From BIM (Building Information Modelling) to BEM (Building Energy Modelling):

A Collaborative Approach

Dr Emma Heffernan

Mr Scott Beazley

Dr Mohammed Sohel

Prof Tim McCarthy

• Australian Research Hub

for Steel Manufacturing

• Sustainable Buildings

Research Centre

• University of Wollongong

Loadbearing cold-formed steel:Mid-rise apartment buildings

Archetype building design

• 7 storeys

• Single basement

• 60 apartments

• 1,2 & 3 bed

• Notional site in Sydney

Archetype building design

Architectural

BIMBuilding

cross section

The construction industry is changing

….But it also comes with challenges

Technology allows us to do great things…

• Allow building energy loads to be predicted

• Facilitate achieving a desired level of energy efficiency

• Informed design decision making

• Iterative process with reduced burden of work for Engineer

Energy modelling in the early design stages

• Multi-disciplinary design teams

• Deeper collaboration within teams

• Understanding the needs of other disciplines

The issues: No man is an island

Source: CABE (2003)

• Transfer of information between disciplines

• Complexity of digital exchange

• Variety of softwares used by both Architects and Engineers

The issues: Interoperability

gbxml export to Design Builder: Errors in model

• Tedious re-creation of building geometry

• Multiple truths

• Potential for error

• No clear definition of data that is required

The issues: Duplication of effort

• Building Energy Performance Simulation Tools - a Life-Cycle and Interoperable Perspective –

Tobias Maile, Martin Fischer & Vladimir Bazjanac

General data flow of simulation engines

• 05 - GSA BIM Guide for Energy Performance

Phase requirements of data exchange

• 05 - GSA BIM Guide for Energy Performance

Intended results from better exchanges

• Global standard for information exchange between disciplines

• ISO standard

• Software supported

• Ability to use automated model checking software to ensure compliance

A solution: Standardisation of data exchange

• ISO standards:

– Data: ISO 16739 (IFC) – Industry Foundation Classes

– Process: ISO 29481 (IDM) – Information Delivery Manual

– Terms: ISO 12006-3 (IFD) – International Framework of Dictionaries

• IDM to be implemented by software with MVD’s (Model View Definition)

• Solibri Model Checker can automate geometry and data quality checks to ensure compliance

A solution: Definition of data exchange

• IDM for Design to Building Energy Analysis

– Process Model• Specification of Process

• Specification of Data Objects

• Specification of Decision Point Gateways

– Exchange Requirements for Energy input• Energy Analysis Inputs 1 (Architect)

• Energy Analysis Inputs 2 (Mechanical Engineer\Energy Consultant)

– Exchange Requirements for Energy Simulation Results• Exchange Requirements – Energy Analysis Results

http://www.blis-project.org/IAI-MVD/IDM/BSA-002/PM_BSA-002.pdf

buildingSMART IDM

IDM for Design to Building Energy Analysis

IDM for Design to Building Energy Analysis: Process Map

IDM for Design to Building Energy Analysis

IDM for Design to Building Energy Analysis

IDM for Design to Building Energy Analysis

IDM for Design to Building Energy Analysis

Pre-export gbxml model checking in Revit

Pre-export gbxml model checking in Revit

Pre-export gbxml model checking in Revit

Still gbxml model errors in Design Builder

Architectural and Space IFC model in Solibri Model Checker

Model checking for Space boundary validation

• Enhanced collaboration necessary

• Reduction in re-creation & simplification of models

• Standardised approach

• Automated model parameter checking

• gbxml checking before export

Conclusion: BIM to BEM?

Any questions?

Thank you

eheffern@uow.edu.au

Acknowledgments:

This research is funded through the Steel Research Hub (Project no. IH130100017) which is jointly funded by the Australian Research Council and industry. The authors would like to thank the industry

partners, BlueScope, Cox Architecture and Stockland, for their support of the project