scholarly journals A Conceptual Framework for Estimating Building Embodied Carbon Based on Digital Twin Technology and Life Cycle Assessment

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (24) ◽  
pp. 13875
Author(s):  
Chen Chen ◽  
Zengfeng Zhao ◽  
Jianzhuang Xiao ◽  
Robert Tiong
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Radio Frequency Identification ◽  
Hybrid Approach ◽  
Data Communication ◽  
Building Design ◽  
Digital Twin ◽  
Embodied Carbon ◽  
Carbon Based

Low-carbon building design requests an estimation of total embodied carbon as the environmental performance metric for comparison of different design options in early design stages. Due to a lack of consensus on the system boundaries in building life cycle assessment (LCA), the carbon estimation results obtained by the current methods are often disputable. In this regard, this paper proposes a method for estimating building embodied carbon based on digital twin technology and LCA. The proposed method is advantageous over others by providing (1) a cradle-to-cradle LCA and (2) an automated data communication between LCA and building information modelling (BIM) databases. Because data for the processes in the life cycle are collected via digital twin technology in a standard and consistent way, the obtained results will be considered credible. So far, a conceptual framework is developed based on a comprehensive literature review, which consists of three parts. In the first part, formulas for LCA are given. In the second part, a hybrid approach combining semantic web with a relational database for BIM and radio-frequency identification (RFID) integration is described. In the third part, how to design the LCA database and how to link LCA with BIM are described. The conceptual framework proposed is tested for its reasonableness by a small hypothetical case study.

scholarly journals Sustainability Requirements of Digital Twin-Based Systems: A Meta Systematic Literature Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 5519
Author(s):  
Rui Carvalho ◽  
Alberto Rodrigues da Silva
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Product Life Cycle ◽  
Data Communication ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Digital Twin ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Reducing Costs

Sustainable development was defined by the UN in 1987 as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, and this is a core concept in this paper. This work acknowledges the three dimensions of sustainability, i.e., economic, social, and environmental, but its focus is on this last one. A digital twin (DT) is frequently described as a physical entity with a virtual counterpart, and the data, connections between the two, implying the existence of connectors and blocks for efficient and effective data communication. This paper provides a meta systematic literature review (SLR) (i.e., an SLR of SLRs) regarding the sustainability requirements of DT-based systems. Numerous papers on the subject of DT were also selected because they cited the analyzed SLRs and were considered relevant to the purposes of this research. From the selection and analysis of 29 papers, several limitations and challenges were identified: the perceived benefits of DTs are not clearly understood; DTs across the product life cycle or the DT life cycle are not sufficiently studied; it is not clear how DTs can contribute to reducing costs or supporting decision-making; technical implementation of DTs must be improved and better integrated in the context of the IoT; the level of fidelity of DTs is not entirely evaluated in terms of their parameters, accuracy, and level of abstraction; and the ownership of data stored within DTs should be better understood. Furthermore, from our research, it was not possible to find a paper discussing DTs only in regard to environmental sustainability.

Value Chain Analysis of Palm Oil Biodiesel through a Hybrid (ISO-Eco) Life Cycle Assessment Approach

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yosef Manik
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Palm Oil ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Functional Unit ◽  
Hybrid Approach ◽  
Inventory Analysis ◽  
Fresh Fruit Bunch ◽  
Unit Process ◽  
Palm Oil Biodiesel

<p class="TTPParagraph1st">This study assesses the life-cycle impacts of palm oil biodiesel value chain in order to provide insights toward holistic sustainability awareness on the current development of bio-based energy policy. The assessment methodology was performed under a hybrid approach combining ISO-14040 Life Cycle Assessment (ISO-LCA) technique and Ecologically-based Life Cycle Assessment (Eco-LCA) methodology. The scope of this study covers all stages in palm oil biodiesel value chain or is often referred to as “cradle-to-grave” analysis. The functional unit to which all inputs and outputs were calculated is the production of 1 ton of biodiesel. For the analysis, life cycle inventory data were collected from professional databases and from scholarly articles addressing global palm oil supply chains. The inventory analysis yields a linked flow associating the land used, fresh fruit bunch (FFB), crude palm oil (CPO), per functional unit of 1 kg of palm oil biodiesel (POB). The linked flow obtained in the inventory analysis were then normalized and characterized following the characterization model formulated inISO-LCA guidelines. The aggregation of ecological inputs was classified based on the mass and energy associated to each unit process in the value chain, which are cultivation, extraction, conversion, and utilization. It is noted that compared to other unit processes, cultivation is the most crucial unit process within the whole palm oil biodiesel value chain. This study serves as a big picture about the current state of palm oil biodiesel value chain, which will be beneficial for further improving oversight of the policy making and service toward sustainable development.</p><p class="TTPKeywords"><strong><span> </span></strong></p>

scholarly journals Digital Twin Aided Sustainability and Vulnerability Audit for Subway Stations

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (19) ◽  
pp. 7873 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sakdirat Kaewunruen ◽  
Shijie Peng ◽  
Olisa Phil-Ebosie
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Information Model ◽  
Subway Station ◽  
Digital Twin ◽  
Subway Stations ◽  
The Cost

Digital twin (DT) or so-called ‘building information model (BIM)’ has brought great revolution to the current building industry. Its applications to life cycle management of buildings and infrastructures can further increase the social and economic benefits. As a complete information model, a digital twin integrates the information of a project from different stages of the life cycle into a model, in order to facilitate better asset management and communicate through data visualizations with participants. This paper unprecedently introduces a digital-twin aided life cycle assessment to evaluate a subway station. Dadongmen subway station in Hefei was used as a case study. This new study benchmarks the cost estimation and carbon emission at each life cycle stage of the project. The cost in the construction stage of the project is the highest, accounting for 78% of the total cost. However, the amount of carbon emissions in the operation and maintenance is higher than the amount during the production of building materials, accounting for 67%. Among them, concrete only accounts for 43.66% of the carbon emissions of building materials, even though concrete was mainly used for constructing the metro station. Steel bar and aluminum alloy have carbon emissions of 29.73% and 17.64%, respectively. In addition, emerging risks of the subway stations can be identified. The digital twin has been used to illustrate vulnerability and potential solutions to emerging risks, and to assess the suitability through life cycle cost and carbon footprint. This initiative is relatively new to the industry. The new insight into life cycle assessment or LCA (especially carbon footprint over the life cycle) integrated with digital twin applications will enable sustainable development that will enhance resilience of metro railway systems globally.

Plant Refurbishment Options Based on the Life Cycle Assessment

2009 ◽  
Vol 16-19 ◽  
pp. 1091-1095
Author(s):  
Stuart Tomlinson ◽  
Chang J. Wang ◽  
Colin Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Numerical Data ◽  
Electrical Equipment ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Embodied Carbon ◽  
Materials Used

This paper provides an analysis of the carbon emissions of materials used by a water company in the refurbishment of mechanical and electrical equipment at its pumping station. A tool for attaining life cycle calculations for embodied carbon, which can be applied in similar applications, is developed. Due to uncertainties in the derivation of numerical data and other related information, such as sources of raw materials, the embodied carbon emissions are calculated and analyzed using material emission factors using the Life Cycle Assessment method. This work may be used as a template for organizations requiring estimates of embodied carbon in materials and plant, for example, as a precursor to a major refurbishment project.

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