Arch. Romario Baudouin Njiomou Tchuigwa

Ing. Aleš Marek, Ph.D., Arch. Romario Baudouin Njiomou Tchuigwa

15123 Ústav stavitelství I

Optimizing the environmental impact of buildings is a major issue in the construction sector. The combination of Building Information Modelling BIM tools and building life cycle assessment (LCA) tools presents a range of potential solutions for optimizing environmental impacts from the architectural design phase onwards. These tools enable architects to significantly reduce the environmental impacts of their designs without requiring extensive expertise in LCA. By integrating building LCA tools such as One Click LCA with BIM tools, designers can assess and minimize carbon emissions throughout the development stages of the building. This integration facilitates calculation and optimization through manual adjustments or by means of algorithms. Despite ongoing improvements in building lifecycle analysis tools, significant concerns persist, namely data management and time required for completion. This article presents a practical approach to reducing the embodied energy of materials in a residential house by combining Autodesk Revit, Dynamo, One Click LCA, and Python. By exploiting the capabilities of the Revit API and the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) results provided by One Click LCA, an interactive method is proposed for identifying, selecting, and applying the least energy-intensive materials in a BIM model. The research is structured in four main parts: firstly, data is extracted from Revit and then analyzed for environmental impacts using One Click LCA; secondly, alternative materials are exported and interpreted using Python; thirdly, the model is updated with the optimized materials; and finally, the results are re-analyzed via One Click LCA and evaluated before and after optimization. The employment of this methodology facilitates digital and automated integration, thereby enabling the achievement of sustainable projects.

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Ing. Aleš Marek, Ph.D., Arch. Romario Baudouin Njiomou Tchuigwa

15123 Ústav stavitelství I

Optimizing thermal comfort in buildings is an increasing priority to address occupant well-being while contributing to sustainability and reducing energy consumption (Alsharif et al. 2021; Rane et al. 2023). Several approaches to thermal comfort have been explored, including optimizing envelope design (Bojic et al. 2013), model predictive control (MPC) for HVAC systems (Carli et al. 10/6/2019), data-driven approaches using machine learning models (Chen et al. 06182021), and statistical methods to integrate thermal comfort into the design of low-energy buildings (Hawila and Merabtine 2021). However, persistent challenges remain major concerns for building professionals. These challenges relate to data transfer, which refers to interoperability between software, data management throughout the building’s lifecycle, and time lost during the project development phase. This article explores an approach to optimizing the thermal performance of building using Dynamo integrated into the BIM software Autodesk Revit and the EN15251 standard (now included in EN16798-1) as a guideline which provides reference parameters for assessing indoor environmental quality. The proposed optimization approach aims to minimize deviations from the comfort temperature and annual thermal loads according to the scenarios. In order to achieve the desired results, we have divided our research into three main stages: firstly, collecting the necessary input data to assess the indoor environmental quality of the building; secondly, modelling the architectural design using the BIM software Autodesk Revit and performing simulations to optimize thermal comfort using Dynamo integrated with Revit; and finally, validating the optimized model by verifying the results according to the standard. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of using Dynamo integrated with Revit to automate analysis, simulation, and optimization cycles from a high-performance design perspective. This approach allows the building to be optimized according to the desired category of thermal conditions while significantly saving considerable time.

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Ing. Aleš Marek, Ph.D., Arch. Romario Baudouin Njiomou Tchuigwa

15123 Ústav stavitelství I

In the building design process, optimizing windows is critical for improving a building's energy efficiency, as it balances the needs for natural lighting, heating, and cooling. Previous studies have explored various factors affecting window performances, including size, orientation, and glazing properties. Several techniques and methods have demonstrated that building envelope characteristics, such as the window-to-wall ratio and shading devices, significantly impact natural lighting and energy consumption. However, with the rapid technological advancements in the construction industry, one persistent challenge remains the need to save time in the design process. This article explores a parametric method for optimizing window surface areas in a residential house project using Dynamo and Python within a Revit environment. The goal is to ensure that each room achieves a target level of natural illuminance expressed in lux, while meeting energy efficiency and aesthetic requirements. This approach is based on precise calculations aligned with lighting standards and automation using Dynamo and Python. Initially, we manually calculated the window areas required to meet the target illuminance levels for each room. This was followed by a parametric method, which began with the creation of shared parameters linked to the windows in a pre-designed 3D architectural model and the development of Dynamo scripts to calculate room and window areas in the base model. Subsequently, we developed scripts using Dynamo and Python within Revit to calculate the required window opening areas to achieve the target illuminance level and adjust the window dimensions accordingly. Finally, we compared the manual and parametric approaches. The results of this research provide a streamlined and efficient solution for window optimization during building design, ensuring compliance with lighting standards while enhancing energy performance.

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Ing. Aleš Marek, Ph.D., Arch. Romario Baudouin Njiomou Tchuigwa

15123 Ústav stavitelství I

Today, the production of sustainable buildings has become one of the main objectives of the construction industry. This direction aims to meet the increasing demand for construction while minimizing harmful impacts on the environment, thus contributing to sustainable development. The indoor environment of sustainable buildings, influenced by various parameters such as lighting, air quality, thermal comfort, and materials used is of paramount importance. This environment requires in-depth research to effectively meet the needs of occupants, thereby ensuring their comfort and well-being. The quantity of light and the natural ventilation flow are therefore essential elements to consider in the architectural design process of buildings. This study explores a computational approach using a workflow between Revit, Dynamo, et Python to assess illuminance levels and airflow efficiency in a small house. To achieve this, our research is divided into three phases: firstly, creation of 3D model in Revit; secondly, extraction of geometrical and environmental data and thirdly, computation of radiation-based illuminance calculations and estimation of natural airflow rates based on simplified Bernoulli equations using Dynamo and Python. The results of this research provide actionable insights into illuminance exposure and ventilation rates for each room, enabling data-driven decision-making for architects during the design process. This approach establishes a workflow that eliminates the need for external simulation software by leveraging BIM's built-in calculation tools. The results demonstrate the method's effectiveness in analyzing early design stages.

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Ing. Aleš Marek, Ph.D., Arch. Romario Baudouin Njiomou Tchuigwa

15123 Ústav stavitelství I

The climate crisis, which continues to escalate, does not leave professionals and researchers in closely affected fields indifferent to this negative change, which disrupts the functioning of our environment. In the fields of architecture, engineering, and construction, increasing the energy efficiency of buildings has thus become a top priority in construction projects, leading to a growing number of studies closely related to this objective. Given that energy efficiency involves creating (designing, constructing, and operating) buildings that minimize energy consumption for air conditioning, heating, and lighting, this approach aims to facilitate the energy optimization of construction materials in a Revit architectural model through the use of BIM Revit software, Excel spreadsheets, and analysis results from the cloud-based Autodesk Insight 360 software.

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Ing. Aleš Marek, Ph.D., Arch. Romario Baudouin Njiomou Tchuigwa

15123 Ústav stavitelství I

Our environment is currently experiencing significant upheavals, largely attributable to constant changes, particularly those generated by the construction industry. Professionals in this sector are facing numerous challenges, among which is the design of buildings aimed at minimizing the use of non-renewable resources and polluting emissions, while also improving indoor air and water quality within the buildings. Additionally, they are striving to optimize water management from the early stages of design to reduce losses and impacts on the site. In response to these challenges, the approach of integrated building design has emerged. This approach aims to maximize building performance from the beginning of the design process by considering all aspects of sustainability: environmental, economic, and social. This study explores how to implement this approach using Building Information Modelling (BIM) methods and its tools to create more sustainable buildings, thereby addressing the pressing environmental concerns of our time and contributing to a more resilient and eco-friendlier built environment.

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