Artificial intelligence in building life cycle assessment

Abstract

As the world’s population becomes increasingly urbanized, the building sector is expected to consume even more energy and resources, exacerbating environmental damage. Life cycle Inventory Assessment is one of the main stages of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and it is a methodology for quantifying the environmental impacts of buildings and other assets on the environment. We propose a literature review for examining the potential for Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve the LCA of buildings. In particular, by incorporating AI into the process, it is checked that more accurate predictive modelling is enabled and the time needed for data gathering can be reduced. However, it is also noted that many challenges remain and must be still addressed, such as the need for standardized data and the risk of bias in AI algorithms. Despite these latter open challenges, it can be concluded that AI can significantly enhance sustainability in the building sector.