Energy and environmental improvement of built heritage: HBIM simulation-based approach applied to nine Mediterranean case-studies

An HBIM Integrated Approach Using Non-Destructive Techniques (NDT) to Support Energy and Environmental Improvement of Built Heritage: The Case Study of Palazzo Maffei Borghese in Rome

“…[64,82,83]. In situ analyses should be coupled with other types of investigations, such as historical and architectural analysis, geometric surveys and conservation state analysis, which help to identify construction techniques, materials and stratigraphies, and characterise the evolutions and modifications of the building [23,84,85]. This is paramount for assessing heterogeneous structures with high levels of uncertainties, where analytical and non-analytical procedures should be combined to achieve the best possible rational formulation of a problem on the basis of data, hypothesis and interpretation [86].…”

“…Within an energy and environmental improvement process, this organised set of models and information containers in a CDE could be used as input data to be mapped and exported to a Building Performance Simulation (BPS) application, to simulate the current and future energy efficiency and thermal comfort of the building [109][110][111]. Tests on BIM-supported dynamic BPS are also starting to grow in application to historical buildings, despite the additional complexities involved in the task [85,86,[112][113][114][115][116].…”

“…This study aims to present a methodology and field application of NDT analyses (namely, HFM, IRT and indoor microclimate monitoring) to support BPS calibration and the simulation of energy and environmental improvement interventions of a historical building within an HBIM process. It was implemented in Palazzo Maffei-Borghese, the Italian case study of ENI CBC Med BEEP Project (BIM for Energy Efficiency in the Public Sector) [85]. The main objective of the BEEP project is to propose a methodology for the development and financing of the energy and environmental improvement of historical public buildings in the Mediterranean through the use of BIM and BPS, as advanced tools to better develop design solutions and support Energy Performance Contracting activities [117].…”

“…Phase 2 regarded the design of interventions and the simulation and evaluation of the best solutions. The end of phase 1 and all of phase 2 are out of the scope of the current paper; more information can be found in [85]. This hypothesis sets out a layout of five parts, possibly marked by different construction systems, and has helped us develop specific questions to be examined/checked with specific NTD analyses: first with IRT, then deepened with HFM and the indoor microclimate Focusing on the energy and environmental NDT analyses, to obtain a thermophysical characterisation of the building envelope and to corroborate the results of other analyses re-lated to construction techniques, stratigraphies, building use and passive/active behaviour, three field analyses were carried out.…”

The Influence of Visitors on Heritage Conservation: The Case of the Church of San Juan del Hospital, Valencia, Spain

“…From these centralised repositories it is possible to develop digital twins (DTs) that allow simulations to be prepared to support maintenance strategies. These simulations are traditionally focused on energy and environmental improvements [35], but also allow, among other actions, researchers to evaluate the influence of people on the use of buildings as one of the contradictory factors in the process of heritage conservation. Appropriate use of a building contributes to its conservation, but, at the same time, large visitor numbers can generate conditions that result in the deterioration of the cultural assets that compose it.…”