A Framework for Sustainable Construction Project Based on BIM Environment

Abstract

The global construction industry's significant resource consumption and environmental impact underscore the urgency of sustainability. This research emphasizes the intersection of sustainability and construction, focusing on ecological, economic, and social considerations. It highlights Building Information Modelling (BIM) as a key enabler of sustainability within the construction value chain. Construction, vital to economic and societal development, necessitates sustainability as a core project objective. Efficient resource utilization, compliance with evolving sustainability standards, and effective collaboration among stakeholders are crucial. However, communication challenges often impede shared understanding and data integration. BIM emerges as a digital solution, unifying project phases, facilitating collaboration, and informed decision-making. In response to the global sustainability mandate, construction projects worldwide are adopting more effective approaches. BIM plays a pivotal role in enhancing efficiency, performance, and productivity. This research addresses a gap by presenting a framework to assess how building materials impact energy consumption within the BIM environment. The research aims to develop a comprehensive framework for promoting sustainability in construction projects through BIM. This involves investigating sustainable practices, assessing BIM's role in sustainability, selecting optimal engineering calculations, and creating an integrated framework. The framework's effectiveness will be evaluated through a hypothetical case study. Key research questions include BIM's alignment with sustainability, expected improvements in addressing sustainability issues, and the value of sharing sustainability calculations within the construction value chain. The thesis comprises seven chapters, including a literature review on sustainability and BIM, a detailed research methodology, a hypothetical case study, analysis of conduction heat transfer calculations, the development of a sustainable construction framework, and discussions, conclusions, and future directions. This research seeks to empower the construction industry with a practical framework for embedding sustainability within the BIM environment, driving efficiency, environmental responsibility, and societal well-being.