Social Environmental Profitability Index (SEPI) and BIM to Support Decision-Making Processes in Public Green Infrastructure Investments

Abstract

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a method for managing data of an object for the overall life cycle: from the design to the Facility management phase till disposal. Thanks to parameters, it is possible to carry out scenario comparisons, to perform checking activities and simulations in order to make conscious decisions. Nowadays BIM is largely applied in the built environment field, while its application to outdoor areas is rare. Green space assets are subject to modifications and changes since they are by nature in a state of constant evolution: vegetal entities are characterized by most frequent transformations of considerable extent that should be properly evaluated and managed. From a public perspective, the evaluation of external factors in the selection of an appropriate landscape project, constitutes the basis for successful decisions and environmental improvement. For this reason, a suitable approach for driving aware investment actions is required. In this context, the research aims, through BIM, at defining a method for measuring the social-environmental profitability index (SEPI) to support decision making processes in public school green-outdoor infrastructure investments. A proper project appraisal should relate expenses (starting costs, design, construction, and operating costs) to the impact of the project’s potential future benefits; thus, SEPI is set as the ratio of benefits/costs. In the end, research results show how BIM and SEPI should be used to classify projects, defining a ranking of alternatives, and to select among options for a sustainable public resources allocation aside from the investment scale.