Indoor Air and Thermal Quality in School Buildings: Demonstration of BIM-Integrated IoT Window Signaling System

Alessandro D’Amico*, Federico Fiume, Pedro de la Barra, Alessandra Luna-Navarro

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceedings/Edited volumeConference contributionScientificpeer-review

Abstract

Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) plays a crucial role in the health, well-being, and cognitive performance of students in school environments. This study presents the integration of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Internet of Things (IoT) sensors for real-time IEQ monitoring and dynamic ventilation control. A BIM-integrated window signaling system was developed using visual programming to process real-time sensor data and provide feedback on optimal window operation times. The methodology consisted of five phases: (1) development of a BIM model of the case study and calculation of window opening time, (2) on-site deployment of an IoT sensor system, (3) integration of real-time environmental data into the BIM model, (4) generation of a continuously updated digital twin for IEQ assessment, and (5) comparison between calculated ventilation times and measured environmental parameters. The system was tested in two classrooms of a school in Rome, Italy, where temperature and CO₂ concentration were continuously monitored. The results indicate that the calculated ventilation schedules effectively maintained indoor temperatures within recommended thresholds. However, CO₂ levels frequently exceeded the guide value threshold in one classroom, revealing discrepancies between the expected and actual window opening behaviors of occupants. The study underscores the role of occupant compliance in ventilation effectiveness and demonstrates how BIM can function as a dynamic decision-support tool by integrating real-time environmental data, automated parameter updates, and graphical trend visualization.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationEnvisioning the Futures - Designing and Building for People and the Environment - Proceedings of Colloqui.AT.e 2025
EditorsRossano Albatici, Michela Dalprà, Maria Paola Gatti, Gianluca Maracchini, Simone Torresin
Place of PublicationCham
PublisherSpringer
Pages260-284
Number of pages25
ISBN (Electronic)978-3-032-06978-8
ISBN (Print)978-3-032-06977-1, 978-3-032-06980-1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2025
Event12th International Conference of Ar.Tec. (Scientific Society of Architectural Engineering), Colloqui.AT.e 2025 - Trento, Italy
Duration: 11 Jun 202514 Jun 2025

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Civil Engineering
PublisherSpringer
Volume765
ISSN (Print)2366-2557
ISSN (Electronic)2366-2565

Conference

Conference12th International Conference of Ar.Tec. (Scientific Society of Architectural Engineering), Colloqui.AT.e 2025
Country/TerritoryItaly
CityTrento
Period11/06/2514/06/25

Bibliographical note

Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository as part of the Taverne amendment. More information about this copyright law amendment can be found at https://www.openaccess.nl. Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.

Keywords

  • BIM
  • IAQ
  • IEQ
  • IoT sensor
  • School Buildings
  • Thermal Comfort

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