BIM Modeling – Sustainable Building Design

There are several factors such as energy efficiency, quality of water and air and material selection are some important factors that influence the sustainability of a building. It is astonishing that the environment has a great impact on building construction. A major percentage of greenhouse gas emissions of the world are due to the construction industry. It also causes a considerable quantity of construction and demolition waste. The consumption amount of energy and fresh water in the construction industry is also not negligible.

All the above information assures the increasing demand for sustainability in the construction industry. The first thing architects and engineers should do to build a sustainable building is to develop a sustainable design. Environmental and economic impacts are the important factors to be considered in sustainability. Another element that should be treated with sustainability is feasibility. Sustainable building design can be achieved by giving attention to several factors like civil infrastructure, architectural design, site design and the design of the building systems.

BIM Modeling helps in a different way for creating a sustainable building design.

The role of building information modeling (BIM) technology is very significant in achieving the goal of sustainable design. BIM collaboration working with other appropriate technology can also reduce the cost of a sustainable design because the information can be easily available for design, analysis and certification with the help of BIM.

BIM Modeling enables better-informed decision making.

During the process of building design, an architect has to consider many options and he also needs enough information to select one. With the help of BIM, the architect can create and study multiple design options within a single model.

BIM, which is powered by high-resolution graphics, qualified details and a BIM modeling interface, helps create an accurate virtual model of a sustainable building project. It is also helpful for creating various types of analysis like quantity takeoffs and clash detection. BIM also enables the creation of a 3D model in a quick, easy and cost-effective way that helps architects create multiple alternatives and select the most suitable sustainable design for a construction project.

BIM-based design model ensures that designers and architects get easy access to the information needed for creating sustainability in design. The sophisticated software tools used in BIM enables quick information processing and easy revisions.  The amount required for building materials to complete a project can also be easily calculated using BIM.

Most importantly, BIM helps establish a single point of contact for various participants in a project that will be useful in executing a sustainable building design effectively.