A BIM-based Virtual Reality Evacuation Simulation for Fire Safety Management

In contemporary design and construction engineering, Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology significantly influences the evolution of fire safety. This research explores the intersection of fire safety and virtual reality (VR) by introducing an innovative emergency evacuation simulation method grounded in BIM technology. The study aims to establish a robust framework for emergency evacuation simulations by synthesizing fire dynamics, evacuation strategies, and BIM-based VR technologies. By bridging the theoretical-practical gap, the research endeavors to provide stakeholders in the construction industry with a toolset that prioritizes safety while enhancing designs for safer building projects. The study incorporates fire simulation utilizing CFAST, a representative zone model from the Korean National Institute of Standards and Technology. CFAST divides the fire room into high-temperature upper and low- temperature lower layers, assuming a uniform thermal and chemical environment. It interprets fire phenomena through principles such as mass conservation, the first law of thermodynamics, and the ideal gas equation. The study employs Cellular Automata (CA) to design an agent's reaction and behavior for evacuation. This involves creating a model based on CA rules, determining state changes, and designing behaviors accordingly. The study also focuses on formulating a calculation for evacuation time, refining it based on key factors. The integration of CFAST and CA, along with models for fire and evacuation simulations, enhances the accuracy and utility of evacuation simulations. The research introduces computational models and BIM models in a visually immersive experience in VR across 3 types of fire emergency scenarios.