Innovative IFC classification in BIM models ready to be converted into Digital Twins

The integration of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Digital Twin (DT) represents a concrete advancement in the design procedure and management of buildings, infrastructures, and their technical systems. The need for BIM models has increased rapidly in recent years, becoming a requirement for many public and private works. Main feature of the Digital Twin is instead the implementation of real time control and monitoring devices of the physical quantities and their display in a live 3D view. These new design and management procedures are proven to be performance optimizers and cost reducing assets, enhancing sustainability of the whole design and management procedures. However, BIM models don’t include any building automation aspects, being devoid of any reference to the communication parameters that need to be added subsequently with additional work and expenses. On the other hand, the creation of the Digital Twin not based on the BIM model represents in many ways a repetition of the work already done during the BIM design phase. For these reasons, this paper presents an innovative expansion on the existing IFC classification, proposing a novel approach to the creation of IFC classes and attributes aiming to prepare the BIM model with all Digital Twin required information on the communication media within the building. The model could therefore be enriched, carrying out the building automation design directly within the BIM approach. In this way, the BIM model created for the construction of the building will be equipped with all references to the different sensing field devices installed, being therefore ready to acquire and display all real time data of the measured quantities and therefore used as Digital Twin of the interested asset.