Integrating BIM and LCA for sustainable high-Speed rail infrastructure: A framework for early design stage environmental assessment

Abstract

The building and infrastructure sectors have a substantial impact on the global environment, underscoring the critical necessity for sustainable design practices. This study focuses on the integration of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate the environmental impacts of high-speed rail infrastructure projects from the initial design phases, by coupling BIM's data-filled 3D modeling with LCA's systematic evaluation of environmental impacts. The objective is to enhance interoperability between BIM and LCA tools in order to optimize design and reduce environmental impacts throughout the infrastructure's life cycle. We propose a methodological framework that involves thorough data collection from railway projects, covering design specifics, material specifications, and maintenance needs. An updated BIM-LCA integration framework has been developed using Ecoinvent 3.9.1 for comprehensive and accurate Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) data. Environmental indicators such as carbon footprint, energy consumption and waste generation are calculated using OpenLCA, allowing real-time feedback on performance. Preliminary results from a high-speed rail bridge case study indicate that both the production and maintenance stages alone contribute between 93% and 99%of the impacts: water consumption, land use, freshwater ecotoxicity, human toxicity, marine ecotoxicity and mineral resource scarcity. A major portion of these impacts was linked to the production of concrete components, such as piles, beams. These initial findings highlight the significance of material selection in railway infrastructure projects to minimize environmental impacts and advance sustainable practices in the construction industry. This study offers insights into the potential of integrated BIM-LCA methodologies for fostering sustainable infrastructure design. This approach promotes informed decision-making by allowing for real-time evaluation of environmental performance and enhancing data exchange within the BIM and LCA workflow.