BIM for Sustainable Urban Construction: A Systematic Review of Capability Assessment and Implementation with Implications for China

Driven by China’s green and low-carbon development strategy, sustainable urban construction has become a crucial issue in the construction industry. In recent years, building information modeling (BIM) has been widely applied in the construction industry due to its advantages in information management, project coordination, and construction optimization. Although numerous studies have explored the application of BIM in sustainable construction, existing research findings are scattered across different research topics and project stages. Therefore, it is still necessary to develop a clearer understanding of the BIM functions that can support sustainable urban construction and their practical applications, especially in the context of China’s construction industry. To address this issue, this study provides a systematic literature review of BIM functions related to sustainable urban construction. Using the PRISMA framework, this study identified and analyzed relevant research to examine the main BIM functions reported in the literature, their application methods, and their contributions to sustainable urban construction. The review identified twelve main BIM functions, including 3D modeling and visualization, data management, multi-party collaboration, cost control, schedule optimization, environmental management, and construction safety management. Based on published research, this study further explores the potential relationships between different BIM functions and proposes several conceptual frameworks to clarify how to integrate these functions in sustainable urban construction. The research results indicate that BIM can support sustainable urban development through information integration, lifecycle coordination, data-driven decision-making, and optimized project management. These findings also provide a reference for the future implementation of BIM and the promotion of sustainable urban development in China, especially in the context of digital transformation and green development in the construction industry.