Chapter 11 - Information technology and the digital transformation of building design

Abstract

As society is continuously embracing Information Technologies (IT) in different fields from everyday life, the construction industry will also be affected by this transformation. With the recent deployment of IT for the construction industry, new opportunities and approaches are being sought to enhance the buildings efficiency, sustainability, and general quality. Among the most recognized IT, Building Information Modelling (BIM) stands out as a major industry change driver. By allowing multi-disciplinary information to be overlaid into a single model, BIM creates an opportunity to incorporate sustainable measures in a project. BIM can act throughout all the building lifecycle, making it an added value for the customer and society. Digitalization impacts will benefit the whole society, with better constructions that consume fewer resources and operate more efficiently. This chapter identifies the current IT applications for the construction industry with focus on BIM method. Current applications, benefits and challenges are identified, as well as software and procedures. Moreover, the integration process of digital technologies to enhance constructions sustainability is analysed, highlighting the impact on project development and quality. Despite the increased use and benefits of IT, current tools and working methods are not properly oriented for sustainability purposes yet. Nevertheless, IT has great potential for sustainable construction, and it is an essential tool for developing high-performance buildings. Main contributions are given during the early project phases, either by providing reliable data for decision-making or to increase process efficiency.