Global construction, infrastructure and architecture software company, Autodesk, has released its latest whitepaper providing insight into the current sustainability landscape across Asia Pacific.
Titled ‘Building Net Zero and The Role of Data in Green Construction’, the paper found that, in tandem with increasing national and regulatory insistence, the global push to achieve net zero carbon emissions is driving the shift to sustainable practices in architecture, engineering, and construction. Autodesk Construction Solutions’ Industry Strategy Manager, Sumit Oberoi, said that in “every country and sector”, construction was “becoming green construction”, pointing to the profitable role digital tools would play in the green revolution.
“As Australia and the world continue to respond to the challenge of climate change,” he said, “powerful construction technology and digital tools mean the call for sustainability will no longer be a barrier but an enabler of progress and profits.”
According to the Autodesk whitepaper, the APAC region accounts for 53 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, with 2020’s figures showing the region produced 18.3 billion metric tonnes of CO2. Individually, the manufacturing and construction/building sectors account for 17 per cent and four per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in the region respectively.
“Some impacts construction can have on the environment include destroyed ecosystems due to mining and logging; pollution and high energy use in material manufacturing; damage to local waterways and plant life; air pollution from heavy machinery; high CO2 emissions; and toxic chemical spill contamination,” said Oberoi. “However, there are ways to mitigate these impacts, and it must start with data.”
As a part of its digital construction solutions, Autodesk Construction Cloud users can choose carbon-smart materials through the integration of the Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3). EC3 is a free, cloud-based tool created by Building Transparency with input from nearly 50 industry partners, including Autodesk.
The EC3 tool takes data from Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) to assess and present embodied carbon impacts in a way that’s easy to use and act upon. Users can view the embodied carbon impact of the materials going into projects, enabling the selection and procurement of those with the lowest carbon impact.
“Creating a more sustainable construction industry starts with data,” said Oberoi. “Creating shared data environments and leveraging the latest technology solutions facilitates better decision-making regarding energy-efficient designs, waste reduction strategies and sustainable materials.”
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