Dynamo script and a BIM-based process for measuring embodied carbon in buildings during the design phase

Abstract

The globe has been moving in the direction of using less energy and emitting fewer emissions in recent years, which has a variety of implications like causing climate change. Hence, the environmental analysis is essential today in construction sector to develop a good product with adequate performance, safety, with logical cost and friendly to environment. One of the most significant emissions from various stages in the building sector is carbon dioxide, which may be further separated into two categories: embedded emissions and operating emissions. This paper’s main goal is to introduce a simple tool integrated into a BIM-based framework that provides an analysis of embodied carbon (related to SE2050’s commitment to net zero) in order to produce a manual for designers to select the appropriate materials, systems, and alternatives during the design phase. The suggested integration procedure was carried out using Autodesk Revit (to produce the 3D model), Dynamo (a visual programming tool), and BIM360 (to link with), with good interoperability between each product. Finally, a case study is done to apply and validate this process to foresee that the tool can be ready to use, the results shows that the maximum variance was 0.047, this support developers’ environmental strategies, and enable clients and other stockholders to consider the environmental impact in the early phases of the construction projects.