From HBIM to Environmental Intelligence: AI-Supported Environmental Simulation Using Autodesk Forma for Conservation-Restricted Buildings

Heritage buildings faced significant challenges in improving environmental performance due to strict conservation regulations that limit physical interventions. As a result, adaptation decisions are often based on qualitative assumptions rather than performance-driven evidence. This study demonstrates how a Heritage Building Information Modelling (HBIM) workflow integrated with AI-supported environmental simulation can generate environmental intelligence to inform sustainable design decisions in conservation-restricted buildings. The case study focuses on Gedung Singa Surabaya, designed by H.P. Berlage, located in a tropical climate context and subject to strict limitations on façade and primary architectural modifications. A three- dimensional BIM model was developed to represent the building’s existing condition. The model was analysed using Autodesk Forma to evaluate solar exposure, daylight distribution, and their implications for passive design strategies. Simulation results indicate that the integration of HBIM and AI-supported environmental modelling enables the identification of low-performing environmental zones and predicts performance improvements resulting from minimal interior interventions. This process shifts conventional simulation from manually input data to a data-driven knowledge production mechanism for architectural decision-making. The study highlights the role of early-stage BIM-based simulation as a means of generating architectural knowledge in the digital era, bridging heritage preservation and building sustainability. The proposed workflow offers a replicable framework to support passive adaptation strategies in conservation buildings within tropical developing contexts. Building Information Modeling-Enabled Smart Contracts for the Construction Sector: A Systematic Review Mazen M. Omer1, Kherun Nita Ali1*, Benviolent Chigara2, Ahmad Faiz Azizi Ahmad Fauzi1,