ECE 420: Modern Information
Technology in Construction
BIM for Sustainability
Instructor: Dr. Md. Aslam Hossain
Department of Civil Engineering
School of Engineering
Nazarbayev University
Key Issues and Learning Outcomes
What is sustainable building?
BIM for sustainable design and construction
(Hands-on) Autodesk Revit
Background of Sustainable Building
In the world of construction, buildings have the capacity
to make a major contribution to a more sustainable
future for our planet. The OECD, for instance, estimates
that buildings in developed countries account for more
than forty percent of energy consumption over their
lifetime (incorporating raw material production,
construction, operation, maintenance and
decommissioning). Add to this the fact that for the first
time in human history over half of the world’s population
now lives in urban environments and it’s clear that
sustainable buildings have become vital cornerstones for
securing long-term environmental, economic and social
viability.
Sustainable Building / Green Building
Refers to both a structure and the application of
processes that are environmentally responsible and
resource-efficient throughout a building’s life-cycle:
from planning to design, construction, operation,
maintenance, renovation, and demolition.
Green Building Certification system:
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) – U.S.
Green Building Council
Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment
Method (BREEAM) – British
Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) – World
Green Building Council
Green Building Index (GBI) – Australia and Malaysia
Objectives of Green Building
The common objective of green buildings is to reduce
the overall impact of the built environment on human
health and the natural environment by:
Efficiently using energy, water, and other resources
Protecting occupant health and improving employee
productivity
Reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation
BIM for Sustainability
BIM will play a major role in helping us meet the
world’s need for sustainable construction and climate
protection.
BIM will allow a design team to better take a “reduce
and optimize” approach to reaching a client’s and
building project’s sustainability and climate protection
goals by focusing on reducing energy first.
BIM facilitates selection, optimization and use of
materials and components based on whole building
life-cycle assessment (LCA).
BIM for Sustainability
BIM allows the rapid and economical (relative terms)
consideration of alternatives, what ifs, and game
scenarios early in the evolution of a building to
optimize the building’s life-cycle impact.
