3DIR: Exploiting Topological Relationships in Three-dimensional Information Retrieval from BIM Environments
- 1. 3DIR: Exploiting Topological Relationships in Three- Dimensional Information Retrieval from BIM Environments Peter Demian, Kirti Ruikar, Tarun Sahu, Anne Morris Presented by Peter Demian, ICCCBE2016, July 2016, Osaka, Japan Look for this presentation on SlideShare.net
- 2. • Introduction, The Problem • Literature – BIM and CAD – Topology in Building Models • Method • Results – 3DIR User Interface – Exploiting Topology in 3DIR – Evaluation of augmented 3DIR • Conclusions Outline
- 3. The Problem: Information Overload
- 4. The Problem: finding information • Formulate query • Identify relevant information from index • Present a ranked list of search results
- 5. …but if our information is linked to a 3D artefact (…BIM) There might be a better way to: • Formulate queries • Identify relevant information • Present search results
- 6. Literature: BIM and CAD • CAD models: geometry • BIM models can contain much more information – Attributes of 3D objects – Nongeometric objects • 3D model not fully exploited as a visual index, no information scent (Pirolli &Card 1999)
- 7. Literature: Topology • “Study of the way in which constituent parts are interrelated or arranged” (Oxford English Dictionary) • Mathematics: topology is the study of a collection of open sets • Spatial modelling: topology is concerned with notions of “interior”, “boundary”, or “exterior”. • For us: any relationships between 3D building elements in a model which may enhance information retrieval: – Strictly topological ,concerned with interior/boundary/exterior – More general spatial/directional relationships – Or even relationships in general
- 8. Research Method • “Needs” workshops at “Architects” and “Contractors” • Prototype development (Autodesk Revit; good Application Programming Interface) • 3DIR augmented to exploit topology – Hosting – Touching – Intersecting • “Evaluation” workshops
- 9. Results: Needs Analysis Needs Specification Search by keyword, 3D volume, by selecting a set of components, or combination Multiple search modes needed: Information about selected component(s) Filter by keyword, by selecting desired 3D components or by specifying a 3D volume.(S1) Searching beyond selected 3D objects, based on relationships components “Hops function”: with single component or collection of components selected, the system can also related 3D components (S2) Visualising search results: retain the standard text- based listing, but would also like search results somehow superimposed on the 3D model As many visual representations as the API allows: Text listing Retrieved 3D components are “selected” Retrieved 3D components are isolated Retrieved 3D components are highlighted by insetting a phantom coloured shape above them. computation. (S3)
- 10. Results: Interface “Select” selected search result Multiple search tools (S1) “Hops” function: search related items and report “hops” (S2) Multiple search result visualisations (S3) “Isolate” selected search result “Colour” selected search result
- 11. • A separate list of “Neighbours” saved during indexing – Hosting, Touching or Intersecting • When searching selected (rather than all) objects – Selected objects containing the search keyword in any of their parameters are shown first in the results table with “Hops” value 0. – Next, neighbors of each of the retrieved objects is also searched. Neighboring objects containing the required keyword are listed in the results table with “Hops” value 1. – Search is repeated recursively on the newly retrieved objects, each time incrementing the “Hops” value. – ..until the maximum number of Hops specified by the user. Results: Exploiting Topology
- 13. • 3DIR creates index of all text data attached to a Building Information Model • The user is able to search by – Selecting specific 3D objects – Specifying a spherical region of the model – Entering search keywords • Search results are displayed by – Highlighting 3D objects in the 3D model – Isolating them – Indicating them using a colored balloon shape. • 3DIR+Topology system exploits model topology • 3DIR+Topology, users agree less strongly with positive statements and disagree less strongly with negative statements. • Topology is still useful…. • ….more careful interface design needed to mitigate added complexity Conclusions
- 14. THANK YOU Free download from link at www.3dir.org • Late Dr Ann O’Brien • Brian Mercer Feasibility Award from the Royal Society • Loughborough University’s Higher Education Innovation Fund • Autodesk, through Autodesk Developer Network.