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Publications for digital and sustainable construction

Sustainable building in the digital age requires the right information at the right time. Our publications bridge the gap between academic innovation and practical application, supporting you in successfully shaping the transformation of the construction and real estate sector.

Whether you are looking for guides on timber construction systems, digital planning tools, student concepts for affordable housing, or a roadmap for integrating artificial intelligence – here you will find clear and practical insights. Discover our growing library of free publications that address real-world challenges and opportunities in the region.

Digitization in construction

This brochure provides a compact overview of assessment methods for evaluating environmental impacts, CO₂ emissions, and costs across the entire life cycle of buildings and building materials. In addition, digital tools are presented that support an efficient and transparent analysis.

The publication follows the entire planning process: After an introduction to digital transformation and the selection of relevant categories, a systematic overview provides an initial orientation regarding available tools and scale levels. In the subsequent chapters, digital applications are explained along concrete thematic areas – from site analysis and mobility, through BIM-supported management, building renovation, energy and building physics, to timber design, cost estimation, and legal frameworks. A concluding outlook contextualizes the results and highlights potential areas for development.

This special edition provides a comprehensive look into the application of digitalization and AI in construction. It guides you from the fundamental concepts of these technologies through their practical implementation in sustainable projects to concrete strategies for integrating them into everyday work. Based on best-practice examples, it demonstrates how digital innovations are already being used successfully today and what opportunities they present for the future. Given global challenges and increasing demands on sustainable building, now is the time to actively leverage the opportunities of digitalization and AI.

The idea for the 'AI Practice Talk' emerged during a joint online meeting of the Mittelstand-Digital working groups 'AI' and 'Work 4.0,' where potential joint projects and collaborations were discussed.

This brochure presents the digital development, design, and fabrication of a prototypical holiday home. Using a demonstrator as an example, it highlights parametric design, digital production processes, and the potential of customized manufacturing for small and medium-sized enterprises.

An overview of the digital twin as a dynamic, data-driven building model for simulation, analysis, and optimization across the entire lifecycle – from design to operation.

Short description of a web-based timber construction configurator for the rapid selection and design of sustainable educational buildings, offering customized recommendations for renovation, expansion, or new construction.

A concise overview of the Type E Building Standard as an approach to simpler, more cost-effective, and resource-efficient construction through the use of digital design tools.

Presentation of a digitally fabricated holiday home demonstrator illustrating parametric design, customized timber production, and digital process chains for SMEs.

Applications in the Construction Industry – Examples

The 'Stadtwerke Wismar' project focuses on analyzing the municipal utilities administration building on Flöter Weg in Wismar. As part of the project, digital tools were used to simulate the building's energy consumption and develop modernization solutions aimed at enabling a more sustainable and energy-efficient future for the facility.

Overview of digital tools for early-stage building analysis and sustainable design, based on a retrofit case study of Stadtwerke Wismar.

This practical project describes how digital simulation tools (e.g., for solar tracking, energy balance, and life-cycle analysis) were used to develop a sustainable modernization concept for the administrative building of Stadtwerke Wismar. The focus is on the students’ comparison of various renovation scenarios aimed at improving energy efficiency and workplace quality.

The Plus-Energy School project is a pilot construction project focusing on the energy-efficient retrofit of a school building under the EnEff:Schule funding program. The goal of this demonstration building project was to achieve maximum reduction in energy consumption through the active and passive use of renewable energy. Beyond improving the building's exterior and interior structure and form, the project aimed to expand the school facility's functional potential. The final result articulates this holistic approach to design quality across energy, architectural, and user-specific levels.

The article provides an overview of digital tools for municipal carbon accounting and offers new momentum and ideas for future climate-positive development. As an example, it presents the GHG accounting and concept for achieving climate neutrality (and climate positivity) in the municipality of Dahme (Ostholstein).

This One-pager presents an applied project by unseKinder GmbH, in which VR and AR headsets as well as 3D BIM models were utilized to enhance public and user participation in designing a sustainable children and youth campus in Stralsund.

Systemic Timber Construction

Der Leitfaden „Holzbau im System (HO_SY)“ beschreibt ein standardisiertes, modulares Holzbausystem für öffentliche Gebäude wie Kitas und Schulen. Er enthält Bauteilkataloge, Planungsregeln und Beispiele, um nachhaltige, kostensichere und schnell umsetzbare Holzgebäude zu planen.

The 'Systemic Timber Construction' guide outlines how standardized and modular timber building systems can be designed and delivered for facilities—particularly schools and daycare centers. The objective is to achieve sustainable, cost-effective, and rapidly executable timber construction through prefabrication, digitization, and repeatable building components.

The brochure presents showcase timber construction projects in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania from 2013 to 2023, providing an overview of current developments and the versatility of modern timber engineering across the region. The projects are categorized into public buildings, mixed-use developments, holiday residences, residential buildings, and civil engineering structures.

Smart Hotel

The designation 'SMART' has evolved into one of the central keywords of digital transformation. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in particular, this can present a significant challenge, as digitalization has fundamentally altered the operational reality of today's hoteliers. Online marketing and distribution, revenue management, online reputation management, social media, and implementing sustainable operational practices—these are just a few of the facets that make it difficult for hoteliers to keep pace with rapid technological developments and maintain a competitive edge.

Building on this foundation, as well as stakeholder interviews and market research, Wismar University of Applied Sciences has developed a practical guide. Utilizing a 3-tier framework (SMART, SMART plus, and all SMART), the guide supports hoteliers in assessing their property's current digital maturity, discovering the potential of emerging technologies, and gaining a comprehensive overview of market solutions tailored to their specific hotel concept. Because one thing is clear: hospitality concepts are multifaceted and anchored in diverse guest experiences. Nevertheless, certain baseline digital criteria are indispensable to ensuring future competitiveness.

This thematic guide highlights smart mobility concepts in hotel operations and demonstrates how sustainable arrival, departure, and local mobility can be digitally enabled. Topics covered include charging infrastructure, shuttle services, e-bikes, electric vehicles (EVs), and car-sharing as core building blocks of a future-proof 'Smart Hotel'.

This thematic guide provides a compact overview of digital public relations opportunities in hotel operations and presents practical approaches for communication, marketing, and guest information. It outlines key components of a 'Smart Hotel' and illustrates how digital tools can enhance visibility and target group engagement.

In the thematic guide 'Smart Building Concepts in Hotel Operations,' you will discover essential insights into smart technical devices, systems, and their automation, alongside in-depth approaches to complex building management systems. Furthermore, it addresses hotel energy management, smart control options, compatibility, and interfaces—such as with hotel property management systems (PMS) and consumer electronics (e.g., Smart TVs).

An insight into the 'Smart Hotel' concept and the deployment of intelligent digital technologies to enhance efficiency, sustainability, guest comfort, and hotel operations.

Affordable Housing

This information sheet provides a concise overview of approaches and digital opportunities for planning and implementing affordable housing.

The planning guide 'Affordable Housing for Our Region – Building Typologies' outlines adaptable building types and design standards for cost-effective residential construction in small towns. It presents compact housing models as an alternative to single-family homes, featuring sustainable, energy-efficient, and community-oriented design principles that can be applied across various locations.

Student design project on affordable housing in Boizenburg featuring sustainable living concepts for diverse target groups. The focus is on sustainable building typologies, communal housing models, and scalable solutions for small towns and rural regions.

A concrete design concept was developed for an affordable residential area in Rehna, featuring multiple building types, compact floor plans, and cost-effective construction. The result serves as a scalable model that other small towns can replicate to create affordable housing.

Documentation of a student design project in Dassow featuring concepts for affordable housing in the West Mecklenburg region. It presents urban planning approaches, building typologies, and sustainable strategies scalable to small towns and rural areas.

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Hochschule Wismar
University of Applied Sciences, Technology, Business and Design

Faculty of Architecture and Design

Philipp-Müller-Straße 14

23966 Wismar

+49 (0) 3841 753 7138