Integrating IFC Models and Virtual Reality for Indoor Lighting Design

Abstract: Previous research has studied the use of Building Performance Simulations (BPS) tools withBuilding Information Modeling (BIM). BPS can be used to visualize and evaluate the designof buildings. Virtual Reality (VR) can be used as a BPS tool for designing indoor lighting.The problem is that previous research still has difficulties with data interoperability. That isthe integration of VR with BIM. Many studies suggest using the file format IFC to mitigatethis problem.The aim of this study is to investigate how to increase data interoperability by using a fileformat IFC. A prototype system will be developed to test this. The research question is if openBIM formats can improve the quality of design solutions? The study will try to answer howVR can be integrated with BIM and how VR can be used for indoor lighting design.The result from this thesis is in part a prototype system called FooBar. FooBar shows how VRcan be integrated with BIM. However, the file format IFC was not used throughout the wholedesign process. Instead, IFC is only used at the beginning and the end of the process. Thisstudy shows how VR can be used as an alternative BPS tool. Users can manipulate lights inthe building model. These changes are then updated in the original BIM model.This means that VR can be used to improve the quality of design solutions. In other words,FooBar can help to cope with multidisciplinary design processes. Users can immersethemselves into the virtual environment and see different design alternatives for themselves.Different design alternatives can easily be rendered in VR. With a system like FooBar, userscan easily define, propose, and analyze different design ideas to reach design goals.