Integrating building information modelling (BIM) and whole building life cycle assessment (WBLCA) for green building rating systems

Abstract

Buildings are one of the largest contributors to global warming and climate change in recent decades. Therefore, promoting sustainability in the built environment has been an increasing concern for both academics and stakeholders in the building industry. Despite the global efforts to develop and adopt various environmental assessment tools, methods and technologies that reduce building environmental impacts, building carbon emissions throughout the whole lifecycle continue to raise, reaching their highest global share in 2019. Therefore, the ultimate goal of this thesis is to optimize building environmental assessment and enhance the validity and reliability of the green building rating systems, therefore, accelerating decarbonization in the built environment. Hence, this thesis proposes a framework that integrates scientific environmental assessment methods such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and building technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) in order to (1) enhance the reliability, validity and structure of the existing green building rating assessment systems, (2) develop science-based carbon emissions benchmarks for buildings (3) identify the current emissions gaps to achieve the international reduction targets, (4) automate the building environmental assessment process. In addition, the research recognizes and explores the influence of the social factor, represented in the industry stakeholders, on adopting green building tools and technologies.

The research, foremost, compares various international Green Building Rating Systems (GBRSs) from Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) perspective to investigate their reliability as building environmental assessment tools. In the following step, this thesis develops science- based carbon emissions benchmarks for residential buildings in New Zealand using an integrated approach of Whole Building LCA (WBLCA) and the Distance to Target (DTT) methods. The developed carbon emissions benchmarks can achieve the Paris Agreement and the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reduction targets for 2030 and 2050 to limit global warming to 1.5 °C. Furthermore, the research identifies the current carbon emissions gaps throughout building lifecycle stages from cradle to grave. Following, the research explores the feasibility to integrate building technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) tools into the building environmental assessment process. First, the research develops a comprehensive BIM-based Green Building rating System framework that can achieve the requirements of each assessment criteria within the green building rating systems. In the later step, the thesis develops an integrated BIM-based LCA framework for the green building rating systems that, as well, incorporates the developed science-based carbon emissions benchmarks in order to optimize and automate the environmental assessment process of the existing green building rating systems. Due to the significance of the stakeholders’ role in the building industry, this thesis conducts stakeholders’ analysis research as a non-technical factor that can influence the implementation of green buildings and the environmental assessment tools. This thesis investigates multiple stakeholders’ perspectives and attitudes towards green buildings, Green Building Rating Systems, BIM and LCA applications. The outcome of the stakeholders’ research provides a comprehensive picture of green building practices in New Zealand and proposes a number of practical recommendations that aim to enhance the collaboration and decision-making process in the building industry.

The thesis contributes to the body of scientific knowledge of green buildings and carbon budget research. It connects the dots and integrates the science, technology and social factors to provide a holistic and scientific approach that enhances the building assessment process and mitigates building environmental impacts on the planet.