Objective This proposal argues that current building modeling tools, including popular BIM (Building Information Modeling) systems, provide a poor, inadequate representation of buildings: they represent only the physical and material characteristics of buildings. Buildings, unlike other products, cannot be understood independently of their context, of their intended use, and of their intended users.This shortcoming hinders the ability of current building models to support evaluations other than those based on physical and material characteristics of the building, such as lighting, energy consumption, and structural stability. In particular, the impact of a building that has not yet been built on the life and activities of its future users—a key element in determining whether or not the proposed building will meet the needs of its intended users—is not afforded by current building models. To afford comprehensive prediction and evaluation of future buildings, we also need to model the purpose and function of the building, and the social, cultural, and economic profile of the people who will use it.Although predicting users' behavior in a built environment and their interaction with the building and with other people is a highly complex task, vast research exists that is devoted to analyzing and explaining human behavior in built environments. Still, due to the shortcomings of building models, this knowledge rarely make into the practice of architectural design, at the time buildings are being designed.The proposed research aims at remedying that shortcoming by developing a more a comprehensive building modeling method, which will include form, function, and use information. A better model will lead to better designed buildings. In an era when the irrevocable impact of the built environment on the cost, quality, and perhaps even possibility of life on earth has been recognized, the need to make every effort to improve the tools used by building designers is self-evident. Fields of science engineering and technologycivil engineeringarchitecture engineering Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-AG-SH3 - ERC Advanced Grant - Environment and society Call for proposal ERC-2013-ADG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-AG - ERC Advanced Grant Host institution TECHNION - ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY EU contribution € 1 629 370,00 Address SENATE BUILDING TECHNION CITY 32000 Haifa Israel See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Mark Davison (Mr.) Principal investigator Yehuda Kalay (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all TECHNION - ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Israel EU contribution € 1 629 370,00 Address SENATE BUILDING TECHNION CITY 32000 Haifa See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Mark Davison (Mr.) Principal investigator Yehuda Kalay (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data