BIM IFC information mapping to building energy analysis (BEA) model with manually extended material information

While significant time savings are being made by not having to create the building geometry within the simulation interface in BIM energy modeling simulation, there is a good possibility of missing, misplaced, or deformed building elements during a BIM data exchange process. This research focuses on one of the major limitations - inaccuracies through simplifications in construction/material data - and aims to improve the accuracy of energy modeling process by developing an object based approach in materials in which the energy modeler may change and expand various properties in building materials. In testing the performance of the proposed approach, the results from the proposed energy modeling process in the case study are compared to those of existing energy modeling software which showed significant gains in accuracy.