) shows all the smart devices, fixtures and systems, c) gives the user the opportunity to interact with all the different types of sensors, their functionality, the data they collect, the data that they showcase and the duration of their operation, d) presents in a graphic manner the calculated energy consumption. This paper aims to boost neighborhood inclusion.