Session

Decarbonizing the Built Environment is a research project that explored the utilization of GIS tools to evaluate building forms and passive energy strategies for sustainable design and urban planning. By creating digital twins of the built environment, from individual buildings to urban scale, this research investigated the impact of building form and solar orientation on energy consumption and carbon production. The research provides architects, engineers, policymakers, and planners with data-driven insights to reduce the carbon footprint and promote sustainable practices in building design and urban planning. Innovative technology outcomes, such as building form analysis tools, solar energy and climate APIs, and AI models for predicting solar insolation and heat transfer, have been developed to facilitate this process. These tools enable the simulation of different energy consumption and carbon emission outcomes based on building form. The research emphasizes the importance of implementing passive energy measures and increasing awareness of the long-term environmental impact of decisions in the built environment. It also demonstrates the potential of GIS tools and digital twins to transform the field of building performance and sustainability, paving the way for a more environmentally conscious future in building design and urban planning.