Sustainability and construction haven’t always been in sync. However, things are changing. In 2021, Autodesk found that 82% of architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) firms now employ a dedicated sustainability department in their place. 74 % of AEC companies are investing directly in the latest technology to enhance sustainability.
Furthermore, sustainable construction has now become a prerequisite for project plans since the majority of construction companies have reported customer retention as the primary reason for their sustainability-focused approach. Sustainable planning and thinking have been proven to boost efficiency and decrease consumption. Three out of four construction companies say that their sustainability efforts led to more efficient utilization of resources.
Although the advantages of sustainable construction are enormous, however, the implementation process can be difficult. AEC businesses are turning to technology to help them get on the path to sustainability. Below are some instances of technology that have helped to create efficient and sustainable construction and operation.
- Energy Analysis Plugins Achieve Net Zero Energy Design
After a struggle to keep funding, the design of the Benjamin Banneker Academic High School located in Washington, DC, could not be a failure. This Perkins Eastman team, led by architect Omar Calderon Santiago, took a holistic approach to design that considered the environmental, economic, technological, and social considerations at each step of the process. The sustainability goals are specifically focused on the connection between well-being and energy.
The team utilized a combination of 3D modeling with SketchUp as well as daylight and energy analysis using Sefaira’s plugin for SketchUp as well as Climate Studio to achieve a net zero energy rating for the facility that is used for education. These tools allowed the team to provide occupant comfort through an in-depth study of thermal comfort, daylight, and acoustics, as well as the quality of air, without compromising the quality of design. In the past, Perkins Eastman relied on external consultants to analyze energy and innovation. However, thanks to SketchUp’s Sefaira program, it is possible to maintain all of their plans within one application and focus on improving the performance of their building.
Sustainable Stats:
- Attained net zero energy status through seeking a PEUI that is 19.9KBTU/SF/yr–a 72% improvement over the baseline with no solar photovoltaics (PVs) and a 100 percent improvement using PVs.
- Design well-lit areas with an autonomous spatial daylight (sDA) in the range of 66.4 percent for all used areas and just 3.4 percent of annual sunlight exposure (ASE)
- Earned LEED Platinum Certification
- Detailed BIM Modeling Reduces Material Waste
Concrete builders Wayne Brothers is no stranger to the power that is available through BIM (building information modeling). The company started making use of Tekla Structures in 2012 to design its commercial and industrial projects with the intention to improve quality and reduce design time. Utilizing precise BIM modeling of Sierra Nevada’s East Coast Multi-Structure Brewery project allowed the team to reduce the amount of rebar material wasted dramatically.
The structure of the fermentation tank is a 12,000 square-foot concrete structure containing hundreds of blocks and embeds outs, requiring meticulous planning to avoid mistakes as well as rework and waste. Tekla is utilized to describe the rebars and manage work activities. There was no second-guessing. The 3D model cut one week off the three-month timeframe and also prevented differences in rebar due to details or fabrication mistakes. In this kind of project, you would anticipate 10 to 15 percent of rebar wasted. However, it was lowered to less than one percent or less than two tons from 300 tons of steel.
Sustainable Stats:
- Reduced waste from project rebars by less than 1 percent, rather than the usual 10-15 percent
- Earned LEED Platinum Certification
- Machine Control Technology Reduces Emissions and Resource Consumption
In the year 2000, Aldridge Electric was tasked with developing, manufacturing, and installing thousands of miles of conduit, cable, and maintenance holes to support the brand new Dekalb Data Center initiative within Dekalb, Illinois; they were aware that it would require extensive preparation and support. The project team employed BIM models to review design and clash detection as well as prefabrication possibilities at the office and turned to the machine control devices on the ground.
Trimble Earthworks systems on excavators and dozers seamlessly integrate into Trimble’s integrated workflow. 3D models are uploaded into Trimble Business Center and then to the machines. Through the control equipment for devices working on the site, work is completed with the highest degree of precision. The crews install objects within a half-inch of tolerance. The result was that excavators were more efficient and decreased the need for work rework while also reducing the amount of fuel and emissions. The correct installation the first time with machine control reduces the time and energy required to complete the job.
Sustainable Stats:
- Machine control devices enhanced the accuracy of installation while reducing the amount of fuel used and emissions.
- The data center that is completed will be among the most efficient data centers in the United States, running on 100 renewable energy and consuming water at 80% less than the typical data center.
- The design is intended to earn LEED Gold Certification.
- Offsite Fabrication Reduces Emissions and Increases Efficiency
A study conducted in 2021 by Hanyang University in Korea found industrialized construction cuts CO2 emissions by up to 40% in comparison to conventional methods. Cooper Electrical Construction Company realized this advantage, and many others, when they stepped up their prefabrication efforts to meet the fast-paced schedules of projects and outdo the market competitors.
The top electrical, instrumentation, and controls contractor selected Trimble SysQue detailing software. In comparison to the software Autodesk Revit, SysQue created more detailed designs using real components. The models provided enough detail to ensure that you can fabricate offsite and scale production. The use of SysQue has enabled the company to shift 60 percent of the fieldwork associated with the fabrication of cable trays and conduits from the site of work to their fabrication facility off-site. Alongside the reduction in emissions of offsite fabrication heeds, Cooper Electrical has seen immense efficiency, safety, and quality improvement.
Sustainable Stats:
- Prefabrication of construction reduces CO2 emissions by 40 percent, compared to conventional methods in a 2021 study conducted by Hanyang University.
- Mixed Reality reduces carbon footprint through On-Site Training.
The British multinational energy and services firm Centrica recognizes the need for digital transformation in the energy industry. Alongside the Net Zero Technology Centre, mixed reality expert VISR Dynamics, and Microsoft, the team has explored mixed reality’s potential to optimize processes safety, productivity, and efficiency, as well as to aid in the transition to net zero.
Centrica has taken advantage of mixed reality to connect frontline employees in energy plants with support via digital devices and over-the-shoulder by energy experts. Centrica engineers can design and implement maintenance and process guidelines that are based on the spatial anchor points that are located around the physical place. To ensure that the device would be safe for use in the ATEX levels 2 or higher, The VISR team opted to work together with Trimble Field Technologies to deliver mixed reality capabilities within the form of a hardhat.
This mixed-reality technology is employed for training as well as offshore recertification. Before, engineers needed to travel by air to offshore locations, each costing upwards of PS10,000 and creating inefficient emissions. Engineers now document their work using mixed-reality devices. These can be examined remotely by a certified.
Sustainable Stats:
- On-site training with mixed reality reduces the carbon footprint from traveling to distant locations, saving thousands of dollars.
- Unique Leak Detection Program Minimizes Water Loss
It is estimated that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 16 percent of total water consumed across the United States is lost, as high as 30 percent at the top end. This means that the treated and collected water does not make it to the user who needs it, which is ultimately a waste of resources. Central Arkansas Water’s GIS Division has developed a unique method to reduce the loss of water. It includes the rescue of a black lab mix dog called Vessel.
Vessel can examine any surface water within the Central Arkansas Water District to determine whether it contains chlorine. Contrarily, a human leak detection team must analyze the water and decide whether or not it’s rainwater or an issue with the utility’s system. If a chlorine-containing water leak is identified, it is repaired, and water loss is reduced. In addition to the efforts of Vessel, the utility required digital tracking and turned to Cityworks as the asset management system they currently utilize. The GIS division designed a custom field category within Cityworks to record and monitor the effectiveness and accuracy of the Canine Leak Protection Program.
Sustainable Stats:
- Expected to lower non-revenue averages for water consumption, i.e., water loss between 10 and 5 percent through the canine Leak Protection Program
- Detailed BIM Modeling and Offsite Construction Achieve Zero Waste Fabrication
Sigmat is a U.K. leader in light-gauge steel framing and understands the impact that 3D modeling can have on construction offsite. By using the best tools capable of detecting clashes, enhancing details, and realistic visualization, the team creates their projects twice – first in the digital space and the second time on site. Sigmat employs Tekla software to model precisely and efficiently, while taking the position that if it can be used within the computer model, then it can perform onsite.
Sigmat has gone as that far as to integrate their Sig-Dek decking profile product in Tekla. Tekla BIM library. Being able to access this product-specific information further increases the level of precision. Acquiring this level of accuracy in the construction and design (VDC) processes lets Sigmat ensure that there is no waste in construction offsite. In addition, the correct quantity of materials is always specified due to automated quantity take-offs. No work is needed because of fabrication or detailing mistakes.
Sustainable Stats:
- A precise BIM modeling results in accurate construction installations. There is no need for rework, and there is no waste generated.
- Linear Scheduling Software Prompts On-Time Project Delivery and Subsequent Emissions Reduction
A rail project that is high-speed and includes 1,600 king posts, three thousand towers, and 300 kilometers of overhead lines, aluminum cables, and fiber optic cables that are completed in time is almost impossible to imagine. However, that’s exactly what happened during the construction of the Cologne-Rhine/Main Line in Germany. THOST Project management was aware that a project of this magnitude and complexity would require a lot of planning and control of deadlines.
To handle the variety of tasks and the numerous interfaces between various industries, team members utilized Trimble Tilos, a time-management system specifically designed for linear construction sites. Tilos contains a variety of algorithms that have information about the period of processes, equipment, staff, and the costs associated with them, as well as other pertinent information. Data such as the resources and quantities with associated performance figures are correlated with every process and saved in libraries.
The open-data linear scheduler software lets teams share data and update their information in real time. The software was essential in delivering the project in a timely manner. It was convenient, which meant fewer resources were needed to complete the project. Moreover, the high-speed rail would begin operating earlier, replacing traffic on roads and cutting carbon emissions.