To assist the sustainable development of the building sector, designers require tools illustrating the most viable design options. This paper, starting by presenting the opportunities and limitations of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology and Digital Product Passport (DPP) instrument when applied to Custom Modules for Curtain Walls, proposes a Semantic Data-driven Framework to facilitate the design of low-carbon and circular façade modules. Based on literature and the practical outcome of the H2020 project Basajaun, this framework integrates computer-aided technologies that manufacturing companies commonly employ to automate an efficient sustainability assessment process using primary data. This solution innovates industrial process management and architectural design and supports the creation of greener products. It also facilitates the output of documents supporting end-of-life scenarios. The development methodology involves investigating required quantitative project data, environmental factors, and circularity information, as well as the definition of flowcharts for the Life Cycle Inventory, extending a best practice for the façade module’s DPP. Furthermore, the methodology implicates data collection and IT implementation and organisation. This is through the definition of an ontology conceived for interconnection between digital systems. The findings shall contribute to implementing the LCA and DPP practices for custom prefabricated façade modules and suggest areas for further development. Challenges include obtaining and sharing data on environmental impacts and circularity, but involving stakeholders and addressing technical limitations can improve sustainability.

The EU’s energy transition strategy highlights the significance of developing innovative energy models to encourage the utilization of renewable energy sources in urban areas. Utilizing local urban biomasses, including food waste, sewage, and green waste, can contribute to the establishment of energy systems that harness bio-waste for energy generation, thereby promoting circular economy principles and urban metabolisms. This paper proposes using a pre-design tool (based on soft computing approaches) that incorporates an initial analysis of the multidisciplinary feasibility of such systems as an effective strategy and valuable support for preliminary studies. It focuses on validating three “biomass ratio” parameters, integrating urban morphology and district characteristics with the amount of bio-waste in a peri-urban district comprising multifamily buildings. These parameters can be incorporated into a pre-design tool that facilitates multi-criteria decision analyses, aiding the design of innovative models that promote renewable energy sources in urban areas. The findings suggest that synthetic parameters can guide initial considerations, but they may overestimate the energy potential and should be further investigated. Hence, future research should explore complementary strategies for estimating biomass energy potential and extend the application of this methodology to other types of districts.

This study explores how a mix of digital surveying tools can be integrated to thoroughly document and preserve twentieth-century architectural landmarks, focusing specifically on the Church of Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes in Atlántida, Uruguay. Designed by the renowned engineer Eladio Dieste between 1956 and 1960, the church stands as a striking example of structural ingenuity, notably through its use of reinforced brick and signature Gaussian vaults. Now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it serves as an ideal case study for testing modern documentation techniques. The research was based on the interoperability, precision, and practicality of several 3D data acquisition methods. By comparing the point clouds these technologies generate, and using data from the highly accurate tool as a benchmark, the study assesses how faithfully each method captures the geometry of the structure. Findings reveal that although SLAM-based data shows greater deviation, it still holds value, particularly for initial surveys or work in tight, difficult-to-navigate spaces. Photogrammetry, on the other hand, proved indispensable in documenting features that were otherwise unreachable—effectively filling in gaps left by laser scanning. The integration of these data sets required careful alignment and annotation, resulting in a robust 3D model layered with scalar fields to trace both the data sources and their relative reliability. Ultimately, the research highlights the importance of flexibility and precision in heritage documentation while offering a replicable workflow. The proposed methodology not only enhances data quality but also supports more sustainable conservation practices in the digital age.