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Integrating User Adaptation and Retrofit Strategies for Overheating Mitigation in Energy-Poor Buildings under Climate Change Scenarios
No full textThis study conducts a comprehensive, long-term analysis of passive strategies aimed at mitigating overheating in residential structures occupied by elderly individuals and children up to fifteen years old. In fact, in the European Union, around 50 million households experience energy poverty, exposing vulnerable groups—such as pregnant women, the infirm, people with disabilities, children, and the elderly—to increased risks from overheating. This study conducts a comprehensive, long-term analysis of passive strategies aimed at mitigating overheating in residential structures occupied by elderly individuals and children up to fifteen years old. Focusing on a typical building constructed in Milan during the 1960s, dynamic building energy simulations were utilized to explore various passive strategies combined with the use of ceiling fans. These strategies were evaluated both before and after a standard retrofit, which primarily focused on building insulation.
The findings reveal that while natural ventilation and ceiling fans effectively lower indoor temperatures, they may not suffice to maintain comfort conditions for the insulated building in the future, thus necessitating the implementation of an active cooling system. Furthermore, a comparative analysis between baseline and retrofit scenarios was conducted to assess cooling and heating needs, uncovering significant energy, economic, and environmental benefits associated with the studied strategies.
Moreover, the study aims to harness the resilience and adaptability of building occupants by incorporating lean and deep renovation strategies into a comprehensive timeline for building renovation. This approach is designed to address the evolving challenges exacerbated by climate change, ensuring the long-term sustainability and comfort of residential buildings
Socio-Sustainable Architectural Design Through Ethical Implementation of Generative Design and Artificial Intelligence
No full textThe design and valuation of buildings require a weighted assessment of many qualitative and quantitative values; the evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI) can potentially enhance this process and the built environment. However, preserving the ethics and social sustainability of architectural design is crucial. Generative Design (GD) can potentially add value to new buildings and improve functionality and sustainability by generating design while weighing many quantitative measures effectively (e.g., functionality, economy, energy performance etc.). Generative AI (GAI) can potentially generate and assess designs based on learning from large sets of quantitative and qualitative data. However, underlying qualitative social, cultural, and ethical values usually considered by architects pose challenges to quantitative GD tools, and GAI faces ethical challenges including bias, transparency, and accountability. These underlying qualitative values can significantly influence the social sustainability of projects. An omission of these values may result in a less comprehensive decision-making process and a built environment that lacks essential qualities.
This research utilized a survey of Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) professionals to assess their use of and trust in AI. The focus is on their concerns regarding the ethics of AI implementation and their views on social sustainability values, which may not be considered in AI decision-making. The survey results were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methods and laid the ground for the future development of a framework for quantitatively integrating the qualitative variables into collaborative and comprehensive decision-making processes. The goal is to provide a more ethical and sustainable built environment
Academic help-seeking resources for construction students: a scoping review
No full textPreviously, few resources were available for students seeking help with their undergraduate homework. These resources would often include peers, instructors, and textbook. However, today, in addition to the resources mentioned previously, many more options that provide just-in-time support for students’ learning exist, including online resources. Previous research has explored students’ help-seeking behavior online for basic sciences, general or engineering education. However, given the technical aspects of the construction discipline, it is unclear how construction students navigate the available resources and what those resources are. The present paper utilized a scoping review, evaluating 26 academic papers from Scopus to identify resources for academic help-seeking, factors influencing academic help-seeking behavior and gaps in the literature. Fifteen resources were identified, encompassing several different formats. Moreover, we noted that previous literature highlights the practical nature of construction education, the rise of online learning and issues with infrastructure as factors influencing academic help-seeking behavior of construction students. Several gaps were also noted, including evaluating the impact of artificial intelligence and search engines, understanding differences between construction students and other students, and online and in-person learners related to help seeking behaviors, and the impact of in-class interventions to off-class help seeking behavior. Though our paper is exploratory, our results improve the alignment between instructors and programs with learners needs, especially focusing on self-direct learning. Moreover, our discussion can assist developers of new educational technology for construction education in understanding how students engage with resources outside of class time
Concept Development of Framework for Workplace Violence Prevention through Building Components Modifications in Hospitals
No full textWorkplace Violence (WPV) is a pervasive issue in healthcare systems worldwide, which significantly impacts the wellbeing of healthcare personnel and the efficiency of care delivery systems. This study aims to review the relationship between the influence of the physical environment attributes and the WPV risk mitigation within general service hospitals and academic medical centers to develop a preventive concept. The review focuses on the physical attributes of hospitals that contribute to creating safe and resilient environments for staff and patients. The conducted review included 22 out of 116 studies after full-text review. The synthesized findings were used to cluster the prevention strategies and develop a concept tailored for WPV prevention through building component modifications. The development adopted Brand’s Building Layers as an architectural model framework as a basis for a six-layer clustering. The study’s findings are twofold. A fragmented approach in the literature regarding the role of the built environment in preventing WPV was revealed. The concept presented the interrelations between the layers regarding infrastructure dependencies. This study concludes that a proactive integration of environmental strategies into healthcare infrastructure planning is essential for mitigating WPV, and how a concept could provide further insights for healthcare decision-makers. Future research should prioritize interdisciplinary collaboration, the development of quantitative metrics for design effectiveness, and the exploration of emerging technologies such as AI-enhanced surveillance. By addressing these gaps, healthcare systems can advance toward safer, more sustainable, and inclusive environments, contributing to the broader goals of resilience and innovation in infrastructur
Accra Airport City: Construction Practices and Forms
Get PDFThis paper analyzes the scientific theory about African and Global cities and their practices through the analysis of a specific case study, the Airport City business district in Accra, Ghana. The goal of this research is to investigate what are the characteristics that influence this neighborhood’s architectural and urban development, starting from the analysis of its practices and forms. The purpose of the broader research is to investigate the forms and dynamics that shape this urban environment using a problem-driven and phronetic approach that starts from local practice and context and later reframes them within scientific theory
A Systematic Review on Sustainable 3D Concrete Printing: Opportunities and Challenges.
No full textThis paper presents a systematic literature review of the opportunities and challenges of implementing 3D concrete printing (3DCP) in the construction industry. While 3DCP holds significant potential to improve construction processes by enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and design flexibility, its widespread adoption is hindered by several challenges. A structured review methodology was employed, analysing 58 peer-reviewed articles sourced from SCOPUS and Discovery databases, using the PRISMA guidelines for comprehensive screening and analysis. The findings are categorised using the PESTEL framework (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, and Legal), offering a detailed perspective on the factors influencing 3DCP implementation. Key opportunities include improved time efficiency, cost-effectiveness, reduced material waste, and greater design flexibility. Conversely, significant challenges include the absence of standardised technical and legal frameworks, a shortage of skilled labour, high initial investment costs for machinery and materials, and limited available resources. These barriers present significant obstacles to adopting technology within the construction sector. This research highlights gaps in cost considerations, governmental support, and technological advancements. Addressing these gaps through industry collaboration, case studies, improved regulatory frameworks, and continued technological innovation could accelerate the adoption of 3DCP, enabling its integration into construction industry practices and fostering more efficient, sustainable, and innovative building processes. The findings contribute valuable insights for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers seeking new insights to overcome current challenges and maximise the potential of 3DCP technology in the construction sector
Enhancing Energy Efficiency and Economic Sustainability of Buildings through Phase Change Material Integration—A Systematic Literature Review
No full textBuilding construction and operation consume one-third of the world\u27s total energy, and thermal loads account for 34 percent of the total building energy consumption. Phase change materials (PCMs) emerged as a solution to reduce energy consumption in buildings due to their high energy storage density and the ease with which PCMs can be incorporated into buildings. This study presents a systematic literature review of 32 peer-reviewed journal papers based on relevancy to the topic, published between 2008 and 2024, to identify critical parameters that enhance the energy efficiency of buildings incorporating PCMs in their building envelopes. The findings indicate that PCMs\u27 effectiveness heavily depends on their melting temperatures, layer thicknesses, climatic conditions, and proper ventilation at nighttime to solidify the PCM for the next cycle. A relatively thick PCM layer with a high melting temperature in moderate climate zones, coupled with appropriate night ventilation, offers the most efficient thermal energy savings. Future research should focus on the storage efficiency of PCMs, optimizing PCM use with ventilation, and conducting life cycle cost assessments. The study concludes that a single PCM cannot provide consistent energy efficiency globally, making efficiency analysis essential before integration into building structures
How Smart Are the Highly Rated Green Buildings?
No full textBuildings account for substantial energy consumption and carbon emissions globally. While sustainability certifications, such as LEED Platinum, are widely recognized, they often overlook the potential of smart technologies to further enhance building performance and reduce life cycle emissions. This study uses the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) framework to evaluate and compare smartness capabilities in three LEED Platinum-certified buildings: the David Brower Center, Sello Shopping Center, and Tripla Shopping Center. Each building was analyzed for its integration of smart technologies, with SRI scores revealing a wide variation in smart readiness despite similar sustainability credentials. The Sello Center achieved a high SRI score due to its advanced demand-responsive automation, grid interaction via battery storage, and renewable energy integration. At the same time, the David Brower Center and Tripla exhibited lower SRI scores, primarily due to limited automation and adaptability features. These findings highlight the importance of further developing prominent sustainability certifications according to net zero emission requirements or incorporating both sustainability and smart-readiness certifications to maximize operational efficiency, energy flexibility, and occupant comfort. The SRI framework emerges as a critical tool for identifying gaps and guiding the adoption of intelligent systems that complement environmental sustainability, thus paving the way for more resilient, adaptive, and high-performing buildings
