Investigating the Role of Nanotechnology and Building Information Modeling in Construction Project Procurement Management to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals

Sara Shapouri¹

1) M.Sc. Student, Department of Construction Arts, Khatam University, Tehran, Iran Email:

IOI Code : ABKD-ABHEFH
Publication : Fourth International Conference on applied researches in civil engineering, architecture and urban planning (icarcau.com)
Abstract :
    The construction industry has consistently attracted the attention of sustainability researchers due to its extensive consumption of natural resources and its significant role in greenhouse gas emissions. According to the latest Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction, this sector accounts for nearly 37% of global carbon emissions and around 28% of the world s final energy consumption. Construction projects face persistent challenges concerning time, cost, and quality, imposing substantial financial burdens on national economies. Over the past two decades, nanotechnology and Building Information Modeling (BIM) have emerged as two principal approaches for mitigating environmental impacts and enhancing project performance. Nanotechnology modifies the physical and chemical properties of materials, thereby improving their durability and strength, while BIM, through an integrated digital model, facilitates information transparency and coordination among various specialized disciplines. Despite extensive research conducted separately in each of these fields, the integration of these two technologies in procurement management and the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remains a research imperative. The present study adopts an applied-qualitative approach and a systematic review methodology, analyzing articles indexed in Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Springer published between 2020 and 2025. Through qualitative content analysis, it examines the combined role of nanotechnology and BIM in the procurement management of construction projects. The findings indicate that the unique properties of nanomaterials—such as reduced concrete setting time, enhanced durability, and decreased long-term maintenance costs—can be translated into objective, measurable procurement indicators through 4D (time), 5D (cost), and 6D (sustainability) BIM simulations. These indicators include tender transparency, contractor evaluation based on sustainability criteria, and carbon footprint reduction. Finally, the integrated role of these two technologies is articulated across three levels (data exchange, integrated simulation, and combined scenarios), enabling project owners to incorporate sustainability metrics alongside traditional criteria and select the optimal option for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Keywords : nanotechnology building information modeling procurement management sustainable development goals systematic review