In the quest for carbon neutrality, the construction industry is increasingly turning to innovative technologies to reduce its environmental footprint. A groundbreaking study led by Chijoo Lee from the Housing & Real Estate Research Division at the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements in Sejong, South Korea, has demonstrated the significant potential of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in slashing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during the construction phase. The research, published in the Journal of Civil Engineering and Management, offers a compelling case for the widespread adoption of BIM in the energy sector and beyond.
The study focuses on the often-overlooked issue of rework due to design errors, which can lead to substantial waste in construction materials, transportation, and recycling. By applying BIM, Lee and his team were able to validate designs more accurately, reducing the need for costly and environmentally damaging rework. The results were staggering: the proposed method reduced emissions by 113,211 kg CO2eq, equivalent to the GHG emissions from driving a car or van for 10 or fewer passengers over 20,000 km. To put it into perspective, offsetting these emissions would require planting between 12,441 and 13,977 pine trees.
“Reducing wasted concrete contributes to approximately 79.9% of the total GHGs emissions decrease,” Lee explained. This finding is particularly relevant given that 68.3% of buildings that started construction in South Korea between July 2022 and February 2023 are reinforced concrete structures. The implications for the energy sector are clear: by adopting BIM, construction companies can significantly reduce their carbon footprint, contributing to broader efforts towards carbon neutrality.
The study also introduces a novel method based on the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to help decision-makers prioritize design changes. This method provides quantitative data to support qualitative discussions among construction, BIM, and estimation managers, making the decision-making process more robust and data-driven.
The commercial impacts of this research are far-reaching. For the energy sector, which is increasingly focused on sustainability, adopting BIM could lead to significant reductions in GHG emissions. This could translate into cost savings, improved project timelines, and enhanced reputations for companies committed to environmental stewardship.
Moreover, the study’s findings suggest that the benefits of BIM could be even greater when applied to a larger scale. As Lee noted, “Applying BIM to these structures could yield even greater benefits than those reported in this study.” This opens up exciting possibilities for future developments in the field, with BIM potentially becoming a standard practice in construction projects worldwide.
The research published in the Journal of Civil Engineering and Management, also known as the Journal of Civil Engineering and Management, serves as a call to action for the industry. As the push for carbon neutrality intensifies, technologies like BIM will play a crucial role in helping the construction sector meet its environmental goals. By reducing rework and validating designs more accurately, BIM can help construction companies reduce their GHG emissions, contributing to a more sustainable future. The study by Lee and his team is a significant step forward in this direction, offering a roadmap for the industry to follow.