Digital Transformation and Carbon Emissions in Urban Construction Archives: Mechanisms and Reduction Strategies

Under the "dual-carbon" goal, hidden emissions in urban construction archives management demand urgent attention. Evidence from Nanjing's 2023 digitalization project reveals a 25% emission rise during transition due to procuring 200+ scanners and 5 servers, highlighting a carbon efficiency gap. Using measured data and scenario simulation, this study uncovers a two-stage "transition-stable" carbon mechanism, establishes a life-cycle accounting framework (formation, storage, inspection, destruction), and proposes a technology-management-policy reduction strategy. Emissions are projected to drop 76.4% by 2025, shifting from paper/transport to electronic storage. Management optimization drives over 50% of savings; a cross-department digital platform alone cuts 3.3 tons CO2e at & YEN;320/ton. Higher standardization enables the Planning Bureau to cut emissions by 65.4%, versus 46.4% for the Urban Management Bureau reliant on on-site access. The study offers practical tools to balance digital transition and carbon control, aiding governance of hidden urban emissions.