Ensuring building performance through simulation

This presentation highlights multi-faceted decision-making concepts for facility design and construction and identifies opportunities for the use of a building information model (BIM) for simulating the facility lifecycle, from design, through construction and after handoff to the owner and occupant. Whether it is the architect, engineer or other team member on the project, having the authoritative source provide design and functional information into a BIM allows the facility owner to better understand how the facility will function prior to construction and ensure optimum functionality after occupancy. With a BIM, owners will be able to understand the cost of design decisions on operations on an annual basis for the life of the facility. A BIM life-cycle-based simulation of facilities provides the predictive information necessary to profoundly improve the way a facility is built and operated because everyone involved in the process can work according to a plan defined prior to construction.