Adapting Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Sustainable Housing

Abstract

This thesis is a i m e d a t d e t e r m i n i n g if Building Information Modeling (BIM) is an effective means for encouraging stakeholder collaboration throughout the building design/construction process and improving upon sustainable housing. The research methodology includes literature reviews, interviews, case studies, Simulations, and experimentations. Literature reviews include documentation regarding BIM, housing policy, sustainable design strategies, and integrated design practice. I conducted interviews with local stakeholders who had participated in local sustainable housing projects. The primary focus of study is a proposed mixed-use development “Vertical City”; at Lagos island, Lagos Nigeria. Simulations were performed using a BIM software tool to design, test and compare design workflows. Thereafter, experimentation was done involving the instruction of BIM software and exploring its use within an academic design studio environment. The findings indicate four significant conclusions. First, BIM is a tool that makes project information centralized, organized, accessible and long-lasting as it spans various disciplines. In addition, BIM in all its usefulness and relevance is finding it hard to break in properly into the Nigerian design and construction industry because of its steep learning curve. Thirdly, BIM is very useful in computing and quantifying building impacts on energy and resources over time. Lastly, sustainability ideas can be easier to integrate into the BIM workflow, because the software can exchange information between third-party analytical tools. Keywords: sustainability, BIM, Simulations, Design, Software, Work Flow, Mixed Use