Autodesk, Inc.

John William Mitchell

Ian Patrick Molloy

Thomas Olsson

A method and system provide a complete energy analytical model. An input model is acquired and consists of a combination of architectural building elements (ABEs) and conceptual massing elements (CMEs). The input model is pre-processed by extracting information from both the ABEs and the CMEs, and constructing virtual elements that encapsulate the extracted information. A discrete set of points in three-dimensional (3D) space that is distributed over boundary faces of the ABEs or CMEs is determined. The discrete set of points is used to provide a representation of the input model that is used in combination with a 3D cubical grid (a voxel grid) to analyze a spatial structure of the input model. A two-dimensional (2D) discrete approximation of the geometry of the input model is used to determine surfaces of the energy analytical model which is then output.

Complete energy analytical model building information modeling (BIM) integration

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining a building envelope. In one aspect, a method includes generating two-dimensional analytical faces; generating a three-dimensional shell bounding box that encompasses the analytical faces; determining, for each analytical face, one or more sample points; performing a flood-fill algorithm from a reference grid cell through other grid cells in the shell bounding box; casting one or more primary rays from each grid cell encountered by the flood-fill algorithm that does not contain any of the sample points but that directly neighbors a grid cell that does contain a sample point; for each ray, identifying as an exterior face the first analytical face within a vicinity of the grid cell from which the ray is cast that is intersected by the ray; and generating a building envelope based on the identified exterior faces.

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Hartsdale, NY, United States of America

John William Mitchell