Leveraging nD BIM Scalability for Sustainable Construction: Challenges, Opportunities, and Strategic Frameworks for Carbon Emission Mitigation

Globally, the construction industry is responsible for up to 39% of carbon emissions (CEs) and 40% of energy and raw materials consumption, underscoring the failure of current practices to address these issues. Alternatively, Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology is regarded as having the potential to significantly mitigate these impacts, particularly through its nD scalability, which is driven by BIM’s interoperability and data management features. Given the absence of a thorough study of the nexus between BIM nD scalability and CEs, this study intends to fill this gap using a systematic review. Consequently, this study revealed six obstacles hindering controlled and optimized environmental sustainability within construction projects; and investigated and synthetized the scalability of the three BIM parameters into an inclusive equation and framework. Likewise, the study explored nine categories of BIM practices facilitating CEs management and identified several limitations that must be addressed to secure their effectiveness. This paper constitutes an important contribution to the body of knowledge as it provides the key axes and gaps that pave the path for scholars, policymakers, and professionals to develop more environmentally sustainable studies, methods, strategies, and technological solutions in the built environment.