Data-centric simulation interoperability using the dest simulation platform

Though architects are increasingly using building simulation, limitations in the interoperability of simulation domains remain a challenge. Independent simulations often have unique database structures. Incompatibilities between these structures render it difficult to share input and output data with other simulations, making it difficult for a designer to predict multiple aspects of building performance at the same time. The integration of algorithms provides one means of overcoming some of these limitations and of increasing the efficiency and prediction accuracy of performance tools. DeST (Designer's Simulation Toolkit) is a custom environment in which multiple simulation engines are integrated into one system. This paper presents a newly developed IFC (Industry Foundation Classes)-based common database, the advantages and limitations of integration with DeST database structure and its object expansion to various domain integration will be discussed.