Development of BIM-BEM framework to support the design process

The research work in this thesis investigates the technical and process approaches to encourage the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Building Energy Modeling (BEM) (refer to as BIM-BEM) to perform energy simulations during the design process. The research was motivated by the lack of the interoperability and integration of BIM model into the BEM tools and the adoption of BIM-BEM technology into the design process. Thus, there was a need to establish how BIM-BEM can be executed successfully and accurately to support the design process.Therefore, the objectives were to combine appropriate technical and process approaches to develop an effective and holistic framework for BIM-BEM execution during the design process. This thesis was rooted based on Action Research (AR) methodology to address realistic perspective with real-practice issues. The methodology had five main steps including diagnosing, action planning, action tacking, and validating using various case studies.The main gaps in this area were identified using a systematic literature review of technical and process aspects. Accordingly, a general template for BIM-BEM framework was developed considering all the requirements to correctly implement BIM-BEM within an efficient process that can be adopted for different project types. Regarding the proposed template, a generic BIM-BEM framework was developed in an easy to follow process map considering the identified requirements and various tested tools to support the modeling, model integration, and work/data flows during the design process. Finally, an innovative information protocol was developed in order to streamline the BIM-BEM framework to support accurate information sharing in an appropriate Level Of Development (LOD) for energy simulation at each design phase.This thesis brings an original contribution to the practice and knowledge by providing a generic and reliable framework to streamline and systematize the use of BIM-BEM during the design process for high-performance buildings. The technical and process approaches proposed in the framework are operationalized by the advanced information protocol for a successful BIMBIM execution during the design process. Accordingly, using the BIM-BEM framework allows reducing the interoperability errors, saving the time of remodeling and troubleshooting, better data management and maximizing the accuracy of simulation results that in total evoke sustainable design evolution and optimization early by professionals.The professionals can employ the BIM-BEM framework by following and adapting the proposed design activities, integration methods, work/data flow and the information protocol in their design process. For specific project types, the framework can be adjusted and advanced by identifying complementary requirements to each design activity. In addition, it can be upgraded and advanced by including other innovative model integration and process approaches as future work. In future work, the framework will be extended by advanced technical solutions that needs moving current industries toward using programming expertise in their process.