A framework for integrating BIM, building automation systems, and IoT: an application in design and operation using open standards

Emerging technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), Building Automation System (BAS), and Building Information Modelling (BIM) create data silos in the construction sector. Data exchange between emerging applications is impeded due to the lack of standard data representation. This study utilizes Semantic Web technology to create a framework that facilitates the information exchange between Industry Foundation Classes (IFC)-based building contextual data, Building Automation System metadata, which is supported by building automation and Control Networks (BACnet), and time-series data from Internet of Things (IoT) devices. This framework employs Building Topology Ontology (BOT) and BRICK schema ontologies to represent building contextual data and BAS metadata and connects to IoT time-series data via graph database systems. The framework is validated via a BACnet and IFC-based BIM-assisted BAS information exchange application. The results show successful integration of building contextual data, BAS metadata, and time-series data into a queryable knowledge graph. A 100-person user acceptance survey is conducted to evaluate the system's usability and utility, indicating overall potential for practical application in smart building management. This work contributes a reusable method to integrate building heterogeneous data at the data level. The framework provides valuable insights for the interlinking of cross-domain data.