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Rapid LEED evaluation performed with BIM based sustainability analysis on a virtual construction project

Zaid Alwan (Faculty of Engineering & Environment, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.)
David Greenwood (Faculty of Engineering & Environment, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK)
Barry Gledson (Faculty of Engineering & Environment Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.)

Construction Innovation

ISSN: 1471-4175

Article publication date: 7 April 2015

2181

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility of using 3D simulation transfer processes to streamline the environmental assessment of buildings that have been designed digitally using building information modelling (BIM). The case study presented relates to a competition (“Build Qatar Live”) in which one of the winning team’s objectives was to create a smart process for assessing the design against the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria. The experience indicated that a rapid, concurrent and efficient LEED evaluation was possible within the BIM process. The study presents technological approaches that can be adopted within the BIM environment to simplify the environmental assessments and embrace practices that reduce environmental and ecological impacts.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology encompassed an overview of how rapid high-value data exchange occurs within BIM to achieve a sustainable building design as part of an international design competition. Achieving a LEED rating through sustainable design was a key requirement of the competition.

Findings

The findings of this case study has revealed that key credits in LEED can be integrated within the BIM design process. Therefore, tackling such important environmental design issues in parallel to building design and providing key information on building elements needed to meet the sustainability criteria.

Originality/value

This research highlights the benefits of streamlined, architectural and data software exchange through applying data interoperability of a building design; thus, skipping conventional 2D building and conventional documentation for environmental and energy designs simulations needed for LEED certifications and general low carbon design.

Keywords

Citation

Alwan, Z., Greenwood, D. and Gledson, B. (2015), "Rapid LEED evaluation performed with BIM based sustainability analysis on a virtual construction project", Construction Innovation, Vol. 15 No. 2, pp. 134-150. https://doi.org/10.1108/CI-01-2014-0002

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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