Rapid LEED evaluation performed with BIM based sustainability analysis on a virtual construction project

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility of using 3D simulation transfer processes to streamline the environmental assessment of buildings that have been designed digitally using building information modelling (BIM). The case study presented relates to a competition (“Build Qatar Live”) in which one of the winning team’s objectives was to create a smart process for assessing the design against the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria. The experience indicated that a rapid, concurrent and efficient LEED evaluation was possible within the BIM process. The study presents technological approaches that can be adopted within the BIM environment to simplify the environmental assessments and embrace practices that reduce environmental and ecological impacts. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology encompassed an overview of how rapid high-value data exchange occurs within BIM to achieve a sustainable building design as part of an international design competition. Achieving a LEED rating through sustainable design was a key requirement of the competition. Findings – The findings of this case study has revealed that key credits in LEED can be integrated within the BIM design process. Therefore, tackling such important environmental design issues in parallel to building design and providing key information on building elements needed to meet the sustainability criteria. Originality/value – This research highlights the benefits of streamlined, architectural and data software exchange through applying data interoperability of a building design; thus, skipping conventional 2D building and conventional documentation for environmental and energy designs simulations needed for LEED certifications and general low carbon design.

A Review on Green BIM Potentials in Enhancing the Construction Industry Practice

“…[17] Presents the BIM usage as an effective tool to integrate natural and technical systems in architectural design; a case study was adopted where multidimensional digital models were used for multidisciplinary project coordination to explore green design principles accorded with BIM technology for sustainable infrastructures [17]. [18] Examines the feasibility of using 3D simulation transfer processes to streamline the environmental assessment of buildings that have been designed digitally using building information modelling (BIM); where key credits in LEED can be integrated within the BIM design process to tackle environmental design issues in meeting sustainable criteria [18]. [19] Develops a green template for life cycle assessment of buildings based on BIM focusing on embodied environmental impact; to improve existing evaluation techniques having data incompatibilities and timeconsuming data conversion issues [19].…”

“…Adopted BIM to BEM methodology, they found that the integration of both modelling processes would identify BEM requirements earlier, where coordination of models examines uncertainties at the very beginning of the building design to optimize building performance analysis. Whilst, [18] scrutinized the possibility of LEED evaluation within the BIM process, proving that the integration between LEED key credits and BIM technology could tackle crucial environmental design issues, accordingly aligning building elements and sustainability criteria. The LEED conjoined BIM operation also encouraged a faster assessment approach as compared to traditional method.…”

Strategic sustainable development in the UK construction industry, through the framework for strategic sustainable development, using Building Information Modelling

“…They have also been used as a way of facilitating an environmental step-change using BIM (Alwan et al 2015). A number of the conflicting pressures currently placed on the construction industry are outlined in a funnel diagram in figure 1.…”

A Study on the LEED Energy Simulation Process Using BIM

“…Comparing the process, generating the geometry information, and exporting the information into the energy simulation software, using a data schema file, is the common process. These studies are presenting the architecture modeling methods to use BIM as a tool for architectural geometry information modeling in the energy simulation process [5][6][7]. If a wall, roof, and floor that may constitute architecture are important factors in the general architectural BIM model, then a space boundary becomes a major issue depending on the modeling because the object of analysis in energy simulation is a space defined by objects.…”

“…[7]. The methodology of assessing LEED credits through Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, IES or Project Vasari is proposed in his study.…”