Digital technologies for informed and user-adapted building renovation

Digitalization is transforming many businesses, including the building and construction sector. So-called digital twins – digital models of buildings fed with real-time data – have recently received considerable attention. Despite this, their potential use in building renovation has not been thoroughly studied.

This project aims to fill this knowledge gap by investigating how a digital twin and other related digital solutions can contribute to more informed, well-founded and user-adapted decisions on building renovation measures. The project builds on an established collaboration between Uppsala University and Akademiska Hus, where a digital twin for campus buildings is being developed. As physics-based modeling of building energy performance is included, advanced renovation scenarios and their potential for improved energy efficiency can be simulated.

The digital twin will be adapted and applied to three case study buildings in Uppsala, together with 3D screening of buildings and deployment of sensors. The project will lead to suggestions for how to practically digitalize building renovation.