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NIST releases framework for smart grid interoperability
posted January 27, 2010
On January 19 the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released version 1.0 of the 'Framework and Roadmap for Smart Grid Interoperability'. The purpose of the document is to address "an urgent need to establish protocols and standards for the Smart Grid. Deployment of various Smart Grid elements, including smart sensors on distribution lines, smart meters in homes, and widely dispersed sources of renewable energy, is already underway and will be accelerated as a result of Department of Energy (DOE) Smart Grid Investment Grants and other incentives, such as loan guarantees for renewable energy generation projects. Without standards, there is the potential for technologies developed or implemented with sizable public and private investments to become obsolete prematurely or to be implemented without measures necessary to ensure security." This article gives an overview of the standard and its intentions.
posted January 27, 2010
On January 19 the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released version 1.0 of the 'Framework and Roadmap for Smart Grid Interoperability'. The purpose of the document is to address "an urgent need to establish protocols and standards for the Smart Grid. Deployment of various Smart Grid elements, including smart sensors on distribution lines, smart meters in homes, and widely dispersed sources of renewable energy, is already underway and will be accelerated as a result of Department of Energy (DOE) Smart Grid Investment Grants and other incentives, such as loan guarantees for renewable energy generation projects. Without standards, there is the potential for technologies developed or implemented with sizable public and private investments to become obsolete prematurely or to be implemented without measures necessary to ensure security." This article gives an overview of the standard and its intentions.
Viewpoints on Green BIM
posted September 13, 2009
An August article in Architosh by Matthew Brewster touches on the interoperability benefits of BIM, and the potential implications of data sharing for energy consumption in buildings. And, presentations by Patrick MacLeamy, Jack Dempsey, and Deke K. Smith from a September Congressional Briefing Congressional briefing on 'Building Information Modeling (BIM) and High Performance Buildings' are online here.
posted September 13, 2009
An August article in Architosh by Matthew Brewster touches on the interoperability benefits of BIM, and the potential implications of data sharing for energy consumption in buildings. And, presentations by Patrick MacLeamy, Jack Dempsey, and Deke K. Smith from a September Congressional Briefing Congressional briefing on 'Building Information Modeling (BIM) and High Performance Buildings' are online here.
Measuring the ROI of BIM
posted September 06, 2009
Professor Burcin Becerik-Gerber and her student Samara Rice have a new article in AECBytes that summarizes their research into the ROI of introducing BIM software into AEC practices. Although it is often assumed that BIM introduces efficiencies in the design and construction process which result in cost savings, there is little data available to back up this claim. Professor Becerik's research at the iLab, University of Southern California focuses on establishing metrics that allow the measurement of BIM's return on investment across a range of projects and types of practice.
posted September 06, 2009
Professor Burcin Becerik-Gerber and her student Samara Rice have a new article in AECBytes that summarizes their research into the ROI of introducing BIM software into AEC practices. Although it is often assumed that BIM introduces efficiencies in the design and construction process which result in cost savings, there is little data available to back up this claim. Professor Becerik's research at the iLab, University of Southern California focuses on establishing metrics that allow the measurement of BIM's return on investment across a range of projects and types of practice.
OGC Announces 3D Fusion Summit
posted May 29, 2009
The Open Geospatial Consortium's (OGC's) 3-D Information Management Domain Working Group (3DIM WG) will hold a meeting at MIT in Cambridge, MA. According to an OGC press release the '3D Fusion Summit will provide an opportunity to learn about and discuss the activities of this working group, the alliances that OGC has with other organizations concerned with Building Information Models, and the results of the recent AECOO-1 (Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Owner and Operator) Phase 1 Testbed, a 9-month effort to increase interoperability among software used by architects, construction companies, cost estimators and building energy analysts.'
posted May 29, 2009
The Open Geospatial Consortium's (OGC's) 3-D Information Management Domain Working Group (3DIM WG) will hold a meeting at MIT in Cambridge, MA. According to an OGC press release the '3D Fusion Summit will provide an opportunity to learn about and discuss the activities of this working group, the alliances that OGC has with other organizations concerned with Building Information Models, and the results of the recent AECOO-1 (Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Owner and Operator) Phase 1 Testbed, a 9-month effort to increase interoperability among software used by architects, construction companies, cost estimators and building energy analysts.'
AECBytes Article on BIM Interoperability
posted May 12, 2009
There's a recently-posted article on BIM interoperability on AECBytes, 'Cracking the USACE BIM Code', that highlights interoperability challenges related to the US Army Corps of Engineers' adoption of BIM. Interestingly, the article addresses differences between interoperability issues in CAD software and BIM interoperability, pointing out several points of difficulty in the current generation of BIM software.
posted May 12, 2009
There's a recently-posted article on BIM interoperability on AECBytes, 'Cracking the USACE BIM Code', that highlights interoperability challenges related to the US Army Corps of Engineers' adoption of BIM. Interestingly, the article addresses differences between interoperability issues in CAD software and BIM interoperability, pointing out several points of difficulty in the current generation of BIM software.
Report on the 5th Building Connections Congress
posted April 19, 2009
The newest issue of Edges, the newsletter of the AIA Technology in Practice Knowledge Community, has an article summarizing the outcomes of the 5th Building Connections Congress, held November 17, 2008 at AIA headquarters in Washington, DC. The Building Connections Congress is an annual invitation-only event focusing on AEC interoperability, and along with the Building Connections web site is an initiative of the AIA Technology in Practice Knowledge Community. The Edges article includes an overview of the congress, and summaries of the presentations and panels. Another article in the same newsletter summarizes the accomplishments of the AIA Technology in Practice Knowledge Community during 2008, and lists planned events and goals for 2009.
posted April 19, 2009
The newest issue of Edges, the newsletter of the AIA Technology in Practice Knowledge Community, has an article summarizing the outcomes of the 5th Building Connections Congress, held November 17, 2008 at AIA headquarters in Washington, DC. The Building Connections Congress is an annual invitation-only event focusing on AEC interoperability, and along with the Building Connections web site is an initiative of the AIA Technology in Practice Knowledge Community. The Edges article includes an overview of the congress, and summaries of the presentations and panels. Another article in the same newsletter summarizes the accomplishments of the AIA Technology in Practice Knowledge Community during 2008, and lists planned events and goals for 2009.
Collaboration on Green Building Standards
posted April 08, 2009
According to a recent US Green Building Council press release, the USGBC has agreed to collaborate with Green Buildings ratings organizations in the UK and Australia to develop common metrics for assessing the carbon emissions of buildings. The green building rating standards involved in the agreement are the UK's BREEAM, the USGBC's LEED standard, and Australia's Green Star label. The aim is to provide consistency in the measurement of a building's carbon emissions, making it possible to compare buildings rated in terms of the different standards. There's a description of the agreement here.
posted April 08, 2009
According to a recent US Green Building Council press release, the USGBC has agreed to collaborate with Green Buildings ratings organizations in the UK and Australia to develop common metrics for assessing the carbon emissions of buildings. The green building rating standards involved in the agreement are the UK's BREEAM, the USGBC's LEED standard, and Australia's Green Star label. The aim is to provide consistency in the measurement of a building's carbon emissions, making it possible to compare buildings rated in terms of the different standards. There's a description of the agreement here.
'Collaboration Strategies in the Age of BIM'
posted March 26, 2009
A recent AECBytes article addresses the relation between data standards and collaboration; the author is Viktor Varkonyi, a former R&D Officer at Graphisoft who was named as CEO of the company in January. The article outlines three approaches to interoperability - a common language, direct API interfaces between applications, and the creation of a single platform that meets all needs - and weighs each option in terms of project workflow and the implications for communication among all participants in the design process. The article focuses on Graphisoft's support for IFC-based data excahnge and project collaboration.
posted March 26, 2009
A recent AECBytes article addresses the relation between data standards and collaboration; the author is Viktor Varkonyi, a former R&D Officer at Graphisoft who was named as CEO of the company in January. The article outlines three approaches to interoperability - a common language, direct API interfaces between applications, and the creation of a single platform that meets all needs - and weighs each option in terms of project workflow and the implications for communication among all participants in the design process. The article focuses on Graphisoft's support for IFC-based data excahnge and project collaboration.
LEED 2009 Member Ballots Open
posted March 17, 2009
LEED 2009, the first major revision of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standard since 2005, is scheduled for release (pdf 966k) in April 2009. On March 04, two sections of the standard were submitted for approval by USGBC members: LEED for Retail: New Construction 2009 and LEED for Retail: Commercial Interiors 2009. The ballot period ends on April 1st; if approved, the standard will be released for market use in April. The changes in LEED 2009 are summarized here and here (pdf 163k).
posted March 17, 2009
LEED 2009, the first major revision of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standard since 2005, is scheduled for release (pdf 966k) in April 2009. On March 04, two sections of the standard were submitted for approval by USGBC members: LEED for Retail: New Construction 2009 and LEED for Retail: Commercial Interiors 2009. The ballot period ends on April 1st; if approved, the standard will be released for market use in April. The changes in LEED 2009 are summarized here and here (pdf 163k).
Economic Recovery Bill Contains Strong Support for Green Building
posted March 04, 2009
According to a recent press release of the U.S. Green Building Council, President Obama's Economic Recovery Bill "includes billions of dollars that may be used for green building, retrofitting, energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, including those in federal facilities; states, localities, and tribal areas; schools; and housing". A detailed summary of the law is available on the House Appropriations web site.
posted March 04, 2009
According to a recent press release of the U.S. Green Building Council, President Obama's Economic Recovery Bill "includes billions of dollars that may be used for green building, retrofitting, energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, including those in federal facilities; states, localities, and tribal areas; schools; and housing". A detailed summary of the law is available on the House Appropriations web site.
Committee Resumes Work on Green Building Standard 189
posted February 01, 2009
According to an ASHRAE press release, the goal of Proposed Standard 189, 'Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings', is to "provide minimum requirements for the design of sustainable buildings to balance environmental responsibility, resource efficiency, occupant comfort and well-being, and community sensitivity." The standard is being designed for incorporation into building code. Work on the standard stopped temporarily when the committee charged with developing the standard was disbanded in October 2008; the new committee met for the first time on January 27, 2009. This standard is distinct from other existing Green Building Standards such as as LEED, which imposes more stringent requirements than Standard 189, and the ICC/NAHB National Green Building Standard which focuses on residential structures.
posted February 01, 2009
According to an ASHRAE press release, the goal of Proposed Standard 189, 'Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings', is to "provide minimum requirements for the design of sustainable buildings to balance environmental responsibility, resource efficiency, occupant comfort and well-being, and community sensitivity." The standard is being designed for incorporation into building code. Work on the standard stopped temporarily when the committee charged with developing the standard was disbanded in October 2008; the new committee met for the first time on January 27, 2009. This standard is distinct from other existing Green Building Standards such as as LEED, which imposes more stringent requirements than Standard 189, and the ICC/NAHB National Green Building Standard which focuses on residential structures.
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