Life Cycle Assessment for Modular-Constructed Buildings: A Proposed Methodological Framework

Abstract

Modular construction (MC) is one of the vital members of the off-site construction (OSC) family and identifies as an innovative modern method of construction (MMC). Over the last two decades, several research studies have highlighted the distinctive benefits of MC in contrast to conventional in-situ construction. Particularly in developed economies, a greater inclination towards adopting MC practices is visible. However, there is limited research investigating the environmental sustainability of MC, especially in developing countries such as Sri Lanka. Even the available literature, the majority only addresses limited phases of the life cycle of the buildings. Furthermore, selecting the system boundary and collecting reliable and comprehensive process data are some of the inherent difficulties in the environmental assessment processes, explaining the lack of research in this domain. Moreover, the lack of country-specific life cycle data is a significant barrier the developing regions face when conducting environmental performance research of MC. Notably, a systematic methodological framework for assessing the environmental sustainability of modular construction through a life cycle perspective still lacks in the relevant literature. Hence, this paper proposed a methodological framework through a life cycle perspective for assessing the environmental sustainability of MC projects by employing the so-called life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. The application of the proposed framework will attempt to validate through a pilot case study. The proposed framework offers a systematic method for future studies on investigating the environmental performance of modular constructed facilities using an LCA approach.

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