Integrated assessment method for building life cycle environmental and economic performance

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a powerful tool to identify a building’s environmental impact throughout its life cycle. However, LCA does have limits in practice because it does not consider the economic aspect of project implementation. In order to promote LCA application, a more comprehensive evaluation of building life cycle environmental and economic performance must be performed. To address these issues, we propose life cycle green cost assessment (LCGCA), a method that combines LCA with life cycle costing (LCC). In LCGCA the building’s environmental loads are converted to environmental costs based on the trading price of CO₂ certified emission reductions (CERs). These environmental costs are then included into the building life cycle cost. Subsequently an evaluation index of green net present value (GNPV) for LCGCA can be obtained. A governmental office building in Beijing was studied using LCGCA. Several design options were compared and the sensitivity of the CER price was analyzed. The research also shows that conclusions reached by LCGCA may be different from those of traditional LCC, which does not include environmental costs. The application of LCGCA needs the support of environmental policies. A sound environmental tax mechanism is expected to be established in China soon, which will enable LCGCA to be a useful tool to guide sustainable building design efficiently.     

Building information modeling based on intelligent parametric technology

In order to push the information organization process of the building industry, promote sustainable architectural design and enhance the competitiveness of China’s building industry, the author studies building information modeling (BIM) based on intelligent parametric modeling technology. Building information modeling is a new technology in the field of computer aided architectural design, which contains not only geometric data, but also the great amount of engineering data throughout the lifecycle of a building. The author also compares BIM technology with two-dimensional CAD technology, and demonstrates the advantages and characteristics of intelligent parametric modeling technology. Building information modeling, which is based on intelligent parametric modeling technology, will certainly replace traditional computer aided architectural design and become the new driving force to push forward China’s building industry in this information age. __________ Translated from Journal of Chongqing University (Natural Science), 2006, 29(6): 107–110 [译自: 重庆大学学报 (自然科学版)]     

基于BIM技术的建筑信息平台的构建

自上个世纪80年代, CAD技术引入建筑行业后, 引发了建筑设计行业的技术革命。当今, BIM技术已经开始引发建筑行业的又一次革命。针对BIM技术的应用, 本文介绍了当前BIM技术在国内外的开发研究现状, 并阐述了基于BIM技术的建筑信息平台的结构与构建。最后指出, 信息的共享与转换是BIM技术的核心, 而BIM技术的建筑信息平台的构建, 可以使各个专业在图形显示编辑平台上, 利用底层数据库所存储的数据, 进行多部门多专业的规划、设计、施工、运营维护等, 真正做到协同工作, 实现真正的BIM技术。     

Integrated system for BIM-based collaborative design

For effective collaboration among construction project participants, the use of Building Information Model (BIM) has become more common throughout the building life cycle. However, due to the use of different BIM-based software among collaborators during the design, a variety of problems have occurred, including loss of data, difficulty in communication, and poor work efficiency. Hence, this study proposes an integrated design system for the improvement of BIM-based collaborative design. For this purpose, problems are derived based on an analysis of conventional BIM-based collaborative design. In addition, a concept for the development of the BIM-based integrated design system is established from integration methodologies. Based on ‘functional integration,’ ‘integrated information management’ and ‘integrated process support,’ the integrated design system is implemented through the combination of three modules: BIM Modeler, BIM Checker and BIM Server. To test the integrated design system, a case study on a hospital building design is reviewed, and improvements compared to the conventional system are examined. It appears that the proposed system can enhance design quality and productivity by providing necessary support for collaborative design in an integrated manner.     

BIM技术在绿色建筑设计系列软件中的应用探讨

本文结合建筑设计过程和绿色建筑评价标准,对目前绿色建筑设计软件存在的问题进行了分析,对如何架构绿色建筑设计软件体系框架进行了分析,提出BIM技术是较好解决绿色建筑设计软件数据一致性、唯一性、数据资源共享的有效手段。按照绿色建筑评价标准体系,分析了建筑不同生命周期内信息模型的功能及其应包括的数据内容。通过能耗模拟软件中使用的空调系统的信息模型分析,提出了广义建筑信息模型的概念,强调应注重设备专业系统信息模型的研究。     

计算机辅助设计在绿色建筑设计领域应用综述

对计算机辅助设计(CAD)技术在绿色建筑设计领域的应用进行了详细的阐述,主要介绍了BIM,精确定量以及知识库体系的建立等计算机辅助设计的模块功能,为更高层次的模拟仿真奠定了坚实的基础。     

建筑结构设计的知识管理与智能化方法研究

伴随着计算机行业的发展,土木工程领域也带来了新的机遇与挑战,建筑结构的信息化管理及应用也成为研究的重要课题。针对建筑周期中结构设计这一阶段,利用基于BIM 技术中的IFC 数据格式和设计计算书文本格式,提取建筑结构设计过程中的关键性参数信息,建立具有专业性、系统性、可查询性的结构设计知识数据库。在此基础上,利用数据库中历史项目的设计数据结合算法,为类似的新项目提供参考设计方案,解决目前建筑结构设计阶段存在的相似结构重复设计的问题,探究结构设计智能化方法。     

建筑信息模型在我国工程设计行业中应用障碍研究

建筑信息模型（BIM）是数字技术在建筑业中的直接表达,涉及整个建筑工程全寿命期的各个环节,而工程设计行业是应用BIM技术的先行军。文章通过深入分析现阶段BIM在我国工程设计行业中的主要应用障碍,提出促进工程设计行业BIM本土化应用和发展的实施建议。研究结果表明,BIM可以由工程设计先行并实现其阶段性的价值,而多数设计相关人员不了解BIM的真正内涵,以及现有建筑行业体制、行业规程及法律责任界限不明的等障碍,是现阶段建筑行业亟需突破的。     

Green building assessment tool (GBAT) for integrated BIM-based design decisions

The benefits of BIM such as effective decision making, improved analysis, easier access to information and simpler green building certification provide an optimised solution for sustainable design and construction. This study proposes an IFC-based framework within an integrated BIM and sustainable data model for the design stage of the building project life cycle. We present the green building assessment tool (GBAT), which implements the proposed model and aids the design team in the generation of documentation necessary for obtaining green building certification. It extracts the necessary data from BIM models for calculating the green rating and provides feedback for further evaluation. A sample project is run and a green rating score table for the BREEAM materials category is obtained for validation of the model. This tool serves as a proof of concept that green data relevant for BREEAM certification can be automatically processed and used to inform the design.     

结构灾害评估关键构件信息库框架研究

建筑结构建造和运营过程中关键受力构件的详细信息可以协助工程师对遭受灾害的结构进行灾害评估分析和防灾减灾。BIM技术是以工程为对象的包含其生命周期全信息的三维数字模型,在分析建筑结构可能遭受的灾害和其主要受力构件的基础上,系统研究了BIM模型中结构关键构件的几何、非几何数据信息的表达格式和定义规则。结合分析BIM面向工程生命周期过程中信息模型的集成模式和积累方法,设计了一种基于BIM全信息模型的结构灾害评估关键构件信息库框架。该框架提供了从BIM模型中提取和集成关键构件数据信息的整个流程和方法,结合基于internet网络平台或智能数字楼宇管理系统,可以为结构灾害评估中获取关键构件数据信息的应用平台开发提供研究基础。     

Integrating building information modelling with sustainability to design building projects at the conceptual stage

Lately the construction industry has become more interested in designing and constructing environmentally friendly buildings (e.g. sustainable buildings) that can provide both high performance and monetary savings. In general, sustainability integrates the following three related components: (1) environmental, (2) economic, (3) social well-being. Incorporating these components at the conceptual stage is achieved by using sustainable design, through which designers must identify associated materials and systems based on any selected certification (rating) system. The use of building information modelling (BIM) concepts helps engineers design digital models that allow owners to visualize the building before the physical implementation takes place. To apply BIM concepts, designers use tools to create 3D models of buildings where the design materials and systems are selected from the built-in database of these tools. Designers will not be able to quantify the environmental impacts of these materials to support the decisions needed to design sustainable buildings due to the following reasons: (1) a lack of information about the sustainable materials that are stored in the database, (2) a lack of interoperability between the design and analysis tools that enable full life cycle assessments (LCAs) of buildings. This paper presents a methodology that integrates BIM and LCA tools with a database for designing sustainable building projects. The methodology describes the development and implementation of a model that incorporates a database in which information about sustainable materials is stored and linked to a BIM (3D) module along with an LCA module and a certification and cost module. The goal of this model is to simplify the process of creating sustainable designs and to evaluate the environmental impacts (EI) of newly designed buildings at the conceptual stage of their life. An actual building project is presented in order to illustrate the usefulness and capabilities of the developed model.     

基于BIM平台的绿色办公建筑早期设计决策观念模型

建筑信息模型（BIM）是当今建筑业蓬勃发展的一项数字化建模技术。作为一个建筑的信息共享资源,BIM可以在整个建筑生命周期内给予从业人员有效的设计决策支持。该文选取办公建筑这一常见建筑类型,探讨建立基于BIM技术早期绿色办公建筑设计决策观念模型。该观念模型包括早期设计信息初步模型与优化模型两大阶段模型,结合绿色办公建筑环境性能评价体系和BIM软件在早期设计阶段评估优化设计方案,旨在为建筑师提供准确和便捷的设计决策支持,提高绿色办公建筑设计质量。     

BIM技术在PKPM建筑工程软件系统中的应用

随着计算机运算速度、图形处理能力及图形学理论的发展,CAD软件已经有了质的飞跃,CAD技术正在从原来简单的辅助绘图(Drafting)向成为真正能够辅助设计(Design)的工具发展,网络化、集成化、智能化和标准化已成为新一代CAD软件的重要特征,而三维建筑信息模型(BIM)正是实现以上目标的基础。PKPM通过核心三维数据模型,将建筑项目的各个环节连接起来,率先实现了信息数据化、数据模型化、模型通用化的BIM理念,进而实现了建筑模型数据在全寿命周期的充分利用。PKPM系统涵盖了规划、建筑、结构、设备以及算量造价、施工管理、乃至企业管理各个方面。在建筑全生命周期内,实现了建筑各个专业之间的信息充分互用,提高建筑信息的复用率,从而达到降低建筑成本,提高生产效率的目的。     

Developing a physical BIM library for building thermal energy simulation

Insufficient interoperability resulting from complex data exchange between architectural design and building energy simulation prevents the efficient use of energy performance analyses in the early design stage. This paper presents the development of a Modelica library for Building Information Modeling (BIM)-based building energy simulation (ModelicaBIM library) using an Object-Oriented Physical Modeling (OOPM) approach and Modelica, an equation-based OOPM language. By using the ModelicaBIM library, our project investigates system interfaces between BIM and energy simulation, which can perform semi-automatic translation from the building models in BIM to building energy modeling (BEM) using a BIM's authoring tool's Application Programming Interface (API).The ModelicaBIM library consists of OOPM-based BIM classes and OOPM-based BIM structure. OOPM-based BIM classes represent building component information. OOPM-based BIM structure consists of test case models that demonstrate (i) how building information in BIM can be transformed to OOPM and (ii) how design operations in BIM, such as changing a building geometry and editing building components, can be translated into BEM. A case study for simulation result comparisons has been conducted using (i) OOPM-based BIM models in the ModelicaBIM library and (ii) LBNL Modelica Buildings library (a Modelica-based building thermal simulation library developed by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory). Our implementation shows that the ModelicaBIM library enables (i) objects in BIM to be translated into the OOPM-based energy models and (ii) existing OOPM library to be utilized as a simulation solver for BIM-based energy simulation.     

BIM技术在写字楼中的应用研究

BIM技术在国家和行业的大力推动下迅速发展。建筑生命周期的应用、运营模式发生了颠覆性的改变。论文以重庆市某写字楼BIM技术应用为例,探讨在设计阶段,如何通过BIM技术进行模型搭建、建筑性能分析、项目构件的材料量统计及碰撞检测等应用,从而提高建筑设计目标的可实现性,为施工与运维管理提供有效的支撑。     

基于BIM的建筑MEP设计技术研究

MEP专业(电气、暖通、给排水)设计是建筑设计的重要内容,但由于目前三个专业的设计相互独立,且管线设计占很大比重,所以在二维设计形式下往往会发生管线碰撞问题。同时信息交流的不便利和数据标准不统一,给设计人员之间的协作带来更大困难,各方只能人工协调管线综合问题,导致设计效率低下,设计失误增多,工期拖延,限制了建筑MEP设计领域的发展。BIM技术和建筑协同设计作为解决这一问题的方法,被越来越多人所重视。本文对基于BIM的MEP设计方法研究现状进行总结,并以AutoCAD MEP2010软件为平台介绍面向对象的BIM软件的特点及设计流程,重点讨论了碰撞检测功能,同时对该设计方法在市政管网设计中的推广做出一些设想,对BIM软件的普及给出建议。     

Building simulation as assistance in the conceptual design

In order to realize the “design by simulation” concept in the building design, the methodology of applying the building simulation in the building’s conceptual design stage is the main theme discussed in this paper. The conceptual design stage is divided into four sub-stages, and the framework of the design is built by way of the simulation in the conceptual design stage. Moreover, the energy saving potential assessment by the simulation in the preliminary conceptual design stage is also discussed in detail, including the input/output information, the calculation method and procedure, and the requirements and information from architects, etc. The natural ventilation design is used as the first trial in this study, and the difference between the detailed conceptual design and the preliminary conceptual design is also discussed, and the new simulation methodology is further described. The main objective of this paper is to help avoid an incorrect decision in the conceptual design stage, as well as to provide a better base for the energy efficient design in the next stage by means of the building simulation tool.     

绿色建筑中BIM全流程应用价值评价体系研究

采用文献分析与问卷调研的方法研究了绿色建筑中BIM全流程应用的价值问题,提出了绿色建筑中BIM全流程应用各价值主体的多元价值需求,从而构建了BIM应用价值评价理论框架。同时,应用工程价值分解结构方法,对绿色建筑中BIM全流程应用价值进行结构分解,进而提取出绿色建筑中BIM全流程应用价值标准,最终构建了由价值主体、价值要素、价值标准等组成的绿色建筑BIM全流程应用价值评价体系。为绿色建筑BIM全流程应用价值评价及其应用价值提升策略制定奠定工作基础,并且对发挥BIM技术在绿色建筑项目设计、施工、运营等阶段的数据支撑作用意义重大。     

A Natural‐Language‐Based Approach to Intelligent Data Retrieval and Representation for Cloud BIM

As the information from diverse disciplines continues to integrate during the whole life cycle of an Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) project, the BIM (Building Information Model/Modeling) becomes increasingly large. This condition will cause users difficulty in acquiring the information they truly desire on a mobile device with limited space for interaction. The situation will be even worse for personnel without extensive knowledge of Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) or for nonexperts of the BIM software. To improve the value of the big data of BIM, an approach to intelligent data retrieval and representation for cloud BIM applications based on natural language processing was proposed. First, strategies for data storage and query acceleration based on the popular cloud‐based database were explored to handle the large amount of BIM data. Then, the concepts “keyword” and “constraint” were proposed to capture the key objects and their specifications in a natural‐language‐based sentence that expresses the requirements of the user. Keywords and constraints can be mapped to IFC entities or properties through the International Framework for Dictionaries (IFD). The relationship between the user's requirement and the IFC‐based data model was established by path finding in a graph generated from the IFC schema, enabling data retrieval and analysis. Finally, the analyzed and summarized results of BIM data were represented based on the structure of the retrieved data. A prototype application was developed to validate the proposed approach on the data collected during the construction of the terminal of Kunming Airport, the largest single building in China. The case study illustrated the following: (1) relationships between the user requirements and the data users concerned are established, (2) user‐concerned data can be automatically retrieved and aggregated based on the cloud for BIM, and (3) the data are represented in a proper form for a visual view and a comprehensive report. With this approach, users can significantly benefit from requesting for information and the value of BIM will be enhanced.     

The Rosewood experiment — Building information modeling and interoperability for architectural precast facades

The Rosewood experiment examined building information modeling (BIM) and product data exchange in the design and fabrication of architectural precast façades. The façade panels of a 16 story office building were designed and fabricated using traditional CAD, while a parallel workflow was performed independently using BIM tools. No limitations were encountered in designing and detailing of precast façade pieces with current software. Production of the same set of drawings showed a productivity gain of 57% over the CAD process. However, the data exchanges between architectural and precast engineering systems were incomplete and inconsistent, confirming the need for BIM exchange standards. The existing Industry Foundation Classes schema (IFC version 2x3) lacks precast-specific entities and property sets. The majority of the difficulties can be traced to a loss in translation of semantic meaning for the objects exchanged.