Integrating LCA, BIM, and Surrounding Trees for Carbon Neutrality in Steel and Concrete Frame Public Structures: A Case Study in Hangzhou

Abstract

The construction industry is actively working to improve its operations’ sustainability and reduce buildings’ ecological impact on climate change. One approach involves integrating Building Information Modeling (BIM) with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to streamline data input, calculate environmental impacts, and optimize output data. This case study focuses on using the One-Click LCA plugin to explore LCA-BIM integration for sustainable construction.

The study examines the carbon emissions of steel and concrete frame public structures and assesses the role of surrounding trees in achieving carbon neutrality. Two innovative public buildings in China’s Zhejiang province serve as the case study’s subject. The One-Click LCA plugin in Revit is a quick and user-friendly tool, providing concrete and steel structure results and generating informative graphs for easy comparison.

The findings reveal that the A1-A3 material stage during the design phase contributes the most to emissions and biogenic carbon storage. By demonstrating the practical implementation of LCA-BIM integration using the One-Click LCA plugin, this case study contributes to the knowledge base on sustainable construction practices. The results can guide decision-making for architects, engineers, and construction professionals, empowering them to make informed choices that minimize carbon emissions and promote environmentally-friendly design strategies.