Design for Energy project

The results from this dissertation will be used to support the implementation of the Design for Energy (D4E) project. This is a research project funded by the EU, It aims to develop a design methodology that allows different stakeholders to predict the current and future energy efficiency of a project both at the individual and neighbourhood level. D4E will promote collaborative work in a virtual workspace, wherein the data received from different stakeholders (architects, civil engineers, utilities, technological providers, workers) will be shared. Thus any stakeholder can consider integrating into their design the data created by others and can conduct an analysis of the project to ensure that the energy efficiency of the project is optimised. The outcomes from this methodology will allow the making of informed decisions within an optimised project at different life cycle levels.

The integration demanded by this project will require the development of interoperability that allows the right operation of tools, processes and stakeholders into an integrated supply chain.

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5.3.1 Scenarios

The multiple activities, user requirements and information exchange considered in this project are divided into and described in three scenarios. These scenarios are:

- Scenario 1: the neighbourhood context: this shows how a building or a group of buildings and its neighbourhood can be analysed and holistically optimised throughout the whole life cycle.

- Scenario 2: holistic design for energy optimisation: this scenario offers multiple simulation tools and modelling techniques to improve the current practice in the early stages; thus a multi-disciplinary team can explore several option designs in a collaborative way until they achieve a suitable design.

- Scenario 3: use of operational and maintenance data in retrofit: this scenario shows how the designers simulate and evaluate the design based on historical data from similar projects.

Figure 5.3 D4E scenarios

Figure 5.3 shows the whole workflow. The coloured rectangle represents the high level of the scenarios previously introduced while the white rectangles introduce use cases representing a low level for each process. The use cases considered are (see figure 5.3):

- Use case 1: this stage is focused on determining the technical feasibility of the client requirements and on setting the target levels in a neighbourhood context.

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- Use case 2: this check out sustainable targets in the early stages. Some of these targets are energy consumption, operation and maintenance costs for selected equipment throughout a project lifecycle, building lifespan, energy tariff and future climate parameters. Additionally, it defines the physical appearance of the project.

- Use case 3: once the project shape is defined, it is checked in a neighbourhood context.

- Use case 4: when the architectural model is approved by the client, the structural, HVAC, electrical engineers and other design disciplines will create and improve the design for their specialities.

- Use case 5: the detailed design models of each speciality are shared and checked in a collaborative way.

- Use case 6: the facilities manager evaluates the building operation and, based on checks and controls, a retrofit intervention may be suggested.

- Use case 7: this is similar to use case 6, but it is suggested to be a maintenance intervention.

5.3.2 Interoperability framework

Figure 5.4 introduces the interoperability framework required by D4E. The framework needs facilitation in the communication between multiple systems (such as the IFC-based

BIM o po e ts atalogue, data filte i g, desig tools, e sio o t ol s ste , eeBi

and the simulation platform and the collaborative workspace. Each system involved in the interoperability framework is explained below.

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Figure 5.4 General overview of the interoperability framework

5.3.2.1 Component catalogue

The component catalogue provides to designers with the library components to use in their designs. The library components contain all the required data that will be used for further analysis (materials, components, etc). In so doing, it ensures that elements are suitable for any simulation. The access to this library will be made through a plugin which will import an element from a file or an online library into a design tool (Autodesk Revit).

5.3.2.2 Design tool

A design tool is any software used to create a BIM model from scratch (ArchiCAD, Autodesk Revit, and so on) or onemodified from catalogue elements or existing projects. The integration of the design tool with the component catalogue is made through a plugin, making it possible to import and export metadata from the IFC files with extra data.

5.3.2.3 Version control system

Multiple versions of a model will be created and saved. A version control system will allow the checking of those modifications and the undoing of any unwanted changes.

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Additionally, it is possible to add comments and images to communicate easily any problems to other designers.

5.3.2.4 Data filtering/transformation

This component allows for the filtering of the required data inside a model, or the modification of a model to integrate it with existing models energy information, or the translation of several data formats to ensure communication with multiple tools.

5.3.2.5 eeBim

This component manages the energy data generated by the model during the simulation. It relates to the energy exchange in the design; thus how much heat could be lost during a

i te s da o ho u h e e g is used i a heati g s ste .

5.3.2.6 Simulation platform

This component generates additional data when performing simulations of an existing model. Additionally, this component will be useful in identifying changes in the model and in rerunning an energy simulation to check energy data.

5.3.2.7 Collaborative workspace

In this module, the model is available to different stakeholders. In addition to the model, other information such as energy efficiency will be available.