Building information modeling and affective occupancy evaluation: A scoping review

Abstract

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a powerful process for creating and managing data throughout the life cycle of a building. Traditionally, measuring the well-being of building occupants has been addressed solely through objective physical variables such as temperature or relative air humidity. However, recent studies indicate that the built environment influences subjective aspects of human well-being. This article presents a scoping review to find information related to the use of BIM in the assessment of the mental and emotional state of inhabitants. A scoping review has been undertaken following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines by searching in Scopus, ACM, IEEE Xplore and PsycINFO databases. Fourteen articles meeting the inclusion criteria were found after the screening process, all of them published in the last decade, twelve in the last five years. Two ways of using BIM have been identified in relation to the subject matter of this review: (i) for visualization and monitoring of occupant well-being and (ii) for showing building design alternatives to future occupants. The included papers show that BIM has potential for assessing the mental and emotional state of building occupants. However, the results of these studies are still limited and much research in this area remains pending.