Exploring multi-domain simulation workflows for ‘Sustainable cities & communities’ (UN SDG11)

This positional paper discusses the results of a call for action put forward to the IBPSA community in 2021, in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic which sparked a resurgence of interest in wider sustainability issues potentially promoting closer dialogues between scientists and policymakers. The pandemic made clear that we must re-think our cities and the way we live and that we have powerful political tools to implement dramatic change in short time frames. Simulations are key in providing evidence-based guidance in producing healthy cities, neighbourhoods, and buildings, showing how design and policy solutions can work together at different levels. This paper highlights the hidden potential of the building performance simulation community to demonstrate that buildings transcend their boundaries and perform beyond their primary functions and scale. It provokes a broader debate around the role of simulations, calling for immediate and decisive action towards achieving a sustainable future for all.