Integrating HBIM and sustainability certification: a pilot study using GBC Historic Building Certification

Abstract

Refurbishing historic buildings to ensure accredited environmental sustainability is increasingly demanded within the AEC industry. GBC Historic Building Certification is a protocol for evaluating sustainable heritage renovation. The certification demands well-organized means, as establishing sustainability without endangering the heritage value implies immense complexity for information management. Building Information Modelling (BIM) offers an integrated approach for managing large amount of data, specifically for heritage as ‘Historic Building Information Modelling’ (HBIM). This study aims to integrate HBIM in GBC Historic Building Certification, giving attention to the first thematic area: ‘Historic Value’. The implementation process focuses on interoperability and data preservation, using the standard for open-data exchange (IFC). The proposal is based on systematic analysis of the GBC requirements. It includes BIM workflow and framework for the first prerequisite, designed to be extendable on the rest of the Certification. The main outcome is an IFC file, the legacy to be reused regardless of project status. The further results are made upstream, in the proprietary software (Autodesk Revit) with information on starting the project, and creating documentation for the first deliverable: “Historic Building identity card”. The process is demonstrated on a case study model — the segment of Paço dos Duques in Guimaraes, Portugal.