Integrating Building Information Modeling and Life Cycle Assessment to Enhance the Decisions Related to Selecting Construction Methods at the Conceptual Design Stage of Buildings

Nkechi McNeil-Ayuk () and Ahmad Jrade ()
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Nkechi McNeil-Ayuk: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
Ahmad Jrade: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 7, 1-28

Abstract: The construction industry, which is responsible for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions, is facing increasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices. Traditional construction methods often escalate resource depletion and waste generation, highlighting the need to prioritize sustainability. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a significant tool for evaluating the environmental impacts of materials across different life cycle stages, yet its application is hindered by data complexities and uncertainties, particularly during the early design phases. Building Information Modeling (BIM) offers a transformative solution by centralizing and automating multidisciplinary data, thus streamlining LCA processes. This study addresses those existing gaps by proposing a structured methodology that integrates BIM with LCA to enhance their applicability during early design. The model leverages BIM’s capabilities to automate data extraction and enable real-time impact assessments by providing precise environmental evaluations of different construction methods. Focusing on modular prefabrication, 3D concrete printing, and conventional construction, this model comparatively evaluates environmental performance across different life cycle phases, highlighting distinct strengths and improvement areas. The Whole Building LCA reveals clear environmental differences, emphasizing modular construction’s substantial opportunities for enhancement to reduce critical impacts such as climate change and fossil depletion. This model supports decision-making, promotes circular economy principles, and aids the construction industry’s transition toward more sustainable practices.

Keywords: sustainable construction; LCA; BIM; environmental impact; computer integration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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