Multi-dimensional level of detail (LoD) specification for urban energy models

Urban Building Energy Modeling (UBEM) employs a range of tools and techniques, resulting in significant variations in simulation outputs. This diversity introduces complexity and challenges in analyzing and comparing results across studies. Different approaches to input data collection and simplifications for building geometries, thermal zoning, occupancy schedules, weather conditions, material characteristics, appliance usage patterns, and spatiotemporal metered data for calibration and validation add to the ambiguity in selecting appropriate simulation methodologies, accuracy reporting, and result presentation. Given the current stage of this field, establishing standardized methodologies is crucial to facilitate comprehensive analysis and interpretation of simulation-based urban energy research.

To address these issues, we propose a unified framework that standardizes the various representations of data collection processes and reporting results for the bottom-up physics-based approach of UBEM. Our contribution includes a comprehensive review of Multi-dimensional Levels of Detail (LoDs) for various input parameters, incorporating enhancements in refined LoDs for geometry, thermal zone, temporal and spatial granularity of measured data, occupancy schedules and weather information based on a review of 70 journal papers and 20 validation or calibration-focused articles. Additionally, we introduce a sub-level of detail for parameters, allowing modelers to expand each criterion according to their data availability. This systematic approach aims to provide clarity and consistency in the details required for urban building energy simulations, thereby advancing the reliability and comparability of research findings in the field.