Construction projects often involve soil and vegetation disturbance, waste, consumption of natural resources, impacts on biodiversity and other effects on the environment. To first assess and then mitigate, if not avoid, these impacts, an environmental impact assessment is necessary. Several methods are available for this purpose.
Most relevant environmental impact assessment methods in construction
Let’s look at the systems for assessing the effect of construction projects on the environment:
-Environmental impact assessment: according to the European directive 2021/42/EC, this assessment takes into consideration technical studies, legal aspects and public consultations. It is a lengthy bureaucratic process that sometimes depends on the subjective criteria of the consultant, which can lead to variable results.
–Carbon footprint analysis: with this method we predict the greenhouse gas emissions that the construction project will produce. This is a specific or partial analysis that does not address other impacts, such as water pollution, loss of biodiversity, etc.
–Life cycle assessment is a method used to comply with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards. This life cycle assessment analyses the environmental impacts throughout the entire life of the project, from the extraction of raw materials to their final disposal. For its application, large amounts of data are required, often very specific and detailed, which can make its implementation time-consuming.
–LEED / BREEAM certifications: These certifications assess the sustainability of buildings in terms of design, construction and operation. They apply criteria for energy efficiency, water use and materials. However, they are costly and, in some specific local contexts, inflexible, which can make their application difficult.
In any case, the following are the key aspects to be assessed in any environmental impact assessment method:
–Scope: it is necessary to clearly define the boundaries of the analysis to ensure that all relevant aspects are assessed.
-Impact identification: all potential impacts should also be identified in order to design an effective and realistic impact reduction strategy.
–Assessment and quantification: impacts need to be assessed and quantified in order to compare alternatives and prioritise remedial actions.
-Stakeholder review: to ensure the viability of a construction project, the assessment of its environmental impact must consider the opinion of stakeholders and often must have social acceptance.
–Monitoring: It is essential to establish indicators and mechanisms for their verification in order to assess the environmental performance of the project over time. This will make it possible to adjust actions to ensure that the impact remains under control.
Future of environmental impact assessment methods in construction
In the near future, it is expected that environmental impact assessment methods will be standardised on a global scale, so that they can be applied in diverse social and environmental contexts. In addition, they are expected to become more accurate and dynamic, so that the assessment can be more complete and adapted to each situation.
Header image: @Freepik
By Juan Carlos Soria, Senior MEP Engineer in the Architecture Department at Amusement Logic