An IFC data preparation workflow for building energy performance simulation

Accurate building energy performance simulation model generation from IFC data files require the input IFC data to be correct and complete. To ensure such data quality conditions, methods integrating IFC data correctness and completeness checks, under a common architecture, are introduced. IFC data correctness is supported by the use of a dedicated geometric error detection tool, which identifies and reports back to the building designer, errors affecting the building's 2nd-level space boundary topology. IFC data completeness is performed by the use of a dedicated for building energy performance simulation Model View Definition schema. The quality checking results are reported in a BIM collaboration file format.