Sustainable Construction as a Research Area

Abstract. Science and engineering intermingle in the area of construction. Engineering works, often of great dimensions and design life cycle of many decades, have to be designed on a scientific basis since the safety of hundreds of users depends on their design. The task of scientific institutions is to define the construction performance within categories that correspond to the contemporary level of knowledge and technology. A construction appraiser who speaks out in a way that ensures unquestionable competence about the performance of elements and buildings (existing and under construction), should be convinced of the scientific basis of his opinions. A comparison of construction sections vs. basic requirements presents an archetype of the science of construction. A matrix of the science of construction reveals its multi-faceted nature; if related to time -the issue of durability has to be considered, and if related to the scale -the complexity. Defining the construction performance in terms of technical features is a constant search for a relationship between the material model and the usability model of a building. The construction industry uses a lot of "rules of thumb", more than any other sector of technology. In the era of computer-aided design, CAD, and building information modelling (BIM), those rules of thumb remain invaluable verification tools.Key words: building performance, appraiser, matrix of the science of construction, rules of thumb, durability, complexity, diversified development. Scientific basis and rules of thumb in civil engineering Defining building performanceThe primary task of universities and research institutes in the scientific discipline of construction is to continuously define building performance in a manner consistent with the current level of knowledge and technology. This means permanently seeking true solutions [2] -the relationship between the two corresponding models [3]: the material model (material model is used here to represent materials, analyses and geometries) and the usability model, which combines properties and requirements (Fig. 1).

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“…In other words, the solution should comply with the requirements of sustainable development (Fig. 2) [4]. Two key assumptions are important here:…”

Section: Czarnecki and D Van Gemert Scientific Basis And Rules Ofmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scientific basis and rules of thumb in civil engineering: conflict or harmony?

Czarnecki

Gemert

2016

Bulletin of the Polish Academy of Sciences Technical Sciences

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“…In the process of revitalization of a historic building as an adaptation to the needs of a given area by the application of specific technical solution, the effect could be obtained in beyond-technical issues -social, economic, cultural, educational and environmental. It derives from the definition of revitalization as well as the principles of sustainable development [3] in the civil engineering.…”

Section: Change Of Functions Of Historic Buildings In the Process Of mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The revitalization capacity [7] of a building (including the historic one) is a set of features, properties and states of the building, its construction, form, function, location, environmental, social and health values, and the economic viability of the planned revitalization including all aspects of revitalization and the principle of sustainable development [3].…”

Section: R-s-p Seminar 2017 Theoretical Foundation Of Civil Engmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interdisciplinary diagnostics in the process of revitalization of historic buildings, in terms of changing their function

Terlikowski

2017

MATEC Web Conf.

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Abstract. Revitalization of historic buildings in crisis areas is a complex, interdisciplinary process that addresses not only the technical problems of buildings, but also the social, environmental, economic and cultural issues of the local community. Proper diagnosis of the dangers and social problems in the crisis area should be the basis for identifying new functionalities for this area. It should help to resolve the diagnosed problems, as well as to stimulate growth and revival in all spheres related to the life of the local community. The construction process, which results in the change of the function of the building and its adaptation to modern demands -technical, utility and formal, requires innovative interdisciplinary diagnostic methods. Each building, its structure and its components, has a certain adaptability that can be presented in a measurable and comparable manner. Evaluation of adaptability is a part of the expanded, interdisciplinary diagnostics of the historic building, which should be applied in the process of its revitalization. Determination of adaptability is an element of wider diagnostic procedures, which results in assessment of the revitalization capacity of a building.

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“…It can be defined as efforts to ensure economic development and social health, whilst reducing the negative impacts on the environment [3,4]. The level of complexity in sustainable projects with the ultimate goal to deliver sustainability, is higher than that of the traditional types [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Multi-Objective Trade-Off Model in Sustainable Construction Projects

2017

Sustainability

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Based on the consideration of the relative importance of sustainability-related objectives and the inherent nature of sustainable construction projects, this study proposes that the contractor can balance the levels of efforts and resources used to improve the overall project sustainability. A multi-objective trade-off model using game theory was established and verified through simulation and numerical example under a moral hazard situation. Results indicate that effort levels of the contractor on sustainability-related objectives are positively related to the outcome coefficient while negatively to the coefficients of effort cost of the relevant objectives. High levels of the relative importance of sustainability-related objectives contribute to high levels of effort of the contractor. With the variation in effort levels and the coefficient of benefit allocation, the project net benefit increases before declining. The function of project benefit has a marked peak value, with an inverted "U" shape. An equilibrium always exists as for the given relative importance and coefficients of the effort costs of sustainability-related objectives. Under this condition, the owner may offer the contractor a less intense incentive and motivate the contractor reasonably arranging input resources. The coefficient of benefit allocation is affected by the contractor characteristic factors and the project characteristic factors. The owner should balance these two types of factors and select the most appropriate incentive mechanism to improve the project benefit. Meanwhile, the contractor can balance the relative importance of the objectives and arrange the appropriate levels of effort and resources to achieve a sustainability-related objective. Very few studies have emphasized the effects of the relative importance of sustainability-related objectives on the benefits of sustainable construction projects. This study therefore builds a multi-objective trade-off model to bridge this research gap. This study sheds significant theoretical and practical insights regarding the objective management of sustainability-related objectives, as well as insights into the improvement of performance in sustainable construction projects.

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Sustainable Construction as a Research Area

Cited by 38 publications

References 4 publications

Scientific basis and rules of thumb in civil engineering: conflict or harmony?

Scientific basis and rules of thumb in civil engineering: conflict or harmony?

Interdisciplinary diagnostics in the process of revitalization of historic buildings, in terms of changing their function

A Multi-Objective Trade-Off Model in Sustainable Construction Projects

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