Towards topological query on semantic building models using graph theory

Since the mid-20^th century, information technology - for example, CAD systems, 3D models and simulation techniques - has revolutionized the way we communicate and develop the design of buildings. Current developments in the building sector strive to represent the building's geometry along with all related information in BIM. Motivated by that, our research looks at how we access the knowledge stored in such semantic models. Therefore it is necessary to define requirements with regard to data structure and corresponding methods for retrieving and accessing this data. Information regarding potential design solutions can, for example, be organized according to their organizational, technical, constructional, functional and spatial properties.