Sustainability in complex projects of civil construction: bibliometric and bibliographic review

Abstract

The complexity that surrounds the construction projects ends up hampering the balance between economic, environmental and social issues. In this context, this research aims to know the behavior of international scientific production relating sustainability to complex projects, through a systematic literature review and bibliometric indicators. It was searched for articles that related the terms “project *”, “complex *”, “sustainability”, “building OR civil construction” in the Scopus database, resulting in a sample of 331 articles. There is a tendency of studies on the subject from 2006, where the articles, for the most part, seek to understand the consequences and complexity in the implementation of works, through case studies. The sample obtained also showed that the American researchers lead in quantity of research and are the most cited. Finally, the emerging international interest in sustainable construction may correlate with the growing number of green buildings and the existing certifications that characterize sustainable buildings.

Integrating Sustainability into Civil Engineering and the Construction Industry

“…As such, it is not surprising that the topic of sustainability within the building sector has become a prevalent subject of discussion among policymakers, industry professionals, and academics alike. In order to achieve sustainable construction, a balance must be struck between economic factors such as competitiveness, prices, and construction time, social factors such as local community demands, health and safety, and technological sustainability [3]. The concept of the triple-bottom-line, as outlined in Table 1, serves as a useful framework for companies to adopt in achieving effective sustainability.…”

Construction Industry and Its Contributions to Achieving the SDGs Proposed by the UN: An Analysis of Sustainable Practices

“…For a better understanding of sustainable practices, [34][35][36] define sustainability as a participatory process that conceives and develops a sense of community that proposes the respect and prudent use of natural resources. Sustainable practices, on the other hand, are activities that promote the application of the main concepts of sustainability in practice.…”

“…According to [34,[37][38][39], to monitor the implementation and evolution of sustainable practices in the construction sector, a series of guidelines are necessary to establish the steps to be followed, such as the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM) and the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) [40]. The AQUA-HQE consists of an environmental assessment method derived from the French Haute Qualité Environmental (HQE), adapted by the Alberto Vanzolini Foundation for use in Brazil [41], and the Casa Azul Seal, developed by the Brazilian Caixa Econômica Federal Bank.…”