structures to identify missing information. Finally, propositions and recommendations are presented to fully integrate information needed for LCA at urban scale into
CityGML and Energy-ADE. This paper paves the way for further integration of
LCA models with CityGML.
1 Introduction
In the construction sector, LCA has been used since the 1990s to evaluate construction products and buildings [1]. For few years, LCA has extended to urban
scale, and is more and more used to assess urban precincts and building stocks at
large scales [2]. Performing LCA at building and urban scale requires to collect
large amount of information -data- on the foreground system to complete the life
cycle inventory (LCI). This routine of data collection is time and effort consuming
if repeated for different simulations (e.g. energy, cost, environment simulations) [3].
On the other hand, the integration of Building Information Model or Modelling
(BIM) to building and urban LCA can reduce efforts during data acquisition, as well
as allowing feedback of LCA results into BIM for results visualization.
Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a working process where digital
representations of physical and functional characteristics of building and civil
engineering objects are processed and managed. Building information models
(BIMs) are data stocked in files which can be exchanged or networked to support
expert analysis and decisions about a building or other built asset. They contain
information regarding objects, geo-localization, geometry and semantic data [4].
In order to ensure interoperability with different software (e.g. with energy
simulation tools), digital mock-up using an open information standard must be
preferred.
1.1 Open BIM Standards at Building Scale
BIM is often associated with open data structures for representing information such
as the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) and Green Building XML (gbXML)
formats at building scale and LandXML and CityGML formats at urban scale. Such
data structures are intended to describe building and civil engineering construction
industry data in a neutral and open manner i.e. they are open file formats that are not
controlled by a company or a group [4].
At building scale, IFC format has a wide scope and is compliant with data
requirements of building LCA [5] while gbXML format is specific to export data used
by energy tools [6]. Some building specific LCA tools are already compatible with the
IFC and gbXML formats. These international open formats ensure that any
Architecture/Engineering/Construction (AEC) software understand and operate
properly technical and geometrical information from BIM [3]. They greatly enhance
interoperability between AEC software.
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A. Mailhac et al.
CityGML and Energy-ADE. This paper paves the way for further integration of
LCA models with CityGML.
1 Introduction
In the construction sector, LCA has been used since the 1990s to evaluate construction products and buildings [1]. For few years, LCA has extended to urban
scale, and is more and more used to assess urban precincts and building stocks at
large scales [2]. Performing LCA at building and urban scale requires to collect
large amount of information -data- on the foreground system to complete the life
cycle inventory (LCI). This routine of data collection is time and effort consuming
if repeated for different simulations (e.g. energy, cost, environment simulations) [3].
On the other hand, the integration of Building Information Model or Modelling
(BIM) to building and urban LCA can reduce efforts during data acquisition, as well
as allowing feedback of LCA results into BIM for results visualization.
Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a working process where digital
representations of physical and functional characteristics of building and civil
engineering objects are processed and managed. Building information models
(BIMs) are data stocked in files which can be exchanged or networked to support
expert analysis and decisions about a building or other built asset. They contain
information regarding objects, geo-localization, geometry and semantic data [4].
In order to ensure interoperability with different software (e.g. with energy
simulation tools), digital mock-up using an open information standard must be
preferred.
1.1 Open BIM Standards at Building Scale
BIM is often associated with open data structures for representing information such
as the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) and Green Building XML (gbXML)
formats at building scale and LandXML and CityGML formats at urban scale. Such
data structures are intended to describe building and civil engineering construction
industry data in a neutral and open manner i.e. they are open file formats that are not
controlled by a company or a group [4].
At building scale, IFC format has a wide scope and is compliant with data
requirements of building LCA [5] while gbXML format is specific to export data used
by energy tools [6]. Some building specific LCA tools are already compatible with the
IFC and gbXML formats. These international open formats ensure that any
Architecture/Engineering/Construction (AEC) software understand and operate
properly technical and geometrical information from BIM [3]. They greatly enhance
interoperability between AEC software.
282
A. Mailhac et al.