Information models of the buildings on the Aalto University campus will be published in the Linked Building Data service. This enables better sharing of data and enhances research related to the Internet of Things.  The service can also be used in teaching.

What kind of problem is the project trying to solve?

In the future, IoT solutions will become increasingly common in the real estate and construction sector. IoT (Internet of Things) is an internet network that connects wirelessly to devices and machines.

A practical example of an IoT solution is a heating system in which different meters indicate information on the desired temperature to the sensors in the system.

The possibility to connect BIMs, building information models, to data from the IoT on the Aalto University campus boosts research on the IoT and will consequently accelerate the spread of cost-efficient IoT solutions.

Objective: Easily retrievable BIMs that are linked to IoT data

This experimental project will publish BIMs of the buildings on the Aalto University campus in the Linked Building Data service.

Each building or space will be given its own network address from which its properties and proportions can be retrieved. The network address will also serve as a link to other information as the project connects BIMs to IoT data.

Expected results?

Once the BIMs of the campus buildings have been made available in the Linked Building Data service, it will be possible to link the research work related to the Internet of Things to shared spaces and devices, which enables sharing data with others. This may also boost research.

Moreover, the service can be used in research and teaching related to building information models and construction. For example, the BIM Lab laboratory is interested in the possibility of student projects publishing BIMs of the old campus buildings. Bim Lab is a joint laboratory of 15 professors collaborating to provide courses on topics dealing with BIMs.

What is done in this project?

The Linked Building Data service will be set up in a DRUMBEAT platform, which is already existing open source software.

The experimental project is implemented jointly by Aalto University and VisuaLynk Oy. Aalto University provides the data and VisuaLynk is responsible for the implementation of the project.

The emphasis in the first stage of the project is on the publication of the openly available BIMs of the campus. In the following stage, the existing IoT data will be linked to the models. The appropriate interest groups and the practices for publishing restricted BIM models will also be determined.  

In the last stage, practices for opening connections to the models also for those who operate outside the Aalto community will be planned and the results of the project will be published.

Who benefits?

People conducting research on properties and buildings, students studying the field and companies operating in the sector.