Development of an IFC-based IDF converter for supporting energy performance assessment in the early design phase

Abstract

Currently, Building Information Modeling (BIM) has been recognized as one of the main processes and technologies that can enhance design and construction quality by simulating and optimizing business works for better performance, lower costs, and shorter lead times. Accordingly, BIM has emerged as one of the main issues of environmentally friendly and energy-efficient design in the field of architecture. In particular, several researches on BIM-based energy performance assessments have been carried out focusing on the early design phase. However, energy performance assessment tools have a fundamental problem concerning data interoperability among them owing to the lack of a standardized data format and access method. To address such issues, an Industry Foundation Classes (IFC)-based Input Data File (IDF) converter was developed in this research to use as a middleware to minimize the loss of information and generate additional information during the performance analysis process. This paper introduces the IDF converter supporting energy performance assessments, integrated material library, etc. and demonstrates the efficiency of its use in a case study.