To realize a sustainable society, maintenance and improvement of the functions of facilities are required through performance evaluation and improvement studies using digital data of facilities. The database needs to include information that is not easily described in existing BIM. It is important to outline the functional connections between space and equipment using a general-purpose format known as SDM (semantic data model). Conversely, in many cases, drawings are the only material available to convert many buildings in Japan into data. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed the mechanical service drawing of 10 existing university buildings, and based on the requirements obtained from the drawings, we conceived a process to generate SDMs for functional relationships, locations, and specifications, using the equipment table of multi-split variable refrigerant flow systems as input. The possibilities and limitations of this method were summarized through this examination.

To achieve reductions in carbon emissions from DHC, we studied a method to search for a heat source operation plan that minimizes CO₂ emissions per 24 hours while matching the demand for heat. First, we conducted a sensitivity analysis of a heat demand forecasting model using machine learning to clarify the necessary explanatory variables and forecasting accuracy. Next, we confirmed the prediction accuracy of the energy consumption models for all heat source equipment in the plant. Additionally, the prediction accuracy of the energy consumption of the entire plant was confirmed. Finally, optimization using a genetic algorithm was attempted using the load factor of the heat source at each time as the design variable. Consequently, it was demonstrated that a reasonable operation plan can be derived depending on the setting of the objective variable.

At present, due to extreme events to be caused by global warming, large areas in Asia and Africa are suffering from depletion of water resources. Meanwhile, Japan is facing with new problems, including increasing charges towards the water and sewage infrastructure and taking measures to tackle natural disasters like inundation by torrential rain. To solve these problem, many countries are focusing on the planning, design and operation net-zero water buildings (hereafter referred to as ZWB), where a ZWB balance between water supply and water consumption within the buildings and periphery is achieves, and further focusing on ZWB evaluation methods and trends. This report points out issues with trends related to standards and evaluation methods for ZWB in Japan and abroad. The report also presents the results of a water balance investigation on an existing research facility that is designed to achieve ZWB.