Paper Conference

ASHRAE & IBPSA-USA SimBuild 2016: Building Performance Modeling Conference

     

Model Like a Programmer: Tools and Techniques for Greater Productivity

Michael O'Keefe, Peter Ellis
Big Ladder Software

Abstract: Computer programmers have developed a number of tools and techniques for dealing with source code, change management, and automation. Building energy modelers can benefit from applying many of these same tools and techniques to simulation input/output data and workflows. In this paper, we will present four ideas from the software engineering domain that we have applied to our modeling work: text-based tools for working with input/output data, version control for distributed change management, templates for minimizing repeated content, and scripting for process automation. We discuss these ideas in the context of how they can be applied today in actual building energy modeling projects.
Pages: 214 - 221
Paper:
simbuild2016_C028