Results in Engineering (Dec 2024)
Assessment of industrialised construction through sustainability tools
Abstract
The environmental impact of the construction sector and its importance to the economy makes the transition to a more sustainable model imperative. Industrialised construction can facilitate this transition. This sustainability must encompass economic, social and environmental aspects at all stages of a building's life cycle. Indicators are the only tools capable of assessing the impact of a project at different levels. This study aims to address the underrepresentation of industrialised construction's value in sustainability assessments by identifying gaps in existing indicators. In particular, it aims to analyse different tools to comprehensively assess the economic, social and environmental impact at all stages of the construction life cycle. It highlights the critical role of sustainability indicators—covering environmental, economic, and social dimensions across all life-cycle stages of buildings—as key tools for informed decision-making. An analysis of 329 indicators from seven internationally representative sustainability assessment systems was conducted. These indicators, selected for their geographical relevance, were categorised by sustainability aspects and life-cycle stages according to ISO 21930:2007. The findings reveal areas where industrialised construction's value may be underrepresented, underscoring the need for specific new indicators to assess this value effectively. The study aims to identify these gaps in order to assess the sustainability of industrialised construction. By identifying these shortcomings, the study contributes to the possible future development of specific indicators that better reflect the value of industrialised construction. These new metrics would support informed decision-making, promote a holistic understanding of sustainability and facilitate the transition to more sustainable building practices.
