Building information modeling (BIM) and life cycle assessment (LCA) are two methods that can be helpful when designing buildings with lower environmental impacts. One of the most significant examples of environmental impact assessments in construction is green building certification. Certified buildings have improved performance and greater asset value. In this study, four certification systems were investigated for their potential interconnections with BIM and LCA. The main tasks were (1) to review a BIM-based workflow, (2) assess its usage as an input for the LCA within green certifications, and (3) provide suggestions for developing building models. Building models can be helpful during the design process, but the best results are expected when the specifically described steps are followed. These suggestions aim at improving building models in terms of their usage for green building certifications and particularly for LCA. All the investigated results were clarified and adjusted using a model of a recently finished building in Zug. As reference tools, One Click LCA and a manual process were selected. The outcomes were aligned with those of other studies and confirmed the necessity of good data and management quality for building projects.

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Some older adults handle the pitfalls of ageing better than others. One explanation emerges from the concept of resilience, the ability to bounce back from the adversities of later life. In this study, we approached resilience from the narrative perspective. This study is a part of a project based on the DIPEx qualitative methodology, focused on different aspects of ageing. A combination of narrative and semi-structured interviews was conducted with 50 older adults (aged 75 and over). From the total number of interviews, a sub-group of 11 resilient participants was selected on the basis of the criteria set for resilience: (a) past exposure to adversity; and (b) positive adaptation to this adversity in terms of quality of life, happiness and activity. The results of the analysis are presented in the framework of five categories: (a) thematic lines, (b) agency and positioning; (c) values and beliefs; (d) reflections and perspectives; and (e) plot and genre. Both agency and reflections point to actively resisting old age as an important characteristic of resilient older adults in the Czech Republic. This resistance is often allied with irony, but we have also found genres of heroic coping and affirmation of lucky moments. Key thematic lines were love of life, emphasis on the importance of movement and positive social relationships; key values expressed by the participants were relational, existential and spiritual.

This paper presents the calibration of three universal ductile fracture criteria with the stress triaxiality and the normalized third invariant of deviatoric stress dependence. Xue-Wierzbicki, Bai-Wierzbicki and Extended Mohr-Coulomb criteria are calibrated using butterfly specimen and newly designed notched tube specimen for an austenitic stainless steel. Different stress states necessary for successful calibration are generated by suitable combination of tension/compression-shear or tension/compression-torsion loading of both specimens, respectively. Suitability of the specimens for ductile fracture criteria calibration is evaluated comparing the range of reached stress states, the homogeneity of stress in process zone and appropriateness for the computational simulation of tests. Possible combination of above mentioned results with tensile testing of standard and notched cylindrical specimens is discussed, too.

The three pillars of sustainability are the economic, environmental and social pillars. To achieve sustainable construction projects, these three priorities must be balanced. Considering social aspects is of equal importance when considering the design, materials and technologies used in buildings. The increased use of naturally based materials from renewable sources using traditional techniques is common in sustainable buildings and can help balance some of the social aspects. Building with traditional technologies such as compressed earth blocks (CEBs), rammed earth, adobe, or strawbale technologies is a viable option to conventional construction methods when the structure meets modern scientific and engineering standards. High-quality, sustainable buildings are achievable using local resources and local labour. This paper presents case studies from remote Australia and Europe and shows the social and environmental impacts according to the technology used. Prior consideration of the social aspects can result in the improvement of the sustainability of the building.