A Classification and Indexing Scheme for Conceptual Building Design

SEED is a multidisciplinary project intended to provide support for the early phases of building design. SEED-Config is the module of SEED that focuses on the generation of the 3-dimensional configuration of spatial and physical building components. The architecture of SEED-Config consists of four software modules: a design information repository; a design knowledge manager; a classification reference manager; and a geometric modeler. The design information repository is built upon a generic information model, called the Building Entity and Technology (BENT) model, that stores design data as they are generated during conceptual design, supports casebased reasoning, and shares data among all design participants. The model represents each building entity as a generic container that encompasses its geometry, taxonomy, composition, relationships, and properties, as well as the design knowledge that was applied to it. This paper presents the classification and indexing scheme that has been developed on top of the generic information model in order to classify, access, and retrieve previous design solutions. The scheme uses a faceted classification to define the controlled vocabulary from which indexes are obtained. In this approach, classification is independent from the information model. The classification is extensible and designers have the freedom to complement the vocabulary with their own terms. Indexing is performed automatically as building entities are designed through the selection and application of technologies. Hence, a design is already indexed when it is added to the case library.