Juan Moyano

Accuracy evaluation of the semi-automatic 3D modeling for historical building information models

ABSTRACT It is stated that 3D recording and modeling of heritage buildings entail accurate building models (as-built). However, this paper presents an analysis of the 3D modeling accuracy for the creation of historical building information models (HBIM), considering the complexity and the deformations of historical buildings, using point cloud data and BIM tools. The 3D modeling processes analyzed are based on a three-stage semi-automatic approach leading to the generation of HBIM, including manual and automatic processes. The three stages consist of: (a) optical and terrestrial laser scanning; (b) meshing processes; and finally (c) 3D solid modeling to be assembled into HBIM. Next, this approach analyzed the mesh deformations generated automatically in comparison to the initial point cloud data. The deformations and the accuracy evaluation have been undertaken using different commercial software. Finally, our modeling approach shows that it can improve the accuracy of the 3D models achieved using existing BIM technologies.

Genetic algorithm-based approach for optimizing the energy rating on existing buildings

The problem of improving the energy behaviour of existing buildings is a current topic of interest in scientific research. In recent years, Public Administrations have made an effort to introduce norms that help to reorient the tendency toward increasing energy consumption by buildings. To do so, manufacturers have developed numerous energy efficiency measures that have become widely extended. The main problem when selecting one or various measures is to identify the ones that will provide the best trade-off between services and implementation costs. This paper presents a study focused on implementing techniques for calculating the heating and cooling energy demand, along with genetic algorithm, to optimize the process of adjusting the building’s energy efficiency rating to a determined rating for existing building. The proposed optimization approach is applied to a real case to demonstrate its validity in a real-world situation. Practical application: This paper presents an innovative method for the building energy retrofit process. By applying a simple genetic algorithm, the aim is to optimize the cost of intervening in an existing building by fixing the energy rating obtained at a given value. The practical potential of the method presented here is quite extensive, with its greatest exponent being its use by technicians who are unfamiliar with optimization processes. The application of this calculation methodology would simplify the study of projects in the phase of selecting energy-saving measures, given that there are currently many of them, with their independent characteristics, which makes the selection process a slow and ineffective task. In addition, the method’s intuitive interface and the fact that it is programmed in MS Excel make it an innovative method with great applicability in the field of building process optimization.