building to the district or city scales entails a number of methodological and
operational challenges.
LCA as inventory and environmental impact assessment tool can largely benefit
from datasets and knowledge base frameworks based on Building Information
Modelling (BIM) and Nature-Based Solutions (NBS). The use of BIM has the aim
to help engineers to design digital models and share building information in an
interoperable and reusable way [1]. However, firstly to apply BIM concepts
designers create 3D models of buildings hinging upon built-in databases, which are
not interoperable with the analysis tools used in LCAs of buildings. This hampers
the quantification of the potential environmental impacts of buildings using those
materials databases to support the decision-making process [2, 3]. Secondly, the
modelling of a detailed BIM is time-consuming and especially in early design
phases detailed information is usually not yet available. To this end, basic 3D
models can be used to do simplified LCAs of buildings and neighbourhoods and
compare variants in early design, when the optimization potential is high. Thirdly, a
number of standards and data formats for 3D modelling and visualization of
buildings and cities have been developed, e.g. CityGML [4, 5]; however, these
models are often not used in planning and operation, partly because of problems
with interoperability and partly due to the efforts to keep the models up to date [6].
Finally, BIM-based sustainability in the construction sector relates, at higher
scales than single buildings, with the sustainability of urban planning and management, and therefore to the efficient use of resources and impact mitigation
measures in cities. In this regard, it is worth observing that the improvement of
cities’ sustainability is nowadays supported through the explicit implementation of
Nature-based Solutions (NBS) [7, 8] in urban planning. Those represent, among
others, a means to activate impact mitigation measures in cities [7, 9]. How to
harness NBS to promote well-being in urban areas does represent another challenging and timely research theme [10, 11], which is not explored in the LCA
context. NBS strictly belong to the sustainable management of natural resources,
urban spaces and technological know-how. Their introduction in urban contexts (at
the spatial level of building, neighbourhood, or whole city) is recommended for
several reasons, such as to reinforce the social cohesion and reduce poverty, and
enhance the provision of urban ecosystem services and biodiversity. However, the
impact of NBS projects, in terms of benefits, co-benefits and costs is still not
sufficiently understood. Hence, the study of NBS related impacts, based on an LCA
approach, could facilitate the interpretation of the sustainability dimensions
underpinning NBS.
This LCM2017 conference session explored the challenges mentioned above via
some case studies, proofs of concept and a discussion based on different experts’
visions. The objective was to offer an overview on some methodological and
applied advances that, from building to city scales, may open up concrete opportunities for: (i) a better exploitation of urban resources, data and know-how (i.e.
integration between BIM and LCA), and (ii) a smooth transition towards sustainable and resilient cities (i.e. assessment/implementation planning of NBS with a life
cycle thinking approach).
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A. Marvuglia et al.
operational challenges.
LCA as inventory and environmental impact assessment tool can largely benefit
from datasets and knowledge base frameworks based on Building Information
Modelling (BIM) and Nature-Based Solutions (NBS). The use of BIM has the aim
to help engineers to design digital models and share building information in an
interoperable and reusable way [1]. However, firstly to apply BIM concepts
designers create 3D models of buildings hinging upon built-in databases, which are
not interoperable with the analysis tools used in LCAs of buildings. This hampers
the quantification of the potential environmental impacts of buildings using those
materials databases to support the decision-making process [2, 3]. Secondly, the
modelling of a detailed BIM is time-consuming and especially in early design
phases detailed information is usually not yet available. To this end, basic 3D
models can be used to do simplified LCAs of buildings and neighbourhoods and
compare variants in early design, when the optimization potential is high. Thirdly, a
number of standards and data formats for 3D modelling and visualization of
buildings and cities have been developed, e.g. CityGML [4, 5]; however, these
models are often not used in planning and operation, partly because of problems
with interoperability and partly due to the efforts to keep the models up to date [6].
Finally, BIM-based sustainability in the construction sector relates, at higher
scales than single buildings, with the sustainability of urban planning and management, and therefore to the efficient use of resources and impact mitigation
measures in cities. In this regard, it is worth observing that the improvement of
cities’ sustainability is nowadays supported through the explicit implementation of
Nature-based Solutions (NBS) [7, 8] in urban planning. Those represent, among
others, a means to activate impact mitigation measures in cities [7, 9]. How to
harness NBS to promote well-being in urban areas does represent another challenging and timely research theme [10, 11], which is not explored in the LCA
context. NBS strictly belong to the sustainable management of natural resources,
urban spaces and technological know-how. Their introduction in urban contexts (at
the spatial level of building, neighbourhood, or whole city) is recommended for
several reasons, such as to reinforce the social cohesion and reduce poverty, and
enhance the provision of urban ecosystem services and biodiversity. However, the
impact of NBS projects, in terms of benefits, co-benefits and costs is still not
sufficiently understood. Hence, the study of NBS related impacts, based on an LCA
approach, could facilitate the interpretation of the sustainability dimensions
underpinning NBS.
This LCM2017 conference session explored the challenges mentioned above via
some case studies, proofs of concept and a discussion based on different experts’
visions. The objective was to offer an overview on some methodological and
applied advances that, from building to city scales, may open up concrete opportunities for: (i) a better exploitation of urban resources, data and know-how (i.e.
integration between BIM and LCA), and (ii) a smooth transition towards sustainable and resilient cities (i.e. assessment/implementation planning of NBS with a life
cycle thinking approach).
262
A. Marvuglia et al.