Interactive Lighting Design and Simulation Interface Based on BIM and Game Engine for Smart Indoor Environment

Department of Civil Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan

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Abstract

With the continuous advancement of digital design technologies in the architectural field, Building Information Modeling has become a crucial technique within the architectural design process. Its strong capability for integration and scalability brings new opportunities for simulating a building's physical environment. Among those applications, indoor light design has received growing attention due to its significant impact on users' visual comfort and its increasing relevance in BIM-integrated research. Currently, most existing light simulation tools focus on quantitative analyses of static parameters, such as energy consumption calculations and daylight studies. Although some scholars have applied game engines to interactive lighting simulations, concerns remain regarding the accuracy of their simulation results. This research aims to integrate Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology, professional lighting simulation software, and game engine platforms to establish a real-time, interactive, and immersive lighting design process and develop an operational interactive interface for light environment design. The research is divided into three main components: First, a literature review examining the applications of BIM and game engines in lighting design and the impact of immersive game-engine interface on user interaction; second, the development of the research framework, including user interface design, functional modules, and lighting simulation accuracy verification under different environmental conditions; and third, the evaluation phase, which compares measured data, professional simulation software, and game engine results. The outcomes of this study are expected to balance simulation accuracy and real-time interactivity, providing a more intuitive and efficient tool for indoor lighting design and offering a reference for the future development of interactive architectural design tools.