BIM Classification AI
Business Case
Problem Statement
BIM models often lack proper classification:
- Elements without classification codes
- Inconsistent naming conventions
- Manual classification is tedious
- Difficult to map to cost databases
Solution
AI-powered classification system that analyzes BIM element properties and suggests appropriate classification codes from multiple standards.
Business Value
- Automation - Reduce manual classification effort
- Consistency - Standardized classification across projects
- Integration - Enable cost estimation and QTO
- Quality - Improved data quality in BIM models
Technical Implementation
import pandas as pd
from typing import Dict, Any, List, Optional, Tuple
from dataclasses import dataclass, field
from enum import Enum
import re
class ClassificationSystem(Enum):
"""Classification standards."""
UNIFORMAT = "uniformat"
MASTERFORMAT = "masterformat"
OMNICLASS = "omniclass"
UNICLASS = "uniclass"
CWICR = "cwicr"
@dataclass
class ClassificationCode:
"""Classification code with metadata."""
code: str
title: str
system: ClassificationSystem
level: int
parent_code: Optional[str] = None
keywords: List[str] = field(default_factory=list)
@dataclass
class ClassificationResult:
"""Result of classification attempt."""
element_id: str
element_name: str
element_category: str
suggested_codes: List[Tuple[ClassificationCode, float]] # (code, confidence)
selected_code: Optional[ClassificationCode] = None
manual_override: bool = False
class ClassificationDatabase:
"""Classification codes database."""
def __init__(self):
self.codes: Dict[ClassificationSystem, List[ClassificationCode]] = {
system: [] for system in ClassificationSystem
}
self._load_standard_codes()
def _load_standard_codes(self):
"""Load standard classification codes."""
# UniFormat II codes
uniformat_codes = [
("A", "Substructure", 1, None, ["foundation", "basement", "excavation"]),
("A10", "Foundations", 2, "A", ["footing", "pile", "foundation"]),
("A1010", "Standard Foundations", 3, "A10", ["spread footing", "strip footing"]),
("A1020", "Special Foundations", 3, "A10", ["pile", "caisson", "mat foundation"]),
("B", "Shell", 1, None, ["superstructure", "exterior", "roof"]),
("B10", "Superstructure", 2, "B", ["floor", "roof", "structure"]),
("B1010", "Floor Construction", 3, "B10", ["slab", "deck", "floor"]),
("B1020", "Roof Construction", 3, "B10", ["roof", "deck", "truss"]),
("B20", "Exterior Enclosure", 2, "B", ["wall", "window", "door"]),
("B2010", "Exterior Walls", 3, "B20", ["curtain wall", "masonry", "cladding"]),
("B2020", "Exterior Windows", 3, "B20", ["window", "glazing", "storefront"]),
("B30", "Roofing", 2, "B", ["roof", "membrane", "insulation"]),
("C", "Interiors", 1, None, ["partition", "ceiling", "floor finish"]),
("C10", "Interior Construction", 2, "C", ["partition", "door", "glazing"]),
("C20", "Stairs", 2, "C", ["stair", "railing", "ladder"]),
("C30", "Interior Finishes", 2, "C", ["finish", "paint", "flooring"]),
("D", "Services", 1, None, ["mechanical", "electrical", "plumbing"]),
("D10", "Conveying", 2, "D", ["elevator", "escalator", "lift"]),
("D20", "Plumbing", 2, "D", ["pipe", "fixture", "drain"]),
("D30", "HVAC", 2, "D", ["duct", "hvac", "air handling"]),
("D40", "Fire Protection", 2, "D", ["sprinkler", "fire", "suppression"]),
("D50", "Electrical", 2, "D", ["electrical", "power", "lighting"]),
]
for code, title, level, parent, keywords in uniformat_codes:
self.codes[ClassificationSystem.UNIFORMAT].append(
ClassificationCode(code, title, ClassificationSystem.UNIFORMAT, level, parent, keywords)
)
# MasterFormat codes (simplified)
masterformat_codes = [
("03", "Concrete", 1, None, ["concrete", "formwork", "reinforcing"]),
("03 30 00", "Cast-in-Place Concrete", 2, "03", ["concrete", "pour", "slab"]),
("03 41 00", "Precast Structural Concrete", 2, "03", ["precast", "concrete", "panel"]),
("04", "Masonry", 1, None, ["brick", "block", "stone"]),
("05", "Metals", 1, None, ["steel", "metal", "aluminum"]),
("05 12 00", "Structural Steel Framing", 2, "05", ["beam", "column", "steel"]),
("06", "Wood, Plastics, Composites", 1, None, ["wood", "timber", "lumber"]),
("07", "Thermal and Moisture Protection", 1, None, ["insulation", "roofing", "waterproofing"]),
("08", "Openings", 1, None, ["door", "window", "glazing"]),
("09", "Finishes", 1, None, ["drywall", "paint", "flooring"]),
("21", "Fire Suppression", 1, None, ["sprinkler", "fire", "suppression"]),
("22", "Plumbing", 1, None, ["pipe", "fixture", "plumbing"]),
("23", "HVAC", 1, None, ["hvac", "duct", "mechanical"]),
("26", "Electrical", 1, None, ["electrical", "power", "lighting"]),
]
for code, title, level, parent, keywords in masterformat_codes:
self.codes[ClassificationSystem.MASTERFORMAT].append(
ClassificationCode(code, title, ClassificationSystem.MASTERFORMAT, level, parent, keywords)
)
def search(self, query: str, system: ClassificationSystem = None) -> List[ClassificationCode]:
"""Search classification codes by keyword."""
results = []
query_lower = query.lower()
systems = [system] if system else list(ClassificationSystem)
for sys in systems:
for code in self.codes.get(sys, []):
# Check title
if query_lower in code.title.lower():
results.append(code)
continue
# Check keywords
if any(query_lower in kw.lower() for kw in code.keywords):
results.append(code)
return results
class BIMClassificationAI:
"""AI-powered BIM element classification."""
def __init__(self, classification_db: ClassificationDatabase = None):
self.db = classification_db or ClassificationDatabase()
self.category_mappings = self._load_category_mappings()
self.results: List[ClassificationResult] = []
def _load_category_mappings(self) -> Dict[str, List[str]]:
"""Load Revit/IFC category to classification mappings."""
return {
# Structural
"Structural Columns": ["B10", "05 12 00", "column", "structural"],
"Structural Framing": ["B10", "05 12 00", "beam", "framing"],
"Structural Foundations": ["A10", "03 30 00", "foundation", "footing"],
"Floors": ["B1010", "03 30 00", "floor", "slab"],
# Architectural
"Walls": ["B20", "04", "wall", "partition"],
"Curtain Walls": ["B2010", "08 44 00", "curtain wall", "glazing"],
"Windows": ["B2020", "08 50 00", "window", "glazing"],
"Doors": ["C10", "08 10 00", "door", "opening"],
"Roofs": ["B30", "07 50 00", "roof", "roofing"],
"Ceilings": ["C30", "09 51 00", "ceiling", "finish"],
"Stairs": ["C20", "05 51 00", "stair", "railing"],
# MEP
"Ducts": ["D30", "23 31 00", "duct", "hvac"],
"Pipes": ["D20", "22 11 00", "pipe", "plumbing"],
"Electrical Equipment": ["D50", "26 20 00", "electrical", "panel"],
"Lighting Fixtures": ["D50", "26 51 00", "light", "fixture"],
"Sprinklers": ["D40", "21 13 00", "sprinkler", "fire protection"],
"Mechanical Equipment": ["D30