Interest towards urban micromobility has been growing lately, and it will now increase further due to the measures used against COVID-19. It is recommended to avoid close contact to prevent contagion. Municipalities have been called to implement wider cycling networks so that people may go to their work place by cycling rather than by using public transport. This paper focused on cycling path design using an infrastructure-building information model (I-BIM). The issue covered was how to connect cost and safety requirements in the first steps of the project. We set a methodology that gives, after identifying the intervention area and defining the available economic resources, the key elements needed to design possible cycle path solutions. It guides the designer step-by-step, starting from basic assumptions related to a cycle path’s location (urban/non-urban), budget (by range), and safety (according to Bicycle Compatibility Index BCI and Bicycle Level of Service (BLOS) index), up to the definition of preferred options in terms of materials to be selected. As a case study, we implemented this methodology in the old city center of Catania in Sicily (Italy), designing a cycle path that connects the city center with the existing cycle path on the coast, while aligning with safety requirements within budget constraints.

The aim of this paper, in line with the 2030 European Agenda and 2021 Italian “Recovery and Resilience Plan” objectives, is to define an evaluation methodology and tool to support public administrations to detect buildings, currently unused or underused, that might be apt for transformation interventions. The focus is on historical Italian healthcare buildings since these show widespread decay and neglect. A five-step methodology has been developed: screening of public assets; classification, evaluation, and identification of buildings, based on the “potential index”; GIS mapping and inventory; selection of buildings for in-depth analysis; BIM digitization and definition of the “transformability index”. In the fifth phase, an evaluation tool is integrated into the BIM software to automatically calculate the transformability index of each building using six indicators: usability, fragmentation, modifiability, roof implementation, external envelope, and window-to-wall ratio. The “transformability index” helps define the most appropriate buildings to intervene with for reuse. Building transformation is connected to construction features and layout organization and it is limited by architectural, structural, and artistic constraints.

Public residential buildings make a large portion of the European existing stock and they quite often require deep renovation interventions. A methodology for setting priorities and targeting regeneration investments should be defined relying on the increasing use of building information modelling (BIM) tools even for managing existing buildings. The aim of this paper is to integrate the evaluation process into BIM Revit software developing a specific plug-in, a Decision support system (DSS) that will help to identify the most appropriate flats to be transformed. It is based on measuring three indicators: Usability, Fragmentation, and Constructive Modifiability. Through their weighted average it is possible to obtain a final transformability score. The proposed approach has been tested on a case study chosen within the 1st P.E.E.P. (1st public plan for council and affordable housing) that has been approved in Rome in 1964. The results demonstrate that the transformability of apartments is related mainly to the Constructive Modifiability indicator and buildings with reinforced concrete frames show higher scores. A widespread application of such a methodology on large real estate portfolio may lead stakeholders involved in housing management investments in clear choices related to maintenance of buildings.

Building Information Modelling is the latest phase of a revolutionary process that over the last thirty years has profoundly transformed the world of design in the construction sector in all its different disciplines: architecture and engineering design, mechanical/electrical/plumbing engineering, operation and maintenance, cost and safety, etc. From 2D and 3D assisted design to parametric design, the innovation has led to a profound change of perspective as far as the way of conceiving the work in all its phases is concerned, from concept to execution and consequently to management. BIM methodological approach, based on sharing and interoperability, opens up a potential range of future applications, although nowadays it is mainly used in the MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering) sector. One of the most interesting applications can be developed in urban and infrastructural design (Infra-BIM), where the processes and the controls implemented by BIM can be managed effectively and at a higher efficiency level. The term Infra-BIM is used in reference to the adoption of the BIM methodology in the infrastructure sector. An area that by itself calls for a strong disciplinary interconnection with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and involves many aspects, from the analysis of the area analysed to the relations and interferences with other infrastructures. A multidisciplinary approach that, consequently, requires the correct implementation of the BIM methodology reached by checking the coherence and quality of the information input in the models. The paper focuses on the phase of BIM Validation viewed as a support for a proper work-flow: it not only allows to analyse the whole set of information associated with a parametric object but also how the entire model matches the specific design requirements. BIM Validation process in design is not defined yet, but it is important to aim at a correct procedure so as to guarantee quality of design and future management of the project.

The present paper was prompted by the activity carried out within the scope of an EU-funded project (WARMEST). It calls to analyse the reasons for the degradation of the Patio de Los Leones, which attracts over 2 million tourists per year to Granada in Spain. We review here the most advanced studies and regulations on the assessment of the social impact of mass tourism and present a novel methodology to analyse its effects. We dug into the material available on social networks—especially feedback to posts published on major relevant sites—and got a comprehensive picture of the thoughts that were expressed there and a comprehensive assessment of the citizens’ opinion on the social impact of tourism in Granada. Thus, we obtained a new indicator called “C.1.2 index modified”, which measures the level of dissatisfaction of citizens with the tourists’ pressure; we propose to replace the existing ETIS index with C.1.2, which is mainly based on direct surveys that are often carried out with very limited resources. At the end of the research, we could point out topics that are especially important to the citizens, thus allowing us to define a strategic action plan with a bottom-up approach.

Objetivo: Establecer el papel que juegan el dibujo y el modelo BIM como representación o simulación de la arquitectura respectivamente. La irrupción y la generalización de los sistemas BIM en el mundo profesional de la arquitectura y la construcción obligan a reflexionar, desde la experiencia y el análisis riguroso, para establecer los riesgos y oportunidades que esto supone. Metodología: A partir de la experiencia de los autores en análisis crítico sobre innovaciones tecnológicas aplicadas a la representación arquitectónica y en el manejo de herramientas digitales en plataformas BIM, se establecen algunos conceptos con los que abordar su uso en la arquitectura. Conclusiones: Un modelo BIM incluye toda la información que se puede asignar a cada elemento constructivo y constituye una simulación del proyecto completa. Por lo tanto, puede convertirse en un instrumento que facilita el control y la evaluación de la calidad de las prestaciones del proyecto arquitectónico. Puede transmitirse a los diferentes agentes que intervienen a lo largo de la elaboración y la construcción del proyecto y admite modificaciones y mejoras continuas. Pero en cada fase, cada agente necesitará filtrar, seleccionar y jerarquizar la información para representar ciertos aspectos de la arquitectura. Ésta abstracción recuperará herramientas propias de la representación arquitectónica. Originalidad: Este trabajo sucede a otros previos de los autores en los que se analizaban las consecuencias de la irrupción de los sistemas de CAD aplicadas al dibujo arquitectónico. Creemos obligado hacer una reflexión serena y sin prejuicios sobre otras nuevas tecnologías que despiertan recelos en unos y deslumbran a otros. Objectiu: Establir el paper que juguen el dibuix i el model BIM com a representació o simulació de l'arquitectura respectivament. La irrupció i la generalització dels sistemes BIM en el món professional de l'arquitectura i la construcció obliguen a reflexionar, des de l'experiència i l'anàlisi rigorosa, per establir els riscos i oportunitats que això suposa. Metodologia: A partir de l'experiència dels autors en anàlisi crítica sobre innovacions tecnològiques aplicades a la representació arquitectònica i en el maneig d'eines digitals en plataformes BIM, s'estableixen alguns conceptes amb els quals abordar el seu ús en l'arquitectura. Conclusions: Un model BIM inclou tota la informació que es pot assignar a cada element constructiu i constitueix una simulació del projecte completa. Per tant, pot esdevenir un instrument que facilita el control i l'avaluació de la qualitat de les prestacions del projecte arquitectònic. Es pot transmetre als diferents agents que intervenen al llarg de l'elaboració i la construcció del projecte i admet modificacions i millores contínues. Però en cada fase, cada agent necessitarà filtrar, seleccionar i jerarquitzar la informació per representar certs aspectes de l'arquitectura. Aquesta abstracció recuperarà eines pròpies de la representació arquitectònica. Originalitat: Aquest treball passa a altres previs dels autors en els quals s'analitzaven les conseqüències de la irrupció dels sistemes de CAD aplicades al dibuix arquitectònic. Creiem obligat fer una reflexió serena i sense prejudicis sobre altres noves tecnologies que desperten recels en uns i enlluernen a uns altres. Objective: The aim of the paper is to establish the respective role of drawing and BIM model as representation or simulation in architecture. The breaking in and generalization (at all levels) of BIM systems in the professional world of architecture and construction, calls for a reflection based on experience and rigorous analysis, to establish the risks and opportunities that it entails. Methodology: Based on their experience in critical analysis of technological innovations applied to architectural representation as well as in the use of digital tools on BIM platforms, the authors establish some concepts to approach their use in architecture. Conclusions: A BIM model includes all information that may be assigned to each construction element and presents a simulation of the complete project. Therefore, it can become a tool that makes easier to control and evaluate the quality of the performance of an architectural project. It can be transferred to the different parties involved throughout the development and construction of the project and allows for modifications and continuous improvements. But in each phase, each party will need to filter, select and hierarchize the information to represent certain aspects of the architecture. In this phase, they might recover tools typical of traditional architectural representation. Originality: This paper follows others by the same authors in which they analyze the effects of the break-in of the CAD systems applied to architectural drawing. We believe that we should reflect calmly and without prejudice on other new technologies that arouse suspicions in some and dazzle others.