Sustainable Delivery of Construction Projects
The subject of residential development has been a frequent barometer for measuring the contentment and well-being of a nation’s people. It’s shocking to know that buildings used as homes contribute to about 40% of energy consumption worldwide and an alarming 30% of greenhouse gas emissions. Given the burgeoning population of the world and the increasingly urbanizing globe, the demand for housing has far surpassed its supply. This has resulted in a pressing issue of affordable housing, especially for low-income individuals in developing and industrialized nations. Shockingly, an estimated 828 million people in extreme poverty in developing nations reside in slums or substandard homes. It’s astonishing to note that by 2020, this number might have risen to a mind-boggling 1.4 billion.
It’s easy to see how the availability of housing can contribute to the subsistence of people in these expanding cities. As such, national governments worldwide have passed several affordable housing laws to ensure affordable home building is a top priority. However, there’s an ongoing debate on whether modest incomes can afford apartment buildings. It’s important to integrate sustainable development planning into every building project manager’s toolkit. While sustainability theory and practice are well-documented in the current literature, little attention has been paid to how they can be applied to project management methods employed in less developed nations.
Researchers have been making strides towards incorporating sustainability considerations into the administration of building projects. However, with the construction industry accounting for approximately 41% of global energy consumption and 40% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the gap in knowledge raises serious concerns.
Sustainable Delivery of Construction Projects
The Integrated Project Delivery Method and Building Information Modeling (BIM) are revolutionizing the construction industry by providing a cutting-edge technological platform that enhances collaboration throughout the building design, construction, and management continuum. The rapid acceleration of BIM into integrated project delivery method has created a burgeoning market for enabling technology that is aligned to advance integration throughout the entire process. BIM is now a powerful tool that facilitates project goals attainment and is advantageous in numerous ways.
Firstly, BIM is an integrated process platform built on coordinated, reliable information about a project from design through construction and into operations. The integration of BIM and web-based project management software has created a solid foundation for an improved, more efficient means of collaboration between all the parties involved in project delivery. This has enabled the trend towards integrative digital collaborations characterized by strategic partners with shared outcomes, risks, and gains. By leveraging BIM tools, the integrated project delivery method has enabled cross-functional project teams to collaborate on a building’s design, construction, and lifecycle management model-based technology as a platform to upgrade and optimize the sustainability and efficiency of the project management to achieve owner outcomes and green strategy.
Secondly, by adopting BIM into integrated project delivery method, architects, engineers, contractors, and owners can easily create coordinated, digital design information and documentation. They can use that information to accurately visualize, simulate, and analyze performance, appearance, and cost, and reliably deliver the green project faster, more economically, and with reduced environmental impact. The BIM models help to enable collaboration between different disciplines by allowing them to visualize the sustainable construction project.
Lastly, sustainable construction or green building certification like LEED is best suited for fully integrated project teams’ collaboration. The team members including architects, builders, subcontractors, and owners have common goals to collaborate throughout the entire project life process, which requires owners, designers, and constructors to collaborate on sustainable project performances and realize cross-disciplinary thinking and skills. The BIM models ensure accuracy of design by detecting design problems before construction occurred, which saved time and money. For example, off-site prefabrication saved the projects time and material waste.
Summary
The residential development industry is one of the largest culprits of global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Despite the increasing demand for affordable housing, especially in developing nations, there has been an inadequate supply of these homes. In response, governments around the world have passed affordable housing legislation to address this issue. But the challenge of managing building projects sustainably in less developed nations remains a pressing concern.
Fortunately, there are innovative tools and technologies that are making it possible to create sustainable housing more efficiently and with less environmental impact. Two of these tools are integrated project delivery (IPD) and building information modeling (BIM). By combining these approaches, architects, engineers, contractors, and owners can create coordinated digital design information, simulate and analyze performance, and deliver green projects more efficiently.
The Benefits of IPD and BIM
Integrated project delivery (IPD) is a collaborative approach to construction that involves all stakeholders from the outset of a project. This approach fosters a spirit of cooperation and promotes open communication among the team members. By working together, the team can identify potential problems early on and develop solutions to address them.
Building information modeling (BIM) is a digital representation of the physical and functional characteristics of a building. This tool allows the team to create a comprehensive, 3D model of the building and its systems. BIM can be used to simulate and analyze the building’s performance in various scenarios, allowing the team to optimize the design for energy efficiency and sustainability.
When IPD and BIM are used together, they can create a more efficient, sustainable construction process. By adopting BIM into IPD, the team can create coordinated digital design information, simulate and analyze performance, and deliver green projects more efficiently with less environmental impact. This approach also allows for greater accuracy in the design process, reduces material waste, and saves time.
The Importance of Sustainable Construction Certification
One of the best ways to ensure the success of a sustainable construction project is to obtain sustainable construction certification. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification is a widely recognized rating system for green buildings. LEED certification takes into account several factors, including energy efficiency, water conservation, and sustainable site development.
To achieve LEED certification, the project team must collaborate closely throughout the project. BIM models can help to ensure the accuracy of the design, detect problems before construction, and reduce material waste. By working together and using innovative tools like BIM, the team can create a sustainable building that meets LEED standards and provides affordable housing for those who need it most.
The Future of Sustainable Construction
The integration of IPD and BIM is a game-changer for the residential development industry. By working together and using these innovative tools, architects, engineers, contractors, and owners can create sustainable housing more efficiently and with less environmental impact. Sustainable construction certification such as LEED is best suited for fully integrated project teams’ collaboration. BIM models can ensure design accuracy, detect problems before construction, and save time and material waste.
The future of sustainable construction is bright, and it is up to us to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible. With IPD and BIM leading the way, we can create a more sustainable future for generations to come.