scholarly journals Using BIM to calculate accurate building material quantities for early design phase Life Cycle Assessment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Brian Berg
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Building Material ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Building Design ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Design Phase ◽  
Building Information

<p>This research simplifies the calculation of the Initial Embodied Energy (iEE) for commercial office buildings. The result is the improved integration of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) assessments of building materials into the early stages of the building design process (sketch design). This maximises the effectiveness of implementing design solutions to lower a building’s environmental impact.  This thesis research proposes that building Information Models (BIM) will make calculating building material quantities easier, to simplify LCA calculations, all to improve their integration into existing sketch design phase practices, and building design decisions. This is achieved by developing a methodology for using BIM LCA tools to calculate highly detailed material quantities from a simple BIM model of sketch design phase building information. This is methodology is called an Initial Embodied Energy Building Information Model Life Cycle Assessment Building Performance Sketch (iEE BIM LCA BPS). Using this methodology calculates iEE results that are accurate, and represent a sufficient proportion (complete) of a building’s total iEE consumption, making them useful for iEE decision-making.  iEE is one example of a LCA-based indicator that was used to test, and prove the feasibility of the iEE BIM LCA BPS methodology. Proving this, the research method tests the accuracy that a BIM model can calculate case study building’s building material quantities. This included developing; a methodology for how to use the BIM tool Revit to calculate iEE; a functional definition of an iEE BIM LCA BPS based on the environmental impact, and sketch design decisions effecting building materials, and elements; and an EE simulation calibration accuracy assessment methodology, complete with a function definition of the accuracy required of an iEE simulation to ensure it’s useful for sketch design decision-making.  Two main tests were conducted as part of proving the iEE BIM LCA BPS’ feasibility. Test one assessed and proved that the iEE BIM LCA BPS model based on sketch design information does represent a sufficient proportion (complete) of a building’s total iEE consumption, so that are useful for iEE decision-making. This was tested by comparing the building material quantities from a SOQ (SOQ) produced to a sketch design level of detail (truth model 3), to an as-built level of detail, defined as current iEE best practices (truth model 1). Subsequent to proving that the iEE BIM LCA BPS is sufficiently complete, test two assessed if a BIM model and tool could calculate building material quantities accurately compared to truth model 3. The outcome was answering the research question of, how detailed does a BIM model need to be to calculate accurate building material quantities for a building material LCA (LCA) assessment?  The inference of this thesis research is a methodology for using BIM models to calculate the iEE of New Zealand commercial office buildings in the early phases of the design process. The outcome was that a building design team’s current level of sketch design phase information is sufficiently detailed for sketch design phase iEE assessment. This means, that iEE and other LCA-based assessment indicators can be integrated into a design team’s existing design process, practices, and decisions, with no restructuring required.</p>

scholarly journals Using BIM to calculate accurate building material quantities for early design phase Life Cycle Assessment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Brian Berg
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Building Material ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Building Design ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Design Phase ◽  
Building Information

<p>This research simplifies the calculation of the Initial Embodied Energy (iEE) for commercial office buildings. The result is the improved integration of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) assessments of building materials into the early stages of the building design process (sketch design). This maximises the effectiveness of implementing design solutions to lower a building’s environmental impact.  This thesis research proposes that building Information Models (BIM) will make calculating building material quantities easier, to simplify LCA calculations, all to improve their integration into existing sketch design phase practices, and building design decisions. This is achieved by developing a methodology for using BIM LCA tools to calculate highly detailed material quantities from a simple BIM model of sketch design phase building information. This is methodology is called an Initial Embodied Energy Building Information Model Life Cycle Assessment Building Performance Sketch (iEE BIM LCA BPS). Using this methodology calculates iEE results that are accurate, and represent a sufficient proportion (complete) of a building’s total iEE consumption, making them useful for iEE decision-making.  iEE is one example of a LCA-based indicator that was used to test, and prove the feasibility of the iEE BIM LCA BPS methodology. Proving this, the research method tests the accuracy that a BIM model can calculate case study building’s building material quantities. This included developing; a methodology for how to use the BIM tool Revit to calculate iEE; a functional definition of an iEE BIM LCA BPS based on the environmental impact, and sketch design decisions effecting building materials, and elements; and an EE simulation calibration accuracy assessment methodology, complete with a function definition of the accuracy required of an iEE simulation to ensure it’s useful for sketch design decision-making.  Two main tests were conducted as part of proving the iEE BIM LCA BPS’ feasibility. Test one assessed and proved that the iEE BIM LCA BPS model based on sketch design information does represent a sufficient proportion (complete) of a building’s total iEE consumption, so that are useful for iEE decision-making. This was tested by comparing the building material quantities from a SOQ (SOQ) produced to a sketch design level of detail (truth model 3), to an as-built level of detail, defined as current iEE best practices (truth model 1). Subsequent to proving that the iEE BIM LCA BPS is sufficiently complete, test two assessed if a BIM model and tool could calculate building material quantities accurately compared to truth model 3. The outcome was answering the research question of, how detailed does a BIM model need to be to calculate accurate building material quantities for a building material LCA (LCA) assessment?  The inference of this thesis research is a methodology for using BIM models to calculate the iEE of New Zealand commercial office buildings in the early phases of the design process. The outcome was that a building design team’s current level of sketch design phase information is sufficiently detailed for sketch design phase iEE assessment. This means, that iEE and other LCA-based assessment indicators can be integrated into a design team’s existing design process, practices, and decisions, with no restructuring required.</p>

scholarly journals Life Cycle Assessment as a Major Support Tool within Multi-Criteria Design Process of Single Dwellings Located in Poland

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 3748
Author(s):  
Michał Pierzchalski ◽  
Elżbieta Dagny Ryńska ◽  
Arkadiusz Węglarz
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Energy Levels ◽  
Minimum Cost ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Single Family ◽  
Support Tool

Life cycle assessment is an environmental method which estimates either a process or a building material within the cradle-to-grave cycle. Presently, it is one of a few tools that include all factors which may influence the environment. The authors used this tool to prove effects connected with potential efficient energy levels and a reduction in CO2 emissions within a building’s life cycle. For the purpose of our analyses, several types of single-family building were chosen and they were subjected to analysis in the fixed location of Warsaw. The research scope included a numerical analysis of the buildings concerning the level of embodied energies and the emission of greenhouse gases. The performed analysis proved that, within a 50-year cycle, the difference between the embodied energy from the best and worst building choices can amount to 14.87%, whereas a reduction in embodied carbon emissions can reach 20.65%. Each change in the building’s form and the type of building materials used, regardless of the usable area, influence the environmental impact. Therefore, this paper concludes that LCA, as a management tool, should be used cyclically as part of each phase of the design process. A multi-criteria method for selecting architectural solutions was proposed which considered minimum cumulative primary energy, minimum cumulative carbon emission and minimum cost of constructing a building.

scholarly journals Design for Deconstruction in the Design Process: State of the Art

Buildings ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jouri Kanters
Keyword(s):  
Design Process ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Building Design ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Low Energy ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Operation Phase ◽  
State Of Art

Stricter building regulations have resulted in the construction of buildings with a low energy use during the operation phase. It has now become increasingly important to also look at the embodied energy, because it might, over the lifespan of the building, equal the energy used for operating the building. One way to decrease the embodied energy is to reuse building materials and components or to prepare the building for deconstruction; a term called design for deconstruction (DfD). While design for deconstruction has showed environmental, social, and economic benefits, hardly any building designed and built today is designed for deconstruction. The aim of this literature review is to understand the state-of-art of design for deconstruction and how it affects the design process. In most of the literature, general construction principles are specified that promote the design for deconstruction and focus on (a) the overall building design, (b) materials and connections, (c) construction and deconstruction phase, and (d) communication, competence, and knowledge. Furthermore, the reuse potential of specific building materials is discussed, as well as the available tools for DfD. Additionally, the current barriers for DfD as specified by the literature show lack of competence, regulations, and other related elements.

The use of Life Cycle Engineering/ Life Cycle Assessment within the design process of production facilities; A business case: Different options of handling overspray

2005 ◽  
Vol 895 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Binder ◽  
Harald Florin ◽  
Johannes Kreissig
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Software Tool ◽  
Business Case ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Design Phase ◽  
Design Options ◽  
Total Life

AbstractThis presentation will illustrate how to expand the view by considering the total life cycle in an efficient way into the decision making process and why it is important to do so. The business case will show, how the ecological and economic aspects considering the total life cycle of different design options have been considered when determining the preferable design options out of an holistic point of view. Life Cycle Engineering (LCE)/ Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) integrated in the design Process LCE methodology is evaluating ecological, technical and economic aspects considering the total life cycle of processes/products. LCA studies are the basis for the ecological evaluation within LCE. LCE studies are based on material and energy flow information needed while running the facilities or for producing products. LCE is a simulation tool show optimization potentials as well as supporting the decision making process within the design phase. As various databases hold information on ecological impacts of material- and energy production and information on the economic values is available within the involved companies, time consuming research on basic materials and energies is not necessary. Therefore first estimations on scenarios can be made within days to support the decision process not causing any time delay. LCE studies can be conducted within the design process and on existing facilities/products. If LCE is used within the design process optimization potentials can be shown in early stages of the design phase of facilities/products. Integration of LCE within early stages of the design ensures an efficient way of improving the ecological profile of processes and products and reducing the overall costs considering the total life cycle. Realization within a software tool The software tool GaBi4 is developed and designed to support LCE efficiently and in a transparent way. The design of the facilities can be modeled according to the material and energy flow. This enables the user to run scenario analysis for different design options based on the process flow model. Business case The methodology of LCE has been integrated into the design process of the new rear axle paint shop focusing on the handling of the overspray. Different design options have been analyzed and arguments were made explicit to support the decision making process. As LCE was part of the whole design process from the beginning, the effort for all participants could have been minimized. Conclusions The case study has shown that the integration of LCE into the design process provides additional information and is not causing any delay of the decision making process. LCE enables a transparent presentation of the economics and ecological impacts on a process bases. Optimization potentials, ecological and economic, can be shown at all stages of the design phase and result in reducing the overall costs and environmental burdens caused by the paint process.

Life Cycle Assessment of Ceramic Bricks

2012 ◽  
Vol 727-728 ◽  
pp. 815-820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerônimo Moraes Gomes ◽  
Ana Luiza Folchini Salgado ◽  
Dachamir Hotza
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Building Design ◽  
Comparative Approach ◽  
Red Clay ◽  
Environment Friendly ◽  
Input Material ◽  
Relevant Role

Ceramic bricks are one of the most widely used materials in both commercial and residential buildings. Ceramic bricks play a relevant role in the Brazilian economy. The basic input material for this industry is red clay. As environmental problems increase, the need for environment-friendly building design increases. To achieve this, architects and engineers need reliable data on the environmental impacts of various building materials, including ceramic bricks. In this paper a comparative Life Cycle Assessment between two ceramic brick production units in Santa Catarina State, Brazil, has been carried in a comparative approach. Key impact categories, including fossil fuel use, global warming, ozone depletion, ecotoxicity, and human toxicity were assessed. The analysis has shown a particular relevance of the respiratory effects in both systems and the critical point has been found in the fuel used in the furnace for firing the bricks which are responsible, during the ring process, for the relevant CO2 emissions.

A Review of the Application of LCA for Sustainable Buildings in Asia

2013 ◽  
Vol 724-725 ◽  
pp. 1597-1601 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Faiz Abd Rashid ◽  
Sumiani Yusoff ◽  
Noorsaidi Mahat
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
International Organization ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Building Industry ◽  
Sustainable Buildings ◽  
Iso 14040 ◽  
Operational Phase

The introduction of life cycle assessment (LCA) to the building industry is important due to its ability to systematically quantify every environmental impact involved in every process from cradle to grave. Within the last two decades, research on LCA has increased considerably covering from manufacturing of building materials and construction processes. However, the LCA application for buildings in Asia are limited and fragmented due to different research objectives, type of buildings and locations. This paper has attempted to collect and review the application of LCA in the building industry in Asia from the selected publications over the last 12 years, from 2001 to 2012. The result shows that most LCA research basic methodology is based on International Organization of Standardization (ISO) 14040 series but with variance. It is found that the operational phase consume highest energy and concrete responsible for the highest total embodied energy and environmental impact. It also suggested that building material with low initial embodied energy does not necessarily have low life cycle energy. Overall, findings from LCA studies can help to make informed decisions in terms of environmental impact and help realizing sustainable buildings in the future.

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