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Frontiers of Engineering Management

ISSN 2095-7513

ISSN 2096-0255(Online)

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Front. Eng    2024, Vol. 11 Issue (2) : 269-287    https://doi.org/10.1007/s42524-023-0274-0
Construction Engineering and Intelligent Construction
An integrated framework for automatic green building evaluation: A case study of China
Qiufeng HE1, Zezhou WU1(), Xiangsheng CHEN2
1. State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Geotechnics and Tunnelling, Shenzhen 518060, China; Key Laboratory for Resilient Infrastructures of Coastal Cities (Shenzhen University), Ministry of Education, Shenzhen 518060, China; Sino-Australia Joint Research Centre in BIM and Smart Construction, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Green, Efficient and Intelligent Construction of Underground Metro Station, Shenzhen 518060, China
2. State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Geotechnics and Tunnelling, Shenzhen 518060, China; Key Laboratory for Resilient Infrastructures of Coastal Cities (Shenzhen University), Ministry of Education, Shenzhen 518060, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Green, Efficient and Intelligent Construction of Underground Metro Station, Shenzhen 518060, China
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Abstract

With the burgeoning emphasis on sustainable construction practices in China, the demand for green building assessment has significantly escalated. The overall evaluation process comprises two key components: The acquisition of evaluation data and the evaluation of green scores, both of which entail considerable time and effort. Previous research predominantly concentrated on automating the latter process, often neglecting the exploration of automating the former in accordance with the Chinese green building assessment system. Furthermore, there is a pressing requirement for more streamlined management of structured standard knowledge to facilitate broader dissemination. In response to these challenges, this paper presents a conceptual framework that integrates building information modeling, ontology, and web map services to augment the efficiency of the overall evaluation process and the management of standard knowledge. More specifically, in accordance with the Assessment Standard for Green Building (GB/T 50378-2019) in China, this study innovatively employs visual programming software, Dynamo in Autodesk Revit, and the application programming interface of web map services to expedite the acquisition of essential architectural data and geographic information for green building assessment. Subsequently, ontology technology is harnessed to visualize the management of standard knowledge related to green building assessment and to enable the derivation of green scores through logical reasoning. Ultimately, a residential building is employed as a case study to validate the theoretical and technical feasibility of the developed automated evaluation conceptual framework for green buildings. The research findings hold valuable utility in providing a self-assessment method for applicants in the field.

Keywords automatic evaluation      green building      BIM      web map service      ontology inference application     
Corresponding Author(s): Zezhou WU   
Just Accepted Date: 28 December 2023   Online First Date: 05 February 2024    Issue Date: 26 June 2024
 Cite this article:   
Qiufeng HE,Zezhou WU,Xiangsheng CHEN. An integrated framework for automatic green building evaluation: A case study of China[J]. Front. Eng, 2024, 11(2): 269-287.
 URL:  
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fem/EN/10.1007/s42524-023-0274-0
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fem/EN/Y2024/V11/I2/269
Evaluation systems Initial implementation time Region of origin
BREEAM 1990 United Kingdom
LEED 1998 United States
CASBEE 2002 Japan
Green Star 2003 Australia
Green Mark 2005 Singapore
ASGB 2006 China
DGNB 2007 Germany
BSAM scheme 2019 sub-Saharan African countries
Tab.1  Mainstream green building evaluation system in the world
Reference Evaluation system and credit category Country Credit category for automatic evaluation
Nguyen et al. (2016) LEED v4
• Materials and resources
• Location and transportation
• Sustainable sites
• Water efficiency
• Energy and atmosphere
• Indoor environmental quality
• Innovation in design
• Regional priority
United States • Location and transportation
Abdelalim and Abo.elsaud (2019) LEED v4
• Materials and resources
• Location and transportation
• Sustainable sites
• Water efficiency
• Energy and atmosphere
• Indoor environmental quality
• Innovation in design
• Regional priority
United States • Location and transportation
• Sustainable sites
Olawumi and Chan (2021) BSAM scheme
• Sustainable construction practices
• Site and ecology
• Energy
• Water
• Material and waste
• Transportation
• Indoor environmental quality
• Building management
Nigeria • Sustainable construction practices
• Site and ecology
• Energy
Ilhan and Yaman (2016) BREEAM Europe Commercial 2009
• Management
• Health and wellbeing
• Energy
• Transport
• Water
• Materials
• Waste
• Land use and ecology
• Pollution
United Kingdom • Materials
Jiang et al. (2018) ASGB (GB/T 50378-2014)
• Land saving and land utilization
• Energy saving and energy resource utilization
• Water saving and water resource utilization
• Material saving and material resource utilization
• Indoor air quality
• Construction management
• Operation management
China • Land saving and land utilization
Chen and Nguyen (2017) LEED for New Construction v2009
• Materials and resources
• Location and transportation
• Sustainable sites
• Water efficiency
• Energy and atmosphere
• Indoor environmental quality
• Innovation in design
• Regional priority
United States • Location and transportation
Jalaei et al. (2020) LEED v4
• Materials and resources
• Location and transportation
• Sustainable sites
• Water efficiency
• Energy and atmosphere
• Indoor environmental quality
• Innovation in design
• Regional priority
United States • Materials and resources
• Location and transportation
• Sustainable sites
• Water efficiency
• Energy and atmosphere
• Indoor environmental quality
• Innovation in design
• Regional priority
Tab.2  Research on automatic evaluation for green buildings
Fig.1  The conceptual framework for the automatic evaluation of green buildings.
Fig.2  BIM model parameter data extraction process based on Dynamo.
Fig.3  Design structure for the geographic data collection platform.
Class Definition for class Subclass Definition for subclasses
EvaluatedBuildingType Type of building evaluated PublicBuilding The type of building evaluated is a public building
ResidentialBuilding The type of building evaluated is a residential building
EvaluationProvision Evaluation items of ASGB EvaluationControl Prerequisite items
EvaluationScore Scoring items
EvaluationType Evaluation at different stages of construction PreAssessment Evaluate prior to construction
PostAssessment Evaluate the building after one year of operation
Tab.3  Established classes for ASGB
Fig.4  BIM models of the case building.
Fig.5  Visualization of the evaluation index data based on BIM.
Fig.6  Visual programming on the Dynamo platform to collect evaluation data.
Fig.7  The platform used to retrieve the evaluation data for WMS items.
Fig.8  Evaluation data acquisition results in APP for Clause 6.1.2 and Clause 6.2.1.1.
Number of items Number of results required in the clause Evaluation data
6.1.2 1 224
6.2.1.1 1 975
6.2.1.2 2 708, 2000
6.2.3.1 1 572
6.2.3.2 1 1357
6.2.3.3 1 2000
6.2.3.4 1 1264
6.2.3.5 1 1915
6.2.3.6 1 1003
6.2.3.7 3 210, 315, 273
6.2.4.1 1 1407
6.2.4.2 1 2000
Tab.4  Evaluation data for WMS items
Fig.9  Ontology model.
Fig.10  SWRL rules.
Fig.11  Modify the data attribute of instance es6_2_4_1.
Fig.12  Ontology inference.
Fig.13  Green score of case building.
Number of items Evaluation object Evaluation index Data acquisition method LOD
6.1.1 Walking system Features of accessibility Visual viewing 300
6.1.3 Car parking space Barrier-free car parking space proportion Dynamo based development 300
6.1.5 Equipment management system Automatic monitoring and management functions Dynamo based development 300
6.1.6 Information network system Equipped with this system Visual viewing 200
6.2.2.1 Public road or place Barrier-free Visual viewing 300
6.2.2.2 Wall or column Rounded Visual viewing 300
6.2.2.3 Elevator Stretcher-capable and barrier-free Dynamo based development 300
6.2.3.2.1 Conference facilities or fitness facilities Serving the public Dynamo based development 400
6.2.3.2.2 Library, stadium, or parking space Serving the public Dynamo based development 300
6.2.3.2.3 Parking spaces with charging points Quantity Dynamo based development 300
6.2.3.2.5 Grounds or public walkways Serving the public Dynamo based development 400
6.2.5.1 Outdoor fitness venue Area Dynamo based development 300
6.2.5.2 Fitness lane Width and circumference Dynamo based development 300
6.2.5.3 Indoor fitness venue Area Dynamo based development 300
6.2.5.4 Stairwell Distance Dynamo based development 400
6.2.6 Energy management system Use energy automatic remote transmission function and energy consumption monitoring, analysis, and management functions Visual viewing 400
6.2.7 Air quality monitoring system Monitor PM10, PM2.5, CO2 function and store monitoring data function and real-time display Dynamo based development 400
6.2.8.1 Water remote metering system Classification, grading record, and statistical analysis of various water use functions Dynamo based development 400
6.2.8.2 Water remote metering system Automatic monitoring, analysis and rectification functions Dynamo based development 400
6.2.8.3 Water quality monitoring system Monitor the water quality and save the results Dynamo based development 500
6.2.9.1 Intelligent service system Alarm, monitoring and control functions Dynamo based development 400
6.2.9.2 Intelligent service system Remote monitoring function Dynamo based development 400
6.2.9.3 Intelligent service system Access smart city functions Dynamo based development 400
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