Parametric BIM-based life cycle assessment framework for optimal sustainable design

Abstract

The construction sector is liable for a sizable amount of CO2 emissions and waste. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is considered one of the crucial tools that aids in evaluating the impacts of construction emissions. This research aims to quantify the life cycle impacts of the initial and recurrent embodied emissions, operating and reuse/disposal emissions, and utilizing Building Information Modeling (BIM) for a more holistic life cycle approach. The research proposes a parametric BIM-based LCA framework for quantifying the environmental impacts and evaluating the effects of material selection for both embodied and operating emissions. In addition, it considers the different reuse scenarios and percentages and their effect on both the embodied and operating impacts. The proposed framework consists of five main modules: data acquisition module, operating and embodied emissions module, life cycle assessment module, optimization module, and decision-making module. This parametric assessment can be applied for both the conventional and circular approach impacts. For the decision-making process, the resulting emissions are optimized utilizing the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) and evaluated through an LCA and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methodology for the material selection. A case study of a residential villa in Cairo is worked out to illustrate the key features of the proposed framework. This assessment analyzes the building materials’ characteristics and efficiency investigating the external walls, internal walls, floors, roofs, and windows design possibilities, and uses visual programming to control the resulting emissions for a more flexible approach. By comparing the integrated LCA and DEA models three optimum design solutions, the conventional approach develops design solutions of higher embodied Global Warming Potential (GWP) than the circular approach. However, it develops lower operating GWP with better applied U-values. The circularity approach employment has reduced the efficiency of the operating GWP due to utilizing materials with high heat transmittance ability.