An “Environmental BIM” Approach for the Architectural Schematic Design Stage

Abstract

Considering the advantages allowed by BIM in relation to collaborative work, production of data and interoperability, the main objective of this research is to investigate the possibilities opened by BIM methodology into the integration of the environmental dimension of sustainability into schematic stage of an architectural design process. Through the study of building environmental performance assessment tools BREEAM and LEED, a set of ten environmental criteria to be applied into the schematic stage and managed by BIM, have been identified. Activities and information exchanges involved where describe both graphically (process maps) and textually (exchanges requirements). The integration of each criterion workflow into a BIM environment allowed for a complete automation for obtaining five of the design criterion indicators, and partial automation for the five remaining. The results demonstrated that it is possible to integrate an environmental design approach from schematic stage of an architectural elaboration process managed by BIM.