Using Building Information Modeling to Evaluate the Costs and Benefits of Adopting Sustainable Universal Houses in Canada

Existing homes for senior population may not be safe because many injuries occur due to poor accessibility and design compatibility. Thus, Universal Design (UD) becomes more relevant, especially if it incorporates the principles of sustainability. Yet, adopting houses of this type requires detailed evaluation of their costs and benefits in a simple and efficient manner. The Building Information Modeling (BIM) concept enables engineers to design and create virtual models permitting the visualization and evaluation of design alternatives before physical construction. The tools used to create BIM models lack detail information about UD principles. This paper presents a methodology that integrates BIM, UD and sustainability to attain sustainable universal houses for Canadians. The goal of this model is to simplify the process of creating sustainable universal houses in 3D and to evaluate the costs and benefits to stakeholders at the conceptual stage of the life of the houses. Using Building Information Modeling to Evaluate the Costs and Benefits of Adopting Sustainable Universal Houses in Canada