Semiautomated Thermal Bridge Detection in BIM-BEM Workflows Using a Structural-Focused Model View Definition

Semiautomated integration between building information modeling (BIM) and building energy modeling (BEM) is an essential driver of sustainable construction practices. However, current workflows lack interoperable, automated mechanisms for detecting and addressing thermal bridging at structural elements, leading to inaccuracies in energy performance assessments. This study proposes a structural-focused model view definition (MVD) to support automated data exchange and thermal bridge analysis between BIM and BEM environments. The proposed MVD enables the structured transfer of geometric and material information for columns, beams, and slabs, facilitating an iterative, low-intervention workflow for improving thermal performance. A case study on a multistory residential building demonstrates that applying the proposed approach results in a 21% reduction in annual energy use intensity following targeted mitigation of structural thermal bridges. The workflow implementation utilizes commercial BIM and BEM platforms for demonstration purposes. The primary contribution of this research is the industry foundation classes–based, vendor-neutral MVD, designed to be applicable across different software environments that support open standards. By emphasizing interoperability and structured data exchange for structural elements, the proposed approach supports more reliable early-stage performance evaluation and scalable adoption in sustainable building design.