Recherche

BIM6D, a systemic process for enhancing sustainability in architecture


In Research

Charlotte Dautremont, a doctoral student at the Laboratoire de culture Numérique en Architecture (Digital Culture Laboratory in Architecture) will benefit from the program funded by the DGO6 (Service public de Wallonie) which allows young scientists to carry out their doctoral research project within a company. Her project - called BIM6D - aims to develop a systemic methodology for valuing sustainability in architecture through the BIM (Building Information Modeling) collaborative process. The young researcher will do her doctorate at BSolutions, a company based in Gembloux, which offers integrated construction solutions.

B

IM - Building Information Modeling - is a construction process that covers the entire life cycle of a building, from construction to demolition, recycling and/or reuse of end-of-life elements. Despite the excitement surrounding BIM, the interest and development of sustainability processes in architecture, these two areas are still far removed from the professional practice of designers. Indeed, the interests of BIM and sustainable development in construction are inversely motivated: on the one hand, BIM is driven by the designers themselves without legislative necessity and, on the other hand, sustainable development is legislated at several levels and in different areas such as the energy performance of buildings. However, the excitement around BIM in recent years reflects the aspirations of the construction sector for a systemic response from their profession. This double evolution, BIM and sustainability, has resulted in a multiplication of IT tools without a real common or structured methodology.

The BIM6D project, defended by Charlotte Dautremont, a doctoral student at the LNA Laboratory under the direction of Sylvie Jancart, is part of a collaborative BIM and sustainable development approach in the construction sector. This project attracted the management of BSolutions, located in Isnes, near Gembloux, which brings together all the skills required to successfully carry out all types of renovation and construction projects.

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The methodology proposed by the young researcher is composed of two phases; the first one defines the sustainable objectives to be achieved for the project and the second one proposes a working method, including levers, to achieve these initially set sustainable objectives. This BIM6D project will improve the efficiency of the workflow between the various stakeholders throughout the construction project (design, construction, operation) as well as within the same stage as the design phase, where different trades are involved: architect, stability engineer, special techniques engineer, energy engineer, PEB manager, BREEAM certifier, etc. It will also have the indirect consequence of increasing the overall value of the designed building (financial, environmental, execution, etc.).

This new process aims to optimize collaboration in the integrated BSolutions design office, both from a chronological point of view and from an information transfer point of view. Convinced that investment in sustainable development is an essential principle and an economic priority, the company has set up an internal unit specialising in this field: Genesis.

Digital Culture Laboratory in Architecture

LNA is a research laboratory attached to the Faculty of Architecture of ULiège. The research projects carried out there are particularly interested in the development of digital culture in architecture. In constant evolution, LNA is involved in several national and international projects that allow it to develop its research around BIM (Building Information Modeling) and its evolutions with regard to the evolution of architectural practices.

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