SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS IN THE AMAZON: A SYSTEMS ANALYSIS INTEGRATING BIM, ENERGY, WATER, AND CONSTRUCTION SYSTEMS

Authors

  • Laerte Melo Barros INSTITUTO FEDERAL DE EDUCAÇÃO, CIÊNCIA E TECNOLOGIA DO AMAZONAS-IFAM/CMC
  • Rodrigo Paz Barros Universidade Nilton Lins
  • Pedro Felix Liotto Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
  • Thamires Ohana Coelho Lima Liotto Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36557/2674-9432.2026v5n1p1092-1110

Keywords:

Building Information Modeling, Sustainable Construction, Floating Buildings, Energy Efficienc

Abstract

The increasing pressure on Amazonian ecosystems, coupled with demands for housing and infrastructure in areas subject to complex hydrological regimes, poses significant challenges to the planning and design of environmentally responsible buildings. In this context, floating buildings emerge as an adaptive alternative, requiring integrated construction solutions that reconcile environmental performance, resource efficiency, and adaptation to the specific climatic, social, and territorial characteristics of the region. This article aims to analyze, in an integrated manner, the design of a sustainable construction system applied to floating buildings in the Amazon, articulating the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) methodology with energy efficiency strategies, water management, and construction solutions appropriate to the regional environmental and socioeconomic context. The theoretical framework is based on the principles of sustainable construction, the environmental performance of buildings, the application of BIM as a tool for integration and support for decision-making, and contemporary approaches to energy efficiency, rational water use, and construction systems adapted to sensitive environments. This research adopts a qualitative and conceptual approach, exploratory in nature, structured from a systematic literature review and the development of an integrated conceptual model. BIM is used as an organizing axis to simulate, articulate, and evaluate the energy, water, and construction subsystems, allowing for a systemic analysis of design performance. The results show that the integration between BIM, renewable energy systems, water harvesting and reuse solutions, and appropriate construction techniques enhances environmental performance, resource rationalization, and the adaptability of the proposed system to Amazonian conditions.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abtahi, M., Rueda, L., Delcroix, B., & Athienitis, A. (2025). Semantic digital twinning for cost-optimal HVAC operation: Real-time application to a house with smart thermostats and PV/battery under a time-of-use tariff. Energy and Buildings, 343, 115938. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2025.115938

Assoa, Y. B., & Levrard, D. (2020). A lightweight triangular building integrated photovoltaic module. Applied Energy, 279, 115816. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115816

Bibri, S. E., & Huang, J. (2025). AI and AI-powered digital twins for smart, green, and zero-energy buildings: A systematic review of leading-edge solutions for advancing environmental sustainability goals. Environmental Science and Ecotechnology, 28, Article 100628. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ese.2025.100628

Cabeza, L. F., Rincón, L., Vilariño, V., Pérez, G., & Castell, A. (2014). Life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle energy analysis (LCEA) of buildings and the building sector: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 29, 394–416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2013.08.037

Chong, H.-Y., Lee, C.-Y., Wang, X., & Li, H. (2024). Building information modeling for sustainable building design: A critical review and future research directions. Automation in Construction, 154, 104990. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2023.104990

Darko, A., Chan, A. P. C., Huo, X., & Owusu-Manu, D.-G. (2022). A scientometric analysis and review of green building research. Building and Environment, 221, 109325. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109325

Eastman, C., Teicholz, P., Sacks, R., & Liston, K. (2011). BIM handbook: A guide to building information modeling for owners, managers, designers, engineers and contractors (2nd ed.). John Wiley & Sons.

Firoozi, A. A., Oyejobi, D. O., & Firoozi, A. A. (2025). Innovations in energy-efficient construction: Pioneering sustainable building practices. Cleaner Engineering and Technology, 26, 100957. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clet.2025.100957

International Energy Agency. (2023). Building-integrated photovoltaics: Status and prospects. IEA. https://www.iea.org

Kandt, A., Hotchkiss, E., & Walker, A. (2023). Optimizing building-integrated photovoltaics for urban energy systems. Energy and Buildings, 278, 112564. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2023.112564

Khattak, W. A., Abbas, A., Hameed, R., Balooch, S., Jalal, A., Zaman, F., Shafiq, M., & Sun, J. (2025). Climate change induced environmental adversities and their impact on agricultural productivity (Chapter 1). In S. Fahad, M. Adnan, I. Munir, R. Lal, T. Nawaz, & S. Saud (Eds.), Challenges and solutions of climate impact on agriculture (pp. 1–28). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-23707-2.00001-5

Kylili, A., Fokaides, P. A., & Ioannou, I. (2020). Environmental assessment of building materials and components using life cycle analysis. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 132, 110112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2020.110112

Kylili, A., Fokaides, P. A., & Jimenez, P. A. L. (2022). Key performance indicators (KPIs) for the environmental assessment of buildings. Journal of Building Engineering, 45, 103408. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2021.103408

Liu, Y., Yang, L., He, B.-J., & Ye, M. (2023). Performance assessment of building-integrated photovoltaic systems in different climatic regions. Renewable Energy, 209, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2023.01.052

López-Ochoa, L. M., Las-Heras-Casas, J., García-Lozano, C., & Pisoni, E. (2025). Integrated sustainability assessment of buildings: Bridging environmental, economic and social dimensions. Sustainable Cities and Society, 101, 105071. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2024.105071

Lu, V. L., Chen, X., Chen, J., & Jiao, K. (2025). Building energy assessment tools and evaluation integration approaches to energy-efficient buildings (Chapter 8). In V. L. Lu, X. Chen, J. Chen, & K. Jiao (Eds.), Toward energy-efficient buildings (pp. 187–217). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-26550-1.00008-8

Marchwiński, J., & Lucchi, E. (2024). Firmitas, utilitas, and venustas of photovoltaic architecture. Solar Energy, 282, 112974. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2024.112974

Moretti, N., Chan, Y.-C., Nakaoka, M., Mukherjee, A., Merino, J., & Parlikad, A. K. (2025). Data integration for space-aware digital twins of hospital operations. Automation in Construction, 176, Article 106276. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2025.106276

Pérez-Lombard, L., Ortiz, J., & Pout, C. (2024). A review on buildings energy consumption information. Energy and Buildings, 305, 113873.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2024.113873

Pomponi, F., & Moncaster, A. (2025). Circular economy for the built environment: A research framework. Journal of Cleaner Production, 392, 136259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.136259

Proskuryakova, L. N., & Sivaev, S. (2020). Recent trends and research strategies for treatment of water and wastewater in Russia (Chapter 6). In P. Singh, Y. Milshina, K. Tian, D. Gusain, & J. P. Bassin (Eds.), Water conservation and wastewater treatment in BRICS nations (pp. 119–138). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818339-7.00006-0

Roychoudhury, A., Mukherjee, S., & Banerjee, R. (2025). Navigating salinity challenges: Enhancing resilience in underground vegetable crops (Chapter 5). In M. K. Lal, R. K. Tiwari, A. Kumar, R. Kumar, & B. Singh (Eds.), Abiotic stress in underground vegetables (pp. 61–74). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-23961-8.00005-X

Silva, A. S., & Ghisi, E. (2024). Rainwater harvesting and greywater reuse in buildings: Environmental and economic performance assessment. Water Research, 245, 120760. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2024.120760

Silva, A. S., Ghisi, E., & Oliveira, L. H. (2025). Performance assessment of rainwater harvesting systems in tropical climates. Journal of Environmental Management, 353, 120054. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120054

Vieira, A. S., Andrade, M. A., & Ghisi, E. (2024). Water-saving strategies in buildings under high rainfall conditions. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 200, 107117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2023.107117

Wang, J., Tian, Z., & Li, L. (2025). Application of BIM technology in green buildings under the context of smart construction. In Proceedings of SPIE – The International Society for Optical Engineering (Vol. 13682). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3073465

Wang, L., Chen, Z., & Zhang, X. (2025). Carbon emissions and life-cycle performance of structural materials in buildings. Journal of Building Engineering, 91, 107775. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2024.107775

Wibisono, M. G., Asdak, C., Wawan, & Dwiratna, S. (2025). Unlocking the sustainability potential of Liberica coffee (Coffea liberica) in Riau’s tropical peatlands: Strategic insights from Rangsang Island, Indonesia. Sustainable Futures, 10, 101187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sftr.2025.101187

Wong, J. K. W., & Zhou, J. (2012). Enhancing environmental sustainability over building life cycles through green BIM: A review. Automation in Construction, 57, 156–165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2012.02.003

Xu, J., Qi, M., Jing, H., Hancock, C., Qiao, P., & Shen, N. (2024). A real scene 3D model-driven sunlight analysis method for complex building roofs. Energy and Buildings, 325, 115051. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2024.115051

Zhang, X., Wu, Y., Shen, L., & Li, H. (2024). Hybrid structural systems combining concrete and timber for sustainable buildings. Construction and Building Materials, 390, 131926. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.131926

Zhang, Y., Chong, H.-Y., Wang, X., & Li, H. (2025). BIM-based sustainability assessment in early design stages of buildings. Automation in Construction, 158, 105162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2024.105162

Zuo, J., & Zhao, Z.-Y. (2014). Green building research–current status and future agenda: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 30, 271–281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2013.10.021

Published

2026-02-03

How to Cite

BARROS, Laerte Melo; BARROS, Rodrigo Paz; LIOTTO, Pedro Felix; LIMA LIOTTO, Thamires Ohana Coelho. SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS IN THE AMAZON: A SYSTEMS ANALYSIS INTEGRATING BIM, ENERGY, WATER, AND CONSTRUCTION SYSTEMS. Periódicos Brasil. Pesquisa Científica, Macapá, Brasil, v. 5, n. 1, p. 1092–1110, 2026. DOI: 10.36557/2674-9432.2026v5n1p1092-1110. Disponível em: https://periodicosbrasil.emnuvens.com.br/revista/article/view/564. Acesso em: 17 aug. 2026.