Capturing the spatial and operational interdependencies among building systems using building information modelling

This paper presents a novel methodology for extracting interdependencies among building systems and components in order to understand how the effect of a hazard or failure can cascade across building systems and components. The methodology is composed of two parts: (1) a spatial interdependency algorithm and (2) an operational interdependency algorithm. The spatial algorithm separates a building into spaces and then extracts all of the building elements in each space. The extracted elements are clustered into five domain specific groups; architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. After locating the elements within each space, the operational algorithm extracts functional interdependency relationships across the different building systems to link the building spaces to their functional dependencies. Subsequently the resulting spatial and operational model is useful for assessing the propagation of failure through the building's operation. A case study using a hydroelectric power plant is used to demonstrate the methodology. The risk analysis clustered building elements into five groups where the first group holds the most critical elements and the fifth group holds the least critical elements. Due to flooding, the production of electricity becomes endangered because of the growth in risk exposure of the turbine and connected electrical units.