Building Performance Simulation in Design Phase: A Case for Construction Consultants in Addis Ababa
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Date
2022-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Building performance analysis at the design stage enables assessing the building's
performance and the variables that influence it. Simulating the performance of a
building by visualizing how the building will react in response to excitation in a virtual
environment provides designers and respective stakeholders vital information in the
decision-making of buildings.
Nonetheless, a common practice in Ethiopia indicates that an emphasis is placed on
how the building appears and is constructed in the project's design phase rather than
how the building will accomplish its intended function and performance requirements.
Despite the longevity of buildings, analysis of how the building will operate and
perform its intended function is seldom.
This research aims to study the existing practices of building performance simulation
for buildings in the design stages for the case of consultants in the architecture,
engineering, and construction industry of Addis Ababa. The research design employed
a questionnaire as a data collection tool. It gathered information from consultants about
their approach to design, their tools, use of building performance simulation tools,
consideration of uncertainties in their design, and sustainability approaches. For further
validation, semi-structured interviews and documentation reviews were used for the
case study analysis.
It is found that there is a disparity and underlying lack of understanding of building
performance fundamentals and analysis methods. For existing simulation practices in
building projects in Addis Ababa, it is found that local consultants do not do them.
Moreover, with the infancy of BIM practices in the city’s consultants, capitalizing on
the possible BIM-based building performance simulation of buildings is not foreseeable
under current circumstances.
As a result, this research recommends essential education and training regarding
building performance to realize its potential in developing buildings with improved
performance and applicable standards and rating systems for sustainability in the local
context.
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Keywords
Performance-Based Design, Building Information Modeling, Building Performance Simulation, Sustainability