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How digital technologies can be used to improve the built environment and drive net zero

How digital technologies can be used to improve the built environment and drive net zero

How digital technologies can contribute to the built environments drive to net zero

Digital technologies such as BIM and digital twins can play a key role in supporting the built environment sector’s drive to net zero, say Shivani Soni and Daniel Giddins of Microdesk

There are growing concerns about the rising levels of greenhouse gases (GHG) and the sector of the built environment is being urged not only to review their current design practices but also to use lean construction and design more sustainably. Every member of the team is responsible to reduce GHG emissions and move towards net zero. Statista reported that 12.5 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide were emitted by the UK’s construction industry2019 In 2019, UK construction industry CO2 emissions increased by 45% since 1990. The UK government announced new Building Regulations (Part O), which will reduce CO2 emissions by 30% for new builds by June 2022.

Many organizations are seeking to declare net-zero commitments by signing up to initiatives like Architecture 2030, RIBA 2030 challenge, and Construction Declare. It is an ambitious and challenging mission to achieve net zero reduction. Industry thought leaders and the government have supported it. They are encouraging stakeholders and other stakeholders to take a more coordinated approach towards whole-life CO2 (WLC), which consists of two parts. The first is operational carbon. This refers to energy used for buildings. The second part refers to products and transportation, construction, maintenance and repair, as well as end-of-life disposal.

Why is it important for AECO organizations to plan now?

According to the latest data, close to half of all 46% of England’s homes have an energy efficiency score of C.Or better, 14% more than in 2010. The government hopes to increase this number by using low-carbon technology such as solar panels and heat pump to ensure that new buildings are adequately insulated to save energy. To ensure safety and reduce transmission of viruses in non-residential buildings, the government plans to improve ventilation.

The new regulations will increase standards and are a key move towards a cleaner, more sustainable built environment. They are part of Future Homes and Buildings Standard strategy that aims to ensure that all homes can be net zero ready.

June is not far away and AECO organisations should start planning now to play their part in achieving the government’s target. Digital transformation methods support sustainable design, construction and operation. Incorporating processes for predictive, real-time and other analysis can help the industry and economy achieve net zero goals.

How can digital technologies help us move towards net zero?

Building Information Modelling and related digital technologies can help AECO professionals tackle carbon emissions for new building constructions. Building CO2 emissions are directly linked to measurable building characteristics. These include, but not limited to, the overall building mass, percentage shading, glazing, and U-Values. These can all influence the energy required to cool or heat the building. BIM models can also include non-geometric data such as space, materials, and equipment usage for future reference. With BIM, designers, owners and operators maintain continuous insight into a project’s progress.

It is important to understand that BIM differs greatly from traditional CAD. It is almost the same thing to produce a manual drawing and one in a CAD environment. One is just a digitalized version of the analogue. To produce discrete images of the proposed building in the form plans, sections and elevations, the drafter will need imagination and interpretation.

BIM is not just the next stage in drawing. BIM is not just the next stage of drawing. It is the creation of a virtual model of a building that is enhanced with many real-world properties. AECO is more similar to other industries like aerospace and manufacturing by having a virtual building that can be tested before finalizing a design.

Site analysis can be done in conjunction with GIS platforms to improve land use. You can use daylight analysis and solar gain to determine the best glazing and shading ratios. Non-graphical data is also possible in a carbon reduction strategy. Similarly, reliable information about individual building materials can be tracked in BIM and help with their repurposing at the end of a building’s life, thus offsetting the material’s embodied carbon. Building information was traditionally provided in an unstructured and ad-hoc manner. However, thanks to established BIM standards like ISO 19650, information garnered from an information model can be seen as reliable and credible, enabling sound decisions regarding a building’s future.

Project stakeholders can accept responsibility to achieve net zero by adopting frameworks such as ISO 19650 or the principle of data drops. Many people are overwhelmed by the vast array of digital tools available. It can be difficult to know which tools to use and when. Digital tools can be used to perform valuable analyses when they are used in transparent ways. The key is to define the information requirements that meet the owners’ conditions and set up the project to leverage and examine the data.

What is the future?

For a uniform approach, the entire industry, including technology vendors as well as consultants, must work together. This is supported by legislation such as the new mandate. Industries often need a push from top to adopt and implement methods that will help them achieve their goals. The value of investing in digital tools for supporting the analysis process is not often communicated effectively. It is important to demonstrate that the value of digital tools can be offset by an increase in costs over time. The success of construction projects has historically been measured in economic terms. Project briefs are increasingly incorporating environmental and social goals.

The digital twin, which is a virtual representation and feed with real-time information from its physical twin, can be seen beyond the static BIM that is used in construction and design. The digital twin provides the same level information throughout the entire building’s lifecycle, as well as the same insight that was available during the design phase. This allows for reactive and planned maintenance and interventions. It can also help in the city’s carbon-reduction initiatives by further integration with smart city networks.

Shivani Soni

 

Shivani Soni

Lead in strategy & innovation

 

Daniel Giddins

BIM solutions specialist

 

Microdesk

Daniel Giddins

 

Tel: +44 (0)800 029 4635

[email protected]

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