Search

This paper describes the implementation of an open-source platform integrating HBIM-IoT monitoring sensors, applied to the Royal Site of Carditello, a Bourbon 18th-century Palace near the city of Capua (Italy). Based on open standards and processes, the platform is accessible on different devices through the Internet and acts as a digital representation of the building and the monitoring system therein, allowing users to navigate a detailed HBIM model and query, visualise and manipulate static and dynamic information attributed to the building and its collections, as well as the data from applied sensors, linked to their virtual objects' equivalent in the model. Integrating robust data management with a user-friendly 3D interface, this solution aims to enhance the preventive conservation of historical buildings and their collections, which depend on regular monitoring and a systematic diagnostic programme over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of HBIM for the information management of historical buildings is often hindered by the presence of uncertainty due to limited geometric information and documentation at the time of modelling; controlling and organising this level of uncertainty, in view of future developments, becomes paramount. This paper presents an HBIM workflow to tackle uncertainty by capitalising on parametric modelling and 4D modelling. Parametric modelling is used as a dynamic tool that allows for an easy and quick update of the model when new data become available, while 4D modelling is used for disassembling the building backwards, establishing temporal relationships among building elements and organising them in successive phases, when uncertainty concerns the historical development of building elements and architectural interventions. The workflow was applied to a building of industrial archaeology in southern Italy, the ‘De Simone’ factory, which is abandoned and in a poor state of conservation, but represents a valuable historical testimony due to its rich stratification resulting from significant physical and functional transformations over time. This application shows that structuring the data implementation process to accommodate the available information and its future integration, through the use of parametric and 4D modelling, can be very efficient to support documentation, conservation and enhancement activities on built heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The architectural engineering and construction sector accounts for about 30-40% of global energy consumption. The European goal of reducing this consumption and the linked greenhouse gas emissions calls for an increased capacity to implement building renovations. Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Building Performance Simulations (BPS) are among the most promising tools for fostering interdisciplinary, efficient processes and feasible analysis and design solutions to support this goal. Of the whole building stock, heritage buildings represent the most challenging part, although their potential as a driver for mitigating climate change and supporting sustainable development is being increasingly recognized. This paper presents a Heritage BIM and BPS-based workflow to support the energy and environmental improvement of publicly-owned historical buildings, that was applied to 9 case studies of 7 different Mediterranean countries. The overall aim of this research is to enhance the capacity of public local administrations and professionals to upgrade the historical building stock and demonstrate the scalability of the proposed workflow to the entire building stock of the Mediterranean area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigates the potential of coupling natural ventilation and thermal storage systems to improve hygrothermal comfort and reduce energy consumption during summer season in an existing building in the Mediterranean. It aims at bridging the knowledge gap between designers, researchers and building scientists, fostering a multidisciplinary approach and promoting numerical simulation of the energy performance of buildings within architectural professional practice. The study analyses the interaction between six natural ventilation systems (single sided ventilation through facade openings; cross ventilation through facade openings, inlet wind tower, thermal chimney, evaporative cool tower, earth pipes) and with two thermal storage typology (heavy and medium-light) within four strategic Italian location (Rome, Naples, Messina and Catania). For each interaction we perform a numerical dynamic simulation of indoor comfort, indoor air quality and energy consumption during the summer period, on a reference building model corresponding to the most common Italian typology. Results show that the use of the chosen systems ensures significant reductions of discomfort hours and energy consumption in all configurations. The study also highlights the high efficiency of non invasive systems (single-sided and cross ventilation with automatic control present discomfort hours reduction and energy consumption reduction above 68% for all combinations) and the significant influence of the daily thermal range value on the performance of systems without air pre-treatment.

Whole-building dynamic simulation has been increasingly adopted as a tool to non-invasively investigate possible strategies to improve energy efficiency, thermal comfort, and conservation of historical buildings. Several critical assumptions are needed to cope with insufficient input data and limitations in simulation models, therefore the modelling approaches implemented by researchers are inhomogeneous and customised for each case study. A review of the literature was conducted to collect common patterns and replicable solutions, based on the case studies reported in scientific journals published between 2011 and 2022. The discussion covers all the key stages in the simulation process, from information gathering to the analysis of the target outcomes, highlighting current practices and open issues. The resulting informative panorama and technical discussion are intended to assist scholars and specialists in approaching the dynamic simulation of historical buildings as well as stimulating a debate toward standardisation and consolidation of a robust scientific community in the field. • Whole-building dynamic simulation of historical buildings was thoroughly reviewed. • Insights on pitfalls, workarounds, and critical issues are provided. • Consolidation of input data gathering, modelling, and calibration in needed. • More research on energy and environmental representation of built heritage is urged. • Interdisciplinary dialogue among experts from various fields is advocated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]