93887 research outputs found
Sort by
Application of Generative AI in Civil Engineering Education: A Systematic Review of Current Research and Future Directions
Get PDFApplying generative artificial intelligence in civil engineering education is a transformative step in learning and teaching approaches. This review paper aims to discuss the evolution of the development of the generative AI application in civil engineering. This discipline requires precise calculations, safety considerations, and adherence to strict regulatory standards. Although GenAI tools offer customized learning experiences and general knowledge, several challenges deter the broad adoption of it in civil engineering education, including hallucination, lack of in-depth knowledge, response accuracy, and ethical concerns. This paper reviews state-of-the-art research on applying GenAI to civil engineering education. By collecting, selecting, and analyzing research papers from the recent publications of various databases, this paper reveals several research gaps in the present literature, including the absence of systematic reviews, the need for effective framework implementation that is specifically designed for civil engineering education, and a lack of experiment and thorough analysis on the application of GenAI in civil engineering courses. Moreover, this review strives to establish the basis for future research on integrating GenAI in civil engineering education to improve learning outcomes and experience and better prepare students for the challenges of engineering practice. Based on those insights, this paper highlights the promising approaches and needs for interdisciplinary collaborations to achieve the full potential of GenAI technologies for civil engineering education. This study concludes that while GenAI has the potential to revolutionize civil engineering education, its limitations on practical implementations remain critical challenges, including the need for comprehensive reviews, the development of domain-specific generative AI frameworks, and experimental validation in civil engineering education
Research on Carbon Emission Assessment Methods and Demonstration Applications for Low Carbon Blocks
Get PDFBased on a low-carbon perspective, creation and evaluation methods of low-carbon blocks was established. Two major carbon reduction areas contain five key carbon reduction technologies were identified, including building and infrastructure, focusing on building energy efficiency, renewable energy utilization, green transportation, solid waste treatment, water resource utilization, and carbon sequestration. Calculation methods of carbon emission were also clarified. Using the 1+N multi-scenario comparison, the carbon reduction potential analysis of single technology and combination technology were carried out, and the carbon reduction technology combination scheme of low-carbon blocks was built. A comprehensive evaluation model combining quantifiable factors and non-quantifiable factors was proposed, which provide a calculation tool for the comprehensive evaluation problems of calculation methods, cost increment, operation and maintenance. The feasibility and scientificity of the method were verified by a practical case in Shanghai. Through the demonstration construction of nearly zero-energy building, and the installation of roof photovoltaic and new energy vehicle charging piles, the practical case’s goal of carbon reduction was successfully achieved. The methodology and model can provide a theoretical basis for designers, developers and consulting organizations in both new and existing projects
Circular Economy and LEED v4: Benchmarking Materials and Resources Credit Achievement
Get PDFPrevious studies consistently highlight a gap in the achievement of Materials and Resources (MR) credits across different versions of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system, despite its critical role in the transition to a Circular Economy (CE). Furthermore, there is a lack of studies benchmarking the level of the MR credit achievement in the latest version of LEED, v4. This paper examines the integration of CE principles in LEED v4 BD+C (Building Design and Construction): NC (New Construction and Major Renovations), focusing on the 971 certified projects in the US. The study benchmarks the achievement degrees of five MR credits, Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction (C1), Environmental Product Declarations (C2), Sourcing of Raw Materials (C3), Material Ingredients (C4), and Construction and Demolition Waste Management (C5). The study highlights rather minimal levels of achievement, particularly in credits C1 and C3 where both were fully achieved in only 63 out the 971 studied projects. The findings align LEED certified projects with the lower tier of CE R-frameworks, emphasizing the need for collaboration across project stakeholders, as well as the need for enhanced material data availability to improve CE practices in LEED projects. Ultimately, the study supports discussions on sustainable building practices, advocating for building reuse, optimized life cycle assessments, incentivizing environmental product declarations, and responsible material sourcing
Impact of Explainable Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Built Environment
Get PDFInnovative and complex applications driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI) embedded systems have enhanced the efficiency, accuracy and sustainability of the built environment. Such solutions often face barriers to adoption due to the lack of trust, transparency, understanding, and inherent complexity. Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) encompasses techniques and methodologies to make the decision-making processes of AI models transparent, interpretable, and comprehensible. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the potential of incorporating XAI techniques to provide solutions for the challenges and to enhance interpretability. The impact of XAI on promoting sustainable practices in the built environment is systematically analysed. Further, it aims to identify key application areas, analyse XAI methods, evaluate impacts on decision-making, and explore challenges in implementing XAI for built environment sustainability. The methodology of the study has incorporated a systematic literature search, thematic analysis, and synthesis of findings across multiple domains. The analysis reveals that XAI is increasingly incorporated into energy efficiency, urban planning, construction management, and sustainable design, enhancing model transparency and stakeholder trust. Key XAI techniques, including SHapley Additive exPlanations, Gradient-Weighted Class Activation Mapping, Local Interpretable Model-agnostic Explanations and causal discovery methods, are applied to the AI-driven solutions considered through the analysis of the study. The findings of the study indicate that XAI can significantly contribute to achieving sustainability goals in the built environment by fostering trust, facilitating knowledge transfer, and enabling more informed decision-making. The paper outlines future research directions and practical recommendations for implementing XAI in sustainable built environment practices
Sustainable Solution for Renovation: Life Cycle Insights on Adding Floors to Swedish Multi-Family Houses
No full textThis paper explores the feasibility of increasing floor area in Swedish multi-family houses during renovations, emphasizing the equilibrium between financial and environmental advantages. The study is framed within the context of the European Union\u27s stringent energy and emissions regulations, employing life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost analysis (LCC) to evaluate the impact of various renovation strategies.
The study incorporates building energy simulations to investigate the results of different renovation scenarios, such as improving walls/roof and changing windows. Furthermore, thorough Life Cycle Cost (LCC) analyses are carried out to identify the most financially advantageous choices that optimize energy conservation. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is also conducted to evaluate the environmental consequences of each scenario.
The main findings highlight the financial benefits of constructing additional floors, which result in higher income for property owners and immediate revenue for housing companies from selling extra floor space. The strategy of adding floors is environmentally friendly and has a smaller carbon footprint than building new structures, providing a sustainable option for urban growth. The study emphasizes the possibility of achieving substantial energy savings and reducing carbon emissions by incorporating advanced insulation methods, such as insulated roof panels, and upgrading less efficient windows.
The research presents a case for the addition of floors during renovation to enhance energy efficiency and sustainability in the Swedish construction industry. It offers a pathway for stakeholders to evaluate the long-term economic and environmental consequences of their renovation decisions
Blue-Green Sustainability Framework for Building Assessment based Multifunctional Analysis of Regions through Input-Output (MARIO)
Get PDFThe concepts of building and construction are central in the development of national economies all over the world. Along with this growth in national economies, however, there is increasing concern over the high environmental impact caused by the building industry. A growing body of published work provides evidence that buildings globally contribute to 40% of greenhouse gas emissions, 50% of energy and consumption, and 15% of drinking water usage. To date, there is a current lack of studies of evidence-based literature specifically relating to the use of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) extended Multi Region Input-Output (MRIO) approach for building sustainability assessment. This paper describes the design and implementation of a framework to assess the blue and green footprint at building level-based Multifunctional Analysis of Regions through Input-Output (MARIO) tool and Building Information Modeling (BIM) for building system analysis. The study set out to investigate the impact of structural and Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) systems in a sample building. Finally, the framework was tested in the dwelling sector to assess the growing demand by 2030 in Mexico. Results presented an easy path for sustainable assessment for regions with lack of tools. However, future research must be developed to fill the gap in the blue footprint domain
Recent U.S. Government Policy Literature on Critical and Strategic Minerals
No full textCritical and strategic minerals have become increasingly important in U.S. government civilian and military policymaking in recent years. This is demonstrated by the heavy use of such minerals in many critical civilian and military infrastructures. This work will discuss how this subject has been addressed in laws, presidential documents, and works by government agencies along with congressional oversight committees and support agencies. It will stress how the United States is heavily dependent on strategic minerals from adversarial foreign countries such as China and will examine U.S. efforts to increase its ability to produce such materials in the United States by reforming permitting processes. It will conclude with recommendations for the United States to enhance its ability to produce these materials domestically and acquire them from reliable foreign sources. The conclusion will also suggest ways that the president and federal agency stakeholders can enhance public awareness of this problem and their efforts to rectify it
