December 30, 2015 -- The U.N’s landmark climate change agreement approved earlier this month in Paris has put the world’s focus on saving planet earth. Sustainability, a key component to 3D GIS, is the main ingredient to our planet’s future.
Rapid Energy Modeling for Existing Buildings (REM) is reinventing the way we approach sustainability projects utilizing 3D modeling—with Autodesk, design and engineering software leader, paving the way.
By conducting a virtual energy assessment, REM is used to find where buildings can save energy without stepping foot inside. The streamlined process of Capture, Model, Analyze uses satellite imagery to Capture existing conditions, creates a 3D Model of the building, and Analyzes the building’s energy consumption using the DOE 2 engine. This empowers building owners to make decisions on how to save energy before spending time and money on a conventional audit.
A stellar case in point: Washington, D.C.’s Business Improvement District contracted with Autodesk to build a sustainability model of the Downtown Eco District that addressed four main areas of interest:
√ energy usage intensity
√ annual energy cost
√ lighting retrofit potential
√ window retrofit potential
“This is what drew us to Autodesk. We’ve been using Infraworks 360 to help us create and to use it to develop Rapid Energy Modeling,” stated Scott Pomeroy, Sustainability Manager of Washington, DC’s Business Improvement District (BID).
Pomeroy introduced the joint project at this month’s Autodesk University in Las Vegas. “This (REM) allows us to determine things like energy usage intensity, not only at a building level, but at a district level. This helps us to inform things like our comprehensive energy plan or the grid modernization efforts that we’re undergoing currently.”
Montage of Scott Pomeroy’s presentation at AU using CC3D Buildings
Autodesk teamed with CyberCity 3D, Inc., a top provider of 3D smart buildings and cities, to create the model. Autodesk’s InfraWorks 360 was used to quickly generate a 3D model of Washington, D.C., which was used to perform Rapid Energy Modeling.
CyberCity 3D supplied its unparalleled 3D smart buildings, which offer up to six-inch accuracy, to enrich the product with information-packed buildings that make communication easier by better visualizing the project.
The merged result? A dynamic and valuable 3D model that assisted D.C.’s Downtown Eco District in effectively analyzing its sustainability issues, at a time when increasing attention centers on that crucial topic in the international spotlight.
“Working with Autodesk to drive BIM technology for sustainability is a key priority for our company going forward, especially in light of the recently signed U.N. climate accord adopted by more than 190 countries in Paris,” declared Kevin DeVito, CEO of CyberCity 3D, Inc. “The utilization of our 3D building models, which include multiple attributes, allows sustainability planners and stakeholders to utilize the buildings for both analytical and visual design.”
CyberCity 3D buildings with Oblique Textures Provided by Sanborn®
Applying a combination of cutting-edge technologies, Autodesk and CyberCity 3D buildings create a virtual environment for planners, designers, and builders that is collaborative, frictionless, and flexible among stakeholders. Leveraging the ever-evolving cloud technology enables us to move ever faster for better decision-making, discovering new insights into creating a healthier planet.
To view a demo of the DC project shown at AU, click on the screenshot below:
Autodesk Infraworks 360 and Green Building Studio and CyberCity 3D Building Models