O conceito de desempenho na construção civil está, há muitos anos, associado ao comportamento em uso nas edificações, dentro de determinadas condições. O desafio mundial é que este comportamento atenda às expectativas dos usuários das edificações ao longo de uma determinada vida útil e dentro da realidade técnica e socioeconômica de cada país e empreendimento. Apesar do conceito de desempenho estar consolidado no meio acadêmico, sua aplicação prática é bastante difícil e envolve muitos conflitos de interesses. No caso brasileiro, com o grande crescimento que o mercado da construção civil experimenta neste momento, e com a publicação da primeira Norma Brasileira de Desempenho de Edificações, prevista para 2008, é oportuno que haja uma reflexão sobre como atendê-la e utilizá-la, além do próprio conceito de desempenho em beneficio de todos os agentes do setor. A proposta desta dissertação de mestrado é fazer uma pesquisa abrangente sobre a evolução conceitual do tema desempenho na construção civil, demonstrar a importância estratégica da sua aplicação no Brasil para a evolução do setor, e propor caminhos para a efetiva utilização da norma brasileira de desempenho de edificações. / The performance concept in building has been, for many years, associated with the behaviour in use of buildings, within certain conditions. The global challenge is to make this behaviour meet the users expectations throughout a specific service life and within the technical and socioeconomic reality of each country or site. Although the performance concept is already consolidated in the academic world, its practical application is very difficult and involves many conflicts of interest. In the Brazilian scenario, with the large growth experienced by the building construction segment at this moment, and with the upcoming publication of the first Brazilian Performance Based Building Code in 2008, it is convenient to establish a reflection on how to meet and use this code and its own performance concept to the advantage of all players in the business. The proposal of this Masters Dissertation is to provide a broad research on the conceptual evolution of the performance-based theme in building; to demonstrate its strategic importance of this application in Brazil for the evolution of the sector; and to propose a path for the effective use of the Brazilian performance-based building code.

Submitted by Mariana Dornelles Vargas (marianadv) on 2015-05-04T18:55:37Z No. of bitstreams: 1 comparativo_entre.pdf: 2985518 bytes, checksum: 274b00d27285bbb7a0cd3424d1c01553 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-04T18:55:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 comparativo_entre.pdf: 2985518 bytes, checksum: 274b00d27285bbb7a0cd3424d1c01553 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-06-13 / PROSUP - Programa de Suporte à Pós-Gradução de Instituições de Ensino Particulares / No setor da construção civil, a preocupação com o desempenho é uma tendência mundial. Na Europa é comum o uso de leis, normas ou códigos baseados no conceito de desempenho. O Código Técnico das Edificações (CTE) da Espanha pode ser citado como um exemplo relativamente bem sucedido. Em vigor desde 2007, o CTE é considerado um marco regulamentar, que estabelece novas disposições aplicáveis às edificações, seu desempenho e durabilidade. No Brasil, em 2008, foi proposta a NBR 15.575/2008, sob o título geral de Edifícios habitacionais de até cinco pavimentos Desempenho, prevista para entrar em vigor até 2012. Porém, as iniciativas de utilização da Norma ainda são incipientes. Esse trabalho tem foco na implantação da referida Norma, por entender a implantação como um processo altamente complexo e desafiante, tendo em vista a abrangência multidisciplinar da NBR 15.575/2008, requerendo envolvimento e esforço dos diferentes agentes do setor da construção. Assim, o objetivo desse trabalho é comparar a implantação da NBR 15.575/2008, com o processo de implantação do CTE. O trabalho é fundamentado na análise das duas normas e em entrevistas com arquitetos realizadas na cidade de Logroño, Espanha, e engenheiros civis e arquitetos de empresas construtoras das cidades de Porto Alegre e São Leopoldo, RS, para entender como foi a implantação do CTE e como esse código e a NBR 15.575/2008 estão sendo utilizados por profissionais. Como contribuição, o trabalho aponta algumas estratégias utilizadas na implantação do CTE poderiam ser consideradas no Brasil tais como a implantação gradual, a oportunidade para reavaliação de normas em vigor, a criação de agenda para divulgação da Norma, a criação de meio de comunicação entre responsáveis pela Norma e usuários, necessidade de um programa de divulgação para os principais fornecedores, necessidade de adequação de laboratórios, realização de cursos para projetistas e a consideração de parâmetros da NBR 15.575/2008 por códigos de obras. / In the construction industry, the concern with performance is a worldwide trend. In Europe it is common to use laws, rules or codes based on the concept of performance. The Technical Code of Buildings (CTE) of Spain is often cited as an example of relatively successful. I effect since 2007, the CTE is considered a landmark legislation, which establishes new provisions to the buildings, their performance and durability. In Brazil, in 2008, the NBR 15.575/2008 was proposed under the general heading of buildings housing up to five floors - Performance, expected to come into force until 2012. However, the use of standard initiatives are still incipient. This work focuses on the implementation of that rule because it believes the deployment as a highly complex and challenging, in view of the multidisciplinary approach of NBR 15.575/2008, requiring commitment and effort of different actors in the construction sector. Thus, our objective is to contribute to the implementation of NBR 15.575/2008, based on the implementation process of the CTE. The work is based on analysis of the two standards and conducted interviews with architects in the city of Logrono, Spain engineers and architects and construction companies in the cities of Porto Alegre and São Leopoldo - RS to understand how was the implementation of CTE and how this code and NBR 15.575/2008 are being used by professionals. As a contribution to the implementation of NBR 15.575/2008 the work points, the gradual implementation, the opportunity for a reappraisal of current standards, the creation of agenda for dissemination of the Standard, the creation of means of communication between those responsible for Standard and users need a program dissemination to key suppliers need to adapt laboratory, conducting courses for designers and consideration of parameters of NBR 15.575/2008 by building codes.

As the architecture and construction industry places an increased emphasis on sustainability, building researchers are seeking more comprehensive methods to evaluate and reduce a building's environmental impacts. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has emerged as one of the most capable tools to aid in this assessment. Presently there are no guiding principles for the use of LCA in the building industry. This thesis aims to provide guidelines to help architects utilize LCA methodology as part of the design process. This study reviews a number of previously-completed whole-building LCA case-studies to understand different LCA scenarios of use in the building industry. In addition, a set of North American and international LCA tools were evaluated for their utility in different scenarios. The state of research was assessed to find answers to some critical issues concerning LCA. Based on these analyses, a number of scenarios of use of LCA were identified and a set of guidelines was proposed to conduct LCA for buildings. It was concluded that the present use of LCA is limited due to limited tool capabilities, deficient databases and lack of a building-specific methodology. The study recognizes these limitations and recommends specific research opportunities for future researchers. However, it is concluded that approximate LCA results obtained from the tools available today can be useful in informing design-decisions, keeping in mind the lack of precision in the results.

This research explores the barriers and limitations of the interaction between building development processes in an attempt of an integrated decision support approach to improve building design for effective maintenance in the field of office building automation. Extensive coverage of literature and practice in office building industry over the last two decades indicates a wide diffusion and application of the information and communication technologies (ICT). While this has resulted in the adoption of advanced system integration in buildings, system redundancy and excessive expenditures are causing a major impact on the overall efficiency and has burdened building owners and occupiers with escalating maintenance costs. This phenomenon stimulates and warrants the re-examination of integrated building development, not just on system integration but also on the interdisciplinary development process integration particularly linking design and maintenance. Studies in this field revealed existing problems such as the inherent professional fragmentation, lack of historical information and service data, the first cost mentality of owners and developers, difficulties in forecasting future conditions and changes early in the design stage. With extensive use of qualitative information, this situation presents a great potential for the development of a decision support system exploring the communication and integration of design and maintenance phases, which has been one of the primary objectives of this research. In addition to literature studies, a questionnaire survey and a case study to identify industry concerns, feasible solutions, and practical procedure oriented approaches through knowledge extractions were carried out. A set of guidelines, a checklist for its implementation and prototype system for computerized decision support to design and maintenance of building automation systems were also produced. These strategic approaches to balance design and maintenance will help facilitate appropriate decision making in the early design stage for sustainable maintenance of buildings.

The energy used in non-domestic buildings accounts for 18 % of the energy use in the UK. Within the non-domestic building stock, 11 % of office buildings have a very high influence on the energy use. Thus, the retrofit of office buildings has a significant potential for energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions reduction within the non-domestic building stock. However, the replacement rate of existing buildings by new-build is only around 1-3 % per annum. Post-war office buildings, (built between 1945 and 1985) represent a promising sector for retrofit and energy demand reduction. They have disproportionately high energy consumption because many were built before the building regulations addressed thermal performance. The aim of the research is to evaluate the retrofit strategies for post-war office buildings accounting for the improved energy efficiency, thermal comfort and hence, productivity, capital and the running costs. The research seeks to provide the optimal generic retrofit strategies and illustrate sophisticated methods which will be the basis for guidelines about post-war office building retrofit. For this, multiple combinations of heating and cooling retrofit measures were applied to representative models (Exemplar) of post-war office buildings using dynamic thermal simulation modelling. The retrofit strategies include; applying envelope retrofit to UK Building Regulations Part L2B and The Passivhaus Institue EnerPHit standards for heating demand reduction and winter comfort. Passive cooling interventions such as shading devices and night ventilation and active cooling intervention such as mixed-mode ventilation were applied to overcome summer overheating. All retrofit combinations were evaluated considering future climate, inner and outer city locations and different orientations. In summary, the results showed that under current weather conditions Part L2B standard retrofit with passive cooling provided the optimum solution. In 2050, however, both Part L2B retrofit naturally ventilated cases with the passive cooling measures and EnerPHit retrofit mixed-mode ventilation cases provide the requisite thermal comfort and result in a similar range of energy consumption. It was concluded that to create generic retrofit solutions which could be applied to a given typology within the building stock is possible. The methodology and the Exemplar model could be used in future projects by decision-makers and the findings and analysis of the simulations could be taken as guidance for the widespread retrofit of post-war office buildings.

Orientador: Vanessa Gomes da Silva / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Civil, Arquitetura e Urbanismo / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-09T17:54:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Delbin_Simone_M.pdf: 10464476 bytes, checksum: 61cbf976e94f0f8bce337aa955688411 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: Nos cursos de graduação de Arquitetura e Urbanismo no Brasil, conforto ambiental, eficiência energética e projeto arquitetônico são normalmente tratados como áreas distintas de conhecimento, o que se reflete na qualidade ambiental e no consumo energético dos ambientes construídos. Fica clara então a necessidade de inserção de alguma ferramenta ou método que possa ser aplicado em ensino e acabe com a lacuna entre tópicos teóricos de conforto ambiental e a prática de projeto. Como uma tentativa de mudar este quadro, propõe-se um método de ensino de simulação de conforto ambiental de edifícios que possa ser utilizado em cursos graduação em Arquitetura e Urbanismo. O primeiro passo do trabalho foi selecionar uma ferramenta adequada à simulação de conforto térmico e eficiência energética para as primeiras fases de projeto e de fácil utilização em ensino. Adaptou-se a metodologia de projeto típica para utilização em ensino. Um arquivo climático para Campinas foi então selecionado. Como pré-teste, foi realizado um experimento com alunos do curso de graduação em Arquitetura e Urbanismo da Unicamp. Os projetos elaborados pelos alunos durante uma disciplina de projeto foram simulados como em uma consultoria. Os alunos envolvidos no experimento foram acompanhados durante a disciplina de projeto seguinte. Uma disciplina dedicada à utilização de uma ferramenta de simulação foi elaborada, com base em estudos de outras metodologias de ensino de simulação. A disciplina foi oferecida como eletiva aos alunos da graduação do curso de Arquitetura e Urbanismo da Unicamp, a fim de testar a resposta dos alunos à ferramenta e de definir o melhor momento para inserção no currículo. A disciplina foi dividida em dois blocos: o primeiro, revisou conceitos de conforto e os introduziu no contexto do programa de simulação previamente selecionado (ECOTECT). Além disso, foram apresentados os fundamentos da metodologia de simulação (simplificação do modelo, zoneamento do edifício e etapas do processo de simulação). Neste período, os alunos desenvolveram pequenas simulações a cada aula. No segundo bloco de aulas, os alunos realizaram duas simulações mais complexas. Os resultados desta disciplina demonstram que os alunos aprenderam os comandos do programa com facilidade, porém prevalece alguma dificuldade com a simplificação do modelo e escolha dos materiais construtivos. A disciplina de simulação próxima ou no mesmo semestre que a primeira disciplina de conforto térmico, pode auxiliar na fixação do conteúdo aprendido e na utilização de simuladores nas disciplinas seguintes de conforto, maximizando o benefício de utilização destas ferramentas de projeto / Abstract: In architectural design teaching at undergraduate fevel in Brazil, environmental comfort and energy efficiency have been traditionally kept as separate knowledge domains, which reflect on the poor quality and high consumption of the built environment. It is proved then the necessity of insertion of a methodology or tools to be applied in education. As a way to overcome these problems, this research aims to establish a building simulation teaching methodology. Building simulation provides better design solutions and outcomes in energy efficiency designo Besldes, it consolidates the acquired knowledge and test concepts on student's designs. As a first step for the development of this research a tool was selected, then the typical simulation methodology was adapted for teaching purposes. A climatic data file for Campinas was also selected. As a preparation, an experimental research was carried out in the specific design discipline dedicated to thermal comfort and bio-climatic architecture. Students had their design similated in a consultancy formal The students involvedin the experiment were followed in the next design studio. The first outcome showed that a computerized design studio is necessary for this issue. A discipline dedicated to teaching building simulation was elaborated based on traditional building simulation teaching methodology. It was offered as an elective discipline to undergraduate students of the Architectural course at Unicamp, as a way to test students with the simulation toei afld to define when to introduce simulation into the curriculum. Students enrolled in the simulation course were interested in learning practical methods to analyze their projects. The course was based on two major blocks. The first one revisedcomfort subjects and also introduced students to the previous selected simulation toei (ECOTECT) and the simulation methodology (modeling, zoning, steps of the simulation process). In this period, students carried out simple simulations in each dass. During the second block they developed two more complex simulations. The results of this course indicated that students learned easily how to operate the simulation tool, but did not internaHze comfort concept and therefore had some difficulty on handling model simplification and choosing material data. A major reason appears to be lack of request implementation of comfort concepts in subsequent design studios. The simulation course should be at the same semester students are exposed to comfort concepts, or very dose to it. These way students would be capable of using the toei to help on learning comfort issues, and also use it in the following comfort disciplines / Mestrado / Edificações / Mestre em Engenharia Civil

Building performance simulation (BPS) tools are significant and helpful during all design stages, especially during the early ones. However, there are obstacles to the full implementation and use of such tools, causing them not to become an effective part of the design process. In order to overcome this barrier, this research is presented, with the creation of regression models (meta-models) that allow to predict the discomfort by heat and/or by cold in a Brazilian low-cost house (LCH) in three distinct bioclimatic zones in Brazil, represented by the cities of Curitiba/PR, São Paulo/SP and Manaus/AM. The focus of this work was to analyze the impact of solar incidence and shading devices on thermal comfort by applying the meta-models. The method consisted in a) collecting data from projects referring to the type of building aforementioned to aid in the creation of the base model; b) definition of the key parameters and their ranges to be varied; c) simulations run on EnergyPlus using the Monte Carlo method to randomly create parameters combinations within their defined ranges; d) regression analysis and metamodels elaboration, followed by their validation with reliability tests; and lastly, e) a case study, consisting in applying the meta-models to a standard LCH to verify the impact of shading devices in a unit in regards to thermal comfort and the their potential as support tool in the design process. In general, all R2 values for the meta-models were above 0.95, except for the ones for São Paulo and Curitiba for discomfort by heat, 0.74 and 0.61, respectively. In regards to the case study, the meta-models predicted a decrease of approximately 50% in discomfort by heat for Manaus when a given combination of orientation, quantity and size of the devices was used. For the remaining locations, the meta-models predicting discomfort by heat and by cold require further investigation to properly assess some unexpected predictions and the meta-models sensitivity to the parameters related to shading devices. / Ferramentas de simulação computacional são importantes e uteis durante todas as etapas de projeto, especialmente durante as iniciais. No entanto. Há obstáculos para a completa implementação e uso de tais ferramentas, fazendo com que não sejam uma parte efetiva do processo de projeto. Para superar esta barreira, esta pesquisa é apresentada, com a criação de modelos de regressão (meta-modelos) que permitem a predição do desconforto por frio e/ou por calor em uma habitação de interesse social (HIS) no Brasil em três zonas bioclimáticas, representadas pelas cidades de Curitiba/PR, São Paulo/SP e Manaus/AM. O foco deste trabalho foi analisar o impacto da incidência solar e das proteções solares no conforto térmico utilizando os meta-modelos. O método consistiu em a) coletar dados referentes ao tipo de edifício mencionado para auxiliar na criação do modelo de base; b) a definição dos parâmetros chave e suas faixas de variação; c) simulações no EnergyPlus usando o método de Monte Carlo para aleatoriamente combinar valores de parâmetros dentro de suas faixas; d) análise de regressão e elaboração dos meta-modelos, seguida da validação dos mesmos por testes de confiabilidade; e por fim, e) um estudo de caso, consistindo na aplicação dos meta-modelos a uma HIS padrão para verificar o impacto das proteções solares em uma unidade em relação ao conforto térmico da mesma, assim como o potencial dos meta-modelos em serem utilizados como uma ferramenta de auxílio nas fases iniciais de projeto. No geral, todos os valores de R2 foram acima de 0.95, exceto para os meta-modelos de São Paulo e Curitiba para desconforto por calor, com 0.74 e 0.61, respectivamente. Em relação ao estudo de caso, os meta-modelos previram uma queda de aproximadamente 50% no desconforto por calor para Manaus, dada uma combinação entre orientação, quantidade e dimensão das proteções. Para as demais localidades, os meta-modelos prevendo desconforto por frio e por calor requerem maiores estudos para avaliar predições inesperadas e a sensibilidade dos meta-modelos em relação aos parâmetros de proteções solares.

<div>Currently, people in North America spend roughly 90% of their time indoors. Therefore, it is important to create comfortable, healthy, and productive indoor environments for the occupants. Unfortunately, our resulting indoor environments are still very poor, especially in multi-occupant rooms. In addition, energy consumption in residential and commercial buildings by HVAC systems and lighting accounts for about 41% of primary energy use in the US. However, the current methods for simulating building energy consumption are often not accurate, and various types of occupant behavior may explain this inaccuracy.</div><div>This study first developed artificial neural network models for predicting thermal comfort and occupant behavior in indoor environments. The models were trained by data on indoor environmental parameters, thermal sensations, and occupant behavior collected in ten offices and ten houses/apartments. The models were able to predict similar acceptable air temperature ranges in offices, from 20.6 °C to 25 °C in winter and from 20.6 °C to 25.6 °C in summer. We also found that the comfortable air temperature in the residences was 1.7 °C lower than that in the offices in winter, and 1.7 °C higher in summer. The reason for this difference may be that the occupants of the houses/apartments were responsible for paying their energy bills. The comfort zone obtained by the ANN model using thermal sensations in the ten offices was narrower than the comfort zone in ASHRAE Standard 55, but that using behaviors was wider.</div><div>Then this study used the EnergyPlus program to simulate the energy consumption of HVAC systems in office buildings. Measured energy data were used to validate the simulated results. When using the collected behavior from the offices, the difference between the simulated results and the measured data was less than 13%. When a behavioral ANN model was implemented in the energy simulation, the simulation performed similarly. However, energy simulation using constant thermostat set point without considering occupant behavior was not accurate. Further simulations demonstrated that adjusting the thermostat set point and the clothing could lead to a 25% variation in energy use in interior offices and 15% in exterior offices. Finally, energy consumption could be reduced by 30% with thermostat setback control and 70% with occupancy control.</div><div>Because of many contextual factors, most previous studies have built data-driven behavior models with limited scalability and generalization capability. This investigation built a policy-based reinforcement learning (RL) model for the behavior of adjusting the thermostat and clothing level. We used Q-learning to train the model and validated with collected data. After training, the model predicted the behavior with R2 from 0.75 to 0.80 in an office building. This study also transferred the behavior knowledge of the RL model to other office buildings with different HVAC control systems. The transfer learning model predicted with R2 from 0.73 to 0.80. Going from office buildings to residential buildings, the transfer learning model also had an R2 over 0.60. Therefore, the RL model combined with transfer learning was able to predict the building occupant behavior accurately with good scalability, and without the need for data collection.<br></div><div><div>Unsuitable thermostat settings lead to energy waste and an undesirable indoor environment, especially in multi-occupant rooms. This study aimed to develop an HVAC control strategy in multi-occupant offices using physiological parameters measured by wristbands. We used an ANN model to predict thermal sensation from air temperature, relative humidity, clothing level, wrist skin temperature, skin relative humidity and heart rate. Next, we developed a control strategy to improve the thermal comfort of all the occupants in the room. The control system was smart and could adjust the thermostat set point automatically in real time. We improved the occupants’ thermal comfort level that over half of the occupants reported feeling neutral, and fewer than 5% still felt uncomfortable. After coupling with occupancy-based control by means of lighting sensors or wristband Bluetooth, the heating and cooling loads were reduced by 90% and 30%, respectively. Therefore, the smart HVAC control system can effectively control the indoor environment for thermal comfort and energy saving.</div><div>As for proposed studies in the future, at first, we will use more advanced sensors to collect more kinds of occupant behavior-related data. We will expand the research on more occupant behavior related to indoor air quality, noise and illuminance level. We can use these data to recognize behavior instead of questionnaire survey now. We will also develop a personalized zonal control system for the multi-occupant office. We can find the number and location of inlet diffusers by using inverse design.</div></div>

The impact on the built environment due to the forecasted climate change was presented by the authorities more than one decade ago, but the actions from the building industry to adapt buildings for a changed climate are still lacking. The purpose of this study is to identify a suitable cooling technique for a modern residential building in a future warmer climate in order to maintain thermal comfort but also energy efficiency. This thesis analyses and presents passive techniques and the behavior of active cooling with a slab cooling system under a future climate scenario so as to accomplish a sustainable system which will be functionable and viable in the future. To verify the different solutions the building performance simulation software IDA ICE has been used and a case study building with a simulated location in the city of Stockholm has been investigated. Results show promising outcomes as thermal comfort is achieved and energy efficiency is maintained depending on diversely selected energy sources. / Påverkan på den byggda miljön från klimatförändringar har upplysts av myndigheter under minst de senaste tio åren, men agerande från byggbranschen för att klimatanpassa är fortfarande låg. Syftet med denna studie är att identifiera en lämplig kylteknik för ett bostadshus i ett framtida varmare klimat för att bibehålla termisk komfort och samtidigt energieffektivitet. Denna examensrapport analyserar och presenterar prestanda hos dels olika passiva system, dels ett kombinerat värme- och kylsystem i bjälklag i ett framtida klimatscenario för att uppnå ett hållbart system som kommer att vara funktionellt och livskraftigt i framtiden. För att verifiera de olika kyllösningarna har simuleringsprogrammet för byggnadsprestanda IDA ICE använts och en fallstudiebyggnad med en simulerad placering i Stockholm har undersökts. Resultaten visar lovande resultat eftersom termisk komfort uppnås och energiprestanda kan bibehållas beroende på valda energikällor.

The design and construction of high-performance buildings have emerged as a preferred solution for reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. However, sometimes there is a considerable gap between the design performance and the actual performance of the buildings. Post Occupancy Evaluations (POE) provide tools to quantify the performance relative to the occupant's health, well-being, and comfort. POE is getting widely accepted to obtain feedback for various parameters such as water, energy, indoor environmental quality, and occupant comfort. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) can be derived based on the obtained feedback to determine the performance gaps. POE has evolved to be a robust scientific methodology; however, traditional methods of conducting POE have been proven time-consuming, inconsistent, and inefficient. This research aims to conceptualize the next generation of post occupancy evaluations that leverages cutting-edge technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), Internet of Things based sensors (IoT), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and digital twins. The key contributions of this research are presented in a series of manuscripts. In the first paper, the gaps in the existing POE were determined by conducting a thorough literature review. The observed gaps were classified in data collection, analysis, and visualization categories. Broader POE definition, spot measurements of parameters, and 2D plans and charts for visualization made the existing POE procedure time-consuming. Using digital twins that combine the geometric and parametric data from BIM models and built-environment data from GIS and sensor measurements were recommended as potential solutions to address the observed gaps. The second paper explored the application of BIM-IoT-GIS integration to conduct POE. Use case scenarios were developed to derive system requirements to host the BIM-IoT-GIS-integrated POE. Four sequential tests were conducted to integrate a BIM model from Revit and sensors' data from Excel with ArcGIS pro that contained the surrounding environment data. Based on lessons learned from the tests, an optimized workflow was recommended that can be used across a variety of projects. The third paper used the BIM-IoT-GIS-integration concept to create a holistic proof of concept for digital-twin-enabled POE. The proof of concept was validated by conducting a digital-twin-based POE on the STTC building on the Red River College campus in Winnipeg. The indoor thermal comfort was visualized within the STTC digital twin developed in ArcGIS Pro. The preliminary energy consumption analysis concluded that the STTC buildings' average energy savings were approximately 70,000 KWH/year. The potential users for digital-twin-enabled POE were presented with a comparison of iv existing POE and digital-twin-based POE over a survey and a focus group discussion. Based on opinion-based feedback, the conclusion can be made that digital twins improve the overall efficiency of POE. The fourth paper recommended the digital-twin-enabled POE procedure for UVic's engineering expansion project. It established the semantics for POE, followed by a digital twin execution plan that can be used for developing a digital twin during each phase (from planning to operations) of the project. Furthermore, the benefits of the digital-twin-enabled POE procedure were demonstrated by comparison with the existing POE procedure relative to the project phases. This study concluded that conducting the POE on the UVic ECS expansion project will enable the researchers to determine the effectiveness of sustainable features by comparing the performance of existing and proposed facilities. In conclusion, BIM-IoT-GIS-integrated digital twins address the limitations of data collection, analysis, and visualization. These digital twins will enable multi-objective analysis and spatial-temporal visualization and provide deeper insights into the way these high-performance buildings function. / Graduate / 2023-05-24