building

The data used to model a building is contained in an xml file that gives information on the composition and the geometry of the building. The xml file is divided in the three following parts.

general

This part gives general information at the level of the building:

• type: type of building (dwelling or activity);
• H: height above the ground;
• height: height of the building;
• dilapidation: default dilapidation factor to be used for the elementary components;
• version: version of the xml file used.

element

This part gives information on the elementary components used at the level of the building:

• baseboard: this is the list (optional) of the types of baseboard present in the building. Each type of baseboard is defined by the following characteristics:
  • material: material used for the baseboard;
  • width: width of the baseboard;
• ceiling: this is the list of the types of ceilings present in the building. Each type is defined by the following characteristics:
  • material: material used for the ceiling;
  • insulating: material used to insulate this type of ceiling. It is optional;
  • coating: material used for the coating of this type of ceiling. It is optional;
  • H: height at which the ceiling is located (relative to the floor of the room in which the ceiling is located);
• coating: this is the list (optional) of the types of wall coatings present in the building. Each type is defined by the following characteristic:
  • material: material used for the coating;
• coverstrip: this is the list (optional) of the types of coverstrips present in the building. Each type is defined by the following characteristic:
  • material: material used for the coverstrip;
• floor: this is the list of the types of floors present in the building. Each type is defined by the following characteristics:
  • material: material used for the floor;
  • insulating: material used to insulate this type of floor. It is optional;
  • coating: material used for the coating of this type of floor. It is optional;
• opening: this is the list of the types of openings present in the building. Each type is defined by the following characteristics:
  • opening.type: type of opening (door, french.window, window or empty);
  • material: material used for the opening;
  • shutter: material used for the shutter with this type of opening. It is optional;
  • height: height of the opening;
  • width: width of the opening;
• wall: this is the list of the types of walls present in the building. Each type is defined by the following characteristics:
  • wall.type: type of wall (load.bearing.wall, lining, partition or empty);
  • material: material used for the wall;
  • insulating: material used to insulate this type of wall. It is optional;
  • render: material used for the render with this type of wall. It is optional.

building

This part gives information on the geometry of the building, and on the way the elements defined in the previous part are used. It is organized as a list of storeys:

• storey: each storey has the following characteristics:
  • name: name of the storey;
  • H: height at which the storey is located (relative to the ground)
  • height: height of the storey. This value is used as the default height of the walls, if this information is missing.

Each storey is made up of a list of two types of rooms:

• external: type of room that refers to the external part of the storey. It has the same characteristics as a room;
• room: each room has the following characteristics:
  • name: name of the room;
  • baseboard: if present, type of baseboard used in the room;
  • ceiling: if present, type of ceiling used in the room;
  • floor: if present, type of floor used in the room;
  • H: height at which the room is located (relative to the base of the storey in which the room is located).

Each room is made up of a list of walls:

• wall: each wall has the following characteristics:
  • coordinates: coordinates of the starting point of the wall. The coordinates of the ending point of the wall are given by the coordinates of the starting point of the next wall;
  • type: type of wall;
  • H: height at which the wall is located (relative to the floor of the room in which the wall is located);
  • height: height of the wall.

Each wall is made up of a list of coatings (can be empty):

• coating: each coating has the following characteristics:
  • type: type of coating;
  • H: height at which the coating starts (relative to the base of the wall on which the coating is located). The height at which the coating ends is given either by the height at which the next coating starts or by the height of the wall on which the coating is located.

Each wall is also made up of a list of openings (can be empty):

• opening: Each opening has the following characteristics:
  • type: type of opening;
  • coordinates: coordinates of the center of the opening;
  • coverstrip: if present, type of coverstrip used;
  • H: height at which the opening is located (relative to base of the wall on which the opening is located).