Download or read book Expanding Boundaries Systems Thinking in the Built Environment written by Guillaume Habert and published by vdf Hochschulverlag AG. This book was released on 2016-08-15 with total page 760 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Consuming over 40% of total primary energy, the built environment is in the centre of worldwide strategies and measures towards a more sustainable future. To provide resilient solutions, a simple optimisation of individual technologies will not be sufficient. In contrast, whole system thinking reveals and exploits connections between parts. Each system interacts with others on different scales (materials, components, buildings, cities) and domains (ecology, economy and social). Whole-system designers optimize the performance of such systems by understanding interconnections and identifying synergies. The more complete the design integration, the better the result. In this book, the reader will find the proceedings of the 2016 Sustainable Built Environment (SBE) Regional Conference in Zurich. Papers have been written by academics and practitioners from all continents to bring forth the latest understanding on systems thinking in the built environment.
Download or read book Environmental Impact Assessment of Buildings written by Wahidul Biswas and published by MDPI. This book was released on 2020-02-05 with total page 168 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This Special Issue covers a wide range of areas—including building orientation, service life, use of photocatalytically active structures and PV facades, implications of transportation system, building types (i.e., high rise, multilevel, commercial, residential), life cycle assessment, and structural engineering—that need to be considered in the environmental impact assessment of buildings, and the chapters include case studies across the globe. Consideration of these strategies would help reduce energy and material consumption, environmental emissions, and waste generation associated with all phases of a building’s life cycle. Chapter 1 demonstrates that green star concrete exhibits the same structural properties as conventional concrete in Australia. Chapter 2 showed that the use of TiO2 as a photocatalyst on the surface of construction materials with a suitable stable binding agent, such as aggregates, would enable building walls to absorb NOx from air. This study found that TiO2 has the potential to reduce ambient concentrations of NOx from areas where this pollutant becomes concentrated under solar irradiation. Chapter 3 presents the life cycle assessment of architecturally integrated glass–glass photovoltaics in building facades to find the appropriate material composition for a multicolored PV façade offering improved environmental performance. Chapter 4 shows that urban office buildings lacking appropriate orientation experienced indoor overheating. Chapter 5 details four modeling approaches that were implemented to estimate buildings’ response towards load shedding. Chapter 6 covers the life cycle GHG emissions of high-rise residential housing block to discover opportunities for environmental improvement. Chapter 7 discusses an LCA framework that took into account variation in the service life of buildings associated with the use of different types of materials. Chapter 8 presents a useful data mining algorithm to conduct life cycle asset management in residential developments built on transport systems.
Download or read book Research Anthology on Environmental and Societal Well Being Considerations in Buildings and Architecture written by Management Association, Information Resources and published by IGI Global. This book was released on 2021-05-28 with total page 562 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When it comes to architecture, there has been a focus on sustainable buildings and human well-being in the built environment. Buildings should not only be environmentally friendly and sustainable, but dually focused on human health, wellness, and experience. This includes considerations into the quality of buildings, ranging from ventilation to thermal comfort, along with environment considerations such as energy usage and material selection. Specific architectural choices and design for buildings can either contribute to or negatively impact both society and the environment, leading research in the field of architecture to be focused on environmental and societal well-being in accordance with the built environment. The Research Anthology on Environmental and Societal Well-Being Considerations in Buildings and Architecture focuses on how the built environment is being constructed to purposefully enhance societal well-being while also maintaining green standards for environmental sustainability. On one side, this book focuses on the specific building choices that can be made for the purpose of human well-being and the occupants who will utilize the building. On the other side, this book also focuses on environmental sustainability from the standpoint of green buildings and environmental concerns. Together, these topics allow this book to have a holistic view of modern architectural choices and design. This book is essential for architects, IT professionals, engineers, contractors, environmentalists, interior designers, civil planners, regional government officials, construction companies, policymakers, practitioners, researchers, academicians, and students interested in architecture and how it can promote environmental and societal well-being.
Download or read book Proceedings of the 75th RILEM Annual Week 2021 written by J. Ivan Escalante-Garcia and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2023-03-10 with total page 1029 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume gathers the latest advances, innovations and applications in the field of sustainable construction materials and structures, as presented by leading international researchers and engineers at the 75th RILEM Annual Week (75RW 2021), held in Merida, Mexico on August 29 – September 3, 2021. It covers topics such as supplementary cementitious materials, durability and Life Cycle assessment in urban and marine conditions, additive manufacturing of concrete in construction, structural performance and design, non-Portland cements and Alkali activated cementitious materials and eco-concrete, cultural heritage, non-destructive testing techniques, bituminous materials, and construction materials (polymers, timber, bamboo, recycling and masonry). The contributions, which were selected through a rigorous international peer-review process, share exciting ideas that will spur novel research directions and foster new multidisciplinary collaborations.
Download or read book New Trends in Eco efficient and Recycled Concrete written by Jorge de Brito and published by Woodhead Publishing. This book was released on 2018-11-16 with total page 632 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: New Trends in Eco-efficient and Recycled Concrete describes different recycled materials that have been used in eco-efficient concrete, reviewing previous publications to identify the most effective recycled materials to be applied in concrete manufacture. New trends on eco-efficient concrete are presented, filling a gap in the market. Sections cover various recycled materials applied in concrete production, present the latest on the lifecycle analysis of recycled aggregate concrete, detail new trends in recycled aggregate concrete research, and finally, present updates on upscaling the use of recycled aggregate concrete and structural reliability. Focuses on new trends in recycled aggregate concrete and its applications (rather than the more subjective ‘sustainability’ aspects) Contains very important contributions from researchers in eco-efficient concrete, including Chi Sun Poon, Jorge de Brito, Valeria Corinaldesi, Francisco Agrela, etc. Presents a ‘one stop’ reference for a graduate course on sustainable construction
Download or read book Embodied Carbon in Buildings written by Francesco Pomponi and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-01-28 with total page 512 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides a single-source reference for whole life embodied impacts of buildings. The comprehensive and persuasive text, written by over 50 invited experts from across the world, offers an indispensable resource both to newcomers and to established practitioners in the field. Ultimately it provides a persuasive argument as to why embodied impacts are an essential aspect of sustainable built environments. The book is divided into four sections: measurement, including a strong emphasis on uncertainty analysis, as well as offering practical case studies of individual buildings and a comparison of materials; management, focusing in particular on the perspective of designers and contractors; mitigation, which identifies some specific design strategies as well as challenges; and finally global approaches, six chapters which describe in authoritative detail the ways in which the different regions of the world are tackling the issue.
Download or read book Keeping Up with Technologies to Create the Cognitive City written by Aleksandra Krstic-Furundzic and published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing. This book was released on 2019-01-23 with total page 378 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume represents a selection of papers presented at the Third International Academic Conference on Places and Technologies, held at the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Belgrade, Serbia in April 2016. The conference brought together researchers, PhD students and practitioners, in order to create a platform for sharing knowledge in the fields of growth, new technologies, and the environment, as well as particular aspects of achieving the concept of cognitive city. The book will appeal primarily to members of the academic community in the fields of urban design, planning and architecture, engineering and technical sciences, and the humanities and social sciences. It will also be of interest to professional institutions and companies, governments, and NGOs, who will directly benefit from the knowledge presented here.
Download or read book A Triple Bottom Line Approach to Advanced Project Evaluation written by Grace Ding and published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing. This book was released on 2020-03-06 with total page 213 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The concept of ‘the triple bottom line’ has recently emerged to describe a new framework for development aimed at achieving economic and social balance while maintaining the long-term integrity of ecological systems. This requires measuring not only the economic viability of projects, but also their impact on the environment and their contribution to society. We live in a world where most people are aware of the importance of our environment. The way in which this realisation came about has, in hindsight, not been as simple as could have been expected. Systematic evaluations of the economic viability of projects using discounting date back to the beginning of the last century and are something which has been readily accepted, especially over the last few decades. However, an integrated approach, including environmental and social aspects, is much more recent, and even now, the methods and methodologies for such an approach are still being developed. This volume details the state of the art of the development towards the triple bottom line. It indicates where there is still debate about fundamental principles, where theory has been overlooked in the name of convenience, and where there are still unresolved problems. The discussions provided here will serve to provide a more detailed understanding of what we do in our calculations, what they mean and the limitations thereof.
Download or read book Urban Landscapes in High Density Cities written by Bianca Maria Rinaldi and published by Birkhäuser. This book was released on 2019-06-04 with total page 296 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The positive effects of urban green spaces are well-known, ranging from the promotion of health, support of biodiversity to climate regulation. However, the practical implementation of urban landscapes is less discussed. How can we make these spaces functional, economically feasible and inclusive, especially as cities become more diverse? The publication explores strategies to reconcile the various demands, such as food production, resilience and nature conservation. Indeed, urban landscapes have to be restorative, ecological and aesthetically pleasing at the same time. This is a particular challenge in high-density cities like Singapore, Seoul or New York where space is a scarce commodity. The continuing growth of the worldwide urban population imbues the topic with a special urgency.
Download or read book Urban climate informatics written by Ariane Middel and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2023-04-18 with total page 231 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Thinking in Systems written by Donella Meadows and published by Chelsea Green Publishing. This book was released on 2008-12-03 with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The classic book on systems thinking—with more than half a million copies sold worldwide! "This is a fabulous book... This book opened my mind and reshaped the way I think about investing."—Forbes "Thinking in Systems is required reading for anyone hoping to run a successful company, community, or country. Learning how to think in systems is now part of change-agent literacy. And this is the best book of its kind."—Hunter Lovins In the years following her role as the lead author of the international bestseller, Limits to Growth—the first book to show the consequences of unchecked growth on a finite planet—Donella Meadows remained a pioneer of environmental and social analysis until her untimely death in 2001. Thinking in Systems is a concise and crucial book offering insight for problem solving on scales ranging from the personal to the global. Edited by the Sustainability Institute’s Diana Wright, this essential primer brings systems thinking out of the realm of computers and equations and into the tangible world, showing readers how to develop the systems-thinking skills that thought leaders across the globe consider critical for 21st-century life. Some of the biggest problems facing the world—war, hunger, poverty, and environmental degradation—are essentially system failures. They cannot be solved by fixing one piece in isolation from the others, because even seemingly minor details have enormous power to undermine the best efforts of too-narrow thinking. While readers will learn the conceptual tools and methods of systems thinking, the heart of the book is grander than methodology. Donella Meadows was known as much for nurturing positive outcomes as she was for delving into the science behind global dilemmas. She reminds readers to pay attention to what is important, not just what is quantifiable, to stay humble, and to stay a learner. In a world growing ever more complicated, crowded, and interdependent, Thinking in Systems helps readers avoid confusion and helplessness, the first step toward finding proactive and effective solutions.
Download or read book Urban Energy Systems for Low Carbon Cities written by Ursula Eicker and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2018-11-30 with total page 473 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With an increase of global energy demand arising in urban settlements, the key challenges for the urban energy transition include analysis of energy efficiency options and the potential of renewable energy systems within the existing building stock, making cities a key actor in the transition success. In Urban Energy Systems for Low Carbon Cities, indicators to evaluate urban energy performance are introduced and the status quo of monitoring and efficiency valuation schemes are discussed. The book discusses advances on the state-of-the-art of research in a number of key areas: Energy demand and consumption mapping and monitoring Optimization of design and operation of urban supply and distribution systems Integration of renewable energy and urban energy network models Demand side management strategies to better match renewable supply and demand and increase flexibilities With innovative modelling methods this book gives a real bottom-up modelling approach used for the simulation of energy consumption, energy conversion systems and distribution networks using engineering methods. Provides support and guidance on the energy transition issues relating to energy demand, consumption mapping and monitoring Includes examples from case study cities, including Vienna, Geneva, New York and Stuttgart Analyzes the potential of energy management strategies in urban areas
Download or read book 2006 Building Technology Educators Symposium Proceedings written by Deborah Oakley and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2008-09-03 with total page 403 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Proceedings of the 2006 Building Technology Educators' Symposium, held at the University of Maryland School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation
Download or read book Carbon written by Alan Organschi and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2022-07-26 with total page 276 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A comprehensive approach to design that integrates sustainable principles and design strategies for decarbonized construction Representing an international collaboration between academics and architects in the United States and Europe, Carbon: A Field Manual for Designers and Builders offers professionals in the field an approach to sustainable design that embraces building science principles, life-cycle analysis, and design strategies in carbon neutral construction. The book also contains background information on carbon in construction materials and in the building design process. This book is filled with illustrative diagrams and drawings that help evaluate the potential impact of design decisions for creating carbon emissions. Written by and for designers and builders, the book includes a compelling pair of case studies that explore carbon-reducing strategies, suggests steps for assessing a building's carbon footprint, and reviews carbon storages and circulation of materials. The guidelines detailed in the book can be adopted, replicated, and deployed to reduce carbon emissions and create more sustainable buildings. This important book: Offers an effective approach to sustainable design in construction Integrates building science principles, life-cycle analysis, and design strategies in carbon neutral construction Describes a methodology for quantifying the flow of carbon in the built environment Provides an analysis of carbon-reducing strategies based on a case study of a building designed by the authors Written for practicing professionals in architecture and construction, Carbon: A Field Guide for Designers and Builders is a must-have resource for professionals who are dedicated to creating sustainable projects.
Download or read book Systemic Thinking written by John Boardman and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2013-09-30 with total page 262 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Systemic thinking" is the process of understanding how systems influence one another within a world of systems and has been defined as an approach to problem solving by viewing "problems" as parts of an overall system, rather than reacting to a specific part, outcome, or event. This book provides a complete overview of systemic thinking, exploring a framework and graphical technique for understanding and identifying new ways to more efficiently solve problems and create solutions. Demystifying the conjunction of systems concepts and systemic diagramming techniques, this comprehensive pocket guide introduces and explains the basis of systemigrams, how to create a systemigram and a SystemiShow, illuminates multiple complex problems, and provides an overview of what purpose they serve for today's industry professionals. Systemic Thinking: Building Maps for Worlds of Systems: Includes illustrative systemigrams and case studies Includes the SystemiTool software, developed by the authors Provides an overview of systemic thinking, particularly with regard to systemigrams Incorporates graphical representations of systemigrams Instructs how and when to implement a systemigram when a problem arises An invaluable book for industry professionals—specifically, technical leaders in industry and business trying to confront complex problems—Systemic Thinking is also ideal for postgraduate students in engineering and business management.
Download or read book Applying a Systems Thinking Approach to the Construction Industry written by Michael Siebert and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2023-10-19 with total page 204 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book aims to shed light on why it is that so many well-meaning initiatives and government white papers have failed to have the expected impact in transforming the UK construction industry. Using the UK housing sector as a case study, Mike Siebert applies a Systems Thinking approach to tackling some of the shared 'Wicked Problems' faced by an industry that urgently needs to boost its productivity levels, build more sustainably and affordably, and generally improve its working practices. In an accessible and easy to read style, Siebert challenges the overall decision making and problem-solving approach adopted by the industry and seeks to put Systems Thinking front and centre to consider the core issues from multiple perspectives. Initially outlining the key stakeholders and the drivers and barriers to change, he then introduces Systems Thinking and explains using numerous examples of known issues what this approach could achieve. His central aim is to show how, if a Systems Thinking approach were to be applied to the UK housing industry’s problems, many of them could be resolved to the benefit of all the parties involved – government, housebuilders, material suppliers, the warranty industry, the design industry and the end users. These are shared problems, and they require shared solutions, but without first understanding these complex problems from the perspectives of all parties that need to benefit from the solutions being proposed, it is unlikely that those solutions will achieve the level of engagement needed for them to successfully meet their objectives.
Download or read book Architecture Research Building written by Achim Menges and published by Birkhäuser. This book was released on 2020-12-07 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How can the fundamental digital change taking place in design and construction be actively used to bring about cultural change in architecture? By exploring robotic production methods and innovative material developments, Achim Menges and Jan Knippers have succeeded in developing genuine digital building systems that combine architectural elegance with effective construction. The book provides an insight into ten years of joint research at the ICD and ITKE Institutes of Stuttgart University. Taking completed pavilions and buildings as examples, the authors demonstrate the viability of the underlying hypotheses that impressively push the limits of construction. Articles from international experts contribute to the current debate on architecture.
