Model-Driven Energy Intelligence

EW-201263

Objective

This project seeks to show that a Building Information Model (BIM) is cost effective in the retrofit context, bringing a new level of standardization to systems and services for energy management and delivering scalability across large portfolios of existing buildings. The first objective is to demonstrate an innovative and cost-effective method to generate a BIM, which can be applied to a significant portion of the existing structures in the Department of Defense (DoD) portfolio. This medium-fidelity BIM, focused on operations, provides an information structure to gather and more effectively utilize information about assets in the DoD portfolio. The second objective is to illustrate scalability for both human and automated performance monitoring via adoption of BIM-based standards. The fusion of BIM context, energy metering, and asset-level monitoring can support the rapid identification of chronic and recurring operating inefficiencies, resulting in significant cost savings.

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Technology Description

The technology demonstration to be conducted at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, has three essential elements, which together deliver the standardization and scalability required to enable significant improvements in energy management across the vast and varied DoD portfolio. These elements include:

  • Auto-generation of a medium-fidelity BIM from legacy data involves conversion of 2-D files into a 3-D spatial model of a building, including mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems; elements of structure; and related textual information such as labeling or dimensions embedded in the graphic.
  • Tools to mine identifying elements on control telemetry partially automate the process of discovering and linking relevant telemetry from control systems and associating it with respective BIM elements (equipment and spaces). This enables a data-abstraction layer that provides BIM-consistent normalization over disparate control solutions so that this data may be used in standardized analyses.
  • A set of information-rich visualizations are designed to help the energy analyst quickly identify energy conservation opportunities over a portfolio of buildings and target those with the highest value in terms of energy consumption.

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Benefits

Tools to generate BIM models from 2-D CAD will make it cost effective to extend the benefits of BIM for operations across the portion of the DoD portfolio for which CAD data are available. BIM-standard spatial and mechanical models, in turn, enable faster propagation and easier monitoring of best practices in energy management through automation and visualization, keeping control solutions tuned as designed in those DoD facilities that are anticipated to have advanced control solutions installed. Improved device-level metrics will make it easier to conduct the cost-benefit analysis required to justify further capital investment, such as fast propagation of building automation and other appropriate energy saving technologies. Measuring and sustaining the benefits of additional energy savings measures in a facility, including occupant behavior modification, will allow for swifter and more actionable identification of the root cause when performance drifts away from desired goals. More detailed metrics, which can be related to a BIM-enabled building profile, will lead to improved propagation of best practices between like DoD facilities, particularly those buildings with similar structural and mechanical systems. (Anticipated Project Completion - 2014)

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Points of Contact

Principal Investigator

Ms. Liana Kiff

Honeywell International Inc.

Phone: 763-954-6516

Program Manager

Energy and Water

SERDP and ESTCP

Document Types

  • Fact Sheet - Brief project summary with links to related documents and points of contact.
  • Final Report - Comprehensive report for every completed SERDP and ESTCP project that contains all technical results.
  • Cost & Performance Report - Overview of ESTCP demonstration activities, results, and conclusions, standardized to facilitate implementation decisions.
  • Technical Report - Additional interim reports, laboratory reports, demonstration reports, and technology survey reports.
  • Guidance - Instructional information on technical topics such as protocols and user’s guides.
  • Workshop Report - Summary of workshop discussion and findings.
  • Multimedia - On demand videos, animations, and webcasts highlighting featured initiatives or technologies.
  • Model/Software - Computer programs and applications available for download.
  • Database - Digitally organized collection of data available to search and access.