The document discusses the 3DIR system which enhances information retrieval from Building Information Models (BIM) by exploiting topological relationships among 3D objects. It presents a method for querying and filtering information in a 3D environment, outlining results from needs analysis and user evaluations. The conclusions highlight that while topological features are useful, further improvements in interface design are necessary to handle the increased complexity.

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
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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

12. Results: Evaluation

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.