A processor-implemented method is provided for constructing a model of a programmable logic device (PLD) design. A netlist is input that describes the PLD design. An identification is input of programmable tile modules that include a programmable resource, which is either programmable interconnect or programmable logic. A first characterization data is input for sub-modules of the programmable tile modules for the programmable resource. For each programmable tile module, the routing arcs of each programmable interconnect are generated. A second characterization data is input for a configuration memory cell module of the PLD design. A third characterization data is input for a configuration control module of the PLD design. A first map is generated that links each routing arc to a bit of configuration data for programming the programmable interconnect. A second map is generated that links each logic function to a bit of configuration data for programming the programmable logic.