Integrating Digital Twin and Blockchain for dynamic building Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment

The Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) methodology offers a promising solution to achieve a sustainable built environment by simultaneously considering all sustainability pillars. However, traditional LCSA applications are typically confined to the early design stages of building projects, where they assess the entire life cycle of a building using static historical data rather than being employed as a decision-making tool throughout all project phases with real-time data integration. This research addresses these limitations by investigating the integration of LCSA with Digital Twin (DT) and Blockchain technologies to enhance sustainability assessments in building projects. The primary aim is to develop a dynamic framework that incorporates real-time data across a building's entire life cycle. This study utilizes a systematic literature review to identify current trends and gaps, leading to the development of an integrative framework validated through a case study of a typical residential building. The findings demonstrate that integrating DT facilitates continuous monitoring and assessment of environmental, economic, and social impacts, while Blockchain ensures data security, integrity, and transparency. This novel approach supports real-time, iterative LCSA applications, enhancing decision-making from design through construction and maintenance. By showcasing a practical application of DT and Blockchain in real-world scenarios, this framework significantly advances sustainable practices in construction. The originality of this research lies in its holistic approach, combining DT and Blockchain to deliver a more accurate, reliable, and comprehensive sustainability assessment model, setting a new standard for future developments in the field.