Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40951540›Full record

ArticleOpen research Europe2025

Navigating the shift towards sustainable digital building permits and building logbooks.

Rita Lavikka, Judith Fauth, Mayte Toscano, Gonçal Costa, Thomas Beach, Pedro Meda Magalhães, Jantien Stoter, Stefanie Brigitte Deac Kaiser, Jeroen Werbrouck

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Open research Europe, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Rita LavikkaBuilt Environment and Mobility, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, Espoo, Uusimaa, 1000, Finland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1200-4773
Judith FauthUniversity of Cambridge, Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue 7, CB3 0RB, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9078-8393
Mayte ToscanoOpen Geospatial Consortium EU, Seville, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9591-4152
Gonçal CostaHuman Environment Research (HER), La Salle, Ramon Llull University, Barcelona, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9168-680X
Thomas BeachSchool of Engineering, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
Pedro Meda MagalhãesCONSTRUCT/Gequaltec, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Jantien StoterDelft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands.
Stefanie Brigitte Deac KaiserPolitehnica University of Timisoara, Timișoara, Timiș County, Romania.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0000-8718-7207
Jeroen WerbrouckGhent University, Ghent, Flanders, Belgium.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The architecture, engineering, construction, and operation sectors face significant sustainability challenges. These include high greenhouse gas emissions, resource depletion, worker safety concerns, and difficulties balancing cost efficiency with sustainable practices. Digital solutions, such as Digital Building Permits (DBP) and Digital Building Logbooks (DBL), are increasingly promoted as enablers of sustainable construction and building management. However, there is limited research on how they contribute to sustainability in practice. This study applied the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as an analytical framework to assess the sustainability impacts of DBP and DBL. A four-phase methodology was used: (1) expert elicitation to identify relevant SDGs, (2) mapping of DBP and DBL practices to SDG targets, (3) documentation of supporting practices, and (4) validation through a hybrid stakeholder workshop involving 38 participants from across Europe. The study identifies DBP and DBL practices that contribute to ten SDGs, including Good Health and Well-Being, Affordable and Clean Energy, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry and Innovation, Sustainable Cities, and Climate Action. The automatic code-compliance checking of DBP speeds up approval times, reduces errors, increases transparency, and supports carbon reduction, operational efficiency, and equitable access to permitting. It streamlines housing approvals, aiding affordable housing development. DBL facilitates energy-related data management, including the issuing of Energy Performance Certificates and comparing theoretical versus actual energy use. DBL also supports recyclability assessments and design for disassembly, aligning with the principles of the circular economy. This study provides a structured and replicable framework for evaluating the sustainability contributions of digital building permitting and logbooks. It demonstrates how DBP and DBL can be aligned with global sustainability targets, offering a foundation for future empirical research and policy development. Further work is needed to quantify long-term impacts and extend the analysis beyond the European context.

Indexed as

data-drivenDigital building logbook (DBL)digital building permit (DBP)SDGsustainable building managementsustainable constructionsustainable development goals

Identifiers

PMID40951540
PMCPMC12432498

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.