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The BIM2LCA Approach: An Industry Foundation Classes (IFC)-Based Interface to Integrate Life Cycle Assessment in Integral Planning

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  • Rafael Horn

    (Department Life Cycle Engineering, Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP, D-70563 Stuttgart, Germany
    Institute for Acoustics and Building Physics (IABP), University of Stuttgart, D-70563 Stuttgart, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work and are considered to be co-first authors.
    Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.)

  • Sebastian Ebertshäuser

    (Institute for Building Lifecycle Management, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), D-76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work and are considered to be co-first authors.
    Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.)

  • Roberta Di Bari

    (Department Life Cycle Engineering, Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP, D-70563 Stuttgart, Germany
    Institute for Acoustics and Building Physics (IABP), University of Stuttgart, D-70563 Stuttgart, Germany)

  • Olivia Jorgji

    (Department Life Cycle Engineering, Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP, D-70563 Stuttgart, Germany
    Institute for Acoustics and Building Physics (IABP), University of Stuttgart, D-70563 Stuttgart, Germany)

  • René Traunspurger

    (German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB e.V.), D-70178 Stuttgart, Germany)

  • Petra von Both

    (Institute for Building Lifecycle Management, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), D-76131 Karlsruhe, Germany)

Abstract

An increasing degree of digitalization in construction planning offers significant potential for building life cycle assessment (LCA) to reduce access barriers, as well as the assessment effort itself. To realize the widespread application of LCA tools and their potential to effectively minimize life cycle impacts, an open approach is required that allows for flexible application of comprehensive LCA studies and early integration in planning processes. The authors present an approach for LCA integration in all phases of digital planning which aims at a DGNB (Deutsche Gesellschaft für nachhaltiges Bauen) certification based on the open Building Information Modeling (BIM) standard Industry Foundation Classes (IFC). The approach takes into account varying levels of development and resulting data availability during integral planning phases, as well as resulting LCA application contexts. It goes beyond existing strategies and allows one to consider both BIM and LCA software through a workflow based on a single data format. The assessment framework is operationalized through standardized interface development and technical realization following the information delivery manual (IDM) process standardized for IFC interfaces. The Extensible Markup Language (XML) schema, as a specific implementation for certification, provides the target system for LCA data requirements and is generalized to a planning phase specific IDM base table. The technical realization based on respective model view definitions and distributed data suggests a pathway to the standardization of LCA-IFC integration based on an open approach. The overall approach exemplarily applies to the “LERNZENTRUM” at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) campus. We conclude that an open BIM approach for LCA integration in model-based planning is feasible, but requires several adjustments in IFC, LCA, and planning practice. Adding a lifecycle element to the IFC to connect BIM and LCA provides comprehensive feedback for informed decision making based on environmental impact.

Suggested Citation

  • Rafael Horn & Sebastian Ebertshäuser & Roberta Di Bari & Olivia Jorgji & René Traunspurger & Petra von Both, 2020. "The BIM2LCA Approach: An Industry Foundation Classes (IFC)-Based Interface to Integrate Life Cycle Assessment in Integral Planning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-30, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:16:p:6558-:d:398540
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tajda Potrč Obrecht & Martin Röck & Endrit Hoxha & Alexander Passer, 2020. "BIM and LCA Integration: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-19, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yali Chen & Dan Huang & Zhen Liu & Mohamed Osmani & Peter Demian, 2022. "Construction 4.0, Industry 4.0, and Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Sustainable Building Development within the Smart City," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-37, August.
    2. Li Zhang & Laura Balangé & Kathrin Braun & Roberta Di Bari & Rafael Horn & Deniz Hos & Cordula Kropp & Philip Leistner & Volker Schwieger, 2020. "Quality as Driver for Sustainable Construction—Holistic Quality Model and Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-23, September.
    3. Martin Nwodo & Chimay J. Anumba, 2021. "Exergy-Based Life Cycle Assessment of Buildings: Case Studies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-15, October.
    4. Regitze Kjær Zimmermann & Simone Bruhn & Harpa Birgisdóttir, 2021. "BIM-Based Life Cycle Assessment of Buildings—An Investigation of Industry Practice and Needs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-21, May.
    5. Steffen Kiemel & Chantal Rietdorf & Maximilian Schutzbach & Robert Miehe, 2022. "How to Simplify Life Cycle Assessment for Industrial Applications—A Comprehensive Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-26, November.
    6. Jan Růžička & Jakub Veselka & Zdeněk Rudovský & Stanislav Vitásek & Petr Hájek, 2022. "BIM and Automation in Complex Building Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-20, February.
    7. Deniz Frost & Oliver Gericke & Roberta Di Bari & Laura Balangé & Li Zhang & Boris Blagojevic & David Nigl & Phillip Haag & Lucio Blandini & Hans Christian Jünger & Cordula Kropp & Philip Leistner & Ol, 2022. "Holistic Quality Model and Assessment—Supporting Decision-Making towards Sustainable Construction Using the Design and Production of Graded Concrete Components as an Example," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-32, September.
    8. Denner Deda & Helena Gervásio & Margarida J. Quina, 2023. "Bibliometric Analysis and Benchmarking of Life Cycle Assessment of Higher Education Institutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-18, February.

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