Artigo
Integrating life cycle assessment and building information modelling: A purpose-driven approach
Integrating life cycle assessment and building information modelling: A purpose-driven approach
Journal of Building Engineering
— 2025 — Elsevier
Informações chave
Autores:
Publicado em
17 de dezembro de 2025
Resumo
Building information modelling (BIM) has become a transformative methodology in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) by integrating collaborative design, construction, and facility management. This paper investigates the BIM’s evolving role across design phases, with a particular focus on the level of information need (LOIN) and its integration into life cycle assessment (LCA). Although the design process progresses through distinct phases requiring tailored information and model development, it currently lacks an intermediate LCA capable of supporting early optimization of design solutions. To address this gap, the study examines how BIM adaptability and the structured use of LOIN through progressive detailing of components can enhance information consistency, efficiency and collaboration throughout the project timeline. A standardized, purpose-driven framework is proposed to manage data requirements and support the integration of LCA within BIM workflows. The proposed framework enables informed decision-making, improves environmental performance, and supports phase-appropriate data accuracy across the life cycle (LC). Its novelty lies in incorporating average Environmental Product Declaration, improving BIM-LCA interoperability, and facilitating data automation via a dedicated tool. The approach is validated through a real-life case study, demonstrating the practical benefits of a LOIN-based LCA approach. In conclusion, the findings show that BIM has the potential to harmonize design phases, LOIN, and LCA, fostering collaboration, efficiency, and sustainability. The resulting purpose-driven framework provides stakeholders with a structured method for adjusting the LOIN across design phases and integrating it with LCA requirements to act in early phases to support climate and construction related environmental impact mitigation.
Detalhes da publicação
Autores da comunidade :
António Morais Aguiar da Costa
ist24583
José Dinis Silvestre
ist45413
Editora
Elsevier
Ligação para a versão da editora
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2025.115006
Título do contentor da publicação
Journal of Building Engineering
Volume
118 (2026)
Fascículo
115006
Domínio Científico (FOS)
civil-engineering - Engenharia Civil
Palavras-chave
- Building information modelling (BIM)
- Data
- Environmental product declaration (EPD)
- Life cycle assessment (LCA)
- Level of information need (LOIN)
- Level of development (LOD)
- Sustainability
- Twin transition
Idioma da publicação (código ISO)
eng - Inglês
Identificador alternativo (URI)
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Acesso à publicação:
Acesso apenas a metadados
Entidade financiadora da bolsa/projeto
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Nome da bolsa/projeto: Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability (CERIS), Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of Lisbon, and the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)
Identificador da Entidade Financiadora: https://doi.org/10.54499/UI/BD/153398/2022
Número de bolsa/projeto: UI/BD/153398/2022
Entidade financiadora da bolsa/projeto
Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability
Identificador da Entidade Financiadora: https://doi.org/10.54499/UID/06438/2025
Número de bolsa/projeto: UID/6438/2025