BIM 6D methodology as a tool to evaluate thermal comfort in Costa Rican schools

Abstract

Technology facilitates decision-making regarding infrastructure design, in particular, to weigh different climatic scenarios to which a work may be exposed. Specifically, the design and construction of educational infrastructure in the country present relevant challenges in terms of sustainability and comfort. In this research, the 6D BIM methodology was implemented to evaluate thermal comfort in three typical MEP plans across different locations in the country: Nicoya, Pavas, and Limón. The relevance of using BIM –energy analysis– to estimate thermal comfort in buildings, applied to the indicated case studies, was evaluated, using 3D modeling programs such as SketchUp and the OpenStudio application for 6D analysis. Among the main results, it was noted that the current generic type plans do not respond to the different needs of the student body in the different climatic zones studied in the country, nor were they conceived taking into account the diverse realities of the environments where they will be built. It was concluded that incorporating changes in ceiling and wall materials improves the current comfort conditions, demonstrating the need to redesign these plans in order to achieve comfortable temperatures. This research highlights the importance of the 6D BIM methodology in the efficient planning of educational spaces; in addition, its conclusions can be applied to other types of public service infrastructure where people must be housed.