A Semantic Web and IFC-Based Framework for Automated BIM Compliance Checking

In the architectural design phase, the inspection of design deliverables is critical, yet traditional manual checking methods are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and inefficient, with numerous drawbacks. With the development of BIM technology, automated rule compliance checking has become a trend. This paper presents a method combining semantic web technology and IFC data to enhance human–machine collaborative inspection capabilities. First, a five-step process integrated with domain specifications is designed to construct a building object ontology, covering most architectural objects in the AEC domain. Second, a set of mapping rules is developed based on the expression mechanisms of IFC entities to establish a semantic bridge between IfcOWL and the building object ontology. Then, by analyzing regulatory codes, query rule templates for major constraint types are developed using semantic web SPARQL. Finally, the feasibility of the method is validated through a case study based on the Jena framework.