Optimizing Climate Calculations in Construction: An Empirical Analysis of BIM Integration and Workflow Enhancement

Abstract

In early 2022 a new law was implemented in Sweden which calls for climate calculations to be conducted in conjunction with new construction projects. The purpose of this thesis is to analyze a case project that has adapted a model-based construction approach and investigate whether this approach creates a base for extracting climate calculations in a proficient manner. This will be done by answering the research questions, centered around workflows, strategies for continuous climate calculations, and the necessary model requirements. To be able to answer these questions a literature study was conducted as well as an open interview study with stakeholders involved in the project. In addition to these sources of information a series of experiments was also conducted in order to investigate the possibilities of the software currently used by the consulting firm Sweco.The thesis results in a workflow that supports the use of iterative climate calculations in the early stages of projects. The workflow reduces the amount of manual data collection and analysis needed to conduct the calculations allowing actors to focus onoptimizing design related decisions for better sustainability outcomes. The research also highlights the challenges that comes with these integrated solutions. Overall, this thesis contributes to valuable insight into optimising climate calculations within BIM frameworks. This work highlights the importance of continued development and refinement of integration strategies to address existing challenges and maximize the benefits of technology in advancing sustainable construction practices. This thesis fills a gap in research on the implementation of Total BIM and LCA practices which has been found to be limited.