Visualizing Large-Scale Building Information Modeling Models within Indoor and Outdoor Environments Using a Semantics-Based Method

Abstract

Building information modeling (BIM), with detailed geometry and semantics of the indoor environment, has become an essential part of smart city development and city information modeling (CIM). However, visualizing large-scale BIM models within geographic information systems (GIS), such as virtual globes, remains a technological challenge with limited hardware resources. Previous methods generally removed indoor features in a single-source (BIM) scene to reduce the computational burden from outdoor views, which have not been applied to the multi-source and -scale geographic environment (e.g., virtual globes). This approach neglected special BIM semantics (e.g., transparent windows), which may miss a part of geographic features or buildings and cause unreasonable visualization. Besides, the method overlooked indoor visualization optimization, which may burden computing resources when visualizing big and complex buildings from indoor views. To address these problems, we propose a semantics-based method for visualizing large-scale BIM models within indoor and outdoor environments. First, we organize large-scale BIM models based on a latitude-longitude grid (LLG) in the outdoor environment; a multilayer cell-and-portal graph is used to index the structure of the BIM model and building entities. Second, we propose a scheduling algorithm to achieve the integrated visualization in indoor and outdoor environments considering BIM semantics. The application of the proposed method to a multi-scale and -source environment confirmed that it can achieve an effective and efficient visualization for huge BIM models in indoor-outdoor scenes. Compared with the previous study, the proposed method considers the BIM semantics and thus can visualize more complete features from outdoor and indoor views of BIM models in the virtual globe. Besides, the study only loads as visible data as possible, which can retain lower the volume of increased geometry, and thus keep a higher frame rate for the tested areas.

A high-efficiency data compression and visualization method for large complex BIM model

“…Some scholars have proposed hybrid indexing methods, such as data indexing with a double-layer sparse voxel (DLSV) structure, which essentially indexes external and internal products separately to organize indoor and outdoor scenes, but does not fully consider the semantic information of BIM components, such as transparency [11]. Some scholars have proposed a semantic-based hybrid indexing approach to organize large-scale BIM models based on latitude and longitude grids (LLG) in outdoor environments, using multi-layer cells and portal diagrams to index the structure of BIM models and building entities, and also proposed a semantic-based scheduling algorithm to achieve integrated visualization in indoor and outdoor environments considering BIM semantics [12]. This paper proposes a set of IFC semantic BIM model visualization frameworks based on the instancing idea, based on the definition of the instanced model in CG, proposes the concept of "explicit-instance BIM model" and "implicit-instance BIM model" for instanced BIM model, and proposes a set of instanced bim model visualization scheme based on IFC semantic information as well as hierarchical clustering instanced index and scene hierarchical instanced culling strategy to visualize BIM model, which provides an efficient and feasible path for BIM-CIM integration.…”

Research on 3D Visualization of Real Scene in Subway Engineering Based on 3D Model

“…Furthermore, well-structured data organization plays a crucial role in efficiently transmitting, loading, and displaying complex geometric data in 3D over the network. The methods for managing and organizing 3D data mainly include LOD-based and index-based approaches [49]. The LOD means a group of models at different levels that are used to describe one scene or its object [50].…”

Construction 4.0, Industry 4.0, and Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Sustainable Building Development within the Smart City

“…The Metaverse, based on a fusion of technologies (e.g., augmented reality and virtual reality) enables multisensory interaction with virtual environments, digital objects, and people, to integrate physical reality with digital virtualization [78]. In addition, BIM technology assists with virtual city models, in which BIM semantics-based virtual earth models are able to visualize more complete features in both the outdoor and indoor environment [79].…”