Advancing Sustainable Construction Through 5D Digital EIA and Ecosystem Restoration

Abstract

The construction sector drives nearly half of global material extraction, energy use, emissions, and waste, yet environmental impact assessment (EIA) remains a static document, fragmented and disconnected from dynamic ecological systems. Here, we propose an upgrade to a five-dimensional (5D) EIA framework that integrates space-time analysis (3D + time = 4D) with real-time monitoring and impact quantification (5D) to account for environmental footprint and prevent irreversible impacts. The methodology included an analysis of over 100 EIA permits and reports, supplemented by interviews, reviews of technologies and process and systems analysis. Central to this approach is the inclusion of 4D building information models (BIM) and nature’s self-cleansing capacity, which is often overlooked in conventional assessments. The proposed Integrated Environmental Decision Support Information System (I-EDSIS) would enable continuous impact tracking, cumulative effect evaluation, and insights into patterns for adaptive mitigation. Drawing on a national-scale case study, we show that building permits correlate with NOx and PM10 (r = 0.96), while pollutant levels vary by up to 1.5–3 times across months and within a day, revealing potential for time-sensitive adaptive construction and less ecological disruption. This perspective argues for reframing EIA as a proactive tool for sustainability, transparency, active durability, cross-sectoral data integration, and resilience-based development.