Building Information Modeling for Environmental Impact Assessment in Early Design Phases: A Literature Review

Building information modeling (BIM) and building energy modeling (BEM) are two key tools for transitioning to net-zero energy buildings (NZEBs).  This review discusses the connection between BIM, BEM and life-cycle assessment (LCA) and their role in the development and operation of net-zero carbon (NZC) buildings.  It identifies factors that limit the effective use of the tools, including the low level of BIM user competence and understanding of the levels of development (LOD) at the design stages.  Standardizing interdisciplinary definitions and increasing the understanding of LOD are recommended to improve the effectiveness and performance of the ecosystem service (ES) tools.