Research Article

Low-Carbon Construction Strategies through BIM-LCA Integration: A Multi-Case Evaluation across Building Types

Volume: 16 Number: 1 February 9, 2026
TR EN

Low-Carbon Construction Strategies through BIM-LCA Integration: A Multi-Case Evaluation across Building Types

Abstract

The construction industry accounts for approximately 31% of global carbon emissions, underscoring the need for integrated digital strategies to reduce environmental impacts. This study investigates the potential of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) integration across three distinct building types—commercial offices, residential high-rises, and industrial warehouses—spanning diverse climatic contexts. By embedding real-time environmental feedback into early design processes, the BIM-LCA framework achieved embodied carbon reductions of up to 30% and operational carbon savings of up to 36%, outperforming conventional project workflows. The study highlights the scalability of this method while identifying critical adoption barriers, including software interoperability and the lack of region-specific LCA datasets, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Importantly, it introduces artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning as key enablers for automating material selection and optimizing energy performance, offering a pathway toward adaptive, low-carbon design automation. Policy recommendations include the development of localized LCA databases and financial incentives for BIM-LCA adoption. The findings contribute to advancing net-zero targets and align with the Paris Agreement and SDG 13. Future research should focus on AI-integrated BIM-LCA platforms to enhance predictive modeling and real-time decision-making across the building lifecycle.

Keywords

BIM–LCA Integration, Low-Carbon Construction, Embodied and Operational Carbon, Multi-Case Building Analysis, Artificial Intelligence in Sustainable Design, Net-Zero Carbon Buildings

References

  1. Abdelaal, F., Guo, B. H. W., & Dowdell, D. (2022). Comparison of green building rating systems from LCA perspective. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1101(6), 062019. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1101/6/062019
  2. Anand, C. K., & Amor, B. (2017). Recent developments, future challenges, and new research directions in LCA of buildings: A critical review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 67, 408–416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2016.09.058
  3. Arslan, D., Mohammadpourkarbasi, H., & Sharples, S. (2023). Sensitivity analysis of the impact of environmental product declaration values on whole life carbon assessment: A case study using expanded polystyrene insulation for the retrofit of a building in Türkiye. Building Services Engineering Research and Technology. https://doi.org/10.1177/01436244231221396
  4. Azari, R., & Badri, N. (2021). Life cycle assessment as a research methodology for estimating the environmental impacts of buildings. In R. Azari & H. Rashed-Ali (Eds.), Research methods in building science and technology (pp. 151–173). Cham: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-73692-7_8
  5. Begum, T. U. S. (2025). Optimizing energy consumption in smart buildings through big data and machine learning. BigDataStream Mining, 1(1), 48–63. https://doi.org/10.70023/bdsm.1105
  6. Cabeza, L. F., Rincón, L., Vilariño, V., Pérez, G., & Castell, A. (2014). Life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle energy analysis (LCEA) of buildings and the building sector: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 29, 394–416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2013.08.037
  7. Chen, Z., Chen, L., Zhou, X., Huang, L., Sandanayake, M., & Yap, P. (2024). Recent technological advancements in BIM and LCA integration for sustainable construction: A review. Sustainability, 16(3), Article 1340. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16031340
  8. Crawley, D. B., Lawrie, L. K., Winkelmann, F. C., Buhl, W. F., Huang, Y. J., Pedersen, C. O., Glazer, J. (2001). EnergyPlus: Creating a new-generation building energy simulation program. Energy and Buildings, 33(4), 319–331. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-7788(00)00114-6
  9. Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2017). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  10. Danso, A. K., Edwards, D. J., Adjei, E. K., Adjei-Kumi, T., Owusu-Manu, D., Fianoo, S. I., & Thwala, W. (2024). Analysis of the underlying factors affecting BIM–LCA integration in the Ghanaian construction industry: A factor analysis approach. Construction Innovation. https://doi.org/10.1108/CI-05-2024-0147
APA
Oğuz, A., & Hansu, O. (2026). Low-Carbon Construction Strategies through BIM-LCA Integration: A Multi-Case Evaluation across Building Types. Karadeniz Fen Bilimleri Dergisi, 16(1), 21-51. https://doi.org/10.31466/kfbd.1622286
AMA
1.Oğuz A, Hansu O. Low-Carbon Construction Strategies through BIM-LCA Integration: A Multi-Case Evaluation across Building Types. KFBD. 2026;16(1):21-51. doi:10.31466/kfbd.1622286
Chicago
Oğuz, Aydın, and Osman Hansu. 2026. “Low-Carbon Construction Strategies through BIM-LCA Integration: A Multi-Case Evaluation across Building Types”. Karadeniz Fen Bilimleri Dergisi 16 (1): 21-51. https://doi.org/10.31466/kfbd.1622286.
EndNote
Oğuz A, Hansu O (February 1, 2026) Low-Carbon Construction Strategies through BIM-LCA Integration: A Multi-Case Evaluation across Building Types. Karadeniz Fen Bilimleri Dergisi 16 1 21–51.
IEEE
[1]A. Oğuz and O. Hansu, “Low-Carbon Construction Strategies through BIM-LCA Integration: A Multi-Case Evaluation across Building Types”, KFBD, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 21–51, Feb. 2026, doi: 10.31466/kfbd.1622286.
ISNAD
Oğuz, Aydın - Hansu, Osman. “Low-Carbon Construction Strategies through BIM-LCA Integration: A Multi-Case Evaluation across Building Types”. Karadeniz Fen Bilimleri Dergisi 16/1 (February 1, 2026): 21-51. https://doi.org/10.31466/kfbd.1622286.
JAMA
1.Oğuz A, Hansu O. Low-Carbon Construction Strategies through BIM-LCA Integration: A Multi-Case Evaluation across Building Types. KFBD. 2026;16:21–51.
MLA
Oğuz, Aydın, and Osman Hansu. “Low-Carbon Construction Strategies through BIM-LCA Integration: A Multi-Case Evaluation across Building Types”. Karadeniz Fen Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 16, no. 1, Feb. 2026, pp. 21-51, doi:10.31466/kfbd.1622286.
Vancouver
1.Aydın Oğuz, Osman Hansu. Low-Carbon Construction Strategies through BIM-LCA Integration: A Multi-Case Evaluation across Building Types. KFBD. 2026 Feb. 1;16(1):21-5. doi:10.31466/kfbd.1622286