Specifying parametric building object behavior (BOB) for a building information modeling system

Parametric modeling has been proposed as an effective means to embed domain expertise in models of buildings. As information technology becomes more powerful in terms of the ability to manipulate large parametric models, the potential grows to build increasingly sophisticated functional systems for designing, modeling and fabricating buildings. Implementing more powerful systems implies greater functional specificity, which requires elicitation and capture of increasingly detailed and complex domain-specific semantics and knowledge. This paper explores the extent to which design and engineering knowledge can be practically embedded in production software for building information modeling (BIM). It focuses on a building object behavior (BOB) description notation and method, developed as a shorthand protocol for designing, validating and sharing the design intent of parametric objects. Examples are drawn from an advanced BIM system development project for precast concrete.