Digital transformation and innovation for achieving net-zero carbon emissions in construction and built environment

The urgency to address climate change and achieve net-zero carbon emissions (NZCEs) has become a defining challenge of our time, demanding transformative shifts across all sectors. The construction and built environment (CBE) sector, responsible for a significant proportion of global greenhouse gas emissions, faces particularly acute pressure to decarbonize. This includes emissions from material production, construction processes, building operations, and eventual demolition and waste management. Traditional approaches have proven insufficient to achieve the ambitious reduction targets necessary to limit global warming, highlighting the critical need for innovative strategies and systemic changes within the industry.



In response to this imperative, digital transformation and innovation have emerged as a powerful catalyst for change within the CBE sector. The adoption of digital technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), Digital Twins, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Blockchain, and 3D printing offers unprecedented opportunities to optimize resource utilization, improve energy efficiency, streamline construction processes, and enhance the sustainability of buildings and infrastructure. By leveraging data-driven insights and fostering greater collaboration across the value chain, digital solutions can unlock new pathways to minimize carbon footprints and accelerate the transition towards a net-zero future for the built environment.



However, the potential of digital transformation and innovation to drive decarbonization in the CBE sector is not yet fully realized. Significant challenges remain in terms of technology adoption, data interoperability, skills development, regulatory frameworks, and the integration of digital solutions with existing infrastructure. This research topic seeks to address these challenges and explore the transformative potential of digital technologies in enabling a net-zero carbon future for the CBE sector. By bringing together cutting-edge research, innovative case studies, and insightful perspectives from across the globe, this collection aims to advance our understanding of how digital transformation can be strategically leveraged to achieve ambitious carbon reduction targets and create a more sustainable and resilient built environment for generations to come.



The goal of this research topic is to explore the transformative potential of digital technologies and innovative strategies for achieving NZCEs within the CBE sector. It seeks to showcase cutting-edge research, case studies, and best practices that demonstrate how digital tools and innovative solutions can be effectively implemented across the building lifecycle – from design and construction to operation and end-of-life – to minimize both embodied and operational carbon. Ultimately, this research topic endeavors to provide a platform for disseminating knowledge, fostering collaboration, and accelerating the industry's transition towards a sustainable, net-zero future.



We invite submissions that present Original Research, Case Studies, or Reviews within the scope of construction management, focusing on the role of digital transformation and innovation in achieving NZCEs within the CBE sector.

Topics may include but are not limited to:

1. Digital tools for sustainable construction management:

- Integration of BIM for carbon tracking and lifecycle assessment

- Adoption of Digital Twins for optimizing construction processes and reducing carbon emissions

- AI-driven construction project management for sustainable planning and decision-making

- The role of big data and predictive analytics in reducing construction-related carbon footprints



2. Smart construction and process optimization:

- Implementation of automation, robotics, and IoT to improve efficiency and minimize emissions

- The impact of modular construction and prefabrication on reducing material waste and carbon emissions

- Optimizing supply chain management through blockchain and real-time data analytics

- Leveraging cloud computing and digital collaboration platforms for low-carbon construction



3. Energy-efficient construction sites and operations:

- Smart energy management strategies for construction sites and building operations

- Integration of renewable energy sources and battery storage solutions in construction projects

- AI-based predictive maintenance for energy optimization in buildings and infrastructure

- The role of demand-side energy management systems in reducing operational carbon footprints



4. Circular economy and carbon-optimized material use:

- Digital tools for material lifecycle management, reuse, and recycling

- AI-driven selection of low-carbon and sustainable construction materials

- The role of blockchain for transparent and sustainable material sourcing

- Strategies for reducing embodied carbon in construction materials and processes



5. Policy, regulations, and economic aspects of digital transformation:

- Government policies and incentives promoting digital solutions for net-zero construction

- Cost-benefit analysis and economic feasibility of digital innovations in sustainable construction

- The role of standardization and carbon accounting frameworks in digital construction management

- Barriers and opportunities in the adoption of digital transformation for net-zero goals

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review

Keywords: - Digital transformation - Innovation - BIM, Digital Twins, AI, IoT, blockchain, and 3D printing - Net-zero carbon - Carbon neutrality - Circular economy - Construction sector - Built environment

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.