Updating R-values of BIM elements using 3D thermography for accurate building energy performance simulation

Youngjib Ham, Mani Golparvar-Fard

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Over the past few years, anecdotal evidence and controlled studies on predicting the actual energy performance of existing buildings have raised concerns about the accuracy of energy performance simulations using Building Information Models (BIM). Among numerous sources of modeling inaccuracy, the wrong thermal properties of solid assemblies can significantly impact the reliability of the BIM-based energy analysis. Without considering the diminishing thermal resistance (i.e., R-value) of building materials caused by their deterioration and updating such material properties in BIM, BIM-based energy simulation of existing buildings could be unreliable for retrofit decision-making purposes. This paper proposes an automated method for updating the R-value of building elements in BIM. By exploring 3D spatio-thermal models reconstructed from 2D thermal images, the actual R-values are calculated at the level of 3D points. The calculated actual R-values are used to automatically update the thermal properties of the corresponding gbXML-based BIM elements. For validation, several experiments on measuring and updating the R-value of BIM elements are conducted in an existing residential building. Using the proposed method, BIM-based energy analysis tool scan more accurately model the as-is conditions of existing buildings and estimate their actual energy performances.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationComputing in Civil and Building Engineering - Proceedings of the 2014 International Conference on Computing in Civil and Building Engineering
EditorsR. Raymond Issa, Ian Flood
PublisherAmerican Society of Civil Engineers
Pages113-120
Number of pages8
ISBN (Electronic)9780784413616
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014
Event2014 International Conference on Computing in Civil and Building Engineering - Orlando, United States
Duration: Jun 23 2014Jun 25 2014

Publication series

NameComputing in Civil and Building Engineering - Proceedings of the 2014 International Conference on Computing in Civil and Building Engineering

Other

Other2014 International Conference on Computing in Civil and Building Engineering
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityOrlando
Period6/23/146/25/14

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Computer Science Applications
  • Civil and Structural Engineering
  • Building and Construction

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