A Predictive Environmental Assessment Method for Construction Operations: Application to a Northeast China Case Study

Abstract

Construction accounts for a considerable number of environmental impacts, especially in countries with rapid urbanization. A predictive environmental assessment method enables a comparison of alternatives in construction operations to mitigate these environmental impacts. Process-based life cycle assessment (pLCA), which is the most widely applied environmental assessment method, requires lots of detailed process information to evaluate. However, a construction project usually operates in uncertain and dynamic project environments, and capturing such process information represents a critical challenge for pLCA. Discrete event simulation (DES) provides an opportunity to include uncertainty and capture the dynamic environments of construction operations. This study proposes a predictive assessment method that integrates DES and pLCA (DES-pLCA) to evaluate the environmental impact of on-site construction operations and supply chains. The DES feeds pLCA with process information that considers the uncertain and dynamic environments of construction, while pLCA guides the comprehensive procedure of environmental assessment. A DES-pLCA prototype was developed and implemented in a case study of an 18-storey building in Northeast China. The results showed that the biggest impact variations on the global warming potential (GWP), acidification potential (AP), eutrophication (EP), photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP), abiotic depletion potential (ADP), and human toxicity potential (HTP) were 5.1%, 4.1%, 4.1%, 4.7%, 0.3%, and 5.9%, respectively, due to uncertain and dynamic factors. Based on the proposed method, an average impact reduction can be achieved for these six indictors of 2.5%, 21.7%, 8.2%, 4.8%, 32.5%, and 0.9%, respectively. The method also revealed that the material wastage rate of formwork installation was the most crucial managing factor that influences global warming performance. The method can support contractors in the development and management of environmentally friendly construction operations that consider the effects of uncertainty and dynamics.

An Integrated Environment–Cost–Time Optimisation Method for Construction Contractors Considering Global Warming

“…The concrete mixer truck, steel transport trailer, and the construction lift contribute the three major parts of GWP impact as equipment (see Figure 11). These results are consistent with previous studies by Feng et al [40] and Bilec et al [4], which demonstrated that construction-related iron wire, plywood, and transportation are the major sources of GWP impact. To analyse the reason of impact reduction in detail, the objectives trade-off solution, X2 and original construction plan are compared by impact sources as Figure 11.…”

“…At the construction planning stage, many alternative plans, such as the selection of construction techniques, equipment, schedule, and labour, are available for construction activity [6]. A widely-used approach to obtain optimal scenarios is to simulate the performance for every scenario, then to compare these alternatives in order to find out the optimal solution, which can be found at many previous study [14,16,40]. However, a high computing load is required for a complex simulation [41].…”

Research on Lean Planning and Optimization for Precast Component Production Based on Discrete Event Simulation

“…With a holistic review of previous literature, we find that discrete event simulation and lean management can assist in the realization of lean planning. Discrete event simulation (DES) provides an opportunity to capture the uncertainty of production operations [52,53]. Lean management (LM) provides some valuable index analyses, including production time analysis [54], bottleneck workstation analysis [55], resource utilization analysis [56], and cost-benefit analysis [57].…”

A preliminary environmental analysis for a sustainable pyrolysis process of Acacia tortilis encroacher bush.

“…For such a targeted part of a Lifecycle Assesment (LCA), process simulation tools can be used to predict the potential environmental impact parallel to their use in assessing and enhancing the techno-economic feasibility of a production plant. This gate-to-gate, process-based Life Cycle Assessment (p-LCA) which focusses on one stage or a full process enables better process assessment and optimization with environmental impact in mind (Feng et al, 2018). For instance one can choose environmentally friendly inputs and process conditions that reduce waste products and also recycle or reuse some streams.…”