DEVELOPMENT OF ENERGY SIMULATION USING BIM (BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING)

This paper recognized a need in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry for new programs and methods of producing reliable energy simulations using BIM (Building Information Modeling) technology. Current methods and programs for running energy simulations are not very timely, difficult to understand, and lack high interoperability between the BIM software and energy simulation software. It is necessary to improve on these drawbacks as design decision are often made without the aid of energy modeling leading to the design and construction of non-optimized buildings with respect to energy efficiency. The goal of this research project is to develop a new methodology to produce energy estimates from a BIM model in a more timely fashion and to improve interoperability between the simulation engine and BIM software. In the proposed methodology, the extracted information from a BIM model is compiled into an INP file and run in a popular energy simulation program, DOE-2, on an hourly basis for a desired time period. Case study showed that the application of this methodology could be used to expediently provide energy simulations while at the same time reproducing the BIM in a more readably three dimensional modeling program. With the aid of an easy to run and easily understood energy simulation methodology, designers will be able to make more energy conscious decisions during the design phase and as changes in design requirements arise.