Digitalizing and Greening the Built Environment

Abstract

The paper investigated issues of greening and digitalizing the built environment with a view to identifying applications of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in it and prospects of smart cities development. The paper adopted qualitative research method, with its design based on archival materials in the subject investigated as contained in the literatures reviewed on it as a mono-method. Google search engine was employed to scout through Google Scholar, Science Direct, among other relevant websites for open-access materials. Qualitative data obtained were subjected to content/thematic analyses. Findings revealed that digitalizing and greening the built environment have great prospects in smart cities development, one of which is the creation of sustainable environment resulting in reduction of carbon emissions from the built environment, lowering of global warming, increase of user participation in buildings and lowering the cost of building lifecycle. Although green building design strategies and digitalization have advanced, full adoption in the built environment particularly in developing nations is required, hence the need to take steps in the right direction. Digitalizing and greening the built environment can enhance the quality of life of people by increasing availability of green spaces, improving air quality, creating healthy living spaces, and reducing pollution levels. The study sensitizes architects, planners, and other designers in considering sustainability and digitalization from predesign phase (incorporating required or special features into the design of future cities, towns, and microenvironments) to postconstruction phase making the environment sustainable.