Student: Joran van de Hoef
Supervisors: Arjan Habraken, Patrick Teuffel, Hayo Schilperoort
09-06-2022
Abstract
The building sector is a major contributor to global carbon emissions, accounting for up to 40% of total CO₂ emissions, with a significant share originating from structural components. Although operational energy emissions have been reduced in recent decades, rapid construction growth has led to an overall increase in emissions. As operational impacts decline, embodied carbon — emissions from material production, transport, and construction — is becoming an increasingly important factor, particularly in structural design.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a widely used method for evaluating environmental impacts but is often applied too late in the design process to influence major decisions. Since early design choices strongly determine material use and environmental performance, integrating LCA at the concept stage presents a key opportunity to reduce embodied carbon.
Building Information Modelling (BIM) provides detailed material and quantity data that can support LCA integration. This research proposes combining BIM, LCA, and parametric design to evaluate and compare early-stage structural concepts based on embodied carbon, enabling more sustainable design decisions when flexibility is highest.
To support sustainable decision-making in early design, a parametric design tool is developed. Parametric design enables the rapid generation and modification of design alternatives by adjusting key parameters, allowing designers to explore multiple structural concepts efficiently. Grasshopper, a visual programming environment for Rhino3D, is used to create this tool. Structural analysis are performed using the Karamba3D plug-in, which optimizes structural elements by minimizing material use while maintaining structural performance.
By combining BIM, LCA, and parametric design, this approach aims to enable designers to compare early-stage design concepts based on embodied carbon. This supports informed decision-making at a stage where design flexibility is highest, and environmental impact can be most effectively reduced..
Cite this
Integration of Life Cycle Analysis, Building Information Modelling and Parametric Design to assist designers in reducing embodied carbon emissions in the early design stages.
Van de Hoef, J. 09-06-2022
RESED 