BIM-based EPD adaption in the context of ecological sustainability and municipal infrastructures

Abstract

Municipal infrastructure projects are mostly awarded, planned and financed at the municipal level. The quantities, materials, construction processes and construction equipment used in these projects are currently only recorded and linked to a limited extent. Therefore, it is presently not possible to record the entire inventory and environmental impacts in detail. Environmental product declarations (EPDs), which can be used for this purpose, are also incomplete at present, particularly for the infrastructure sector. To make progress in this field, a method has been developed to investigate, compare, validate and adapt digital EPDs. In addition, integration with the BIM methodology is being undertaken to enable a model-based life cycle approach for typical municipal road infrastructure structures. The methodology is based on existing EPDs and allows the inclusion of additional life cycle phases through data input options. In order to include the LC phases transportation, O&M and recycling, a generic and continuously extensible application was implemented.