Architecture Meets Automation: Mapping Building Information Modeling to Industrie 4.0 Digital Twins

Research output: Contribution to book/Conference proceedings/Anthology/Report › Conference contribution › Contributed › peer-review

Contributors

  • Mohammadamin Sedigh - , Cologne University of Applied Sciences (Author)
  • Frank Hilbert - , Chair of Industrial Communications (Author)
  • Marko Ristin - , Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) (Author)
  • Tobias Langer - , conplement AG (Author)
  • Jochen Müller - , Cologne University of Applied Sciences (Author)
  • Martin Wollschlaeger - , Chair of Industrial Communications (Author)
  • Hans Wernher van de Venn - , Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) (Author)

Abstract

The ongoing digitalization of buildings and technical infrastructures requires integrated information models that capture both design and operational aspects. While the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) standard within Building Information Modeling (BIM) provides a comprehensive description of the static structural characteristics of a building, the Asset Administration Shell (AAS) from the Industry 4.0 domain enables the semantic and dynamic representation of assets, including runtime data and executable services. A combination of both concepts allows the creation of digital twins that consistently integrate static structural and dynamic live information. This paper presents an approach for the automated derivation of AAS Submodel Templates from IFC data models. The starting point is the IFC EXPRESS schema, which formally defines the types and entities of the IFC standard. By analyzing and transforming these structures, reusable and standard-compliant Submodel Templates are generated, enabling a semantically consistent mapping of BIM objects into AAS representations. The proposed methodology establishes the foundation for an IFC-compatible AAS template library that allows building components to be represented as Industry 4.0 assets. Our approach contributes to the harmonization of BIM and Industry 4.0 ecosystems and opens new perspectives for data-driven, energy-efficient, and self-optimizing operations in the spirit of Building 4.0.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2026 IEEE 22nd International Conference on Factory Communication Systems, WFCS 2026 - Proceedings
EditorsAxel Sikora, Stefano Scanzio, Tullio Facchinetti, Hening Trsek, Mohammad Ashjaei, Luca Leonardi
PublisherIEEE Industrial Electronics Society
Pages1-8
Number of pages8
ISBN (electronic)979-8-3315-7831-2
ISBN (print)979-8-3315-7832-9
Publication statusPublished - 24 Apr 2026
Peer-reviewedYes

Publication series

SeriesIEEE International Workshop on Factory Communication Systems (WFCS)
ISSN2835-8511

Conference

Title22nd IEEE International Conference on Factory Communication Systems
Abbreviated titleWFCS 2026
Conference number22
Duration21 - 24 April 2026
Website
LocationHochschule Offenburg
CityOffenburg
CountryGermany

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0002-4646-4455/work/217237027
Scopus 105041009555

Keywords

Keywords

  • Arrays, Building information management, Buildings, Codes, Digital twins, Fourth Industrial Revolution, Modeling, Printing, Runtime, Standards, Digital Twin, BIM, IFC, Building Information Model, AAS, Industrie 4.0, Asset Administration Shell