digiactiv - digital transformation for more interactivity in MEP-(mechanical, electrical and plumbing-)planning

Digital planning is state of the art in HVAC planning and building automation (BA) planning. However, even if the available software tools implement standards such as VDI 3814, there is often a lack of interfaces between the planning steps within and between HVAC planning and BA planning, or their functionality is often incomplete.

The aim of the digiaktiv project - "Digital transformation for more interactivity in HVAC planning" - was therefore to improve the end-to-end digital link between the various players and planning tools through neutral, open data models. The digiaktiv data model was introduced in accordance with the digiaktiv approach defined in the project starting phase to be able to correctly map data and information flows between the different disciplines/applications in the sense of a consistent planning and implementation workflow. Existing concepts, such as ontologies, were combined or expanded where necessary.

Most BA planning tools in German-speaking countries have implemented the VDI 3814 standard and therefore allow the export of GA diagrams in a standardised format, but usually only as a PDF and not in a machine-readable data exchange format. A software tool that converts such PDF files into a machine-readable format was therefore developed. Until now, no standardised tools have been available for taking partial load behaviour into account in HVAC planning and BA planning, which often leads to information losses between the planning steps. Various methods for dealing with partial load behaviour, which also interact with the data model, were therefore developed, and tested in digiaktiv.

The digiaktiv approach was validated both technically and in terms of its applicability and suitability for practical use. The project was disseminated to interested stakeholders from the construction industry through presentations at specialist conferences (BauSIM, enova) and as part of a planner workshop. The industry partners were able to optimise their planning processes and tool chains thanks to the knowledge gained and procedures developed in the project. Specifications for the design, calculation and consideration of partial load conditions as well as control requirements are incorporated into internal process descriptions, which is expected to reduce planning resources. It is intended that particularly practicable approaches from digiaktiv might be incorporated in standardisation.

From a scientific point of view, the project represents a significant step towards a deeper understanding of the inefficiencies that occur in day-to-day planning work and, in particular in the exchange of data between the planning and implementation disciplines. These findings will be incorporated into the design of further research projects. Future research will be able to build on the activities carried out in the project regarding interfaces between planning toolchains with regard to semantics, definition of properties, etc. The developments in PDF parsing will be incorporated into the future development of further approaches for parsing scanned planning documents. The digitisation of analogue planning documentation of existing buildings is still a major obstacle to digitisation efforts in all areas and causes considerable costs.

Project management

AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH

Project or cooperation partners

• Vasko + Partner, Ingenieure, Ziviltechniker für Bauwesen und Verfahrenstechnik Ges.m.b.H.
• EAM Systems GmbH

Sustainable Thermal Energy Systems, Center for Energy
AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH
Stefan Hauer
Giefinggasse 2
A-1210 Vienna
Tel.: +43 (664) 2351746
E-mail: stefan.hauer@ait.ac.at