Conversion of three-dimensional graphic building models into input data for building energy calculation program

Abstract

Building energy use calculation programs require descriptions of the building geometry as well as data relating to climate, materials, occupancy, among other aspects. Powerful micro-computers and sophisticated building design software are responsible for more buildings being designed in electronic media. However, the geometric data of the building must still be manually entered as input data to energy calculation programs. Higher efficiency and accuracy in the building design and analysis process may be achieved by automating the transfer of three dimensional building geometry data form building modelling programs to energy analysis programs. Elink is a translation program that has been developed to automate the transfer of building geometric data form a building design program (UprfrontR) to an energy catulation program (EnerCAD R) . The modelling program, the energy calculation program, and the translator operate on 80486 EBM compatible personal computers. The translation program is written in the Microsoft Visual Basic language which supports graphic user intrefaces (GUls). The availability of multitasking in the Microsoft Windows operating environment on personal computers allows for the three programs to operate simultaneously, permitting a high degree of integration of design evaluation into the design process. This document describes the features of the modelling program and the energy analysis program, the design and development of Elink, the translation program. Validation of integrity of the data transfer-red is also discussed. The concept of automating data transfer for relatively simple building models has been demonstrated here by raising the possibility for automating building geometry data transfer between design and analysis programs of complex building models.