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Using Open BIM and IFC to Enable a Comprehensive Consideration of Building Services within a Whole-Building LCA

Author

Listed:
  • Sebastian Theißen

    (TH Köln (University of Applied Sciences), Institute of Building Services Engineering, Research Area Green Building, 50679 Cologne, Germany)

  • Jannick Höper

    (TH Köln (University of Applied Sciences), Institute of Building Services Engineering, Research Area Green Building, 50679 Cologne, Germany)

  • Jan Drzymalla

    (TH Köln (University of Applied Sciences), Institute of Building Services Engineering, Research Area Green Building, 50679 Cologne, Germany)

  • Reinhard Wimmer

    (TMM Group Gesamtplanungs GmbH, Building Information Modeling R&D and Change Management, 71034 Böblingen, Germany)

  • Stanimira Markova

    (RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Building Design and Realization, Research area Future Technologies for Comprehensive Building Sustainability, 52062 Aachen, Germany)

  • Anica Meins-Becker

    (University of Wuppertal, Interdisciplinary Centre III / Institute of Building Information Modeling, 42285 Wuppertal, Germany)

  • Michaela Lambertz

    (TH Köln (University of Applied Sciences), Institute of Building Services Engineering, Research Area Green Building, 50679 Cologne, Germany)

Abstract

Holistic views of all environmental impacts for buildings such as Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) are rarely performed. Building services are mostly included in this assessment only in a simplified way, which means that their embodied impacts are usually underestimated. Open Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) provide for significantly more efficient and comprehensive LCA performance. This study investigated how building services can be included in an open BIM-integrated whole-building LCA for the first time, identified challenges and showed six solution approaches. Based on the definition of 222 exchange requirements and their mapping with IFC, an example BIM model was modeled before the linking of 7312 BIM objects of building services with LCA data that were analyzed in an LCA tool. The results show that 94.5% of the BIM objects could only be linked by applying one of the six solution approaches. The main problems were due to: (1) modeling by a lack of standardization of attributes of BIM objects; (2) difficult machine readability of the building services LCA datasets as well as a general lack of these; and (3) non-standardized properties of building services and LCA specific dataset information in the IFC data format.

Suggested Citation

  • Sebastian Theißen & Jannick Höper & Jan Drzymalla & Reinhard Wimmer & Stanimira Markova & Anica Meins-Becker & Michaela Lambertz, 2020. "Using Open BIM and IFC to Enable a Comprehensive Consideration of Building Services within a Whole-Building LCA," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-25, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:14:p:5644-:d:384152
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Patricia Schneider-Marin & Hannes Harter & Konstantin Tkachuk & Werner Lang, 2020. "Uncertainty Analysis of Embedded Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Using BIM in Early Design Stages," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-19, March.
    2. Christina Kiamili & Alexander Hollberg & Guillaume Habert, 2020. "Detailed Assessment of Embodied Carbon of HVAC Systems for a New Office Building Based on BIM," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-18, April.
    3. Anita Naneva & Marcella Bonanomi & Alexander Hollberg & Guillaume Habert & Daniel Hall, 2020. "Integrated BIM-Based LCA for the Entire Building Process Using an Existing Structure for Cost Estimation in the Swiss Context," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-17, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yu Cao & Cong Xu & Syahrul Nizam Kamaruzzaman & Nur Mardhiyah Aziz, 2022. "A Systematic Review of Green Building Development in China: Advantages, Challenges and Future Directions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-29, September.
    2. Martin Nwodo & Chimay J. Anumba, 2021. "Exergy-Based Life Cycle Assessment of Buildings: Case Studies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-15, October.
    3. Regitze Kjær Zimmermann & Simone Bruhn & Harpa Birgisdóttir, 2021. "BIM-Based Life Cycle Assessment of Buildings—An Investigation of Industry Practice and Needs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-21, May.

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