Approach to Reference Models for Building Performance Simulation

In the fields of business process modeling, logistics, and information model development, Reference Models (RMs) have shown to enhance standardization, support the common understanding of terminology and procedures, reduce the modeling efforts and cost through the paradigm ”Design by Reuse”, and enable knowledge transfer. The use of RMs in Building Performance Simulation (BPS) shows potential to achieve similar benefits. Firstly, to clarify the terminology adopted in the different fields, this paper presents a comprehensive overview of the diversely interpreted definitions, benefits, and attributes of RMs and related terms, including classification into common and uncommon understanding. Secondly, the paper transfers the approach of RMs to BPS. A definition for RMs applicable to BPS is provided, the identified RM qualities are matched with BPS’s challenges, and finally an example of an RM for simulation-based test benches is presented.