Investigation into informational compatibility of Building Information Modelling and Building Performance Analysis software solutions

There are significant opportunities for Building Information Modelling (BIM) to address issues related to sustainable and energy efficient building design. While the potential benefits associated with the integration of BIM and BPA (Building Performance Analysis) have been recognised, its specifications and formats remain in their early infancy and often fail to live up to the promise of seamless interoperability at various stages of design process. This paper conducts a case study to investigate the interoperability between BIM and BPA tools, and discusses the limitations to suggest development of Information Delivery Manual (IDM) aiming to propose potential solutions for typical issues facing professionals in architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry.