https://submissions.jot.fm/ https://caucasushealth.ug.edu.ge/ https://njmr.in/ https://journal.pubalaic.org/ https://ojs.acad-pub.com/index.php/BE <p><em>Building Engineering</em> (BE) is an international, scientific, peer-reviewed, open access journal on building science, building engineering, and architecture. Research based on the construction, operation, performance, maintenance, and deterioration of buildings are welcomed. We encourage researchers to publish their innovative ideas and results in as much detail as possible.</p> Academic Publishing Pte. Ltd. en-US Building Engineering 3029-2670 https://ojs.acad-pub.com/index.php/BE/article/view/4056 <p>Reducing carbon in prefabricated buildings demands component-scale evidence, yet most assessments remain confined to factory production and provide limited, non-transparent guidance on how transportation and on-site installation decisions reshape emissions. This study delivers a consistent framework for quantifying and predicting emissions from the production, transportation, and installation of precast concrete components. It explores the concept that integrating coordinated design standards with logistical planning leads to considerable reductions in cradle-to-site emissions. The framework contributes: (i) a tri-stage system boundary; (ii) a machine-learning plus explainable-AI (XAI) model for transport coupled with a new Transportation Efficiency Index (TEI), defined as delivered component volume-distance per unit CO₂e; and (iii) joint optimization of design standardization and logistics parameters. Empirical data were obtained from a prefabrication plant in Tehran, Iran (156,000 m²&nbsp;footprint; 300,000 m³·yr⁻¹&nbsp;capacity), including 411 daily energy/resource records, bills of materials and mold-use logs, 408 manufactured components, and matched delivery/installation activities. Gradient-boosted trees yield high predictive accuracy (coefficient of determination R²=&nbsp;0.99 for production and R²=&nbsp;0.97 for transportation; mean absolute percentage error MAPE &lt;&nbsp;6%), while XAI identifies component volume, design standardization, route distance, and truck utilization as dominant drivers; materials account for ~91–98% of production emissions and mold amortization falls from ~9% to &lt;3% when standardization exceeds 0.90 and reuse surpasses ~60 cycles. Scenario optimization improves TEI by ~25% and reduces combined production-to-installation emissions by ~20–30%, providing actionable guidance for manufacturers, contractors, and policymakers seeking low-carbon prefabrication supply chains.</p> Peyman Naghipour Afshin Naghipour Tarana Bakirova Hussein Ghiyasi Faraneh Soltani Gerd Faramarzi Farazin Soltani Gerd Faramarzi Copyright (c) 2026 Peyman Naghipour, Afshin Naghipour, Tarana Bakirova, Hussein Ghiyasi, Faraneh Soltani Gerd Faramarzi, Farazin Soltani Gerd Faramarzi http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 2026-04-16 2026-04-16 4 2 10.59400/be4056