Agent-based simulation for gas and dust emissions assessment during construction: A case study in Vietnam

Abstract

Construction activities account for a significant amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) and fine particulate matter (PM10) emissions, particularly in developing countries with expeditious urbanization. To achieve sustainability in the construction phase, researchers have made considerable efforts to estimate the emissions accurately. Although several building-level emission databases and related calculation systems have been set up in developed countries, there unluckily remains a vacancy in Vietnam. This study aims to integrate Agent-based simulation (ABS) and process-based life cycle assessment (pLCA) based on construction norms and environmental data available in Vietnam to evaluate the GHG and PM10 emissions under the uncertain and dynamic conditions of on-site construction and supply chains. This method is developed and applied in the case study of a 20-storey building in Hanoi. The results indicate that, among all of the construction equipment, the off-site and on-site transport equipment are the dominant cause for GHG and PM10 emissions. The formwork related-material contributed the most to GHG among the auxiliary materials.

Hybrid Simulation for Value Stream Mapping to Improve the Environmental Performance of the Construction Phase

“…All necessary data regarding material and resource consumption rates were queried according to Vietnam's construction norms (BXD-VN, 2007). The GHG emissions rates of impact sources were obtained from Vietnam's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment data or previous international studies (Nguyen & Sharmak, 2020a). The scope of impact sources is within the contractors' area of decisionmaking, such as vehicles for material transport (construction material and building material), equipment, machinery, and construction material in the construction phase, while the upstream design stage determines other primary building materials.…”