For centuries, people have been constructing aqueducts, bridges, sewers, and other large infrastructure. However, it is only recently that we have begun to understand the environmental impact of these projects. The infrastructure sector - encompassing roads, railways, wind farms, and tunnels - is responsible for approximately 80 per cent of the global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The construction sector alone represents 39 per cent of the global GHG emissions.

As the world grapples with the detrimental effects of climate change, awareness is increasing for the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Over the past three years, the construction industry has witnessed a remarkable growth and surge in sustainability-focused practices. With stringent regulations, sustainability certifications, and financial incentives, the infrastructure sector is undergoing a significant transformation, re-evaluating its strategies to minimise its carbon footprint while continuing to drive future development.

This growing emphasis on green building and eco-friendly design holds immense promise for our planet’s future. The GCC region, particularly the UAE, has emerged as a leader in sustainable construction. Aligned with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 strategy and sustainability goals, Dubai has secured third place globally in terms of the highest number of green buildings, as highlighted in a report by Core Savills.

Addressing carbon emissions is a crucial step in combating climate change. However, while operational carbon emissions are expected to be reduced over time (due to the replacement of fossil-fuel energy by renewable sources), embodied carbon (from materials manufacturing, transport to construction site, and construction and installation process - such as terracing and earthwork activities) is more difficult to abate. Predictions show that embodied carbon from new infrastructure is expected to be responsible for half the global carbon footprint between now and 2050.  

Efficient embodied carbon analysis capabilities trigger a major shift in how projects are designed and evaluated.

Companies, such as the Canadian consulting firm WSP, have faced challenges compiling carbon data due to the inconsistent methodologies used to calculate embodied carbon, including emissions from material sourcing, manufacturing, logistics, construction, demolition activities, and waste processing. The process of translating every detail into a comprehensive carbon evaluation is a significantly time-consuming and complex one.

Solutions like Bentley Systems’ new Carbon Analysis feature help users reduce the embodied carbon footprint of their infrastructure designs and engineering projects. These capabilities empower infrastructure engineers to easily streamline carbon reporting, visualise embodied carbon, and rapidly explore design alternatives.

By adopting these solutions, organisations can seamlessly integrate sustainability into the infrastructure design process. Early adopters have reported significant time savings, reducing the time required to calculate embodied carbon in infrastructure projects from six months to mere minutes. These advanced capabilities enable easy calculation of emissions from material sourcing and manufacturing, both of which account for 65 per cent to 85 per cent of total embodied carbon emissions, with the remainder embodied carbon belonging to transportation of materials to the construction site, and the installation/construction process.

By enabling repeatable calculation of embodied carbon during the design phase, architects, engineers, material suppliers, sustainability experts, and other stakeholders can collaborate effectively and make timely changes to the design, starting earlier in incorporating carbon in the decision-making process, as well as making it easier to work toward a project’s net-zero emissions.

 Studies indicate that simply specifying and substituting material alternatives during the design and specification process can lead to a significant reduction of 20 per cent to 50 per cent in upfront embodied carbon. Kelvin Saldanha, highway engineer at WSP, states: “This proposition from Bentley truly represents a paradigm shift in the way we calculate carbon, enabling a more consistent and rapid approach that allows us to make timely decisions and positively impact project outcomes.”

Addressing embodied carbon with solutions: a real-life example.

The new ENI headquarters in Milan, Italy, is set to be a global beacon of sustainable innovation. This iconic complex, featuring three interconnected office buildings and a landmark skybridge, boasts 11,684 sq m of total green surface area.

Webuild, the project’s contractor, encountered the challenge of delivering this ambitious project within a tight deadline and a limited footprint. The critical node of the project, the large steel sky bridge, presented a particularly complex assembly. To ensure timely completion and maintain safety standards, Webuild turned to a collaborative digital construction simulation solution.

Webuild leveraged Synchro to create a dynamic, virtual construction environment and a digital twin for better planning and scheduling. This enabled the team to evaluate multiple scenarios, perform clash detection, and determine a construction plan for safety and efficiency while reducing social and environmental impact. By utilising Bentley’s 4D scheduling, simulations and construction modelling technology, Webuild achieved a 90 per cent reduction in rework and compressed the construction schedule from 85 days to just four days.

Working with a connected digital platform optimised site layout, leading to a 30 per cent reduction in the project’s carbon footprint. In addition, the project adopted sustainable material provision, with iron and concrete sourced from within a 200-km radius of the site, with iron containing over 90 per cent recycled content, while concrete with more than five per cent recycled material. The platform also provided invaluable insights into all construction processes, achieving zero on-site accidents.

Adopting solutions, such as these, has the potential to help the sector take significant strides towards achieving net-zero goals, contributing to a sustainable and green future - as long as the sector ensures those digital twin solutions are based on a connected data environment built on an open, interoperable, and vendor-agnostic digital twin platform. This approach is essential to foster a collaborative ecosystem across the sector, eliminating data silos, avoiding vendor lock-in, and fostering transparency and innovation within the infrastructure workflows.

By embracing sustainable practices and leveraging innovative technologies, industry stakeholders can significantly reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future. The integration of cutting-edge digital tools and technologies empowers professionals to make informed decisions during construction processes and minimise environmental impact.