Towards Topology-Oriented Digital Twins for Built Heritage Performance-based Management

Given the large stock of outdated buildings that support everyday activities, there is a pressing need to adapt them to the functional, environmental, and economic requirements of sustainable development in the built environment. Achieving this objective poses significant challenges and calls for a transition toward performance-based management of built heritage, underpinned by the digitalisation of the sector. This transition requires digital systems capable of acquiring, structuring, processing, sharing, and visualising building asset data to enable informed decision-making for asset managers. This research investigates how emerging digital technologies, such as Building Information Modelling and Building Performance Simulation, can be integrated into Digital Decision Support Systems (DDSS) to support strategic planning within a performance-oriented framework. The study first defines a conceptual framework grounded in the Digital Twin (DT) paradigm. It then develops methods and workflows for implementing DDSS solutions that support building performance management and are accessible to non-expert users through intuitive services. These methods lead to the development of a software toolkit demonstrated through a simulation-based application, providing insights into a university building’s energy performance and its relationship with occupancy patterns. By conceptualising the DDSS within a DT framework, this work establishes the foundation for future integration of additional technologies, including real-time sensor data, occupant feedback systems, and predictive analytics.

CONTENTS

PART III: DEMONSTRATION
6. Decision Support System Prototype for Occupancy-Based Energy Management
Conclusion
References

Angelo Massafra
PhD in Architecture and Design Cultures from the Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna. He is currently Researcher at the Department of Architecture of the same university and serves as Assistant Professor in Building Renovation and Digital Project Management. He has been an academic visitor at the Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University. His research explores digital methodologies for the assessment, renovation, and management of built heritage, with a particular focus on knowledge-based systems for building performance modelling.