Scan-to-BIM Process Framework for Energy Retrofits of Academic Facilities

Abstract

Aging academic buildings present significant challenges for operational energy retrofit planning due to incomplete documentation and evolving building conditions and the resource intensity of reconstructing reliable as-existing records. At the knowledge level, while scan-to-BIM research has advanced geometric reconstruction and automation, existing approaches have not been structured around the specific informational requirements of operational energy retrofit planning in institutional contexts, a gap this study addresses. The aim of this study is to develop and demonstrate a structured scan-to-BIM framework tailored to support operational energy retrofit planning in aging academic facilities. This aim is pursued through the following objectives: to identify limitations and challenges in existing scan-to-BIM approaches for energy retrofit contexts; to design an integrated framework; to implement it in a real-world case study and identify implementation challenges; and to evaluate its practical relevance through practitioner feedback. The central research question is: how should a scan-to-BIM workflow be structured to support operational energy retrofit planning in academic buildings? Using a Design Science Research methodology, this study develops a structured four-stage scan-to-BIM framework that integrates energy-oriented considerations from data acquisition through BIM model readiness. Framework development was informed by a structured literature review of scan-to-BIM technologies, BIM-based energy modeling, and operational energy retrofit practice in academic facilities. The framework was demonstrated through a case study implementation in a century-old academic facility using terrestrial laser scanning and BIM reconstruction. Implementation included structured acquisition planning, segmented point cloud processing, and development of an enclosure-consistent BIM model prepared for future energy attribute integration. The framework was then evaluated through semi-structured interviews with six facilities management professionals; interview data were analyzed using thematic analysis. To evaluate practical relevance, semi-structured interviews were conducted with six facilities management professionals. Thematic analysis revealed strong support for improved documentation reliability and retrofit scoping clarity, while highlighting concerns regarding modeling granularity and mechanical system representation. The findings suggest that aligning scan planning and BIM structuring with energy retrofit objectives can enhance decision-support capability within institutional contexts. Theoretically, this study contributes to the scan-to-BIM literature by repositioning operational energy retrofit requirements as a governing driver of workflow structure rather than a downstream consideration — an integration not previously formalized for academic facility contexts. While full energy simulation integration was beyond the scope of this study, the proposed framework establishes a structured foundation for energy-oriented scan-to-BIM workflows in academic facilities.