Advancing Cost Estimation Through BIM Development: Focus on Energy-Related Data Associated with IFC Elements
Achieving cost-effective energy performance while meeting sustainability goals is a challenge in retrofitting decisions within the construction industry. To enhance the decision-making process, this study introduces an IFC-based approach that integrates cost estimation and energy analysis directly w...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/14/7814 |
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| author | Maryam Gholamzadehmir Jacopo Cassandro Claudio Mirarchi Alberto Pavan |
| author_facet | Maryam Gholamzadehmir Jacopo Cassandro Claudio Mirarchi Alberto Pavan |
| author_sort | Maryam Gholamzadehmir |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Achieving cost-effective energy performance while meeting sustainability goals is a challenge in retrofitting decisions within the construction industry. To enhance the decision-making process, this study introduces an IFC-based approach that integrates cost estimation and energy analysis directly within BIM. This approach supports more structured and data-informed retrofit planning by structuring cost and energy data within a semi-automated IFC-based workflow. The methodology follows a structured approach that includes three phases. The first focuses on developing a BIM model that captures the physical and semantic attributes of an existing building. This is followed by parametric energy simulations to evaluate retrofit scenarios, with cost data integrated and energy analysis reports linked to IFC elements. The final phase involves a post-retrofit cost assessment to identify the optimal scenario based on total cost, with potential for extension to other performance indicators. The framework was applied in a residential case study to evaluate the model’s functionality. The results show that IFC-based integration improves transparency, interoperability, and reliability in cost–energy assessments. By structuring data as linked IFC entities, the approach enhances BIM’s role as a decision-support tool for sustainable and economically efficient retrofitting. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-34f8a5232b1b455b9b6a729641d0263e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-34f8a5232b1b455b9b6a729641d0263e2025-08-20T03:35:36ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-07-011514781410.3390/app15147814Advancing Cost Estimation Through BIM Development: Focus on Energy-Related Data Associated with IFC ElementsMaryam Gholamzadehmir0Jacopo Cassandro1Claudio Mirarchi2Alberto Pavan3Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milano, ItalyDepartment of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milano, ItalyDepartment of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milano, ItalyDepartment of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milano, ItalyAchieving cost-effective energy performance while meeting sustainability goals is a challenge in retrofitting decisions within the construction industry. To enhance the decision-making process, this study introduces an IFC-based approach that integrates cost estimation and energy analysis directly within BIM. This approach supports more structured and data-informed retrofit planning by structuring cost and energy data within a semi-automated IFC-based workflow. The methodology follows a structured approach that includes three phases. The first focuses on developing a BIM model that captures the physical and semantic attributes of an existing building. This is followed by parametric energy simulations to evaluate retrofit scenarios, with cost data integrated and energy analysis reports linked to IFC elements. The final phase involves a post-retrofit cost assessment to identify the optimal scenario based on total cost, with potential for extension to other performance indicators. The framework was applied in a residential case study to evaluate the model’s functionality. The results show that IFC-based integration improves transparency, interoperability, and reliability in cost–energy assessments. By structuring data as linked IFC entities, the approach enhances BIM’s role as a decision-support tool for sustainable and economically efficient retrofitting.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/14/7814BIMIFC schemacost integrationenergy retrofittingsemantic data modeling |
| spellingShingle | Maryam Gholamzadehmir Jacopo Cassandro Claudio Mirarchi Alberto Pavan Advancing Cost Estimation Through BIM Development: Focus on Energy-Related Data Associated with IFC Elements Applied Sciences BIM IFC schema cost integration energy retrofitting semantic data modeling |
| title | Advancing Cost Estimation Through BIM Development: Focus on Energy-Related Data Associated with IFC Elements |
| title_full | Advancing Cost Estimation Through BIM Development: Focus on Energy-Related Data Associated with IFC Elements |
| title_fullStr | Advancing Cost Estimation Through BIM Development: Focus on Energy-Related Data Associated with IFC Elements |
| title_full_unstemmed | Advancing Cost Estimation Through BIM Development: Focus on Energy-Related Data Associated with IFC Elements |
| title_short | Advancing Cost Estimation Through BIM Development: Focus on Energy-Related Data Associated with IFC Elements |
| title_sort | advancing cost estimation through bim development focus on energy related data associated with ifc elements |
| topic | BIM IFC schema cost integration energy retrofitting semantic data modeling |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/14/7814 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT maryamgholamzadehmir advancingcostestimationthroughbimdevelopmentfocusonenergyrelateddataassociatedwithifcelements AT jacopocassandro advancingcostestimationthroughbimdevelopmentfocusonenergyrelateddataassociatedwithifcelements AT claudiomirarchi advancingcostestimationthroughbimdevelopmentfocusonenergyrelateddataassociatedwithifcelements AT albertopavan advancingcostestimationthroughbimdevelopmentfocusonenergyrelateddataassociatedwithifcelements |