User-Centric BIM-Based Framework for HVAC Root-Cause Detection
In the building operation phase, the Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) equipment are the main contributors to excessive energy consumption unless proper design and maintenance is carried out. Moreover, HVAC problems might have an impact on occupants’ discomfort in thermal comfort. He...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Energies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/10/3674 |
| _version_ | 1797500194487533568 |
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| author | Hamidreza Alavi Nuria Forcada |
| author_facet | Hamidreza Alavi Nuria Forcada |
| author_sort | Hamidreza Alavi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the building operation phase, the Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) equipment are the main contributors to excessive energy consumption unless proper design and maintenance is carried out. Moreover, HVAC problems might have an impact on occupants’ discomfort in thermal comfort. Hence, the identification of the root cause of HVAC problems is imperative for facility managers to plan preventive and corrective maintenance actions. However, due to the complex interaction between various equipment and the lack of data integration among Facility Management (FM) systems, they fail to provide necessary information to identify the root cause of HVAC problems. Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a potential solution for maintenance activities to address the challenges of information reliability and interoperability. Therefore, this paper presents a novel conceptual model and user-centric framework to determine the causes of HVAC problems implemented in BIM for its visualization. CMMS and BMS data were integrated into BIM and utilized by the framework to analyze the root cause of HVAC problems. A case study in a university building was used to demonstrate the applicability of the approach. This framework assists the FM team to determine the most probable cause of an HVAC problem, reducing the time to detect equipment faults, and providing potential actions to solve them. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:58:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c2feb76c415b49f6a59a38b617ec5874 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:58:22Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-c2feb76c415b49f6a59a38b617ec58742023-11-23T10:51:30ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732022-05-011510367410.3390/en15103674User-Centric BIM-Based Framework for HVAC Root-Cause DetectionHamidreza Alavi0Nuria Forcada1Group of Construction Research and Innovation (GRIC), Department of Project and Construction Engineering (DPCE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Colom, 11, Ed. TR5, 08222 Terrassa, Barcelona, SpainGroup of Construction Research and Innovation (GRIC), Department of Project and Construction Engineering (DPCE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Colom, 11, Ed. TR5, 08222 Terrassa, Barcelona, SpainIn the building operation phase, the Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) equipment are the main contributors to excessive energy consumption unless proper design and maintenance is carried out. Moreover, HVAC problems might have an impact on occupants’ discomfort in thermal comfort. Hence, the identification of the root cause of HVAC problems is imperative for facility managers to plan preventive and corrective maintenance actions. However, due to the complex interaction between various equipment and the lack of data integration among Facility Management (FM) systems, they fail to provide necessary information to identify the root cause of HVAC problems. Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a potential solution for maintenance activities to address the challenges of information reliability and interoperability. Therefore, this paper presents a novel conceptual model and user-centric framework to determine the causes of HVAC problems implemented in BIM for its visualization. CMMS and BMS data were integrated into BIM and utilized by the framework to analyze the root cause of HVAC problems. A case study in a university building was used to demonstrate the applicability of the approach. This framework assists the FM team to determine the most probable cause of an HVAC problem, reducing the time to detect equipment faults, and providing potential actions to solve them.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/10/3674building information modellingmaintenance managementoperation and maintenanceHVAC systemfacility managementdecision making |
| spellingShingle | Hamidreza Alavi Nuria Forcada User-Centric BIM-Based Framework for HVAC Root-Cause Detection Energies building information modelling maintenance management operation and maintenance HVAC system facility management decision making |
| title | User-Centric BIM-Based Framework for HVAC Root-Cause Detection |
| title_full | User-Centric BIM-Based Framework for HVAC Root-Cause Detection |
| title_fullStr | User-Centric BIM-Based Framework for HVAC Root-Cause Detection |
| title_full_unstemmed | User-Centric BIM-Based Framework for HVAC Root-Cause Detection |
| title_short | User-Centric BIM-Based Framework for HVAC Root-Cause Detection |
| title_sort | user centric bim based framework for hvac root cause detection |
| topic | building information modelling maintenance management operation and maintenance HVAC system facility management decision making |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/10/3674 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hamidrezaalavi usercentricbimbasedframeworkforhvacrootcausedetection AT nuriaforcada usercentricbimbasedframeworkforhvacrootcausedetection |