‘Smartifying’ Construction for Circular and Zero-Carbon Biobased Buildings (SmartBioC)

SmartBioC focuses on creating a user-friendly digital tool that allows users to select and specify biobased materials and building components for a modular housing unit based on a set of performance indicators including carbon footprint, thermal performance, cost, social value, health and wellbeing and strength. The ultimate aim of the tool is to speed up the uptake of circular biobased materials to provide zerocarbon, healthy and socially and economically viable solutions for the construction industry. Smart construction, integrating the use of digital technologies and Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) has the potential to improve the affordability, efficiency, and sustainability of new buildings. Aligned to a circular economic model, opportunities exist to optimise the use, reuse, and disposal of biobased materials within the expanding MMC housing market, thereby improving carbon sequestration and mitigating climate change. Together with industry partners, SmartBioC’s research team is using the Design Council's Double Diamond Framework of discover, define, develop, deliver, to facilitate a collaborative and iterative process where the end-user is at the centre and determines the final outcome. To date SmartBioC has undertaken an exploratory review of the literature, an early concept modelling using Autodesk Revit, and an outline performance specification for the biobased products defined. A BIM Object library of MMC category 2 components with alternative biobased material configurations is under development for exporting to gaming platform Unity. Rapid prototyping and testing in Unity will ensure that a web-based tool (html) is distributed to users for feedback and development purposes. Userfriendly digital tools like SmartBioC gives end-users, designers, decision-makers and specifiers, the ability to easily select circular biobased materials whilst visualising their design in 3D, along with information about the environmental, economic and social impacts of their choices. The adoption by the construction industry of zero-carbon, healthy and socially and economically viable biobased building solutions is imperative if the catastrophic impacts of predicted global warming are to be averted.#