Use of Building Information Modelling in Responding to Low Carbon Construction Innovations: an Irish Perspective.

Barry McAuley, Dublin Institute of Technology
Alan V. Hore, Dublin Institute of Technology
Roger West, Trinity College

Document Type Conference Paper

INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION

CIB W055 Construction Industry Economics

CIB W065 Organisation and Management of Construction

CIB W089 Education in the Built Environment

CIB W118 Clients and Users in Construction

CIB TG76 Recognising Innovation in Construction

CIB TG78 Informality and Emergence in Construction

CIB TG81 Global Construction Data

CIB TG84 Construction Reform

Proceedings of the Joint CIB W055, W065, W089, W118, TG76, TG78, TG8 International Conference on Management of Construction: Research to Practice, Montreal, Jun 26 – 29th 2012

Abstract

At present the Irish construction industry is facing one of its most uncertain and challenging periods and will see major cuts in all areas of the economy in 2012. Despite this, Ireland pushes forward in sustainability initiatives with the Government ruling that environmentally-friendly policies are to get priority in competing for State contracts worth up to €16 billion a year. This and further initiatives are in place, so as to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20% by the year 2020.By the end of 2018 the public sector must own or rent only buildings with high energy-saving standards and promote the conversion of existing buildings to "nearly zero" standards. Furthermore, the "retro-fitting" of Ireland's existing building stock will challenge Ireland to meet carbon targets. This paper outlines how Building Information Modelling (BIM) can be utilised on future and present public works projects in Ireland to significantly assist the Irish Government in managing a low carbon energy future. The paper will focus on the application of a sophisticated BIM model in helping to predict the performance of buildings or assess retrofit/upgrade options in managing low carbon construction. The authors’ data collation methodology involved the testing and analysis of a BIM model for a public works project, used during a four day workshop in late 2011. The workshop proved a success and provided the platform for the Irish Government to see first-hand, how a collaborative BIM model used on public works projects could provide a low carbon future for both future and existing building stock