See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/321412825

Smart cities: System and tools used for the digital modelling of physical urban
systems

Conference Paper · September 2017

DOI: 10.1109/SENSET.2017.8125056

CITATIONS READS

21 2,626

3 authors:

Isam Shahrour Lyes Alileche

Université de Lille Polytech Lille
376 PUBLICATIONS 4,779 CITATIONS 2 PUBLICATIONS 26 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Abdurahman Musbah al Furjani

University of Tripoli & General Information Authority - Libya
6 PUBLICATIONS 29 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE

All content following this page was uploaded by Isam Shahrour on 24 December 2017.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 Smart Cities: System and Tools used for the digital
Modelling of Physical Urban Systems
Isam SHAHROUR, Lyes Alileche, Abdurahman Alfurjani
Laboratoire de Génie Civil et géo-Environment (LGCgE)
Université de Lille, 59650 Villeneuve d’Ascq, France
Abstract— Since several years, the concept of the “Smart
City” has been meeting a large concern throughout the world.
Through smart city implementation, cities aim at improving the
efficiency and security of their urban infrastructures as well as the
quality of life of citizens. The Smart City concept is based on
collection and analysis of data concerning the urban built
environment (buildings and infrastructures) as well as the natural
environment and urban services. Since built environment plays a
major role in the city functioning and the quality of services, a
smart city project should integrate this environment in the heart
of its strategy. This integration requires first the development of
digital modelling for the City, urban infrastructures and
buildings. The digital modeling should include the asset data, the
operating data and the environmental data all over the lifecycle of
concerned systems. It should also guarantee the interoperability
between the different modelling tools. This paper presents a
synthesis of min tools used for modelling the City, urban
infrastructures and buildings and discusses their interoperability.
Keywords— Building information modeling (BIM), Civil
information modeling, Buildings management, facility management
(FM), CityGML, GIS, interoprablity, Smart City,
I. INTRODUCTION
The Smart City concept offers large opportunities to cities to
meet the challenges of rapid expansion, need for new
infrastructures and buildings, modernization of aging buildings
and infrastructures, offering new urban services and globally
transforming the city into an eco- and socio- friendly city ([1],
[2], [3], [4]).
The Smart City concept is based on the use of data
concerning the physical components of the city (Infrastructures,
buildings, public space), natural environment (air quality, green
spaces, water resources, greenhouse emission,), urban services
(transport, water supply, energy supply, municipal wastes,
education, health, culture, sport.), economic activity and citizens
(Fig.1). Analysis of these data at different scales and in different
contexts allows to enhance our understanding of the functioning
of urban complex systems and to improve both their security and
efficiency.
978-1-5090-6011-5/17/$31.00 ©2017 IEEE
Urban
Infrastructures
buildings
Citizens
Smart City
Comprehensive Public space
Data-based management
Economic
activity
Urban services
natural
environment
Fig. 1. Smart City Concept– Data-based management of urban systems
The smart management of urban infrastructures and
buildings plays a major role in the efficiency of the Smart City,
because they largely contribute to improve the city functioning
and quality of urban services. In addition, they mobilize a large
part of the City expenses for both investment and running costs.
Savings induced by the smart city, could be used for boosting
economic activity and improving social services.
The smart management of urban infrastructures and
buildings requires collection of asset data, operating data and
usage data. Due to the interdependency of urban infrastructures
and buildings, we need a comprehensive management system,
that collects, stores and analyses data for urban systems
(infrastructures and buildings) and then operates their
management in an optimal and safe way.
Different tools have been developed for the digital modelling
of urban systems such the Geographic Information System (GIS)
for urban infrastructures, Building Information Modeling (BIM)
for buildings, the Civil Infrastructure Modelling (CIM) for civil
engineering infrastructures. Tools were also developed for the
digital modelling of the City such as CityGML.
The smart management of the city requires data share among
urban information systems. Since different tools are used for
modeling the different urban systems (Buildings, infrastructures,
City), it is of major concern to ensure their interoperability.
 In the following, the paper presents tools and systems
developed for the digital modeling of the city as well as its
components.
II. 3D CITY MODEL
The 3D city model, called also the Virtual 3D City
Model, is a digital model of a city including a 3D digital
modelling of common urban systems such as buildings,
landscapes and streets as well as any relevant object in the
urban environment.
A 3D city model stores data concerning urban systems
in a structured and multi-scale way. It facilitates analysis
and management of complex urban system. CityGML
defines an explicit XML-based exchange format for 3D
city model, which supports 3D geometric descriptions of
urban systems as well associated semantics information
[5].
A CityGML model includes 5 discrete scales (Levels of
Detail, LOD):
• LOD0 Regional, landscape model: 2.5D Digital terrain
model, 3D landmarks.
• LOD 1 – City / Site model Prismatic buildings without
roof structures.
• LOD 2 – City / Site model: Simple buildings with
detailed roof structures.
• LOD 3 – City / Site model: Detailed architectural
models, landmarks.
• LOD 4 – Interior Model: “Walkable” architectural
models
The current generation of digital 3D models includes
databases that store any kind of spatial urban data with
their geographical referent. The new models are not
simply the digital geometry of traditional models but
large-scale databases which can be visualized in a 3D
environment. The model could capture and visualize real-
time data using smart sensors and other available data and
information. The built environment is continuously
updated in terms of its people, activity and built
environment. City managers as well as users can make
sense of the urban systems and their environment. This
could result in improving the city functioning and the
quality of life.
The Virtual City model is used in multitude of urban
applications [6] such as geo-visualization, visibility
analysis, 3D cadastre, outdoor navigation, urban planning,
energy demand estimation, emergency response, crisis
management, lighting simulations, air quality,
accessibility analysis, flooding mitigation, management of
green space and facility Management.
III. DIGITL BUILDINS MODELING
A. Presentation of Building Information Modelling (BIM)
Digital buildings modelling is mostly conducted using the
Building Information Modelling (BIM), which is a shared
knowledge resource for information about a building forming a
reliable basis for decisions during its life cycle, from earliest
conception to demolition. BIM guarantees collaboration among
facility’s stakeholders throughout its lifecycle.
BIM constitutes a single virtual model of a building, that
integrates in a digital file the technical information
(architectural, structural, and MEP model), construction process,
maintenance, repairs, modifications and deconstruction. It
includes a description of the relations between objects and their
properties [7]. In a BIM model, each modeled object contains
information about itself as well information concerning its
relation with other objects, which makes the digital model
effective for simulations (thermal, construction process, cost ..).
In BIM model, information is present in a single electronic
file; consequently, the facility manager does not need to search
in a package of documents [7]. At any time, the data base allows
instantly access for any technical information of any equipment
or components and rapidly find and execute solutions.
BIM information are classified into three categories;
corrective, preventive and condition-based [8] including
information related to maintenance checks, installation and
repairs procedures, replacement cots and products warranties
and lifecycle of the product. BIM provides information about the
current state of any component of the building as well as its
history, such as previous maintenance and repairs or
replacement [9].
5D BIM combines building information model (3D), time
(4D) and cost (5D). This model can be utilized through Virtual
Design and Construction (VDC) for support and business
objectives.
BIM offers powerful 3D visualization tools, which allow to
present any component of the buildings, its history and
relationship with other buildings. It allows virtual visit of the
building and its equipment. This possibility is particularly useful
in the design phase of the building as well as during its
construction and management [10].
B. Implementation of BIM for facility management (BIM FM)
Buildings can be classified into three categories according to
their ages: new buildings, existing buildings and heritage
buildings [11]. Fig. 2 summarizes the methodology to be used
for the implementation of BIM for facility management of new
and existing buildings.
For new buildings, the BIM FM is derived from the BIM as
built-model, which contains huge information about the building
and its equipment. The use of the totality of the BIM model
could be laborious. Since all the BIM information are not
required for the facility management, the BIM model could be
simplified using filters to remove extraneous information.

New buildings Existing buildings
Design phase
- Using plan files
- Survey on site
Construction phase - Laser scanning
Filter Facility management
Selection only Operation
the necessary Maintenance
data for FM
Rehabilitation
Demolition
Fig. 2. Methods for BIM FM implementation
The use of BIM for the management of existing buildings
requires the construction of the BIM model. This construction
encounters major difficulties concerning the lack of information
about the building (architecture, structure, equipment,
maintenance,..) [10].
For existing buildings, the BIM implementation should start by
collecting all the available information (digital and non-digital)
concerning the building architecture, structure, equipment,
maintenance, use, consumption and predictive maintenance.
Site visit are necessary for checking available data and for their
updating. 2D plans should be prepared and then imported
directly into the BIM software such as Revit or ArchiCAD. The
information concerning the different components of the
building as well as it maintenance and use are then integrated
in the BIM model.
After the construction of the BIM FM model, it is used in a
cooperative platform for building management with continuous
update of the information. The BIM could be directly connected
to sensors or other sources of dynamic information to update
the information, operate analysis, visualize the operating data
and conduct optimal and safe management of the building.
Alert and warning could be sent for abnormal events. The
model could be used for cost analysis as well as for the analysis
of the environmental impact of the building. It could also be
used for the optimization of the investment in the renovation
and modernization of the building and its equipment.
IV. CIVIL INFRASTRUCTURES MODELING
A. Presentation of civil infrastructures
Civil infrastructures cover large areas such as transport
infrastructures (roads, tunnels, bridges, parking, metro, airports,
ports, train stations, railway), urban utilities for energy and water
supply, sewage system and telecommunication infrastructures.
A Civil Engienneering Infrastructures is generally a
multicale hyper-complicated structure, including different types
of facilities horizontally expanded in kilometers and need to be
detailed at centimeter scale sometimes. Boundary conditions and
other constraints must be considered for the existing and new
Outdoor Built Environment [12].
Since civil infrastructure projects are often large
projects involving huge capital investment and z high
number of stakeholders, it is important to integrate all the
information and data analysis for the optimization of the
design, construction and management of these complex
projects [13].
B. Civil information modelling (CIM)
The Civil Information Modelling (CIM) is used for the
digital modelling of Civil Engineering infrastrucrures (roads,
bridges, tunnels, dams, embankements) for their lifecycle
management. CIM aims at creating 3D georferenced models for
civil infrastrucrutes with multiscale, geometric, semantic,
dynamic objects concerning the infrastrcture compoents. It
could be used for inner-city subway transportation
infrastructure, bridges, roads, railways, tunnels, airports, ports,
harbors, power generation, oil and gas Energy infrastructure,
mine, utility infrastructure, recreational facilities, water and
wastewater facilities, infrastructure, dams, canals and levees,
waste management facilities.
The Civil Information Modeling (CIM) combines the use of
digital modelling systems such Geograpic Information System
(GIS), BIM, CityGML and spectific tools developed for
modelling urban and civil infrastrucrures, such as AutoCAD
Map 3D, AutoCAD Civil 3D, InfraWorks, Structural Bridge
Design, 3ds Max Design, RM Bridge, Power Rail Track,
MXRAIL, Power InRoads, PowerCivil, WaterCAD,
SewerCAD, SewerGEMS and StormCAD.
C. Geographic information System (GIS)
The Geographic Information System (GIS) includes tools for
creating, managing, analyzing, and visualizing georeferenced
data related to civil and urban infrastructures as well as their
built and natural environments.
It provides an integrated environment to conduct
engineering, safety and environmental analyses. It enables
engineers and managers to turn data into operational
information, useful for the optimal and safe management of
infrastructures during their lifecycle GIS offers also high
capabilities for 2D and 3D interactive visualization of dynamic
data, that collected by smart sensor or any other ways.
Thanks to GIS-server, uses can share data and analyses and
conduct collaborative projects through the WEB.
V. INTEROPERABILITY
Interoperability between software and digital tools
designates their capacity to exchange information via a common
set of exchange formats without any degradation in the quality
of these information. Interoperability constitutes a key issue for
the use of digital modelling tools within Smart City projects.
Works on the interoperability between GIS and BIM models
focused on the use of their popular standards IFC (Industry
Foundation Classes) and CityGML, respectively. The
integration process between IFC and CityGML involves
semantic filtering, exterior shell computing; incorporation of
building installation, and geometric and semantic refinements.
A large effort was made on the compatibility of these standards.
However, the current CityGML and IFC standards are still not
sufficient to support the structure information of the entire built
environment lifecycle for urban and infrastructure projects [14].
Different integration methods between GIS and BIM are
proposed [14]: (i) Manual or semi-manual conversion,
translation and extension of existing standards, (ii) Semantic
web technologies, (iii) Services-based methods and (iv)
Application focused methods case by case.
Liu et al [14] presented BIM – GIS integration projects
concerning 3D cadastre, location based services and
navigation, asset management, heritage management, urban
environment analysis and safety.
VIII . CONCUSION
The Smart City concept offers large opportunities to improve
the efficiency and the quality of life in Cities. It is based on the
collection and analysis of data concerning the urban built
environment (buildings and infrastructures) as well as the
natural environment and urban services. Since both buildings
and urban infrastructures play a major role in the city
performances and in the quality of services to citizens, any smart
city project should integrate them in the heart of its strategy. This
integration requires the construction of multiscale modeling of
the city with digital models for the City, urban infrastructures
and buildings.
Today, different modelling tools are available for modelling
urban system, such as CiyGML for the 3D virtual model of the
City, the Building Information Modelling for the management
of buildings all over their life cycle and the Geographic
Information System (GIS) for the management of
infrastructures. These systems offer powerful tools for the
implementation of the Smart City project within a
comprehensive multi-scale and multi-domain approaches and
business models.
Today, an important effort is conducted for the (i) extension
of the BIM capability from the indoor environment to the
outdoor one (infrastructure and natural environment), (ii) the
extension of the GIS capability for the indoor environment
(Buildings) and (iii) the interoperability between tools used in
modelling indoor and outdoor environments to build a
comprehensive model for the city.
View publication stats
IX . REFERENCES
[1] Buchholz, BM., Styczynski, Z. (2014). « Smart Grids – Fundamentals and
Technologies in Electricity Networks », Springer Vieweg, ISBN : 978-3-
642-45119-5.
[2] El-Hawary ME. (2014). “The Smart Grid—State-of-the-art and Future
Trends”, Electric Power Components and Systems, 42(3–4):239–250.
[3] Momoh, J. (2012). «Smart Grid: Fundamentals of Design and Analysis
», Wiley-IEEE Press, ISBN: 978-0-470-88939-8
[4] Tuballa ML., Abundo ML. (2016). “A review of the development of
Smart Grid technologies” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews,
59, pp. 710–725.
[5] T. H. Kolbe, T.H. (2009) “Representing and Exchanging 3D City Models
with CityGML”. 3D Geo-Information Sciences, Eds. Springer Berlin
Heidelberg, 2009, pp. 15–31
[6] Biljecki, F., Stoter, Ledoux J1, Zlatanova, S. 1 and Çöltekin, A. (2015)
“Applications of 3D City Models: State of the Art Review” ISPRS Int. J.
Geo-Inf. 4, 2842-2889; doi:10.3390/ijgi4042842
[7] S. Azhar, M. Khalfan, and T. Maqsood, “Building information modelling
(BIM): now and beyond,” Constr. Econ. Build., vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 15–28,
Oct. 2015.
[8] Horner, R.M.W., M.A. El-Haram, and A.K. Munns, (1997) “Building
maintenance strategy: a new management approach,” J. Qual. Maint.
Eng., vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 273–280, Dec. 1997.
[9] Akcamete, A. B. Akinci, and J. H. Garrett, (2010) “Potential utilization of
building information models for planning maintenance activities,” in
Proceedings of the international conference on computing in civil and
building engineering, 2010, pp. 151–157.
[10] Kensek, K. and D. Noble, D. (2014) “Building Information Modeling:
BIM in Current and Future Practice”. John Wiley & Sons.
[11] Lu Q. and S. Lee S.H. (2015), “Comparative analysis of technologies and
methods for automatic construction of building information models for
existing buildings” Proceedings of ICE HKA Annual Conference 2015:
Thinking out of the box in infrastructure development and retrofitting,
Hong Kong, 181-190..
[12] Borrmann, A., T. H. Kolbe T.H. (2015) “A. Donaubauer, H. Steuer, J. R.
Jubierre, and M. Flurl, “Multi-scale geometric-semantic modeling of
shield tunnels for GIS and BIM applications,” Comput.-Aided Civ.
Infrastruct. Eng., vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 263–281.
[13] Lu, Q. and Deng, Y. (2016) “Analytical review and evaluation of civil
information modeling” Automation in Construction 67 (2016) 31–47
[14] Liu, X., Wang , X., Wright, W., Cheng, JCP 4, Li, X. and Rui Liu, R.
(2015) “A State-of-the-Art Review on the Integration of Building
Information Modeling (BIM) and Geographic Information System (GIS)”
ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2017, 6, 53; doi:10.3390/ijgi6020053