Life Cycle Analysis and Performance Evaluation using BIM

As there is a global push towards more sustainable development, the construction industry is also adopting practises to meet its sustainability goals. Lifecycle analysis and performance evaluation are two important aspects of sustainable construction. Building Information Modelling, also known as BIM, is an effective tool that is used to implement lifecycle analysis and performance evaluation. In this article, we will discuss in length how lifecycle analysis and BIM can be used to achieve sustainable construction.

Introduction: What is lifecycle analysis in construction?

Lifecycle analysis in construction, also known as life cycle assessment (LCA), is a method of evaluating the impact of a building or construction project on the environment throughout its entire life cycle, which starts from design and construction to operation and end-of-life. The goal of LCA is to identify and measure the environmental impacts of a building or construction project, including its energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, and waste generation. By doing so, LCA can help identify opportunities to reduce the environmental impact of a building or construction project and make more sustainable decisions.

How is BIM used for lifecycle analysis?

BIM is not only a helpful method for enhancing communication between the various stakeholders involved in a construction process; it can also be utilised for building performance evaluation and lifetime analysis. With the use of BIM, precise 3D models that depict the building's energy usage and environmental effects may be produced. This data enables us to focus on the areas where we can increase the building's energy efficiency and lessen its detrimental environmental impact.

Factors affecting successful LCA using BIM

Successful LCA and BIM integration depends on various factors, such as the quality and availability of data. Many times, the available data is not enough for a successful LCA. For the best implementation, LCA should be performed during the design phase, when the project is at its most flexible stage and the overall impact of LCA is larger compared to later stages. The reason for this is that the same data can be used for both BIM and LCA tools, which reduces the possibility of errors. It also saves time, as reentering data is a time-consuming process. Here are some ways you can use your BIM model for successful LCA:

Make sure that the materials are labelled accurately and consistently in your BIM model.

When you use a multi-layer object, use appropriate labelling to indicate it as such.

Ensure that the elements in your model are classified accurately according to IFC class.

Performance Evaluation in Construction

Performance evaluation in construction refers to the process of evaluating how effectively a building functions in terms of its energy efficiency, air quality, and any other aspects that have an impact on the health and general wellbeing of its occupants. It is a very useful approach to finding out how we can improve buildings' performance and make them more sustainable so that their overall impact on the environment can be reduced. Here are some ways BIM can be used for performance evaluation.

BIM can be used to compare different designs and their performance, which helps to find the best design that meets the project requirements.

BIM helps optimise the performance of a building by helping to identify areas for improvement.

The BIM maturity matrix is a tool that identifies the correlation between BIM stages and performance.

In conclusion, BIM is a great tool for LCA and performance evaluation in construction; however, the effectiveness and degree of successful LCA and BIM integration depend upon the quality and availability of data and early-stage implementation. Unfortunately, as in most countries, LCA is done only for certification purposes; more standardisation is required in LCA procedures. Construction is a complicated industry, and the application of new methodologies is usually difficult; therefore, more development is needed in this area.