Systems and methods for displaying a unified representation of performance related data

• US 20120296609A1
• Filed: 05/17/2011
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: Khan, Azam, Glueck, Michael, Attar, Ramtin, Tessier, Alexander, Hailemariam, Ebenezer
• Granted Patent: US 8,884,961 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/04 Architectural design, interior design

Abstract

A system and method for displaying a unified representation of performance related data for a building are disclosed. The system includes a sensor network for collecting data in the building and a computing device for generating and displaying a unified representation of performance related data on a display. The performance related data may include the raw data collected by the sensor network or data generated by simulation programs based on the raw data collected by the sensor network. The computing device displays the performance related data in the context of a graphical representation of a three-dimensional model of the building as defined in a building information model (BIM). The computing device generates the graphical representation using an ambient occlusion rendering technique and then incorporates the performance related data either using a direct rendering technique or a transient geometry technique.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a unified representation of performance related data for a building, the method comprising:

receiving a building information model that includes three-dimensional (3D) geometry data and metadata related to the building;

receiving sensor data that includes one or more values associated with the performance related data;

rendering a digital image that includes a representation of the 3D geometry data and a representation of the sensor data; and

causing the digital image to be displayed on a display device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein rendering the digital image comprises generating pixel data based on the 3D geometry data based on an ambient occlusion rendering technique.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving simulator data that is generated by one or more simulator applications based on the sensor data; and

rendering a representation of the simulator data in the digital image.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the sensor data and the simulator data comprise at least one of logical data, scalar data, vector data, or semantic data.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein rendering the representation of the sensor data or the simulator data in the digital image comprises at least one of:

outlining silhouettes of one or more objects included in building information model;

shading surfaces associated with one or more objects included in the building information model with a colored hue;

or

shading each point on surfaces of one or more objects included in the building information model with a particular color that is based on a portion of the sensor data or the simulator data related to the point.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein rendering the representation of the sensor data or the simulator data in the digital image comprises at least one of:

rendering a 3D glyph object in the digital image;

rendering a plurality of 3D arrow objects in the digital image based on sensor data that includes a vector field;

overlaying a graphical representation of a heads-up-display (HUD) over the digital image;

or

rendering a plume object in the digital image.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the building information model conforms to a National Building Information Model Standard (NBIMS).

8. A computer-readable storage medium containing a program which, when executed, performs an operation for displaying a unified representation of performance related data for a building, the operation comprising:

receiving a building information model that includes three-dimensional (3D) geometry data and metadata related to the building;

receiving sensor data that includes one or more values associated with the performance related data;

rendering a digital image that includes a representation of the 3D geometry data and a representation of the sensor data; and

causing the digital image to be displayed on a display device.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein rendering the digital image comprises generating pixel data based on the 3D geometry data based on an ambient occlusion rendering technique.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, the operation further comprising:

receiving simulator data that is generated by one or more simulator applications based on the sensor data; and

rendering a representation of the simulator data in the digital image.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the sensor data and the simulator data comprise at least one of logical data, scalar data, vector data, or semantic data.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein rendering the representation of the sensor data or the simulator data in the digital image comprises at least one of:

outlining silhouettes of one or more objects included in building information model;

shading surfaces associated with one or more objects included in the building information model with a colored hue;

or

shading each point on surfaces of one or more objects included in the building information model with a particular color that is based on a portion of the sensor data or the simulator data related to the point.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein rendering the representation of the sensor data or the simulator data in the digital image comprises at least one of:

rendering a 3D glyph object in the digital image;

rendering a plurality of 3D arrow objects in the digital image based on sensor data that includes a vector field;

overlaying a graphical representation of a heads-up-display (HUD) over the digital image;

or

rendering a plume object in the digital image.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the building information model conforms to a National Building Information Model Standard (NBIMS).

15. A system for displaying a unified representation of performance related data for a building, the system comprising:

a sensor network configured to collect sensor data in the building that includes one or more values associated with the performance related data; and

a computing device configured to;

receive a building information model that includes three-dimensional (3D) geometry data and metadata related to the building;

receive the sensor data;

render a digital image that includes a representation of the 3D geometry data and a representation of the sensor data; and

cause the digital image to be displayed on a display device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein rendering the digital image comprises generating pixel data based on the 3D geometry data based on an ambient occlusion rendering technique.

17. The system of claim 16, the computing device further configured to:

receive simulator data that is generated by one or more simulator applications based on the sensor data; and

render a representation of the simulator data in the digital image.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the sensor data and the simulator data comprise at least one of logical data, scalar data, vector data, or semantic data.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein rendering the representation of the sensor data or the simulator data in the digital image comprises at least one of:

outlining silhouettes of one or more objects included in building information model;

shading surfaces associated with one or more objects included in the building information model with a colored hue;

or

shading each point on surfaces of one or more objects included in the building information model with a particular color that is based on a portion of the sensor data or the simulator data related to the point.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein rendering the representation of the sensor data or the simulator data in the digital image comprises at least one of:

rendering a 3D glyph object in the digital image;

rendering a plurality of 3D arrow objects in the digital image based on sensor data that includes a vector field;

overlaying a graphical representation of a heads-up-display (HUD) over the digital image;

or

rendering a plume object in the digital image.