SuFSeF D3.1 Virtual Factory Data Model for Sustainable Factories

The problem of sharing data among different IT systems is crucial when further analysis and reasoning are necessary, possibly done by different experts involved in the process. To this aim, is deliverable describes the data model conceived within the Work-Package 3: "Virtual Factory Data Model for Sustainability" of the SuFSeF project, aimed at describing the data necessary to carry out the evaluation of the energy and environmental sustainability of factory buildings. The data model is expressed as a set of interconnected ontologies, which integrate and extend those already specified within the Virtual Factory Framework IP Project. It also exploits, whenever possible, already existing standards, such as the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC), a proposed ISO standard for the exchange of data in the building industry. The data model here described is the result of a long process, based on the analysis of the criteria, rules and procedures carried out, aimed at the identification of the data required for the sustainability assessment. The identified data have then be checked with respect to some specific certification protocols, such as the ITACA protocol developed by ITC, to verify their applicability, and to the available VFF data model and IFC specification to detect the applicability and required extensions. The document is organised as follows. Chapter 2 describes the main data categories characterising the building used within the environmental sustainability assessment process of industrial building from its initial design, through its construction and during its operating activity. Major emphasis is then devoted to the data required at the design phase, which is the scope of the first year activity of the SuFSeF project. Chapter 3 provides an overview of the resources on which the SuFSeF data model will be based, namely the Virtual Factory Data Model (VFDM) and the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC). Chapter 4 describes the adopted methodology for the development of the model, which is then described into details in chapter 5.