Abstract
Facing the recent implementation of the Building Information Modelling (BIM) process in the construction industry, several potentialities have not been fully explored yet. Among them, is the integration of BIM in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analysis in order to automate the assessment of the potential environmental impacts. To date, despite the existing studies on the subject, there is still a need to define and establish a recommended assessment framework and software tool for LCA purposes when BIM methodology is used. This research analyses the current state of the implementation of the LCA analysis in the BIM process. Additionally, it compares the results from the use of two LCA software. For this purpose, a case study was modelled in the Autodesk Revit BIM platform and exported to two LCA specific BIM tools: Athena Impact Estimator and Tally. The life cycle impact results from both BIM tools, as well as the required workflows, are discussed and compared in order to validate results and identify the advantages and disadvantages of each. The results show that the implementation of the LCA method can be optimized in time and reliability by using the BIM process. Concerning the selected software, Tally has a better interoperability capability, user-friendly interface and a wider range of possible locations for the building. On the other hand, Athena Impact Estimator requires a detailed building characterisation to perform a comprehensive environmental impact assessment and has a broader materials database.
Highlights
European buildings are responsible for about 40% of the European Union (EU) final energy consumption, where 60% of this consumption is electricity-related [1]
Building Information Modelling has high potential to promote the use of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method since the preliminary design stages, since it simplifies all the necessary steps for the implementation of an LCA study
Building Information Modelling (BIM) is the first step of a digital revolution, which is taking place in the construction industry, making easier to define and compare the performance of different design scenarios
Summary
European buildings are responsible for about 40% of the European Union (EU) final energy consumption, where 60% of this consumption is electricity-related [1]. Extraction and processing of natural resources create environmental burdens, related to material or water extraction or land-use change, as a result of socio-economic activities. Waste and emissions are released into nature, causing environmental impactss on the planet [2]. The environmental issues concerns the reduction of use of non-renewable materials and water, and the reduction of emissions, wastes and pollutants [3]. An assessment and multi-objective optimisation at the building level is an opportunity for further research [5]. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) allows to estimate the cumulative environmental impacts, resulting from the whole life cycle stages of a product (e.g., raw material extraction, material transportation, ultimate product disposal, etc.) [6]
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