Building Information Modeling (BLD62403/ARC3633)

Energy Analysis
There is a huge misconception of BIM in AEC (Architectural, Engineering, Construction) industry
field that BIM is no more than software, and that return to the confusion between the BIM
process and BIM model.Using BIM approach, energy modeling and the process of integrated
team is urgent to achieve the high-performance energy and specified consumption goal. The
combination between energy analysis and BIM can maximize the accuracy and efficiency,
however, it can be tedious and time consuming if not done properly. Energy analysis findings
can be linked with building massing research to make a decision that determines the location of
the building within the site at the inception stages of the design. During the early design phase,
the analysis data would be used as comparative tool to enhance decisions making instead of
focusing to measure the accuracy of loads information, because many decisions are still
undecided at the earlier stages of design or probably will change in the future. For instance,
based on the result gained from analysis at the conceptual phase, the designer might find that
tall building with small footprint overcomes options with large built area and low elevations, or
increasing the glass surfaces on the south facade can optimize the day lighting, while it leads to
an increase in energy demands to set a appropriate air-condition system. The analysis through
BIM needs the following tools to run energy modeling:
- The project BIM model.
- A proper application for energy simulation.
- Apply the whole BIM approach, the full collaboration between the energy analyst, mechanical
engineer and other team members, through the integrated approach, enhances the analysis
process, if the team members are unfamiliar with interpreting the data of energy analysis
Run the energy process
The energy modelling needs a well-built solid model in order to be successful. In some cases,
the process does not require all details and information that related to energy determined, but
some basic conditions have to be established. d

Requirement Definition: Charrette

Energy Modeling
Concept design
Building envelope

Detailed design
Building elements

Problem Definition Expected

Result

-Building envelope and elements

fine-tuned for the analysis
- Analysis of the results
- Estimation of errors, data
models

Green Building Studio

Requirement Process Validation

Energy Analysis validation

Building Information Modeling (BLD62403/ARC3633)

There are a few basic conditions should be included within the model structure to ensure that
energy process run correctly and get the proper results.

- designer must be certain about the existence of the following points; floors and roofs must be
included within the model, ensure that walls touches the floors and roofs and building
geometry must surround all areas required to analysis
- project location, building envelope, room volumes and any specific settings of the application,
should be captured and transferred from the BIM model generator tool to the energy analysis
application through the ability of export a digital model format such as gbXML

Building Information Modeling (BLD62403/ARC3633)

Case study
Community Emergency Service Station (CESS) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina

CES Building BIM Model

Energy modeling process
The process divided into two sub-processes based on project phases:
-The macro-level: focusing on selecting the most appropriate shape, size, orientation.

Start

Built a 3D-BIM Model (Revit

Building Shapes

3D-BIM

-two separate buildings

-two story one building
-one story building

Energy modeling
calibrator(GBS)
gbXML
Orientation

complete a macro model

End

3D-BIM

-curved driveway?
-straight driveway?

Building Information Modeling (BLD62403/ARC3633)

-The micro-level: This related to building details such as, material of the envelope and energy
systems of the building

Start

Built a 3D-BIM Model (Revit

Fine-tuning
Energy modeling
calibrator(GBS)
gbXML

3D-BIM

HVAC
WALL
ROOF
LIGHTING
LIGHTING CONTROL
GLAZING

complete an energy
modeling (micro model)

End

Achieving an optimal energy design needs a collaborative and innovative strategies for design
and analysis can be run by BIM. Even the most expert mechanical engineers cannot analyse
the energy performance perfectly without the efforts of other team members. BIM supplies the
analysis phases with intelligent data for direct use

Building Information Modeling (BLD62403/ARC3633)

References:

Eastman, C. M. (2008). BIM handbook: A guide to building information modeling for owners,
managers, designers, engineers, and contractors. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Krygiel, E., & Nies, B. (2008). Green BIM: Successful sustainable design with building
information modeling. Indianapolis, IN: Wiley Pub.