Building Information Models (BIM) as a facilitator for energy neutral and zero-carbon buildings

Building Information Models (BIM) as a facilitator for energy neutral and zero-carbon buildings This PhD-project is a joint collaboration between the University of Leuven and the BBRI (Belgian Building Research Institute) and focuses on the many sources with valuable data that nowadays become available for the built environment such as Building Information Models (BIM). In this research project it is explored how this data can maximally be exploited to help facilitating the construction of better buildings. As this is a broad scope, it is narrowed down to building more sustainable buildings with an emphasis on developing energy neutral, carbon neutral and energy flexible buildings. In this project the aim is to develop tools and to demonstrate how a BIM approach can be used to design and operate energy neutral buildings. It will be shown how BIM can help in the different stages of the design as well during the operation of the building. The opportunities that BIM offers will be used to develop an integrated toolchain. 1 A first step looks into the use of BIM during design. It will explore how BIM can be used in the early design stages and can be coupled already to building simulation software to assist in the design and to EPB software to explore early conformity. Emphasis is on easy coupling of tools, automatic generation of BES models and filling out (giving suggestions for) blanks. Apart from energy related KPIs (E-level, S-level, kWhRE, …) also other KPIs (sustainability, overheating, cost, …) can be explored. 2 In a second step the simple BIM model is updated as the design progresses. The data becomes richer and the error margin for error reduces. At the end of the design a full BIM model is present allowing to automatically extract energy simulation models with different levels of complexity (going from quasi-steady state calculations up to full multi-zone energy simulations). 3 In the next step the BIM model is employed for commissioning. When measurements become available the results can be compared against the expected results. With advanced identification tools (amongst others developed at KUL Building Physics Section) physical values (u-value, solar aperture, …) can be extracted from the data and given as input to the model, or used to detect building failure and indicate where the building has to be improved (commissioning). The result is a calibrated BIM model, or improved building that performs according to the specs. 4 In the fourth step, this BIM model can be used to monitor the behaviour of the building. With an FDD approach the real behaviour is compared against the results from BIM. This allows to check the performance and detect and diagnose errors. Also in this area the PhD student can work further on already performed research at KUL and BBRI. 5 In a fifth step it is analysed how the BIM model can be used to optimize the operation of the building. In particular energy flexibility and adaptability of the energy demand to meet smart grid constraints become essential. The research will be based on past and current research at the Building Physics Section and the Belgian Building Research Institute.