Application of BIM technology in green buildings under the context of smart construction

Building Information Modeling (BIM) has emerged as a transformative technology for addressing lifecycle carbon emissions in green buildings, especially within the broader context of smart city technologies and intelligent infrastructure (smart infrastructure) development. This study explores the use of BIM to quantify and optimize both embodied and operational carbon emissions across the entire building lifecycle. For embodied carbon, BIM integrates with material databases such as Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) to automate calculations, identify carbon-intensive components, and facilitate material substitution strategies. For operational carbon, BIM supports energy simulations by linking building geometry and system specifications to tools like EnergyPlus, enabling iterative design optimization for reduced energy consumption. A lifecycle carbon assessment framework is proposed to dynamically track emissions throughout design, construction, and operational phases. A case study of a mid-rise office building demonstrates that BIM-enabled strategies, including the use of recycled aggregate concrete and hybrid steel-timber systems, achieved a 25% reduction in foundation carbon emissions and a 30% reduction in structural frame emissions. Concurrently, energy efficiency measures such as optimized solar orientation and high-performance HVAC systems reduced operational carbon by 40%. Results indicate that integrating BIM with low-carbon materials, renewable energy systems, and energy-efficient technologies achieves substantial carbon reductions while maintaining cost-effectiveness and functionality. This research demonstrates BIM’s critical role, in synergy with smart city and infrastructure practices, in advancing sustainable construction, providing a robust platform for real-time carbon tracking, data-driven decision-making, and green building performance optimization.