Artificial Intelligence and Data Integration

Research Area

ICD and its Chair for Computing in Architecture investigate applications of artificial intelligence (AI) for architecture, engineering, and construction, often in collaboration with researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems and in Cybervalley. In optimization, we investigate and improve the performance of (multi-objective) optimization algorithms. In machine learning (ML), we investigate the use of ML in interactive design tools and visualizations, for example to predict the behavior of material systems. In symbolic AI, we investigate the integration of Knowledge Graphs and AI Planning into multi-disciplinary co-design workflows.

Related Research Projects

AImpact: Entwicklung einer Plattform zur automatisierten Bewertung möglicher Änderungen in der Bauplanung
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AMALTEA
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RAW

NeuralWood

InterReas: Interoperability and AI Reasoning for Timber Building Design and Fabrication

Semantic Building: Advancing Geometric Data Validation and Reasoning With Semantic Web Technologies in Architecture

Towards Human-Robot Co-Agency

Multi-objective optimization and machine learning for climate-friendly building design

Computerbasierte Methoden und KI für die Planung klimaneutraler Gebäude

Modular Data Architecture for Preparation, Annotation and Exchange for Conceptual Design

Data Processing and AI for Predictive and Adaptive Co-Design

Task and Motion Planning for Collaborative Robotic Construction with Irregular Materials

Knowledge Representation for Multi-Disciplinary Co-Design

Innovative AI-based Sustainable Timber Construction Process Planning

Related Research Tools

Opossum

Selected Publications

  1. 2026

    1. Skoury, L., Asaf, O., Sprecher, A., Menges, A., & Wortmann, T. (2026). Data-informed Digital Twin for large-scale 3D printing in construction. Automation in Construction, 182, 106706. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2025.106706
    2. Abolhasani, S., Balangé, L., Zhang, L., Reß, V., Haala, N., Elshani, D., Wortmann, T., Sörgel, U., & Schwieger, V. (2026). Capturing and Modeling of Existing Buildings from Point Clouds Under the Application of Stochastic Information. In A. Kopácik, P. Kyrinovic, J. Erdélyi, & J. Bures (Eds.), Contributions to International Conferences on Engineering Surveying (pp. 111–124). Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-12070-0_10
    3. Slezak, S., Siriwardena, L., Leder, S., & Menges, A. (2026). LLM-driven behavior generation and negotiation for collective robotic construction. Construction Robotics, 10, Article 2. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41693-026-00216-x
    4. Skoury, L., Rosenthal, N., Wortmann, T., Menges, A., Fratzl, P., Eder, M., & Dierichs, K. (2026). Modelling cocoon spinning: an agent-based computational approach. Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, 21, Article 4. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-3190/ae91bf
    5. Akbar, Z., Gambarelli, S., & Wortmann, T. (2026). A machine learning based model for self-shaping wood bilayers: leveraging local natural variations for bending prediction. Advanced Engineering Informatics, 70, 104061. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aei.2025.104061
    6. Renner, M., Elshani, D., Wagner, H. J., Künzel, S., Prandini, R., Bien, T., Niepert, M., Knippers, J., Weiskopf, D., Menges, A., & Wortmann, T. (2026). A compact geometry schema for structural reasoning on prefabricated concrete building systems. 8. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.22679709
    7. Zorn, M., Alvarez, M., Menges, A., & Wortmann, T. (2026). A Method for Creating Multi-Disciplinary, Machine Learning Suitable Architectural Design Datasets. In A. Bormann & Z. wang (Eds.), Proceedings of TUM GNI Symposium on AI for the Built World (pp. 1–10). Technical University of Munich. https://doi.org/10.14459/2026MD1851871
    8. Dombrowski, M., Merz, P., Zorn, M., Schlaich, M., & Wortmann, T. (2026). Structural design optimization of concrete slabs: A systematic review. Engineering Structures, 366, 123268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2026.123268
    9. Slezak, S., Shevidi, S., Shakeri, Z., Ron, G., Amtsberg, F., Wortmann, T., & Menges, A. (2026). Human–robot collaboration in building disassembly: a multi-agent LLM architecture. Construction Robotics, 10, Article 2. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41693-026-00189-x
    10. Rossi, G., Marsillo, L., Akbar, Z., Tamke, M., Wortmann, T., & Ramsgaard Thomsen, M. (2026). Towards an integrated Semantic-based Resource-driven modelling framework for design to fabrication of bio-based and waste-source materials in AEC using knowledge graph. In A. Borrmann & Z. Wang (Eds.), Proceedings of TUM GNI Symposium on AI for the Built World (pp. 1–14). TUM Georg Nemetschek Institute. https://doi.org/10.14459/2026md1851886
    11. Elshani, D., Hernandez, D., Nakhaee, A., Arrascue, A. A., Staab, S., & Wortmann, T. (2026). geof3D: SPARQL geometric functions for co-designing buildings. Advanced Engineering Informatics, 71, 104261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aei.2025.104261
    12. Yang, X., Slezak, S., Siriwardena, L., Amtsberg, F., & Menges, A. (2026). MAVE: An Augmented Multi-agent LLM System for Interactive Design and Robotic Fabrication. Proceedings of the 2026 Designing Interactive Systems Conference, 76–92. https://doi.org/10.1145/3800645.3813008

  2. 2025

    1. Ron, G., Leder, S., Siriwardena, L., Kropp, C., Menges, A., & Wortmann, T. (2025). Designing for diversity: a feminist technoscience and behavioural fabrication approach in human--robot collaboration education for Industry 5.0. Construction Robotics, 9, Article 2. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41693-025-00164-y
    2. Blum, C. P., Marsillo, L., Munoz Guerrero, G., Chen, T.-C., Akbar, Z., Knippers, J., & Wortmann, T. (2025). Reclaimed Design: Development of an Availability-Oriented Framework for Reclaimed Lumber. ACADIA 2025: Computing for Resilience, 2.
    3. Zorn, M., Claus, L., Frenzel, C., & Wortmann, T. (2025). Optimizing an expensive multi-objective building performance problem: Benchmarking model-based optimization algorithms against metaheuristics with and without surrogates. Energy and Buildings, 336, 115562. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2025.115562
    4. Elshani, D., Hernandez, D., Staab, S., & Wortmann, T. (2025). Building Knowledge Representation for Computer Scientists: Insights from Teaching. In B. Özcan, H. Vassilev, A. Göbels, O. Schulz, & Q. Huang (eds.), Forum Bauinformatik (FBI) (pp. 49–56). RWTH Aachen University. https://doi.org/10.18154/RWTH-CONV-254895
    5. Sherkat, S., Wortmann, T., & Wortmann, A. (2025). Two Decades of Automated AI Planning Methods in Construction and Fabrication: a Systematic Review. ACM Computing Surveys. https://doi.org/10.1145/3729529
    6. Elshani, D., Lombardi, A., Hernandez, D., Staab, S., Fisher, A., & Wortmann, T. (2025). AEC Co-design workflow for cross-domain querying and reasoning using Semantic Web Technologies. Automation in Construction, 176, 106226. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2025.106226
    7. Ron, G., Schreck, A., Kropp, C., Menges, A., & Wortmann, T. (2025). Sensor-Driven Human–Robot Collaboration for Timber Assembly: A Cyber-Physical Approach Tested with Diverse Participants. In G. Caldwell, B. Tag, & J. Andres (eds.), Proceedings of the 37th Australian Conference on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) (OZCHI ’25), November 29--December 03, 2025, Sydney, Australia. ACM. https://doi.org/10.1145/3764687.3769950
    8. Peng, X., Elshani, D., Svatoš-Ražnjević, H., Menges, A., & Wortmann, T. (2025). Linked Urban Data: Leveraging the capabilities of urban data analytics using Knowledge Graphs. Confluence – Proceedings of the 43rd Conference on Education and Research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe (eCAADe 2025), 2, 385–394. https://cumincad.org/cgi-bin/works/Show?ecaade2025_467
    9. Bauscher, E., & Wortmann, T. (2025). Exploring the latent space distribution of a graph autoencoder trained on 3D models of modernist architecture. International Journal of Architectural Computing, Volume 23, Issue 3, 742–752. https://doi.org/DOI: 10.1177/14780771251353797
    10. Elshani, D., Nahkaee, A., Arrascue, A. A., Isakovic, H., Hedayati, N., Karlapudi, J., & Wortmann, T. (2025). Comparative Analysis of Approaches for Geometric Data Representation in RDF. In P. Pauwels, M. Poveda-Villalón, & W. Terkaj (eds.), Proceedings of the 13th Linked Data in Architecture and Construction Workshop (LDAC 2025) (Vol. 4113, pp. 92–107). CEUR Workshop Proceedings. https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-4113/
    11. Wortmann, T. (2025). What Does Shape Grammar Implementation Tell Us About Artificial Intelligence in Architectural Design? (S. Kotsopoulos, ed.; First, Vol. 09). Springer Nature Switzerland, Cham Birkhäuser. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-81623-9_22
    12. Tay, J., Wortmann, T., & Ortner, F. P. (2025). Performance-informed urban design: training a generalized surrogate model for predicting building energy demand across residential morphologies in Singapore. Journal of Building Performance Simulation, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/19401493.2025.2457343
    13. Zorn, M., & Wortmann, T. (2025). Enhancing Trust in Machine Learning-Based Architectural Design Space Exploration Through Uncertainty Visualization, a Pilot Study. Tagungsband Des 36. Forum Bauinformatik : 24.-26. September 2025, 301–308. https://doi.org/10.18154/RWTH-CONV-254899

  3. 2024

    1. Elshani, D., Dervishaj, A., Hernández, D., Gudmundsson, K., Staab, S., & Wortmann, T. (2024). An Ontology for the Reuse and Tracking of Prefabricated Building Components. Proceedings of the the 2nd International Workshop on Knowledge Graphs for Sustainability (KG4S 2024) Colocated with the 21st Extended Semantic Web Conference (ESWC 2024), 3753, 53–64. https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-3753/paper5.pdf
    2. Skoury, L., Treml, S., Opgenorth, N., Amtsberg, F., Wagner, H. J., Menges, A., & Wortmann, T. (2024). Towards data-informed co-design in digital fabrication. Automation in Construction, 158, 105229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2023.105229
    3. Ron, G., Menges, A., & Wortmann, T. (2024). Critical Collaboration: Reflecting on Power and Agency in Human-Robot-Collaboration in Architecture and Construction, for a Diverse and Democratic Practice. In P. Eversmann, C. Gengnagel, J. Lienhard, M. Ramsgaard Thomsen, & J. Wurm (eds.), DESIGN MODELLING SYMPOSIUM KASSEL 2024 – SCALABLE DISRUPTORS (re)new(able) materials and circular design and construction processes (No. 1; Vol. 1, pp. 191–204). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-68275-9_16
    4. Abdelaal, M., Galuschka, M., Zorn, M., Kannenberg, F., Menges, A., Wortmann, T., Weiskopf, D., & Kurzhals, K. (2024). Visual analysis of fitness landscapes in architectural design optimization. The Visual Computer, 40, Article 7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00371-024-03491-3
    5. Kannenberg, F., Gil Pérez, M., Schneider, T., Staab, S., Knippers, J., & Menges, A. (2024). Bayesian Inference for Modelling Uncertainty in Non-Standard Building Systems. In P. Eversmann, C. Gengnagel, J. Lienhard, M. Ramsgaard Thomsen, & J. Wurm (Eds.), Scalable Disruptors. DMS 2024 (Proceedings of the Design Modelling Symposium 2024) (pp. 69–80). Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-68275-9_6
    6. Gomaa, H., Chau, W. M., Karazi, Y., Biala, E., Akbar, Z., Wortmann, T., & Ostermann, M. (2024). Influence of Geometry on Growth and Strength of 3D-Printed Mycelium Composites: A Data-Driven Study. In P. Eversmann, C. Gengnagel, J. Lienhard, M. Ramsgaard Thomsen, & J. Wurm (Eds.), Scalable Disruptors (pp. 331–345). Springer Nature Switzerland.
    7. Zhang, R., Xu, X., Liu, K., Kong, L., Wang, W., & Wortmann, T. (2024). Airflow modelling for building design: A designers’ review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 197, 114380. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2024.114380
    8. Skoury, L., & Wortmann, T. (2024). Prediction Models for Co-Design in Industry 4.0. In P. Eversmann, C. Gengnagel, J. Lienhard, M. Ramsgaard Thomsen, & J. Wurm (Eds.), Scalable Disruptors. DMS 2024 (Proceedings of the Design Modelling Symposium 2024) (pp. 507–519). Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-68275-9_41
    9. Nakhaee, A., Elshani, D., & Wortmann, T. (2024). A Vision for Automated Building Code Compliance Checking by Unifying Hybrid Knowledge Graphs and Large Language Models. Design Modelling Symposium Berlin, 445–457.
    10. Sardari, S., Sevim, S., Zhang, P., Ron, G., Leder, S., Menges, A., & Wortmann, T. (2024). Deep Agency - Towards human guided robotic training for assembly tasks in timber construction. In O. Kontovourkis, M. C. Phocas, & G. Wurzer (Eds.), Proceedings of the 42nd Conference on Education and Research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe. Data-Driven Intelligence. (Vol. 1, pp. 193–202). eCAADe, University of Cyprus, Department of Architecture. https://papers.cumincad.org/data/works/att/ecaade2024_420.pdf
    11. Bauscher, E., Dai, A., Elshani, D., & Wortmann, T. (2024). Learning and Generating Spatial Concepts of Modernist Architecture via Graph Machine Learning. ACCELERATED DESIGN: Proceedings of the 29th International Conference on Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA), Volume1, 159–168.
    12. Skoury, L., & Wortmann, T. (2024). Bridging the Gap between Design and Fabrication: Prediction Models for Co-Design in the Era of Industry 4.0. In P. Eversmann, C. Gengnagel, J. Lienhard, M. Ramsgaard Thomsen, & J. Wurm (Eds.), Scalable Disruptors. DMS 2024 (Proceedings of the Design Modelling Symposium 2024) (pp. 507–519). Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-68275-9_41

  4. 2023

    1. Sherkat, S., Garmaroodi, A. A., Wortmann, A., & Wortmann, T. (2023). Residential complex design as a Constraint Satisfaction Problem. Automation in Construction, 154, 104995. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2023.104995
    2. Zorn, M. B. (2023). A novel software framework for architectural design space exploration. https://doi.org/10.13154/294-10106
    3. Elshani, D., Hernandez, D., Lombardi, A., Siriwardena, L., Schwinn, T., Fisher, A., Staab, S., Menges, A., & Wortmann, T. (2023). Building Information Validation and Reasoning Using Semantic Web Technologies. In M. Turrin, C. Andriotis, & A. Rafiee (Eds.), Computer-Aided Architectural Design. INTERCONNECTIONS: Co-computing Beyond Boundaries (pp. 470–484). Springer Nature Switzerland.
    4. Sherkat, S., Skoury, L., Wortmann, A., & Wortmann, T. (2023). Artificial Intelligence Automated Task Planning for Fabrication. In K. Dörfler, J. Knippers, A. Menges, S. Parascho, H. Pottmann, & T. Wortmann (Eds.), Advances in Architectural Geometry 2023 (pp. 249–260). De Gruyter. https://doi.org/doi:10.1515/9783111162683-019
    5. Amtsberg, F., Yang, X., Skoury, L., Ron, G., Kaiser, B., Sousa Calepso, A., Sedlmair, M., Verl, A., Wortmann, T., & Menges, A. (2023). Multi-Akteur-Fabrikation im Bauwesen. Bautechnik, 100, Article 10. https://doi.org/10.1002/bate.202300070

  5. 2022

    1. Davidová, M., Fischer, L. K., & Teye, M. (2022). POL– AI: Leveraging Urban EcoSystem. In B. Sweeting (Ed.), Relating Systems Thinking and Design (RSD11) 2022 Symposium (pp. 1–11). Systemic Design Association.
    2. Akbar, Z., Wood, D., Kiesewetter, L., Menges, A., & Wortmann, T. (2022). A Data-Driven Workflow for Modelling Self-Shaping Wood Bilayer, Utilizing Natural Material Variations with Machine Vision and Machine Learning. In J. van Ameijde, N. Gardner, K. H. Hyun, L. Dan, & U. Sheth (eds.), CAADRIA proceedings: Vol. Volume 1 (pp. 393–402). CAADRIA. https://doi.org/10.52842/conf.caadria.2022.1.393
    3. Elshani, D., Wortmann, T., & Staab, S. (2022, May). Towards Better Co-Design with Disciplinary Ontologies: Review and Evaluation of Data Interoperability in the AEC Industry. In Proceedings of LDAC2022 - 10th Linked Data in Architecture and Construction Workshop.
    4. Elshani, D., Lombardi, A., Fisher, A., Staab, S., Hernández, D., & Wortmann, T. (2022, May). Knowledge Graphs for Multidisciplinary Co-Design: Introducing RDF to BHoM. In Proceedings of LDAC2022 - 10th Linked Data in Architecture and Construction Workshop.
    5. Zorn, M., Catunda, N., Claus, L., Kobylinska, N., Frey, M., & Wortmann, T. (2022). Replacing energy simulations with surrogate models for design space exploration. Bauphysik, 44, Article 6. https://doi.org/10.1002/bapi.202200034
    6. Skoury, L., Amtsberg, F., Yang, X., Wagner, H. J., Menges, A., & Wortmann, T. (2022). A Framework for Managing Data in Multi-actor Fabrication Processes. In C. Gengnagel, O. Baverel, G. Betti, M. Popescu, M. R. Thomsen, & J. Wurm (Eds.), Towards Radical Regeneration (pp. 601–615). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-13249-0_47
    7. Zorn, M., Catunda, N., Claus, L., Kobylinska, N., Frey, M., & Wortmann, T. (2022, September). Replacing Time-Consuming Building Performance Simulations with Real-Time Surrogate Models and their Application in Early-Stage Design Space Exploration. Proceedings of BauSim Conference 2022. https://publications.ibpsa.org/conference/?id=bausim2022
    8. Sherkat, Shermin., Wortmann, Andreas., & Wortmann, Thomas. (2022). Potentials of Symbolic AI Planning for Construction. Forumbauinformatik. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/363481115_Potentials_of_Symbolic_AI_Planning_for_Construction

Contact Information

This image showsProf. Thomas Wortmann, Ph.D.

Prof. Thomas Wortmann, Ph.D.

 

Founding Director ICD/CA

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