Green Level of Information Need: A Framework for Integrating BIM With Building Sustainability Rating Systems

Abstract

Building Sustainability Rating Systems (BSRS) such as US LEED, offer frameworks for encouraging sustainable building practices by certifying environmentally responsible design, construction, and operation, but have always been criticised of being complicated and resource consuming. While in recent years, Building Information Modelling (BIM) has become ubiquitous in the global building industry, and its contributions to sustainable buildings are vast, including energy simulations, life-cycle assessment, and sustainable design support. However, there's an underexplored opportunity in using BIM to facilitate Building Sustainability Rating (BSR). This research explores the integration possibilities of BIM and BSRS. Through literature review, professional community engagement, and expert interviews, the study identifies challenges and barriers to BIM-based BSR. The Green Level of Information Need (GLOIN) framework is developed to integrate BIM data with BSRS requirements, by introducing a new Level of Information (LOI), named as the Green LOI, and dedicated to BSR assessments. This LOI captures all information requirements mandated by US LEED standards within BIM models, drawing from the new international standard ISO 7817. A corresponding computer application is created as a proof-of-concept using Microsoft Visual Studio, Autodesk Revit API, and based on the GLOIN framework principles, which was subsequently tested and validated through a real-life case study. GLOIN offers numerous benefits by linking BIM and BSR, streamlining sustainability assessments and leveraging centralised information through utilising BIM models, to serve as a single, centralised source of BSR information. This approach eliminates ambiguity, confusion, inaccuracies, and outdated information, that BSR process is suffering from. Moreover, BIM models are optimised to include only necessary details for assessment, saving time and resources. This framework enhances the application of BSR by bridging the gap between BSRS and BIM and paves the way for a more sustainable built environment, aligning with the global efforts to address pressing environmental, social and economic challenges.

Date of Award	2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Glasgow Caledonian University
Supervisor	Michael Tong (Supervisor), Nicola Callaghan (Supervisor) & Omar Amoudi (Supervisor)