LCM at the Urban Scale: BIM
and Nature Based Solutions
Antonino Marvuglia, Benedetto Rugani and Germain Adell
Abstract Access to data on built environment databases makes nowadays possible
generating models of the urban spaces to facilitate visualization and analysis of
information and synthesize it in sustainability indicators to support urban planning
decisions. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) can greatly benefit from this wealth of
potentially available information. The use of LCA data in models developed in
Building Information Modelling (BIM) platforms is likely to facilitate the implementation of quantitative environmental assessment in the construction field and
their extension, from the building to the city level. Within sustainable urban
planning and management, also Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) play a potentially
important role, although benefits, co-benefits and costs associated with NBS projects still remain not sufficiently understood. All those aspects have been discussed
via the presentation of case studies, proofs of concept and experts’ visions within
this session.
1 Introduction and Scope of the Session
An assessment of energy and environmental performances of building stocks at
large spatial scales is increasingly needed for decision support in sustainable urban
planning and policy making. While current bottom-up building stock models have
mainly focused on the operational energy use up to the last decade, a more holistic
environmental assessment of the different stages of buildings life cycle is now
required. However, extending a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) model from the
A. Marvuglia (&) Á B. Rugani
Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN) Department, Luxembourg Institute
of Science and Technology (LIST), 4422 Belvaux, Luxembourg
e-mail: antonino.marvuglia@list.lu
G. Adell
Nobatek/INEF4 Institute for the Energy Transition, 67 rue de Mirambeau,
64600 Anglet, France
© The Author(s) 2018
E. Benetto et al. (eds.), Designing Sustainable Technologies,
Products and Policies, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66981-6_29
261
and Nature Based Solutions
Antonino Marvuglia, Benedetto Rugani and Germain Adell
Abstract Access to data on built environment databases makes nowadays possible
generating models of the urban spaces to facilitate visualization and analysis of
information and synthesize it in sustainability indicators to support urban planning
decisions. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) can greatly benefit from this wealth of
potentially available information. The use of LCA data in models developed in
Building Information Modelling (BIM) platforms is likely to facilitate the implementation of quantitative environmental assessment in the construction field and
their extension, from the building to the city level. Within sustainable urban
planning and management, also Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) play a potentially
important role, although benefits, co-benefits and costs associated with NBS projects still remain not sufficiently understood. All those aspects have been discussed
via the presentation of case studies, proofs of concept and experts’ visions within
this session.
1 Introduction and Scope of the Session
An assessment of energy and environmental performances of building stocks at
large spatial scales is increasingly needed for decision support in sustainable urban
planning and policy making. While current bottom-up building stock models have
mainly focused on the operational energy use up to the last decade, a more holistic
environmental assessment of the different stages of buildings life cycle is now
required. However, extending a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) model from the
A. Marvuglia (&) Á B. Rugani
Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN) Department, Luxembourg Institute
of Science and Technology (LIST), 4422 Belvaux, Luxembourg
e-mail: antonino.marvuglia@list.lu
G. Adell
Nobatek/INEF4 Institute for the Energy Transition, 67 rue de Mirambeau,
64600 Anglet, France
© The Author(s) 2018
E. Benetto et al. (eds.), Designing Sustainable Technologies,
Products and Policies, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66981-6_29
261