The construction industry is a major user of non-renewable energy and contributor to emission of greenhouse gases, thus requiring to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Indeed, construction activities account for 36% of global energy consumption and 39% of global carbon dioxide emissions. Reducing carbon emissions requires adapted government policies, carbon emission analysis and calculation models, and sustainable materials. Here, we review green construction with focus on history, carbon emissions, policies, models, life cycle assessment, and sustainable materials such as biochar, bioplastic, agricultural waste, animal wool, fly ash and self-healing concrete. Analysis of carbon emissions over the building life cycle shows that the construction phase accounts for 20–50% of total carbon emissions. The average ratio of construction phase annual emissions to operation phase emissions is 0.62. We present national policy frameworks and technology roadmaps from the United States of America, Japan, China, and the European Union, highlighting plans to achieve carbon neutrality in the building sector.
Abstract The paper presents the state-of-the-art concerning the current achievements in the field of 3D printing of buildings and building components. The 3D printing technologies, comparing to traditional techniques of constructing the buildings, could be considered as environmental friendly derivative giving almost unlimited possibilities for geometric complexity realizations. Two kinds of technologies were described in this paper with pointing to Contour Crafting as a promising technique that may be able to revolutionize construction industry in near future. Numerous advantages of this technology, such as reduction of the costs and time, minimizing the pollution of environment and decrease of injuries and fatalities on construction sites could be cited. Despite many advantages and hopes, some concerns are summarized in the conclusions, as the technology still has many limitations. A brief description of few examples of pioneering usage of 3D printing in construction industry are presented (Canal House in Amsterdam, WinSun company and printing application for building carried out by Skanska company). Creating a model that will be appropriate for 3D printers is possible in many different modelling programs. One of the most popular formats for sharing such models is STL format. In the paper sample models crated in Autodesk Inventor are shown, but also other tools suitable for preparing models for 3D printing are briefly discussed.
The reliability of high-strength bolted connections is critical to the safety of large-scale engineering structures. This study proposes a non-contact quantitative method for detecting bolt loosening based on the self-magnetic flux leakage (SMFL) effect. Systematic experiments were carried out on M14-12.9 bolts, using nine independent specimens tested under six torque levels, to reveal the intrinsic relationship between bolt preload and the “magnetic valley” feature of the surface leakage field. For quantitative evaluation, the absolute value of the differential peak magnetic field, |ΔPMF|, is defined as the core feature parameter. The results show that, in the reference specimen group, |ΔPMF| exhibits a pronounced linear relationship with the applied torque (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> > 0.96), and the corresponding linear regression parameters display good consistency across the nine specimens (RSD ≈ 4%). Comparative tests on two additional bolt specifications clarify how bolt strength grade and geometric size influence the detection sensitivity and linearity. To address lift-off effects, measurements on a representative specimen at four lift-off heights were used to construct a simplified bivariate linear compensation model, which significantly reduces lift-off-induced bias within the working range <i>h</i> = 10–16 mm. Finally, a hierarchical diagnostic scheme for bolt loosening that incorporates lift-off compensation is established on the basis of |ΔPMF|, providing a feasible approach for rapid assessment of bolt loosening under complex service conditions.
The requirements for structural performance and seismic performance in the field of civil engineering are increasing. Traditional building structures have certain limitations in extreme conditions such as earthquakes. Therefore, this study discusses the design of modular bi-directional load-bearing and energy dissipating joints in the context of intelligent construction to improve the seismic performance of buildings. The study designs vertical joints and bi-directional joints, and the test results show that the hysteresis curve of the joints is hump-shaped, exhibiting excellent plastic deformation and energy dissipation performance. The introduction of oblique stiffening ribs in the vertical joints significantly improves the load-bearing capacity, and there is no significant decrease in load-bearing capacity when loaded to approximately 32 mm. The maximum energy dissipation coefficient of vertical joint specimen 1 is 1.485. For specimen 2, the maximum values is 1.801, and for the bi-directional joints, the maximum values is 2.156, demonstrating excellent energy dissipation capability. In conclusion, this research is of great significance for the combination of modern building engineering technology and intelligent construction, providing strong support for the seismic performance and overall safety of building structures.
Denisa BILÍKOVÁ, Petr AIGEL, Michał JUSZCZYK
et al.
This study addresses the impending challenge of construction and demolition waste (CDW) generation from the Czech Republic’s extensive panel housing estates, constructed between the 1950s and 1990s. These structures, representing a significant portion of the national housing stock, will eventually reach their operational lifespan, necessitating systematic waste management strategies. A novel estimation methodology is proposed to quantify demolition waste volumes through material-specific decomposition of panel building structures. The T06B panel system, widely deployed in Czech housing estates, serves as a selected case study. The structure, according to the Waste Catalogue, is used for the classification of specific waste types. From a cost perspective, individual fees for waste disposal or recycling are taken from the budgeting program database. The proposed methodology facilitates the predictive modelling of both demolition waste quantities and associated financial expenditures for disposal/recycling of individual waste categories, such as concrete, bricks, iron, plastic, etc.
Traditional internal support systems for deep foundation pits often suffer from issues such as insufficient stiffness, excessive displacement, and large support areas. To address these problems, the authors developed a novel spatial steel joist internal support system. Based on a large-scale field model test, this study investigates the bearing characteristics of the proposed system in deep foundation pits. A stiffness formulation for the novel support system was analytically derived and experimentally validated through a calibrated finite element model. After validation with test results, the effects of different vertical prestressing forces on the structure were analyzed. The results indicate that the proposed system provides significant support in deep foundation pits. The application of both horizontal and vertical prestressing increases the internal forces within the support structure while reducing overall displacement. The numerical predictions of horizontal displacement, bending moment, and the axial force distribution of the main support, as well as their development trends, align well with the model test results. Moreover, increasing the prestressing force of the steel tie rods effectively controls the deformation of the vertical arch support and enhances the stability of the spatial structure. The derived stiffness formula shows a small error compared with the finite element results, demonstrating its high accuracy. Furthermore, the diagonal support increases the stiffness of the lower chord bar support by 28.24%.
Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) significantly influences mood, comfort, and potentially overall health. However, its impact on visitors’ visual experience in museum design remains insufficiently explored. This study aims to investigate the effects of different CCT settings (3000 K, 4500 K, 6000 K) on visual comfort within a simulated museum space. Using 3D modeling and physiological recordings, 200 participants assessed visual comfort. Consistent findings support that a CCT of 4500 K provides the highest comfort level, aligning with the observed trend in eye gaze duration. Pupil diameter variability indicates that greater comfort is associated with higher CCT values. While differences in heart rate variability (HRV) were not statistically significant, there is a tendency for HRV to increase with longer fixation durations. These findings challenge literature advocating for lower CCT values in museum lighting, emphasizing the need to balance conservation and visitor experience. This study provides empirical evidence supporting the optimization of visual comfort in museum lighting design through a CCT value of 4500 K, offering valuable insights for practitioners. However, limitations include potential scene disturbance and the simulated environment. Future studies should diversify samples and explore a broader range of CCT values.
Olga S. Matorina, Nadezhda M. Illarionova, Svetlana V. Nesterova
The article considers the formation features of cumulative stress and psychological burnout among employees of fire divisions of EMERCOM of Russia. The analysis of risk factors affecting the mental state of personnel, including occupational loads, working conditions and socio-psychological characteristics, is presented. Statistical data reflecting the prevalence of stress disorders among firefighters are presented. There are outlined the following modern approaches to the prevention of cumulative stress: organizational, psychological and medical measures. There is a need to introduce systemic programs of psycho-prophylaxis and psycho-rehabilitation in the activities of fire and rescue units.
Systems of building construction. Including fireproof construction, concrete construction
Iranian traditional residential architecture is renowned for its central-courtyard houses, which are admired for their grandeur. While the courtyards and nearby spaces receive considerable artistic and historical appreciation, those situated further away often receive less attention. These areas are typically considered auxiliary and less functional for living, thereby receiving limited attention in architectural discussions. This study examines 26 traditional central-courtyard houses to investigate how spaces located farther from the courtyard (‘second-order’) compare to those directly adjacent (‘first-order’). It challenges the assumption that distance from the courtyard correlates with reduced functionality. Surprisingly, the analysis identifies similar architectural characteristics in both second-order and first-order spaces, suggesting that distant areas may serve functional roles comparable to those nearer the courtyard.
Shear Thickening Fluid (STF) is a specialized high-concentration particle suspension capable of rapidly and reversibly altering its viscosity when exposed to sudden impacts. Consequently, STF-based dampers deliver a self-adaptive damping force and demonstrate significant potential for applications in structural vibration control. This study presents both a modeling and experimental investigation of a novel double-rod structured STF damper. Initially, a compound STF is formulated using silica particles as the dispersed phase and polyethylene glycol solution as the dispersing medium. The rheological properties of the STF are then experimentally evaluated. The STF’s constitutive rheological behavior is described using the G-R model. Following this, the flow behavior of the STF within the damper’s annular gap is explored, leading to the development of a two-dimensional axisymmetric fluid simulation model for the damper. Based on this model, the dynamic mechanism of the proposed STF damper is analyzed. Subsequently, the STF damper is optimally designed and subjected to experimental investigation using a dynamic testing platform under different working conditions. The experimental results reveal that the proposed STF damper, whose equivalent stiffness can achieve a nearly threefold change with excitation frequency and amplitude, exhibits good self-adaptive capabilities. By dividing the damper force into two parts: the frictional damping pressure drop, and the osmotic pressure drop generated by the “Jamming effect”. A fitting model is proposed, and it aligns closely with the nonlinear performance of the STF damper.
Abstract Increasing the use of engineered wood products in the European Union can contribute to leveraging a shift towards a more emission-efficient production of construction materials. Engineered timber products have already been substituted for carbon and energy intensive concrete and steel-based building constructions, but they still lack the capacities and market demand to be more than just a niche market. However, in the post-crisis period after 2008 the consumption of engineered wood products began rising in Europe. In this paper we analyse options for the future development of engineered wood products taking into consideration policy barriers and technical and environmental potentials for accelerating market introduction as part of a comprehensive scenario approach. For the European building sector we assessed an achievable potential for net carbon storage of about 46 million tonnes CO 2-eqv. per year in 2030. To unlock this potential a bundle of instruments is necessary for increasing the market share for engineered wood products against the backdrop of existing policy instruments such as the gradual introduction of stricter rules for carbon emissions trading or more incentives for the voluntary use of innovative wood construction materials.
Abstract This study proposes a digital construction framework that integrates building information modeling (BIM) and reverse engineering (RE) to improve information utilization in different phases and thus reduce mistakes and reworks in renovation projects during urban renewal. Three-dimensional (3D) laser scanning is used to enable the RE process. This framework also incorporates supporting technologies (virtual reality, 3D printing, and prefabrication) for a better understanding of design and construction as well as tools (work breakdown structure and model breakdown structure) for enhanced organization and management quality. Implementing this proposed framework in a renovated shopping center in Hainan, China optimized efficiency of the renovation process by 15%, eliminated design changes by 30% and reworks by 25%, and finally saved two months and 7.41% of cost regarding the steel structure canopy. Thus, this framework can proactively reduce occurrences of mistakes and reworks during the renovation process, greatly improving the effectiveness of urban renewal.
Because green building technologies (GBTs) adoption is a promising way of ameliorating the sustainability performance of buildings, GBTs are receiving increased interest in the global construction community. The barriers to the adoption of GBTs, such as higher cost and lack of awareness, further indicate that proper strategies need to be devised for promoting the wider adoption of GBTs in buildings development. However, there exist limited empirical studies identifying the strategies for promoting GBTs adoption in the construction industry. This study aims to identify the strategies that are important for promoting GBTs adoption in construction. After a comprehensive literature review to identify strategies for the promotion of GBTs adoption, empirical data were gleaned through a questionnaire survey with 104 green building experts around the world. The analysis results validated the importance of all of the 12 promotion strategies used for the study. Green building experts from different countries and with different backgrounds had significant agreement on the relative importance ranking of the promotion strategies. Furthermore, “financial and further market-based incentives for GBTs adopters”, “availability of better information on cost and benefits of GBTs”, “mandatory governmental policies and regulations”, and “green rating and labeling” were identified as the top four important promotion strategies. The research findings provide a valuable reference to assist practitioners and policy makers in developing practical strategies for promoting GBTs adoption to eventually achieve the sustainable development of buildings. From the perspective of international experts, this study adds to the green building literature by offering empirical evidence of the important strategies for promoting GBTs adoption in the construction industry. Future research will investigate the interrelationships among the promotion strategies and their impacts on the GBTs adoption process.
Abstract The construction industry has become more interested in moving towards implementing an innovative method to reduce wastes and Environmental Impacts (EIs) during the construction stage. Tools and methods represented in different frameworks to estimate construction wastes are limited to the end of life stage of building projects. A common method employed for this quantification is Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which is globally recognized as one of the most complete methods for the environmental impact assessment of buildings. Building Information Modeling (BIM) would be an ideal platform to integrate LCA to assist in this process. However, BIM and LCA tools are currently not fully interoperable. This research aims to represent a methodology to quantify total waste produced in the building’s lifecycle. The main reasons for producing waste are examined profoundly and some solutions leading to waste reduction are proposed. Additionally, the environmental impact of the materials converted to waste is evaluated in an integrated environment by developing an add-in inside BIM tool, which calculates waste produced in each step of buildings’ lifespan to be used by LCA tool. An application of an actual building project will be presented in order to illustrate the usefulness and capabilities of the developed approaches.
Senior housing with age-friendly design and elderly care services contributes to the health and well-being of older people. Previous research has evidenced that the immediate environment factors of senior housing, such as the design of housing features and facilities, have a direct bearing on the satisfaction and quality of life of older people. However, external environment factors, such as political, economic, and social ones that affect key stakeholders’ behaviors in senior housing development, are relatively under-researched. Accordingly, this study aimed to explore the external environmental factors influencing the development of senior housing. Taking Hong Kong as case study, this study first commenced with a systematic review to identify the factors in political, economic, and social domains from global evidence. Following this, we interviewed local experts from academia, industry, and government to solicit their opinions on the relative importance of these factors. We then determined the factor rankings using the analytical hierarchy process method. The results showed that local experts perceived economic factors as the most critical ones in influencing senior housing development in Hong Kong, including land costs, funding from financial institutions, and government incentives. If policymakers tend to promote senior housing in densely populated cities like Hong Kong, the policies should be attractive for housing developers, such as land premium concessions and innovative financial channels for supporting the long-term development of senior housing.