This study introduces a context-sensitive generative artificial intelligence (AI) co-pilot tool designed to assist architectural design by generating predictive suggestions based on Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) data. The approach adopted in this study involves the utilization of Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) and Deep Generative Models of Graphs (DGMG) to enhance the synthesis of 3D architectural spatial typologies. To capture spatial and relational patterns between building elements, various GNN architectures where employed, including Graph Convolutional Networks (GCNs), GraphSAGE, and Graph Attention Networks (GATs). The custom training dataset comprised 180,000 subgraphs derived from realworld BIM models, with IFC files converted into heterogeneous graph representations. A combination of multi-label classification and regression techniques was applied to address the complexities of architectural design predictions. The developed co-pilot tool integrates these models within an interactive human-AI workflow, offering users different levels of control.
| Authors | Renner, Markus and Hornung, Matthias and Elshani, Diellza and Niepert, Mathias and Wortmann, Thomas |
|---|---|
| Year | 2025 |
| Venue | International Journal of Architectural Computing |
| DOI | 10.1177/14780771251354914 |
| Source Database | EBSCO (Applied Science & Technology) |
| Bridge-to-GNN | Category A |
| GNN Architecture | GraphSAGE (heuristic — verify) |
| Graph Encoding | Not yet extracted from PDF |
| AEC Task | Not yet extracted from PDF |
| Cohort | Mature Applications (2024–2026) |
| Dataset Size | 22 models (heuristic — verify) |
|---|---|
| Implementation Framework | DGL, Grasshopper / Rhino (heuristic — verify) |
| Key Hyperparameters | 45 epochs; batch size 64; lr 0.0001 (heuristic — verify) |
| Primary Metric | Accuracy (heuristic — verify) |
| Primary Value | 16.67% (heuristic — verify) |
| Key Finding | three levels of human-AI interaction (heuristic — verify) |
| Quality Assessment | 2/6 · rigor: Low · Baseline: ✓CV/Split: ✓ (heuristic — verify) |
| GNN architectures detected | GraphSAGE / SAGEConv · GAT (Graph Attention) · R-GCN (Relational GCN) · Graph Transformer / GraphGPS / SAN · EdgeConv · Graph GAN · Graph VAE / VGAE · Knowledge Graph Embedding (TransE/RotatE/DistMult) · GCN |
|---|---|
| Frameworks / libraries | Deep Graph Library (DGL) · Grasshopper / Rhino · RDF / OWL / SPARQL · OpenAI / GPT API |
| Hyperparameters (regex-detected) | epochs=20, 10, 45 · batch_size=64, 4 · learning_rate=0.001-0, 0.0001 · dropout=0.1, 0.0 |
| Dataset stats found | 22 models |
| Reported metrics + values | Accuracy: 16.67% · Accuracy: 79% · Accuracy: 71.14% · Precision: 70.79% · Precision: 71.14% · Recall: 70.52% · Recall: 71.14% |
| Quality (heuristic, 6-flag) | 3/6 · rigor: Medium Code/Data: —Benchmark: —Baseline: ✓CV/Split: ✓Ablation: —Reproducible: ✓ |
Part of the GML/GNN in AEC Systematic Review (PRISMA 2020) — 112 papers, 2020–2026