A tool for whole-life carbon emissions in buildings and civil engineering works developed in Uruguay

Abstract In recent years, the development of life cycle assessment (LCA)-based tools for estimating whole-life carbon emissions in buildings has increased, as this methodology is widely recognised and validated by the scientific community for assessing environmental impacts. Expanding and adapting these tools to a broader range of stakeholders and specific contexts is crucial for achieving more robust and reliable results given the global climate emergency. In Latin America, particularly in Uruguay, no dedicated tools or LCA-based methodologies are currently available for calculating whole-life carbon emissions. To address this gap, this study presents a newly developed tool tailored for assessing the carbon emissions of buildings and civil engineering works (such as roads) within the Uruguayan context. Designed to conduct simplified LCA for whole-life carbon assessment, the Excel-based tool integrates various workflows, including BIM, and is accessible to a broad range of users, including those without specialised expertise. Its development process incorporates methodological choices to align with the specific conditions of Uruguay.