Sustainability analysis of Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya using geographic information systems

Purpose This paper aims to analyse the sustainability of two Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya campuses evaluating energy consumption. To do this, the authors consider using geographic information systems (GIS) tools to calculate greenhouse gas emissions in several scenarios. Design/methodology/approach Mixed methods (graphical and statistical) and a case study approach are used, considering energy consumption invoice data (electricity and gas) and qualitative data such as the use of buildings, academic calendar, schedules and the COVID-19 pandemics evolution. This study considers two Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya campuses in Barcelona: Baix Llobregat and Diagonal Nord. Findings The Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya has been managing energy consumption since 2010 using SIRENA (Sistema d’Informació dels Recursos Energètics i l’Aigua, sd) as an energy monitoring and management information system for all the campuses. However, this consumption has never been neither directly computed nor visualized over the study area.This research has used GIS as a sustainability assessment tool, and the results have shown that it can be appropriate for managing data and generating new information that allows detecting anomalies in those buildings that emit more carbon dioxide at different time intervals on Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya campuses. Heat maps are obtained using spatial analysis with inverse distance-weighted interpolation method, supported by statistical analysis such as percentage variation, outlier detection and nonparametric paired tests to verify the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions using renewable energy sources. After having applied the established methodology, the results obtained have determined that energy consumption can demonstrate the state of the buildings, and how much they can affect the environment if measures are not established to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Furthermore, it has been detected that the buildings on both university campuses have pollution problems, generated by the workload and use. Originality/value This paper aims to promote the use of tools for sustainability assessment in buildings and to detect existing deficiencies that allow to establish measures to mitigatng these risks in the present and future, and reducing pollution and carbon dioxide emissions. One such tool is GIS. Taking advantage of the situation produced by the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been possible to consider different real occupancy scenarios and their implication on consumption. Likewise, the GIS tools are useful for decision-making as they allow visualization of real environmental problems in buildings, thus proposing continuous improvement strategies to reduce environmental pollution.