A Knowledge-enhanced Digital Twin Modeling Method for Zero-Energy Building Operations: Semantic Integration of BIM, IoT, and Domain Knowledge with a Zero-Carbon House Case Study_Vol. 4 No. 2 (JES 2026)_Journal of Engineering System (ISSN: 2959-0604)

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A Knowledge-enhanced Digital Twin Modeling Method for Zero-Energy Building Operations: Semantic Integration of BIM, IoT, and Domain Knowledge with a Zero-Carbon House Case Study

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.62517/jes.202602219

Author(s)

Yiming Xia

Affiliation(s)

College of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China

Abstract

Zero-energy buildings require operation and maintenance workflows that can continuously interpret heterogeneous building data, track equipment and environmental states, and connect sensed conditions with expert rules and control logic. Conventional building digital twins often emphasize geometric visualization and data streaming but provide limited support for semantic reasoning and knowledge-driven operation. This study proposes a knowledge-enhanced digital twin modeling method for zero-energy building operations by integrating Building Information Modeling (BIM), Internet of Things (IoT) time-series data, and ontology-based domain knowledge within a unified operational framework. The proposed method comprises a seven-layer architecture, a closed-loop construction process of data collection-modeling-simulation-verification, a multi-source fusion mechanism for static, dynamic, and knowledge data, and a composite model consisting of geometric, physical, behavioral, and semantic sub-models. A zero-carbon house at Beijing University of Technology is used to demonstrate the method. The case integrates a Revit-based BIM model, a Grasshopper/Ladybug/Honeybee energy model, an IoT sensing network with InfluxDB, and a Unity-based interactive twin. The implementation shows that the proposed model can synchronize building objects, operation states, and rule knowledge; support real-time indoor environmental quality monitoring; and enable rule-based comfort-oriented equipment control. The work contributes a practical modeling route for moving from data-centric digital twins toward knowledge-enhanced operation support in zero-energy buildings.

Keywords

Digital Twin; Zero-Energy Building; Building Operation; BIM; IoT; Knowledge Graph; Indoor Environmental Quality

References

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