Digital Twin and Cloud BIM-XR Platform Development: From Scan-to-BIM-to-DT Process to a 4D Multi-User Live App to Improve Building Comfort, Efficiency and Costs

Digital twins (DTs) and building information modelling (BIM) are proving to be valuable tools for managing the entire life cycle of a building (LCB), from the early design stages to management and maintenance over time. On the other hand, BIM platforms cannot manage the geometric complexities of existing buildings and the large amount of information that sensors can collect. For this reason, this research proposes a scan-to-BIM process capable of managing high levels of detail (LODs) and information (LOIs) during the design, construction site management, and construction phases. Specific grades of generation (GOGs) were applied to create as-found, as-designed, and as-built models that interact with and support the rehabilitation project of a multi-level residential building. Furthermore, thanks to the sharing of specific APIs (Revit and Autodesk Forge APIs), it was possible to switch from static representations to novel levels of interoperability and interactivity for the user and more advanced forms of building management such as a DT, a BIM cloud, and an extended reality (XR) web platform. Finally, the development of a live app shows how different types of users (professionals and non-expert) can interact with the DT, in order to know the characteristics with which the environments have been designed, as well as the environmental parameters, increasing their degree of control, from the point of view of improving comfort, use, costs, behaviour, and good practices. Finally, the overall approach was verified through a real case study where the BIM-XR platform was built for energy improvements to existing buildings and facade renovations

Pedestrian Single and Multi-Risk Assessment to SLODs in Urban Built Environment: A Mesoscale Approach

Pedestrians are increasingly exposed to slow-onset disasters (SLODs), such as air pollution and increasing temperatures in urban built environments (BEs). Pedestrians also face risks that arise from the combination of the BE features, the effects of SLODs on the microclimate, their own characteristics (e.g., health and ability), and the way they move and behave in indoor and outdoor BE areas. Thus, the effectiveness of sustainable risk-mitigation solutions for the health of the exposed pedestrians should be defined by considering the overlapping of such factors in critical operational scenarios in which such emergency conditions can appear. This work provides an innovative method to define a BE-oriented pedestrian risk index through a dynamic meso-scale approach that considers the daily variation of risk conditions. The method is ensured by a quick-to-apply approach, which also takes advantage of open-source repositories and tools to collect and manage input data, without the need for time-consuming in situ surveys. The resulting risk conditions are represented through meso-scale maps, which highlight the risk differences between BEs by focusing on their open spaces as fundamental parts of the urban road network. The method is applied to a significant case study (in Milan, Italy). The results demonstrate the ability of the approach to identify key input scenarios for risk assessment and mapping. The proposed methodology can: (1) provide insights for simulation activities in critical BE conditions, thanks to the identification of critical daily conditions for each of the factors and for single and multiple risks and (2) support the development of design and regeneration strategies in SLOD-prone urban BEs, as well as the identification of priority areas in the urban BE

The use of Building Technology to support Disaster Resilience: The case study of Air Shelter House

This paper reports on a study to investigate the feasibility of Thermal Reflective Multi-layer System (TRMS) as support for Disaster Resilience. It is an innovative insulation system, developed from space engineering studies, lightweight and is characterized by a thermal conductivity of 0.038 W/mK, making it a strong candidate for inexpensive shelter after disaster design. One of the results of this study is a proposal for the Air Shelter House (ASH), a new concept design of a shelter based on TRMS. The combined use of TRMS with low cost building materials and a 3D printer system for the construction joints provides a good comprise of building cost and energy efficiency performance. Such an innovative design supports disaster resilience during response, reconstruction and mitigation phases and is suitable for a wide variety of cultural and environmental situations where energy efficiency is important

L'importanza del controllo solare in edifici per uffici con sistemi radianti ad attivazione termica

Heating, ventilation and cooling of buildings are responsible for 30-40% of the energy consumption in buildings and a corresponding significant amount of CO2 emission. Since 2006 the European Energy Performance of Buildings Direc-tive (EPBD) is being implemented in building codes on a national level. Due to high energy consumption and often unacceptable indoor climate energy (noise, draught) some European countries do not recommended full air-conditionings. Alternatively, heating and cooling may be done by radiant heating and cooling systems, where pipes are embedded in the building structure (floors, cei-lings, walls) or in the centre of the concrete slab (Concrete Core Temperature Control). The present paper discuss the limitations and possibilities of radiant cool-ing systems in office buildings demonstrating the essentiality of a good and inte-grated building design to obtain an acceptable comfort level. Different office buildings with different dimensions of south windows are analyzed and their influence of internal comfort are compared

Overview on life cycle methodologies and economic feasibility for nZEBs

The recast Directive on the energy performance of buildings (EPBD) stipulates that by 2020 all new buildings constructed within the European Union after 2020 should reach nearly zero-energy levels. This means that in less than one decade, all new buildings will demonstrate very high energy performance and their reduced or very low energy needs will be significantly covered by renewable energy sources. Such change is affecting both the nature of the built environment as well the actual method of designing and constructing a facility. The economic feasibility to realize a sustainable construction need to have a clear support by adequate analyses connected to the energy consumption and consequently to the new target reductions in greenhouse gas emissions for buildings. Life Cycle Methodologies (LCMs) are currently not considered in details on the EPBD recast, but according also to recent researches, they might be important tasks in a future recast. The paper analyses this challenge providing an overview on the main LCMs to individuate principles, limitations and implications of these approaches to design a Nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB)

Retrofitting the existing envelope of residential buildings: innovative technologies, performance assessment and design methods

The refurbishment of the residential building stock is a major challenge for the European building sector in the next few years. A retrofitting strategy considering only the improvement of energy performances represents only a partial answer to the overall target of sustainability. Prefabricated solutions for inner or outer envelope can reduce impact on inhabitants’ life: lightness, fast and easy assembly techniques are the major concerns. The paper shows some concepts for façade retrofitting aiming at the preservation of the building envelope exterior features – or at the improvement of architectural features whenever possible – with a reduced extra-load on the existing structure and a reduced impact on the occupants. These concepts must guarantee the quality and the performance of new building envelope, offering high insulation value, air tightness, excellent comfort and visual quality. The design process, developing from the assessment of the existing conditions to the detailed design of solutions and installation procedures, is highlighted

SMALL IS MORE. Wooden Pavilion As a Path of Research

Several shelters have been recently developed by Politecnico di Milano for different purposes but with a common character: smallness. Small is More shows how workshops with students can be extremely efficient and productive on real targets and how materiality is important to learn and step over any parametric approach. Of course, parametric tools can be very useful to manage the design phase and optioneering strategies but, in the end, only real built structure unveils the power of architecture. The paper will show some of these examples where Smallness can be of great effect: Akragashelter in Agrigento—Valle dei Templi (UNESCO Workshop), with a structure in gabion-wall, the roof in fir wood, and parametric design; C-ASA, Active House Shelter in Lecco (Politecnico di Milano ASA Workshop), with CLT structure, aerospace thermo-reflective insulations, and zinc-titanium outer skin; Equilatera, the social Shelter in Favara (FARM Cultural Park), digitally designed, with recycled CLT wasted studs for the structure; Teagloo, in Tokyo with Kengo Kuma Lab (The University of Tokyo), digital designed structure in sushi bamboo baskets, with FRP reinforcements; Veneer House, in VIS (Croatia) with Prof. Hiroto Kobayashi and KOBAYASHI MAKI DESIGN WORKSHOP (Keio University, Tokyo). The learning process has been thought with real targets for social purpose and students have participated in designing real case studies, which are now still in full function

Il progetto RACEM “Rete Artigiana per la Casa Efficiente in Montagna”

Il progetto RACEM “Rete Artigiana per la Casa Efficiente in Montagna” ha l’obiettivo di accompagnare le imprese artigiane della Provincia di Sondrio nella costituzione di una “rete per il costruire sostenibile” che comprenda tutti gli attori della filiera casa. Le dinamiche di sviluppo delle imprese artigiane della filiera casa (edili, installatori degli impianti elettrici, installatori degli impianti termici, serramentisti e segherie) oggi si collegano alla necessità di costruire in modo energeticamente efficiente, avendo cura dell’ambiente e del territorio e affrontando pertanto la problematica della sostenibilità energetico-ambientale. Ad oggi la quasi totalità degli edifici, dei quali quelli costruiti in area alpina non fanno eccezione, sono molto “energivori” a causa di involucri poco o per nulla isolati e di sistemi impiantistici obsoleti e poco efficienti. Il progetto RACEM ha lo scopo di favorire la creazione ed il consolidamento di circuiti cooperativi fra le imprese promuovendo modalità innovative di progettazione/costruzione/ristrutturazione degli edifici al fine di valorizzare un settore ed una filiera espressione del territorio attraverso la promozione di un marchio di qualità. La Rete rappresenta un’ opportunità di business per le imprese accrescendo la competitività sia in ambito locale che al di fuori dei limiti provinciali. Il progetto RACEM si concretizza nella stesura di un “Disciplinare Tecnico”, volontario, di performance del “costruire energeticamente efficiente in Montagna”, in linea con l’attuale normativa regionale ed europea in termini di efficienza energetica dell’edilizia. Gli obiettivi specifici sono: • incrementare la cultura e la pratica dell’abitare sostenibile in territori montani, in conformità con gli obiettivi fissati dalla Commissione Europea nella strategia 20-20-20; • favorire l’innovazione delle imprese; • favorire la diffusione di buone pratiche innovative ad alto contenuto tecnologico in materia di rendimento energetico; • sviluppare dei circuiti cooperativi efficaci fra i partner del progetto. Il presente paper presenta il “Disciplinare Tecnico” redatto, mettendo in luce la metodologia utilizzata, la struttura ed i contenuti. Il Disciplinare rappresenta un tassello di un progetto più ampio che troverà continuità nella redazione di un “Protocollo”, volontario, per il costruire sostenibile in definizione nella Provincia di Sondrio