Application of knowledge-based decision support systems (KBDSS) to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in the major phases of construction projects

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The Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry contributes 13% to the world's gross domestic product (GDP) and employs around 7% of the workforce. However, the industry produces 25% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, consumes 60% of the raw materials, and 36% of global energy. The objective of this research program is to reduce anthropogenic GHG emissions and embodied carbon during the design, manufacturing, modularization, transportation, construction, and operational phases of AEC projects. The second objective is to maximize the long-term environmental impact using life cycle assessment (LCA). The third objective is to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration among academic researchers, industry practitioners and policymakers to help Canada achieve Net-zero vision and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and 13 (Climate Action).The research objectives will be achieved via developing a set of knowledge-based decision support systems (KBDSS), for stakeholders in the construction process (owners, architects, discipline-specific engineers, prime contractors, subcontractors, other suppliers, regulators), to enhance real-time LCA decision-making during the design and construction phases. The proposed KBDSS will combine qualitative input from industry subject matter experts, useful knowledge mined from quantitative data using machine learning (ML), multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques, and optimization algorithms to achieve our goals. We will work on topics including selection of the most sustainable, cost-effective solutions; construction materials, design processes and construction methods. The concepts of: Qualification Based Selection (QBS), early construction involvement (ECI), construction digitization, integrated project delivery (IPD) and externality will be utilized to reduce GHG emissions. We have the support of major public, private and not-for-profit AEC organizations in Canada as explained in the cover letter.