Building information modelling applications in smart buildings: From design to commissioning and beyond A critical review

Abstract Building Information Modelling (BIM) constitutes the state of the art in the digital design techniques, and represents one of the main streams of the Industry 4.0 era. The integration of BIM into processes related to buildings design, construction and operation is a practice in line with the sustainability aspects of the built environment, and which gains more interest in the recent years in the field of research development. This study aspires to present the main advancements in the field of building integration modelling in the field of smart buildings. Emphasis is given on the integration of IoT applications into buildings smart operations. The study is structured in four sections, concerning the use of BIM in pre-, during- and post-construction life cycles of the project, as well as for other significant aspects. In the pre-construction stage, research trends in the field of building design and optimization, as well as for the environmental assessment of buildings’ design with the use of BIM and LCA tools is presented. Issues related to the use of BIM for monitoring and coordination during construction, as well as for health and safety topics in the construction site are also analysed. An overview of recent studies in the area of applications for buildings smart operation with the use of IoT technologies, as well as for renovation projects, are considered in the analysis of the post-construction applications of BIM. Interoperability issues concerning data sharing between BIM related applications is presented, according to the recent advancements in standardization processes.