Cloud-based Decision Support System for Building Lifecycle Decision Making at Early Design Phase

Akonovia是一家经验丰富的建筑节能咨询公司，也是中国第一家使用BIM（建筑信息模型）开展能源模拟任务的公司。为了更好地指导建筑师和项目经理做出正确的选择，公司需要一个决策支持系统（DSS），能够在早期设计阶段使用能源模拟来估算与几种机械、建筑和照明替代方案相关的生命周期成本和收益。为此，Akonovia与Concordia大学的PI建立了合作伙伴关系，并通过NSERC Engage项目开发了所需DSS的原型。目前的CRD申请建议扩展前一阶段的研究结果，并将决策支持系统原型升级为可操作的系统。为该CRD项目设定了三个主要的研发目标：（RDO1）使用EnergyPlus引擎和OpenStudio实现替代发电和仿真的自动化；（RDO2）早期设计方案的全生命周期经济分析自动化；（RDO3）为设计团队提供决策支持系统，该系统与BIM设计创作工具集成良好，并在早期设计阶段提供有关设计方案生命周期经济的分析。这些目标将通过五个主要任务来实现：(1)无缝替代生成和仿真；(2)扩展到外部成本数据库；(3) BIM集成；(4)先进的能源成本模型；(5)输出优化与可视化。该项目计划为期12个月，分为两个主要阶段：第一阶段研究和开发（第1至10个月，在第5、8和10个月结束时有三个里程碑）；第二阶段——验证、测试和调试（从第10个月到第12个月，在第12个月底有一个里程碑）。本CRD项目将招聘和培养4名高素质人才：2名博士研究生（整个项目12个月聘用）；2名工程硕士（每学期聘用）。

Akonovia is an experienced consultant company, specialized in building energy efficiency, and the first company in Québec to carry out mandates of energy simulation by using BIM (Building Information Modeling). To better guide architects and project managers in selection of the right choices, the company needs a decision support system (DSS), capable of estimating the lifecycle costs and benefits associated with several mechanical, architectural and lighting alternative scenarios, using energy simulations, at early design stages. With this aim, a partnership was formed between Akonovia and the PI at Concordia University, and a prototype of the required DSS was developed through an NSERC Engage project. The current CRD application proposes to expand the findings in the previous stage and upgrade the DSS prototype into an operational system.Three major research and development objectives (RDO's) are set for this CRD project: (RDO1) Automation of alternative generation and simulation with EnergyPlus engine and OpenStudio; (RDO2) Automation of whole lifecycle economic analysis for early-stage design alternatives; and (RDO3) Providing design teams with a decision support system which integrates well with BIM design authoring tools and provides analytics regarding lifecycle economy of design alternatives, at early stage design phases. These objectives will be achieved through five major tasks: (1) Seamless alternative generation and simulation; (2) Extension to external cost databases; (3) BIM Integration; (4) Advanced energy-based cost models; and (5) Output optimization and Visualization.The project is scheduled for 12 months, in two major phases: Phase I-research and development (months 1 through 10, with three milestones, at the end of Months 5, 8 and 10); and Phase II-validating, testing and debugging (months 10 through 12, with one milestone at the end of Month 12). This CRD project will recruit and train four high quality personnel: two PhD students (hired for the entire 12 months of the project); and two Master of Engineering students (to be hired for one semester each).