Application of BIM in Energy Conservation in Low-Cost Housing in Case of Study in Dallas Independent School Residential District, Texas

Abstract

Building Information Modeling is used to build and manage data throughout the project lifecycle from design, construction, and operations. In this technology, multi-threaded data is used to create detailed virtual views in a cloud platform, which allows project members to collaborate in real-time without wasting time. It can also operate and manage the building by using the data that the owners of the building or structure have access to. This data allows governments, municipalities, and property managers to make informed decisions based on information derived from the model, even after the building is constructed. This research, using quantitative methodology, aims to investigate the current state of BIM performance regarding the approaches of converting "affordable residential housing" to "green affordable housing" by reducing the cost of maintaining units and improving their quality with a focus on saving in energy through the implementation of construction details using BIM. In this regard, the Independent School Residential District in Dallas, Texas, and the residential complex built by the government for low-income groups were selected. The main question of the research is whether the behavioral modeling of the residents and the building together can act as an efficiency tool to increase the energy efficiency in the building. Finally, it was found that in low-cost housing such as social housing produced in Texas under the title of housing for low-income society, building information modeling along with user behavior modeling of these buildings together can be a powerful tool to increase building productivity and reducing current costs in the hands of designers and builders.