An IoT-Based System for Lifecycle-Wide Carbon Emissions Assessment in Prefabricated Construction

Given the recognized capacity of prefabricated construction (PC) to minimize carbon emissions (CEs), there is a growing imperative for the establishment of comprehensive monitoring systems. Traditional monitoring methodologies have been limited to assessing CEs in discrete segments of prefabricated construction, often neglecting the intricacies of prefabricated and recyclable processes, which is a barrier to the deployment of effective CE mitigation strategies. Addressing this deficiency, the current investigation introduces an IoT-enabled system designed to quantify CEs throughout the entire lifecycle of prefabricated construction. The focus of this system is on the lifecycle stages with significant CE implications, thereby enabling thorough tracking of emissions particularly within prefabricated and recyclable operations. A bespoke CE quantification model, pertinent to the lifecycle of prefabrication, has been formulated, laying the analytical groundwork for the monitoring system. The utility of IoT technology in this context is scrutinized via case study analyses, which serve to substantiate the system’s practicality and impact. The findings illustrate an enhanced precision in monitoring efforts, with a successful integration of a wide array of CE-related activities within the prefabricated construction domain into the IoT-based system.