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Digital Twin and Cloud BIM-XR Platform Development: From Scan-to-BIM-to-DT Process to a 4D Multi-User Live App to Improve Building Comfort, Efficiency and Costs

Author

Listed:
  • Fabrizio Banfi

    (GIcarus ABCLab, Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Ponzio 31, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Raffaella Brumana

    (GIcarus ABCLab, Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Ponzio 31, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Graziano Salvalai

    (RE3_Lab, Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Ponzio 31, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Mattia Previtali

    (GIcarus ABCLab, Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Ponzio 31, 20133 Milan, Italy)

Abstract

Digital twins (DTs) and building information modelling (BIM) are proving to be valuable tools for managing the entire life cycle of a building (LCB), from the early design stages to management and maintenance over time. On the other hand, BIM platforms cannot manage the geometric complexities of existing buildings and the large amount of information that sensors can collect. For this reason, this research proposes a scan-to-BIM process capable of managing high levels of detail (LODs) and information (LOIs) during the design, construction site management, and construction phases. Specific grades of generation (GOGs) were applied to create as-found, as-designed, and as-built models that interact with and support the rehabilitation project of a multi-level residential building. Furthermore, thanks to the sharing of specific APIs (Revit and Autodesk Forge APIs), it was possible to switch from static representations to novel levels of interoperability and interactivity for the user and more advanced forms of building management such as a DT, a BIM cloud, and an extended reality (XR) web platform. Finally, the development of a live app shows how different types of users (professionals and non-expert) can interact with the DT, in order to know the characteristics with which the environments have been designed, as well as the environmental parameters, increasing their degree of control, from the point of view of improving comfort, use, costs, behaviour, and good practices. Finally, the overall approach was verified through a real case study where the BIM-XR platform was built for energy improvements to existing buildings and façade renovations.

Suggested Citation

  • Fabrizio Banfi & Raffaella Brumana & Graziano Salvalai & Mattia Previtali, 2022. "Digital Twin and Cloud BIM-XR Platform Development: From Scan-to-BIM-to-DT Process to a 4D Multi-User Live App to Improve Building Comfort, Efficiency and Costs," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-26, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:12:p:4497-:d:843428
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nawal Abdunasseer Hmidah & Nuzul Azam Haron & Aidi Hizami Alias & Teik Hua Law & Abubaker Basheer Abdalwhab Altohami & Raja Ahmad Azmeer Raja Ahmad Effendi, 2022. "The Role of the Interface and Interface Management in the Optimization of BIM Multi-Model Applications: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-29, February.
    2. Kendrik Yan Hong Lim & Pai Zheng & Chun-Hsien Chen, 2020. "A state-of-the-art survey of Digital Twin: techniques, engineering product lifecycle management and business innovation perspectives," Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Springer, vol. 31(6), pages 1313-1337, August.
    3. Abubaker Basheer Abdalwhab Altohami & Nuzul Azam Haron & Aidi Hizami Ales@Alias & Teik Hua Law, 2021. "Investigating Approaches of Integrating BIM, IoT, and Facility Management for Renovating Existing Buildings: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-30, April.
    4. Rongyue Zheng & Jianlin Jiang & Xiaohan Hao & Wei Ren & Feng Xiong & Yi Ren, 2019. "bcBIM: A Blockchain-Based Big Data Model for BIM Modification Audit and Provenance in Mobile Cloud," Mathematical Problems in Engineering, Hindawi, vol. 2019, pages 1-13, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hongyang Li & Shuying Fang & Long Chen & Vanessa Menadue & Skitmore Martin, 2024. "Extended reality (XR)—A magic box of digitalization in driving sustainable development of the construction industry: A critical review," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(3), pages 2830-2845, June.

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