Integrated representation of technical systems with BIM and linked data: TUBES system ontology

Technical systems in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operations (AECO) industry are complex interconnected structures. To cope with this high complexity, large amounts of data must be processed and exchanged throughout the whole life cycle of these systems. Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Semantic Web Technologies (SWT) offer the possibility to structure and link this data as well as to define common terminology. Semantic Web ontologies describing HVAC systems in the AECO industry have been developed, but an ontology for an integrated representation based on general system theory is missing. Therefore, this study proposes the TUBES System Ontology (TSO) as a knowledge representation for an integrated, explicit representation of linked technical systems, their hierarchical subdivision, structural and functional interconnections, and relationships to spatial entities. The contribution is validated on two example models, and the results are critically discussed, pointing out corresponding limitations as well as the need for further research.