Early-Stage Environmental Assessment of Tunnel Design through a semi-automated BIM–LCA Integration Framework

This study presents a framework integrating Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to support early-stage environmental evaluation in tunnel infrastructure. The workflow connects some tools (Autodesk Revit, Dynamo, Excel, and OpenLCA) enabling the extraction of material data, matching with environmental indicators, and reintegration of results into the BIM model. The methodology was applied to a tunnel case study, showing that steel reinforcement accounts for about 63% of the total Global Warming Potential (GWP), while replacing conventional materials with low-carbon alternatives achieves a 22% reduction in overall emissions. Embedding environmental indicators into the BIM environment provides an easy color-coded visualization of impacts, facilitating informed design decisions. Aligned with ISO 14040 and 14044 standards, the framework offers a transparent and replicable approach that help the integration of sustainability evaluation into digital early-stage design workflows. It enhances environmental awareness among designers and engineers, promoting data-driven decision- making in the planning and design of tunnel infrastructure.