BIMERR: BIM-based Tools for Energy-Driven Renovation of Residences

Developing the BIMERR system (an ICT-enabled Renovation 4.0 framework to support the renovation of existing buildings) means reaching several steps or milestones.

The integrated BIMERR system will be extensively tested, demonstrated and validated in several buildings, including buildings undergoing real renovation activities.

Main Goal of the Project

Buildings represent 38% of the energy consumptions in the EU, but the construction and renovation sector still has a lot to do in order to reach energy efficiency and optimized construction methods. In this context, the main goal of the project is to develop a TIC Renovation Toolkit based on BIM technology in order to facilitate and optimize renovation works on existing buildings, and system validation through the application in two real renovation projects in Spain and Poland. Ultimately, the project shall help the dissemination of the system within and outside the EU. The main innovation in the framework of this new project is the use of BIM technology (especially Scan-to-BIM) that could be very useful in order to reduce cost and duration of renovation projects, thus facilitating the multiplication of renovation projects in the EU, with a clear impact on the environment (already existing buildings could match with the international standards regarding energy consumption for example).

Project Description

Developing the BIMERR system (an ICT-enabled Renovation 4.0 framework to support the renovation of existing buildings) means reaching several steps or milestones. The integrated BIMERR system will be extensively tested, demonstrated and validated in several buildings, including buildings undergoing real renovation activities. The main developing stages of the project are followings:

• Analyze of the state-of-the-art and definition of requirements
• Design of the BIMERR-Solution, especially its architecture based on Data modeling and Scan-to-BIM technology
• System development and improvement
• Integration and interoperability validation
• Pre-validation testing in a real building (BIM-Data already exist)
• Deployment and Pilot Demonstration in two real renovation projects in Poland and Spain
• Evaluation and dissemination

Participants

There are 16 members in the consortium:

• Fraunhofer Institute, a German research institute, that is the project leader.
• CERTH, a Greek research center.
• UPM, a Spanish university that will bring its knowledge in Ontology.
• UBITECH, a Greek technological company specialized in data modeling.
• Suite5, a Greek company specialized in Data Intelligence.
• Hypertech, a Greek company specialized in energy efficiency.
• MERIT, a Belgium-based IT consulting company.
• XYLEM, an Austrian company specialized in decision support for renovation projects.
• GlassUp, an Italian company with know-how in Smart glasses solutions.
• CONKAT, a Greek construction management company.
• BOC, an Austrian company specialized in Process Modelling and Automation.
• Budimex, one of Poland’s leading construction companies and its linked third party Ferrovial, one of Spain’s leading construction company.
• University of Peloponnese, that will bring its knowledge in evaluation and verification methodology.
• EXERGY, a British company specialized in renewable energy.
• Heriot-Watt University from UK that will bring to the project its know-how in Scan-to-BIM technology.
• NOVITECH, a British company specialized in quality Management.

Ferrovial Construction’s Participation

Our intervention scope can be resumed as follow:

• Selection of a renovation project in Spain that will be used as one of the two real application cases of BIMERR-toolkit in the framework of the validation phase of the system
• Deployment of the system in the selected project
• Training of AEC professionals and building residents
• Assessment and evaluation of the project through specific KPI’s and validation of the system
• Post-renovation assessment

Results

The expected benefits in case the project development is successful are followings:

• Technical aspects: Better understanding of Scan-to-BIM technologies and validation of the whole system in actual renovation worksites (1 in Poland under supervision of Budimex, the other one in Spain under our supervision)
• Economical aspects: Reduction of renovation time and cost and interoperability (projection: 80%-time reduction and 35% cost reduction).
• Environmental aspect: Optimizing of retrofitting and construction processes (faster and cheaper renovation processes) thus facilitating the upgrade of old buildings to new environmental standards (reduction of energy consumption).
• Social aspects: Faster and cheaper renovation methods will make renovation more affordable for building residents and landlords.
• Business-orientated aspects: Development of new tools enabling an optimized (cost and time reduction) digitalization process of existing buildings.

Financial Support

The project is a Research and Innovation Action with the financial support of the European Union’s Horizon 2020.