Integrating Off-Site Modular Construction and BIM for Sustainable Multifamily Buildings: A Case Study in Rio de Janeiro

Autor segons l'article: Vargas, Matheus Q; Briga-Sa, Ana; Boer, Dieter; Najjar, Mohammad K; Haddad, Assed N

Departament: Enginyeria Mecànica

Autor/s de la URV: Boer, Dieter-Thomas

Paraules clau: Building information modeling (bim); Industrialized building systems; Multicriteria decision analysis; Off-site modular construction; Sustainable construction

Resum: The construction industry faces persistent challenges, including low productivity, high waste generation, and resistance to technological innovation. Off-site modular construction, supported by Building Information Modeling (BIM), emerges as a promising strategy to address these issues and advance sustainability goals. This study aims to evaluate the practical impacts of industrialized off-site construction in the Brazilian context, focusing on cost, execution time, structural weight, and architectural-logistical constraints. The novelty lies in applying the methodology to a high standard, mixed-use multifamily building, an atypical scenario for modular construction in Brazil, and employing a MultiCriteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) to integrate results. A detailed case study is developed comparing conventional and off-site construction approaches using BIM-assisted analyses for weight reduction, cost estimates, and schedule optimization. The results show an 89% reduction in structural weight, a 6% decrease in overall costs, and a 40% reduction in project duration when adopting fully off-site solutions. The integration of results was performed through the Weighted Scoring Method (WSM), a form of MCDA chosen for its transparency and adaptability to case studies. While this study defined weights and scores, the framework allows the future incorporation of stakeholder input. Challenges identified include the need for early design integration, transport limitations, and site-specific constraints. By quantifying benefits and limitations, this study contributes to expanding the understanding of off-site modular adaptability of construction projects beyond low-cost housing, demonstrating its potential for diverse projects and advancing its implementation in emerging markets. Beyond technical and economic outcomes, the study also frames off-site modular construction within the three pillars of sustainability. Environmentally, it reduces structural weight, resource consumption, and on-site waste; economically, it improves cost efficiency and project delivery times; and socially, it offers potential benefits such as safer working conditions, reduced urban disruption, and faster provision of community-oriented buildings. These dimensions highlight its broader contribution to sustainable development in Brazil.

Àrees temàtiques: Arquitetura e urbanismo; Arquitetura, urbanismo e design; Biodiversidade; Biotecnología; Building and construction; Ciências agrárias i; Computer networks and communications; Computer science (miscellaneous); Education; Energy engineering and power technology; Enfermagem; Engenharias i; Engenharias ii; Engenharias iii; Ensino; Environmental science (miscellaneous); Environmental sciences; Environmental studies; Geociências; Geografía; Geography, planning and development; Green & sustainable science & technology; Hardware and architecture; Historia; Interdisciplinar; Management, monitoring, policy and law; Medicina i; Renewable energy, sustainability and the environment; Zootecnia / recursos pesqueiros

Accès a la llicència d'ús: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/

Adreça de correu electrònic de l'autor: dieter.boer@urv.cat

Data d'alta del registre: 2025-10-17

Versió de l'article dipositat: info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Enllaç font original: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/17/7791

Referència a l'article segons font original: Sustainability. 17 (17): 7791-

Referència de l'ítem segons les normes APA: Vargas, Matheus Q; Briga-Sa, Ana; Boer, Dieter; Najjar, Mohammad K; Haddad, Assed N (2025). Integrating Off-Site Modular Construction and BIM for Sustainable Multifamily Buildings: A Case Study in Rio de Janeiro. Sustainability, 17(17), 7791-. DOI: 10.3390/su17177791

URL Document de llicència: https://repositori.urv.cat/ca/proteccio-de-dades/

DOI de l'article: 10.3390/su17177791

Entitat: Universitat Rovira i Virgili

Any de publicació de la revista: 2025-08-29

Tipus de publicació: Journal Publications