Abstract
More than thirty years after the definition of sustainable development, the commitment to protect the planet has been renewed, and all sectors of human activity have been called to contribute to this critical challenge of our time. Therefore, the construction sector can also make an essential contribution. Designers are called upon to modify their actions to consider the environmental, social, and economic impacts during the entire life cycle of construction. The digital revolution could be a suitable opportunity for a profound renewal oriented towards sustainability. The new digital technologies and the increased computing power are useful for managing the increasing complexity in current projects and supporting collaboration between the many experts involved. The presented research analyzes the current state and identifies the signs of change and the cues to imagine possible virtuous complicity between sustainable development goals and the digital revolution’s potential, which is supported by the operational features of optimization methods. Based on this in-depth analysis, an operational strategy has been defined, combining the three macro themes usually treated separately—sustainability, digitization, and optimization. This strategy can be a valuable tool to guide designers in optimizing the process of sustainable design and regenerative construction.
Highlights
More than thirty years after the definition of sustainable development [1], and the first forecasted scenarios for our future, the expected impact on the environment due to the evolution of human civilization is unchanged, if not worsened
The examples have been diversified to achieve different goals related to sustainable design, use different tools, and calculate methods for resolving the optimization process
The paper presented, explored, and discussed the challenges for sustainable development and the contribution that it can make, as well as the change that our industry can make. This change is believed to be fostered by the digital revolution and the integration of optimization techniques that are still underutilized today
Summary
More than thirty years after the definition of sustainable development [1], and the first forecasted scenarios for our future, the expected impact on the environment due to the evolution of human civilization is unchanged, if not worsened. Rising global temperatures, rising sea levels, and desertification are some of the most worrying impacts of climate change that compromise the survival of many biological systems on our planet. These must be added the inevitable effects due to the increase in world population [3] and the growth of existing urban areas or the creation of new ones [2]. Climate change mitigation is one of the most significant challenges of our time, and all sectors of human activity are called upon to make their contribution. The construction sector can make an essential contribution because its environmental, social, and economic responsibilities and implications are significant. Designers are called to move in a context for a resilient future where resources (energy, raw materials, economic, etc.) are limited and where we must, try to make optimal use of them
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