Towards Environmental Informatics for Building Stocks. A Conceptual Model for an Environmental Building Stock Information System for Sustainable Development - EBSIS

Doctoral thesis, 2002

The Swedish building sector uses a considerable amount of all materials and all energy used in Sweden. Knowledge about the existing building stock, its impact on the environment related to the use of material and energy, however, is limited and target settings for environmental objectives and decision making are based on vague information. To achieve environmental improvement and to pursue environmental objectives, descriptions of the environmental status of building stocks on building stocks' environmental performance is needed in a structured form. A computer-based Environmental Building Stock Information System for Sustainable Development (EBSISSD) is suggested. In the thesis the conceptual model for EBSISSD is developed and the conditions for establishing such a system are examined. The feasibility and relevance of an EBSISSD has been investigated through interview studies and literature studies. Modelling aspects of an EBSISSD have also been elaborated through studies on state-of-the-art, study trips and test runs of data sets with Göteborg as a case. Concerning modelling, issues regarding time, space and flows and deposits of material, energy and water related to buildings have been formulated. A broad scan of the building stock research field in Sweden and internationally and the environmental informatics field has identified existing information structures BSAB, SPINE and GIS as the bricks for construction of the EBSISSD database structure. Moreover, a top-down and bottom-up approach are proposed in combination with a spatial age-use matrix. Concerning relevance, several potential users are identified both on the regional and local level such property managers, municipal authorities and researchers. Potential applications comprise benchmarking, planning issues and scenario studies. Concerning feasibility, existing data and data sources to support EBSISSD are surveyed. The level of coverage is evaluated as good for energy-use data but less satisfactory for material-use data. The Göteborg case study establishes an energy model based on delivered data and shows the potentials of a spatial age-use matrix. In conclusion, it is possible to construct EBSISSD, there are certain interest groups and data are available. However, it is recommended to develop EBSISSD in close co-operation with users and to start on the local level.