Copy of LCA Integration in MMC Projects: Expert Survey

Researcher: Urjwan Alkamil
Edinburgh Napier University

Participant Information and Consent:
This questionnaire is part of a Master's dissertation research project on how Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) can be integrated into Modern Methods of Construction (MMC)-based project planning workflows. The research aims to develop a practical integrated framework linking LCA methodology, MMC planning decisions, and Building Information Modelling (BIM)-enabled workflows to support sustainable building delivery in the UK.

Your responses will contribute to understanding current practices, identifying barriers, and defining requirements for an integrated LCA–MMC–BIM framework. It takes 16–17 minutes to complete.

Participation is entirely voluntary. You may skip any question or withdraw at any time. All responses are anonymised and data will be processed in accordance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. If, for any reason, you cannot answer a question or an entire section, please skip.

By continuing, I confirm I have read the Participant Information Sheet and consent to participate.

1.Name of Participant(Required.)

2.Current or most recent employer(Required.)

3.Email address

Section A: Participant Background and Professional Experience
This section establishes your professional context and relevant experience. Please select the most appropriate answer for each question.

4.What is your primary professional role?

A. LCA Specialist / Environmental Consultant

B. BIM Manager / Digital Construction Lead

C. MMC Manufacturer / Offsite Construction Specialist

D. Sustainability Consultant / Sustainability Manager

E. Architect / Structural or Civil Engineer

F. Project Manager / Client-Side Representative

G. Academic Researcher / Lecturer

Other (please specify)

5.How many years of professional experience do you have in your primary domain?

6.Which MMC typologies have you worked with professionally? (Select all that apply)

A. Volumetric modular (fully fitted 3D modules)

B. Panelised systems (structural insulated panels, CLT, light steel frame)

C. Hybrid systems (combination of volumetric and panelised)

D. Pre-manufactured components (staircases, façade units, MEP modules)

E. Flat-pack / kit-of-parts systems

F. I have not worked directly with MMC projects

G. Other (please specify)

7.What is your level of experience with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)?

A. No experience — I have not used LCA

B. Basic familiarity — I understand LCA concepts but have not conducted one

C. Moderate — I have used LCA outputs but not conducted full assessments myself

D. Experienced — I have conducted LCA independently on construction projects

E. Expert — I regularly conduct or supervise LCA and am familiar with ISO 14040/14044

8.Which LCA tools or software are you familiar with? (Select all that apply)

9.What is your level of experience with Building Information Modelling (BIM)? (Select one)

A. No experience

B. Basic — I can view and navigate BIM models

C. Moderate — I use BIM models for design coordination

D. Experienced — I author BIM models and manage model data

E. Expert — I lead BIM strategy, LOD standards, and data management

10.Which BIM authoring or management platforms do you use? (Select all that apply)

Other (please specify)

Section B: Current LCA/WLCA Practices in MMC Projects
This section explores how LCA/WLCA is currently applied in MMC project planning.

11.In your experience, how commonly is LCA/WLCA used in MMC projects compared to conventional construction projects?

A. LCA/WLCA is significantly more common in MMC projects

B. LCA/WLCA is slightly more common in MMC projects

C. LCA/WLCA is equally common in both MMC and conventional construction

D. LCA/WLCA is slightly less common in MMC projects

E. LCA/WLCA is significantly less common in MMC projects

F. I do not have sufficient experience to compare

12.What is the primary driver for conducting LCA/WLCA on MMC projects in your experience?

A. Client requirement / client sustainability policy

B. Planning policy or regulatory requirement

C. Green building certification (e.g., BREEAM, LEED, Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard)

D. Voluntary initiative by the design team or contractor

E. Funding or procurement condition (e.g., public sector framework)

F. LCA/WLCA is rarely or never conducted on MMC projects in my experience

13.At which RIBA stage is LCA/WLCA most commonly initiated on MMC projects?

A. RIBA Stage 0–1 (Strategic Definition / Preparation and Briefing)

B. RIBA Stage 2 (Concept Design)

C. RIBA Stage 3 (Spatial Coordination / Developed Design)

D. RIBA Stage 4 (Technical Design)

E. RIBA Stage 5 (Manufacturing and Construction)

F. Post-completion / retrospective assessment

G. LCA/WLCA is not conducted at any stage

14.Which system boundary is most commonly used when conducting LCA/WLCA for MMC projects? (Select one)

A. Cradle-to-gate (A1–A3: raw material extraction through manufacturing only)

B. Cradle-to-site (A1–A4: includes transport to site)

C. Cradle-to-practical completion (A1–A5: includes construction/assembly)

D. Whole-life cycle (A1–C4: includes operational and end-of-life stages)

E. It varies depending on the project or client requirement

F. I am not sure / LCA is not conducted in my experience

15.How are MMC-specific life cycle stages typically handled in LCA/WLCA for MMC projects?

A. Factory manufacturing energy and processes are explicitly modelled using measured or manufacturer-provided data

B. Factory manufacturing is approximated using generic manufacturing datasets from LCA databases

C. Factory manufacturing is not separately modelled — conventional construction datasets are used

D. It varies — some projects model factory processes explicitly, others do not

E. I am not sure how this is handled

16.At which project stage would early-stage LCA/WLCA provide the greatest value for MMC planning decisions?

A. RIBA Stage 0–1 (Strategic Definition — MMC vs. conventional construction decision)

B. RIBA Stage 2 (Concept Design — MMC typology selection: volumetric vs. panelised vs. hybrid)

C. RIBA Stage 3 (Developed Design — material specification and supply chain decisions)

D. RIBA Stage 4 (Technical Design — detailed component optimisation)

E. All stages equally

F. LCA does not add significant value to MMC planning decisions

Section C: BIM–LCA Workflows and Integration in MMC
This section investigates how BIM is used to support LCA in MMC contexts.

17.How is BIM currently used to support LCA in the MMC projects you have worked on? (Select one)

A. BIM models are used for automated quantity take-off directly linked to LCA tools via plugins

B. BIM models are used for quantity take-off, but quantities are manually transferred to LCA tools

C. BIM models are used for design coordination only — LCA is conducted separately using manual quantity take-off

D. BIM is not used to support LCA in the MMC projects I have worked on

E. LCA is not conducted on the MMC projects I have worked on

18.Which BIM-LCA integration tools or plugins have you used? (Select all that apply)

One Click LCA (Revit / IFC plugin)

Tally (Revit plugin)

Sefaira

IES VE (linked to BIM)

Custom / bespoke scripts or macros

Manual export (IFC, gbXML, CSV) with no dedicated plugin

I have not used BIM-LCA integration tools

Other (please specify)

19.At what Level of Development (LOD) are BIM models typically available when LCA is conducted on MMC projects?

A. LOD 100–200 (conceptual massing — minimal geometric and material detail)

B. LOD 300 (approximate geometry, basic material information)

C. LOD 350 (detailed geometry, material properties embedded in objects)

D. LOD 400 (fabrication-level detail, manufacturer-specific data)

E. It varies significantly between projects

F. I am not sure

20.How are missing material data typically handled in BIM-LCA workflows for MMC projects? (Select all that apply)

A. Manufacturer-specific Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are sourced manually

B. Generic datasets from Ecoinvent are substituted

C. ICE Database (University of Bath) values are used as defaults

D. National database values (e.g., RICS, CIBSE) are used

E. The missing element is excluded from the assessment

F. Conservative assumptions are applied (worst-case values)

G. I am not sure how this is handled in practice

21.What is the greatest opportunity for automation in BIM-LCA workflows for MMC projects?

A. Automated quantity take-off directly from BIM geometry

B. Automated material mapping from BIM objects to LCA inventory databases

C. Real-time environmental impact feedback during design iteration

D. Automated comparison of alternative MMC system typologies

E. Automated sensitivity analysis for key parameters (transport, factory energy)

F. All of the above are equally important opportunities

Section D: Barriers and Challenges to LCA–MMC Integration
This section identifies the main barriers preventing effective LCA integration in MMC planning.

22.What do you consider to be the most significant barrier to LCA adoption in MMC project planning?

A. Lack of client demand or commercial incentive for LCA

B. Insufficient LCA expertise within MMC design and manufacturing teams

C. Lack of MMC-specific LCA data (factory energy, transport, manufacturing processes)

D. Technical limitations of existing BIM-LCA tools for MMC contexts

E. Timing misalignment — LCA is conducted too late to inform key MMC planning decisions

F. High cost and time required to conduct LCA

G. Lack of regulatory requirement or planning policy mandate

H. Other (please specify)

25.In your valuable opinion, what would most effectively motivate greater adoption of LCA/WLCA in MMC project planning? (Select up to three)

A. Mandatory LCA requirements in UK planning policy

B. Increased client demand driven by sustainability commitments

C. Inclusion of LCA in BREEAM / LEED certification criteria

D. Industry-standard MMC LCA methodology and guidance

E. Improved and lower-cost BIM-LCA tools tailored to MMC

F. Availability of MMC-specific LCA data and EPD libraries

G. Professional training and upskilling programmes for MMC teams

H. Demonstrated cost savings from LCA-informed MMC design decisions

Other (please specify)

26.How adequate are current LCA/WLCA databases for assessing MMC projects?

A. Fully adequate — databases cover all relevant MMC materials and processes

B. Mostly adequate — minor gaps exist but can be addressed with generic substitutions

C. Partially adequate — significant gaps exist for MMC-specific processes

D. Largely inadequate — major gaps prevent credible MMC LCA

E. I am not sure

Section E: Requirements for an Integrated LCA–MMC–BIM Framework
This section explores what an effective integrated framework would need to include and how it should function.

27.Which of the following should be core functional requirements of an integrated LCA–MMC–BIM framework? (Select all that apply)

A. Automated BIM-to-LCA data transfer (quantity take-off → LCA inventory)

B. Comparison of environmental performance across MMC system typologies (volumetric vs. panelised vs. hybrid)

C. Early-stage LCA capability at RIBA Stages 1–2 using default or parametric assumptions

D. Explicit modelling of MMC-specific life cycle stages (factory energy, transport, on-site assembly)

E. Sensitivity analysis for key parameters (transport distance, factory energy, material substitution)

F. Integration with UK LCA databases (Ecoinvent, ICE Database, EPD libraries)

G. Support for circular economy considerations (design for disassembly, component reuse)

H. Visual decision-support outputs (dashboards, comparison charts)

Other (please specify)

28.At which RIBA stage(s) should an integrated LCA–MMC–BIM framework primarily operate? (Select all that apply)

A. RIBA Stage 0–1 (Strategic Definition — MMC vs. conventional construction comparison)

B. RIBA Stage 2 (Concept Design — MMC typology selection)

C. RIBA Stage 3 (Developed Design — material and supply chain optimisation)

D. RIBA Stage 4 (Technical Design — detailed component-level LCA)

E. RIBA Stage 5 (Manufacturing and Construction — as-built verification)

F. All stages — the framework should support iterative LCA throughout design

29.How should an integrated framework handle MMC-specific parameters where project-specific data are not yet available at early design stages?

A. Use industry default values (e.g., 50 km transport distance, UK grid carbon intensity)

B. Use conservative worst-case assumptions to ensure results are not underestimated

C. Use best-case assumptions to demonstrate the environmental potential of MMC

D. Use a range of values (best-case, central, worst-case) to show uncertainty

E. Require the user to input project-specific values — no defaults should be provided

F. Other (please specify)

30.Which BIM platform(s) should an integrated framework be compatible with? (Select all that apply)

A. Autodesk Revit (primary platform)

B. ArchiCAD

C. Bentley AECOsim / OpenBuildings

D. IFC-based (platform-agnostic, compatible with any BIM tool via IFC export)

E. Tekla Structures

F. Any platform — compatibility should not be limited to specific software

Other (please specify)

31.How should the outputs of an integrated LCA–MMC–BIM framework be presented to support MMC planning decisions? (Select all that apply)

A. Numerical results disaggregated by life cycle stage (A1, A2, A3, A4, A5)

B. Numerical results disaggregated by material category (structural, envelope, finishes, services)

C. Visual comparison charts showing environmental performance of alternative MMC typologies

D. Traffic-light or rating system indicating environmental performance relative to benchmarks

E. Sensitivity analysis charts showing impact of key parameter variations

F. Narrative guidance notes explaining results and their implications for design decisions

G. Exportable reports in standard formats (PDF, Excel)

Other (please specify)

Section F: Open-ended questions
Please provide brief written responses.

32.In your professional experience, what is the single most important change that would enable LCA to be effectively integrated into MMC project planning workflows?

33.Are there any MMC-specific LCA challenges or requirements that you feel have not been addressed in this questionnaire?

34.What are the three most important features you would want to see in an integrated LCA–MMC–BIM framework?

35.Is there anything else you would like to add about LCA, MMC, BIM integration, or the development of an integrated framework?