TY - JOUR
T1 - Developing an automated BIM-based life cycle assessment approach for modularly designed high-rise buildings
AU - Ansah, Mark Kyeredey
AU - Chen, Xi
AU - Yang, Hongxing
AU - Lu, Lin
AU - Lam, Patrick T.I.
N1 - Funding Information:
The work described in this paper was supported by the PhD studentship from the Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University .
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021
PY - 2021/9
Y1 - 2021/9
N2 - Modular construction has attracted increasing attention due to its energy and environmental benefits. Digital technologies such as building information modelling (BIM) have also been explored to generate and manage data through the lifecycle of buildings. Although research has been performed in the area of integrating BIM and modular construction, BIM-based automated lifecycle assessment (LCA) of prefabricated buildings remains unexplored. This study therefore aims to develop a BIM-based LCA method for prefabricated buildings incorporating different assessment levels with unique system boundaries and functional units. The developed approach can support automated assessments through all lifecycle phases of a prefabricated building. It is achieved through an automated process of creating parameters to merge LCA data into the building model, systematic zoning, model setup and impact estimation. This approach is applied to evaluate the energy and environmental performances of a case building in Hong Kong. The case study validated the efficiency of the developed BIM-based LCA method in providing a systematic and detailed assessment of modularly designed buildings. This study extends the knowledge in automated BIM-based LCA by addressing specific characteristics of prefabrication and promotes the incorporation of comprehensive and detailed LCA data into BIM models for improved design robustness and holistic performances of buildings. This validated approach will enhance the willingness of designers to apply LCA during the design stages for minimizing the energy and environmental impacts of both new and renovated buildings with prefabrication.
AB - Modular construction has attracted increasing attention due to its energy and environmental benefits. Digital technologies such as building information modelling (BIM) have also been explored to generate and manage data through the lifecycle of buildings. Although research has been performed in the area of integrating BIM and modular construction, BIM-based automated lifecycle assessment (LCA) of prefabricated buildings remains unexplored. This study therefore aims to develop a BIM-based LCA method for prefabricated buildings incorporating different assessment levels with unique system boundaries and functional units. The developed approach can support automated assessments through all lifecycle phases of a prefabricated building. It is achieved through an automated process of creating parameters to merge LCA data into the building model, systematic zoning, model setup and impact estimation. This approach is applied to evaluate the energy and environmental performances of a case building in Hong Kong. The case study validated the efficiency of the developed BIM-based LCA method in providing a systematic and detailed assessment of modularly designed buildings. This study extends the knowledge in automated BIM-based LCA by addressing specific characteristics of prefabrication and promotes the incorporation of comprehensive and detailed LCA data into BIM models for improved design robustness and holistic performances of buildings. This validated approach will enhance the willingness of designers to apply LCA during the design stages for minimizing the energy and environmental impacts of both new and renovated buildings with prefabrication.
KW - Building information modelling (BIM)
KW - Cumulative energy demand
KW - Global warming potential
KW - Life cycle assessment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85108090100&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.eiar.2021.106618
DO - 10.1016/j.eiar.2021.106618
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85108090100
SN - 0195-9255
VL - 90
JO - Environmental Impact Assessment Review
JF - Environmental Impact Assessment Review
M1 - 106618
ER -