Automated Generation of BIM Models Patrick Janssen 1 , Kian Wee Chen 2 , Akshata Mohanty 3 1,3 National University of Singapore 2 CENSAM, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Re- search and Technology, Singapore 1 patrick@janssen.name 2 kianwee@smart.mit.edu 3 akshatamohanty@gmail.com In early stages of architectural design, highly simplified minimal models are often preferred while in the later stages maximal Building Information Models (BIM) are required that include the relevant information for detailed design documentation. This research focuses on the transition from minimal to maximal models and proposes a semi-automated workflow that consist of two main steps: analysis and templating. The analysis step starts with the minimal geometric model and decorates this model with a set of semantic and topological attributes. The templating step starts the decorated model and generates a transitional BIM model which can then be readily altered and populated with high resolution building information. A demonstration of two test cases shows the feasibility of the approach. Keywords: BIM, parametric modelling, interoperability INTRODUCTION Architectural design typically relies on different tools at different stages of the design process. In the early stages, minimal models that are highly simpli- fied are often preferred, for two reasons. First, min- imal models are easier to build, thereby minimis- ing the 'sunk costs' for options that get discarded. Second, minimal models are much faster to analyse and simulate, thereby allowing designers to receive timely feedback. In the later stages, maximal models are required that include all relevant information for detailed design documentation. Typically, Building Information Models (BIM) are created that progres- sively increase the amount of information, including information from other design consultants and spe- cialists (Eastman, 2008). In the transition from minimal to maximal mod- els, there is a key point when designers need to switch from conceptual modelling tools to BIM tools. Before this point, planar entities such as walls and floor slabs may be modelled as single polygons and linear elements such as columns and beams may be defined as polylines. Once the switch is made to BIM tools, entities need to be more precisely defined as building elements, requiring them to be thickened and materials and other details to be defined. We re- fer to this as the materialisation process. Materialisation Process In this research, we focus on materialisation pro- cesses where the tools used for conceptual mod- elling differ from those used for BIM modelling. There are cases where the conceptual modelling is per- formed within the BIM tool, which then simplifies to some extent the materialisation process. However, designers often prefer to use different tools. Com- BIM | Concepts - Volume 2 - eCAADe 34 | 583