Towards a Carbon Neutral Future

The use of adaptive photovoltaic (PV) facades holds great promise in reducing energy consumption, harvesting clean solar energy on site, and optimizing indoor climate. To improve building facade performance, various design methods have been employed at both the city and building scale to optimize PV facade parameters and geometry. However, while prior studies have focused mainly on technical aspects such as PV energy performance and adaptive technologies, few have systematically investigated design methods of adaptive PV facades, particularly from an architectural or city design perspective. This literature review aims to address this gap by qualitatively analyzing applications of adaptive PV facades at both scales, discussing prevalent design methods and their effectiveness, and analyzing cutting-edge research in related fields. The review emphasizes three major aspects of adaptive PV facade design: energy efficiency, human comfort, and aesthetics. Additionally, the study evaluates the contributions and limitations of optimized design methods in selected papers, identifies research gaps in adaptive PV facades, and provides guidance for future research in this area.

Building Information Modeling (BIM), the Internet of Things (IoT), and Big Data are widely applied in the green building industry (GBI) due to the fast-paced digital revolution. BIM enables the creation of digital models of buildings, supporting design optimization, construction management, and sustainability assessment. IoT can automatically acquire real-time data on building operations, occupant behavior, and energy consumption through large amounts of intelligent sensors. However, the vast amount of data created and captured by BIM and IoT is only useful with advanced storage and analysis technologies such as Big Data. So far, BIM, IoT, and Big Data integration in the GBI is still in its infancy. Therefore, this research aims to develop a big data based-framework to store and address context-based data from BIM and time-series data from IoT. First, BIM, IoT, and Big Data application in the GBI is presented. Then, the data exchange model of BIM, IoT, and Big Data is demonstrated through the proposed framework. Finally, digital management strategies are provided for decision-makers to improve the energy efficiency of GBI. This framework underpins the knowledge of digital technologies application in the GBI and provides insights for future research domains such as data exchange, smart construction, and energy management. The practical application of the framework can also contribute to GBI's digital transformation and sustainable development.

The development of low-rise modularised lightweight steel-framed (MLSF) residential buildings in China has significant potential to contribute to the country’s effort to reduce energy consumption. However, to fully realise this potential, it is crucial to assess the energy performance of these buildings and identify opportunities for further optimisation. This paper elucidates the main factors in the energy performance of low-rise MLSF residential buildings and presents a case study in suburban Shanghai, in China’s hot-summer-cold-winter (HSCW) zone. The preliminary results indicated that optimised building envelope thermal performance could significantly improve the energy efficiency of MLSF buildings, leading to a reduction of up to 40% in total energy and up to 68% in heating energy compared to the latest baseline standard. This paper advances the understanding of the energy performance of low-rise MLSF residential buildings in China and provides valuable insights to promote energy-efficient building practices in the HSCW zone.

With the development of green building technologies and photovoltaic materials, the emergence of flexible BIPV products has enriched building aesthetics and can also optimize the energy performance of building envelopes. However, it has yet to be adequately addressed how to maximize the energy potential of curved BIPV façades. Therefore, this paper investigates the energy efficiency of curved BIPV façade by building envelope form optimization. There are 22 types of curved BIPV façade investigated with design parameters including 3 intervals, 5 curvature and 2 combination methods, which is conceived to explore their production capacity in two cities, Beijing, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The results prove that (1) There are differences in the annual power generation per unit of PV area for different forms of curved BIPV façade: The annual energy production ranged from 79.13 kW·h/m2 to 110.68 kW·h/m2 in Beijing, while the annual energy production ranged from 52.49 kW·h/m2 to 71.25 kW·h/m2 in Kuala Lumpur. (2) Due to latitude and longitude, the optimized curved BIPV façade in Kuala Lumpur can improve energy efficiency by 4.49% compared to flat BIPV façades, corresponding to a 3.06 kW·h/m2 increase in annual PV system production capacity per unit of PV area. However, in Beijing, the curved BIPV façade has no increased production capacity compared to flat BIPV façades. (3) Different design parameters optimize the energy performance of the curved BIPV facade to different degrees. Firstly, the increased interval of BIPV units can improve energy efficiency by up to 18.55% (Beijing) and 28.12% (Kuala Lumpur) for the convex curved BIPV façade annually, but not significantly for the concave. Secondly, the reduced angle can improve energy efficiency by up to 37.50% (Beijing) and 28.68% (Kuala Lumpur) for the concave BIPV façade, and 11.99% growth for the convex façade in Beijing annually but insignificant in Kuala Lumpur. Thirdly, with the combination of convex and concave BIPV units, it is possible to improve energy efficiency by up to 10.21% (Beijing) and 14.56% (Kuala Lumpur) annually. Thus, it is a feasible method to optimize curved BIPV façade’s energy performance by parametric form design in early stage. In addition, it is proof that the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of solar energy in different regions cannot be ignored, which determines whether curved BIPV technology can optimize the production capacity efficiency of building façade systems. The methodology and data presented in this paper can provide guidance in both energy performance optimization and equipment selection by assessing benefits of curved BIPV façade application in different regions.

This paper extends the current focus in sustainable building design on aspects of building technology such as assessment of carbon emissions, embodied carbon or energy expenditure by including concerns of human inhabitants as well as ecological aspects. Sustainable design schemes increasingly feature green elements on and around buildings, including green roofs and green facades. While their benefits are recognized from a technical perspective, such as the regulation of air quality and reduction of noise as well as the reduction of building energy expenditure, the ecological aspects of such facades have not received much attention yet beyond a few case study buildings. In contrast, the potential contributions green building features can make to local biodiversity, urban ecological contexts and human well-being are not yet widely embraced. This paper discusses façade systems integrating green features for ecological as well as energy and carbon emission benefits alongside other sustainable design technologies, with a focus on the subtropical climate regions of china. We argue that successful façade design needs to address three aspects that remain understudied in recent literature: the capability of architectural facades to adapt to the human need to connect to exterior environments, to perform a host role for locally specific ecology and biodiversity and the role of local climate and urban context in comprehensive future façade design. To this end, the paper presents a cross-disciplinary, eco-systemic analysis of a building case study located in Shenzhen, china which was completed in early 2022. A discussion of design principles employed in the case study is complemented with a biodiversity analysis and proposals for alternative design approaches for ecological façade features.

With the emergence of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) symptoms, the impact of the indoor environment on occupant health, productivity, and satisfaction has received much attention over the last few decades. The control of the indoor environment through building systems is equally important in the context of human health and energy efficiency but challenging to achieve in a comprehensive manner in practice. Due to the variability of indoor and outdoor contexts over time, as well as the subjective nature of building occupants’ perception of indoor environments, it is however difficult to recommend and design building systems that meet both occupants’ preferences and general indoor health criteria. More recently, advanced data acquisition technologies such as IOT and distributed cameras have created new opportunities to capture and quantify occupant satisfaction. In combination with recent advances in Artificial Intelligence, new opportunities arise to use historical data to analyze and predict the relationship between physical environments and their occupants’ satisfaction. The application of these advanced technologies offers new approaches to control building systems with a focus on more human-centric and intelligent approaches. To this end, this paper reviews new AI technologies and approaches that can be used in building systems control to enhance occupants’ satisfaction, health and wellbeing affected by indoor environment. The paper focuses on previous studies using physical environment data and occupants’ feedback in combination with AI models. Concluding the review, the paper identifies the most promising applications of AI models for intelligent building system control and discusses their potential impact on the design and operation of future building environments.

In China’s construction market, most existing buildings have high energy consumption and significant carbon emissions. This paper selects an office building in hot summer and cold winter areas for energy-saving transformation from high energy consumption to an ultra-low energy consumption building. By calculating carbon emissions in the transformation process stage by Yike Efootprint software, the building life cycle model is divided into an envelope Air tightness system, fresh air system, energy system, and door and window system. The five primary methods are described, energy input, energy consumption, pollutant output, process boundary, quantity used, upstream process traceability, sensitivity analysis. The materials and data are collected, analyzed, and calculated. The CLCD database is mainly used as the database, and some data are obtained from Ecoinvent. The CUT-OFF principle shall be used to reserve the materials with a significant weight proportion and high importance, and the materials with a weight less than 1% or with low significance and low material consumption shall be ignored. So we can get the critical influencing factors of carbon emissions in the transformation stage. By analyzing the influencing factors, we can provide some perfect suggestions for the energy-saving reconstruction of buildings. This paper uses LCA for modeling, calculation and analysis, data quality evaluation, and result output. So as to calculate the carbon emissions and effective recovery period of energy consumption from an ultra-low energy consumption building to a zero energy consumption building, it is proved that the carbon emissions in the transformation process can be recovered quickly through the energy-saving transformation of ultra-low energy consumption buildings. Ultra-low energy consumption buildings and zero energy consumption buildings will play a significant role in the development of China’s construction industry. It also provides more theoretical, and data support for developing zero-energy consumption buildings in China.

The climatic conditions in hot summer and cold winter region are special, which is the hottest region at the same latitude except for desert areas in summer, and the coldest region at the same latitude in winter. The building envelope in this region is therefore a more complex option than in other regions to achieve the Double-carbon target. This paper simulates and derives the single best retrofit scheme for different envelope structures via a basic model of CAD and Tianzheng energy-saving software, as an example of an office building in Zigong City. The study showed that the energy-saving rate of external walls in the region was 5.74–7.86%, roofs were 5.11–7.39%, external windows were 9.11–11.88% and shading was 3.09–10.95% respectively. Some recommendations are provided for the energy-saving design and retrofit of building envelope structures after comparing the energy-saving rate of different parts of the envelope in hot summer and cold winter regions.

This article explores the influence of temperature and humidity on human thermal comfort and exercise performance during dynamic exercise. While previous studies have investigated the relationship between exercise state and thermal comfort, few have focused on transient changes during exercise. To examine these relationships, a series of experiments were conducted in an environmental chamber with precise control over temperature and humidity conditions. Participants were selected and tested under nine different scenarios at the same running speed. Questionnaires were filled out at six different time slots, from pre-exercise till 5 min after the exercise. The predicted mean vote (PMV) model was used to estimate the average thermal comfort. The results showed that, despite a relatively constant environment, participants’ feeling of thermal comfort changed as the exercise progressed and after sweating during the post-exercise course. The sensitivity and feeling of thermal comfort varied during the whole process under different scenarios. This study provides innovative survey methods for questionnaires and objective environmental data that can be analyzed to enhance understanding of changes in thermal comfort during exercise under different environmental variables. The findings also offer suggestions for the regulation of temperature and humidity in indoor gyms, and the accuracy of the PMV model in dynamic applications is verified.

Background: At present, the quality of the indoor environment in hospitals is attracting a lot of attention from society in order to improve the recovery and well-being of patients due to the requirements of health outcomes. Lighting plays a significant role in healthcare environments, directly affecting the physical and mental health of patients. However, most artificial lighting designs have not carefully considered the user experience, which means that some results or conclusions may not reflect reality. Users spend most of their time in hospital wards and their opinions are an invaluable guide for hospital architects. Objective: This study aims to investigate patients’ environmental satisfaction in wards with different interior lighting conditions, in order to provide useful advice for good designs of healthcare environments. Methods: Field investigations and a randomized controlled trial (RCT), which lasted four months (from 1st March 2022 to 30th June 2022), were conducted at the intensive care liver unit of a Class A hospital in Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province, China. Parameter values of nighttime lighting for these experiments were designed based on academic literature and the Standard for Lighting Design of Buildings (GB50034-2013). A questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate the problems faced by the artificial lighting environment in the wards. Data on patients’ satisfaction were collected by individual interviews under different parameters (i.e., illumination levels of 100 lx and 200 lx, light positions at head of the bed, opposite the bed and on the ceiling), and linear regression analysis was used for statistical analysis. Conclusions: This study showed that patients prefer bedhead lights with an illumination level of 200 lx and a color temperature of 3000 K. In addition, adjustable lighting in wards will improve the environmental satisfaction of patients, which will be verified in further studies. All findings can be used as evidence to inform the design of interior lighting in wards toward a better healthcare environment for health outcomes.

With the aim to promote carbon–neutral urban development, a number of recent pilot studies and building projects have investigated an innovative building retrofit solution: modular façade retrofit systems that combine photovoltaics products. Due to the novelty of this field, there is a limited systematic investigation of this promising solution. To present the state-of-the-art of this solution and to investigate future promotion needs, this study conducted a systematic literature study. Out of more than 200 relevant articles, 16 closely related papers were selected for in-depth review. Based on the review, the author proposed a definition of modular façade retrofit with integrated photovoltaics (MFRIPV) and summarized the current key focuses of MFRIPV, including energy performance and economic feasibility, system composition, and design process. The PV technologies and modular structural types of representative MFRIPV cases were also categorized. The findings showed that MFRIPV has satisfactory payback time and can be adopted in both residential and office buildings, providing multifunctional improvements such as better energy efficiency, interior daylight quality, solar energy harvesting and even vertical food production. To further promote MFRIPV application, the author suggested that aesthetic guidelines, integrated energy storage system, and design and management from a life-cycle perspective could be the next investigation priorities. The ultimate goal of MFRIPV should be “energy efficient, energy productive, aesthetically pleasing, user-centered design, easy for massive modular manufacture and assembling, easy for maintenance and upgrade, cost-effective’’. This study provided a foundation for advanced MFRIPV study and could serve as a reference for architects, building engineers, researchers, and policy-makers working in the field of sustainable urban renewal.

Background: Much literature has indicated that the physical environmental conditions affect medical staff’s job performance—for example, satisfaction, behavior, error rates, and psychological stress, which further impacts the recovery and well-being of patients. Aims: This study investigates the environmental conditions of medical staff and explores the role of a combination of environmental factors that can reduce their work stress. Methods: From April 17 to June 2, a field investigation was conducted at a hospital in Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province. In terms of environmental factors, light intensity, decorative pictures, and vegetation were chosen as independent variables based on literature review, which were combined into six experimental groups. Twelve medical staff members, including doctors and nurses, were recruited from inpatient departments. They were asked to complete actigraphy recordings and self-reported satisfaction assessments (e.g., job satisfaction and environmental satisfaction) to evaluate their emotion during working shifts in different environmental settings. Several scales and questionnaires (e.g., Eye Fatigue Scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 items (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 items (PHQ-9), and Perceived Stress Scales (PSS)) were used in in-depth interviews to assess participants’ medical symptoms and mental health status. The between-subjects experimental design was adopted for descriptive statistics and multiple linear stepwise regression analysis. Results: Experimental results demonstrated that participants preferred the illumination level of 300 lx than 400 lx for night shifts. In regard to decorative pictures and vegetation, participants expressed that vegetation, instead of pictures, would create a comfortable atmosphere. Conclusions: The findings suggested that the combination of 300 lx illumination and vegetation could play an important role on the reduction of medical staff’s work stress, and decorative pictures had minimal effects. A better understanding can be achieved about the combined action of environmental factors on the working conditions of medical staff, which can be used as evidence to inform the design of healthcare environments and optimize health outcomes.

The building and construction sector has been acknowledged as a main contributor to the global carbon emission. In addition to environmental implications, the built environment also has implications in the social and economic development. However, the social and economic implications are often sidelined in the past studies. It therefore calls for a need to investigate the implications of sustainability within the context of built environments. The objective of the paper is to determine the extent to which the three pillars of sustainability are adopted in the built environment and explore their environmental, social and economic implications in a holistic manner. A questionnaire was used to solicit information from a range of construction stakeholders to capture different stakeholder viewpoints on the implications of sustainability. The results showed that more than 80% of respondents considered they have implemented the three pillars of sustainability in their practice. The environmental pillar has the highest level of implementation followed by the social and economic pillars. This result reinforced literature by showing that the environmental sustainability is still predominant in sustainability practice, with an emphasis on energy efficiency and renewable or recyclable resources. Surprisingly, the social implications are greatly acknowledged where a sustainable built environment is perceived to creating a healthier environment and increasing user comfort and satisfactions. Construction stakeholders are however less convinced by the positive economic implications due to an absence of strong evidence of reduced life cycle cost associated with sustainable built environments. This paper provides an empirical insight into the implications of implementing sustainability in the built environment and offers an indication of a transition from the existing environmental-oriented system to a more socio-environmental context in the pursuit of sustainability. Future studies shall integrate more socio-environmental aspects in assessing sustainable built environments to reveal the complex relationships of the three pillars in the pursuit of sustainability.

Mental health and well-being of university student is critical in their academic performance, quality of life and personal growth at an important stage of their development. Among other factors, the built environment has a substantial impact, and students spend a significant part of their time in their university campus. This study reviews the relevant literature in order to synthesise the current body of knowledge and its gaps and limitations. Previous research from different fields of enquiry has demonstrated a range of effects on mental health for all the main aspects of the built environment, including its constitutive components (e.g. buildings, outdoor spaces), its spatial configuration (e.g. geometry, architecture), and its environmental characteristics (e.g. thermal, visual and acoustic factors). Furthermore, the current body of knowledge is still fragmented, lacking methodological consistency, systematisation and a specific framework for the educational spaces that can be translated in structured design guidelines.

The building sector is responsible for a significant portion of global energy consumption and Building Energy Modelling (BEM) is a vital tool for assessing and improving building energy performance. However, large-scale BEM is hindered by inefficiencies in modelling geometry and thermal characteristics, while Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Infrared Thermography (IRT) might introduce innovative solutions. This paper aims to review these two emerging technologies from their historical origins to current applications. It summarises previous studies and current and future applications of integrated UAV and IRT in building inspection, diagnosis, and modelling. The main focus is on technologies, protocols and workflows for the generation of the building geometry and the assignment of thermal properties based on automated processes.

Attached lifting scaffolding is common equipment in the construction of high-rise buildings. The construction difficulty and construction risk of high-rise buildings are high. The strength of the guide rails of the attached lifting scaffolding determines the ability of the frame to withstand external loads and provides anti-overturning function. In order to improve safety in the construction process and prevent the fatigue failure of guide rails, this paper uses the finite element software Midas Gen and Abaqus combined with the fatigue life analysis software Fe-Safe to calculate the fatigue life of the guide rail based on the Goodman fatigue damage theory. The results show that fatigue occurs when the load of each layer of the scaffolding exceeds 4.7 kN/m2 rail under the construction state, considering the wind load, and the number of fatigue is 9,581,413 times. Considering the lifting state of wind load, fatigue will occur when the load of each layer of scaffolding exceeds 3.8 kN/m2, and the number of fatigues is 9,581,413 times, which can provide a reference for practical engineering.

Large hospitals need a large amount of steam every day as a heat source for high-temperature disinfection or heat exchange with domestic water. However, after steam is used once, it is rarely reused. Although there are some open or semi-open condensate water recovery systems, system defects lead to a large amount of steam condensate contaminated and disposed of as waste water, which eventually results in enormous waste of water resources and the heat in steam and condensate water. Therefore, there is great potential for cost savings and technological renovation in this area. In order to improve energy efficiency, recycle wasted heat and high-quality softened water resources, and achieve the re-utilization of condensate water in the system, the project designed an efficient steam cascade utilization system, which allows for the multi-stage utilization of medium and low temperature steam under different heat loads, achieving a seamless all-weather connection between the heating system and the heat utilization system in terms of supply and demand, start and stop, so that high quality softened water resources can be reused and heat can be recovered. All of these efforts are essential for energy conservation, environmental protection, and the implementation of circular economy and sustainable development.

The take-make-dispose approach, which is linear in nature, still drives the building sector. A change in thinking is necessary because of the relatively considerable negative environmental effects of this approach. If the principles are followed in the sector, circular economy (CE) has been viewed as a strategy that might result in ecologically sustainable development. However, as a significant approach in emerging economies development, it is expedient the driving forces of the CE approach are recognized and comprehended. Hence, this study examines the drivers of circular economy adoption in the South African (SA) construction industry. A survey method was selected. Ninety (90) of the one hundred and thirty-five (135) questionnaires that were sent to construction industry professionals in Guateng Province, South Africa, were returned and deemed appropriate for study. One-sample t-tests, Kruskal–Wallis, standard deviation, percentage, and mean item scores were used to analyze the collected data. The findings reveal the significant drivers of CE in SA construction industry which are regulations and policies on CE, incentives to customers, Stakeholders’ pressure and enabling infrastructure. This finding could inform construction stakeholders in the country on the drivers of CE and these highlighted drivers must motivate relevant parties to take considerable action on them in order for the SA construction sector to profit from this crucial strategy.

The linear approach which follows the principles of take-make-dispose’ still dominates the construction sector. The relative significant negative implications of this approach on the environment requires a paradigm shift. Circular economy (CE) has been regarded as an approach that could lead to environmentally sustainable development if adopted in the industry. However, there have been concerns in some quarters as regards the challenges to the adoption of CE approach. Hence, this study evaluates the challenges to circular economy adoption in the South African (SA) construction industry. A survey method was selected. Ninety (90) of the one hundred and thirty-five (135) questionnaires that were sent to construction industry professionals in Guateng Province, South Africa, were returned and deemed appropriate for study. One-sample t-tests, Kruskal–Wallis, standard deviation, percentage, and mean item scores were used to analyze the collected data. The findings reveal the significant challenges to the adoption of CE in SA construction industry which are lack of financial incentives, lack of knowledge, low virgin material costs, and lack of design expertise amongst others. This finding could inform construction stakeholders in the country on the present challenges to the adoption of CE and these challenges identified must encourage stakeholders to take significant steps towards addressing the them such that the SA construction industry benefit from this all-important approach.

This literature review paper studies the extent to which one of four central tenets of circular design, ‘designing out waste’ has been implemented. This study looks at the review of the literature within the period of 2014–2023 in Science Direct database. A thematic analysis of two main themes was conducted: (1) material reuse and recovery and (2) construction waste management. It is observed that substitutions of natural aggregates in concrete have been widely researched, and it is suggested that future research may include the feasibility of using other kinds of waste including from industries outside of the construction sector. In this regard, “designing out waste” has a more global meaning than the closed loop of the construction industry.

Sustainability assessment is a formidable template for evaluating plans, policies, and activities toward the drive and actualisation of sustainable development. It helps appraise the steps taken and projected actions to align policies within the tenets of sustainability. However, the construction industry in South Africa appears to be on the back foot in fully harnessing the dividends of sustainable assessment. Based on the preceding, this study examined the critical hurdles to implementing sustainability assessment in the South African construction industry. A quantitative approach was employed with relevant professionals as the target population, while the data retrieved was subjected to appropriate empirical analysis. Findings showed that lack of requisite knowledge and cultural barriers were the most significant challenges in deploying sustainability assessment in the South African construction industry. The outcome of this study would serve as a good reference for policymakers, government officials, and relevant stakeholders in making informed policies and plans that aligns with the creeds of sustainable development. Furthermore, it serves as a solid theoretical base for future studies to propagate sustainability assessment for the South African construction industry.

In a modern public building, the energy consumption of central air conditioning has reached 40% to 60% of the total energy consumption of the building. In the central air conditioning system composed of multi-zone, due to the seasonal changes, temperature difference between day and night, and differences in the use environment of each zone, the operating load of equipment cannot reach the design load, forming a situation of “big horse pull a small carriage” with high energy consumption and low utilization rate. In order to reduce the energy consumption of central air conditioning, reduce carbon emissions and achieve carbon neutralization as soon as possible, the energy consumption mode of the central air conditioning water system with insufficient zone load and independent operation of each zone at the same time has been transformed into a multi-zone collaborative network operation mode. On the basis of not changing the original zone operation, the collaborative network operation function of high, medium and low zones has been increased by the opening of valves which connected the zone pipe networks. Under the condition of full load operation of each zone, it operates in different zones. When the operation is not saturated, it will be converted to the collaborative network operation mode of high zone with middle zone and low zone, or the middle zone with low zone. It realizes the fast conversion between zone operation and multi-zone network operation, so as to achieve the purpose of energy saving and consumption reduction. This article verifies the feasibility of the energy-saving renovation technology for the multi zone collaborative network operation of the central air conditioning water system through the practice of three projects, including the Gansu Telecom Second Hub Project.

The study explores the potential of integrating principles of the circular economy into facility maintenance and management towards sustainable development. With the environmental pressures associated with industrialization and the over-reliance on non-renewable energy sources, there is an urgent need for strategic changes in facility management. This paper details the principles of the circular economy—closed-loop design, efficient resource utilization, and viewing waste as a resource, and their application in the context of facility maintenance and management. Using a combination of theoretical analyses, case studies, and quantitative methods, the study provides a comprehensive exploration of the benefits and practical implications of adopting circular economy principles in facility maintenance and management. This includes improved resource efficiency, reduced carbon emissions, and waste minimization. The paper also includes an illustrative case study of Hong Kong’s Circular Modular Building Project and quantitative methods for measuring the effectiveness of facility maintenance and management. The findings suggest that the circular economy offers a valuable framework for creating a sustainable, low-carbon future in facility management.

In recent years, the issue of carbon emission has become increasingly important due to the intensification of the urban heat island effect and atmospheric pollution. Buildings, as a primary carrier of human activities, are significant sources of carbon emission problems in cities. The aim of this paper is to address the challenge of achieving carbon neutrality and building a sustainable urban environment from the perspective of urban and building ventilation. To achieve this goal, the study takes the wind environment research in Nanjing as the base point, and collects 3D physical model data of typical urban block samples in each district. A model library of different types of urban block morphological parameters in Nanjing city is then established, and CFD wind environment simulation technology is utilized to evaluate the wind environment of typical urban block samples in Nanjing city from 1.5, 5, 10, and 20 m, and analyzes the influence of different urban block morphological parameters on the urban block ventilation potential and explores the impact of different urban block morphological parameters from the urban perspective and pedestrian traffic. The analysis reveals the impact of different urban block form parameters on the ventilation potential of the urban blocks, and explores the urban and pedestrian scales to identify the urban block forms that are conducive to ventilation, to explore the potential to achieve carbon neutrality by improving carbon absorption and reducing carbon emission. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the relationship between urban block morphological parameters and ventilation potential in the context of urban sustainability. By exploring the relation of different urban block designs to optimize ventilation and achieve carbon neutrality, this study offers guidance and reference for future sustainable new city construction and old city renewal. Ultimately, by prioritizing urban block designs that promote ventilation and air quality, we can build more livable and sustainable cities.

From the standpoint of protecting and repairing the ancient city walls, this work aims to improve the feasibility and accuracy of crack detection in the brick wall background. Data sets of cracks in the surface of the ancient city walls were created, including RGB and thermal images. By using deep learning techniques, the best combination of data input type and network architecture were explored in the CNN-based training framework. The main contribution of this paper is: (a) a comprehensive dataset of cracks in the background of ancient city walls, including RGB images and infrared images; (b) a comparative analysis of crack detection results of different data fusion methods under different deep learning networks. Based on the results, the optimal data input and training network combination were identified for masonry wall crack identification, which enables an automatic crack damage detection for ancient city wall.

This paper explores the role of placemaking in the process of creating social sustainability through the everyday practice of minority ethnic communities in Guizhou. With the rapid development in recent decades, the physical and cultural landscape of traditional communities in Guizhou faces homogenisation and fragmentation problems. From the perspective of everyday life, resonating with Bruno Latour and Henri Lefebvre, this paper examines how social sustainability is generated through the relationships among locals, their practices and the living environment. This study will take the Basha Miao settlement as the case study, investigate the changes in physical spaces and social lives in the village, examine various ways of placemaking and its process, by mapping the practices, the sites and the social networks in the process of placemaking. This study shows how peoples’ everyday life practices (re)produce, (trans)form and (re)configure their public space in Basha, with methods of literature review, fieldwork, spatial analysing, and interviews. Through creating space in everyday life practice, multiple participants integrate local knowledge-like culture and collective memories and needs into shared places.

Under the guidance of the dual-carbon policy, low-carbon design has gradually become one of the important indicators for evaluating urban design solutions. Taking the environmental enhancement project of Suzhou Industrial Investment Science and Technology Innovation Park as an example, this paper constructs a design-oriented carbon estimation system in terms of carbon emissions and carbon sinks of buildings and landscape by calculating the quantity of architectural components and plants with the carbon factors, aiming to quantitatively assess the carbon reduction benefits of design solutions and provide timely design feedback for solution comparison and optimization. Finally, four low-carbon design strategies are summarized for urban renewal projects: rational demolition and construction, three-dimensional parking, low-carbon materials, and carbon sequestration by plants. This study incorporates low-carbon indicators into the evaluation of design schemes of urban renewal project, providing a scientific basis and practical guidance for practicing the concept of sustainable development and contributing to achieve the dual-carbon goal.

High quality development of suburban townlets is one of the important ways to promote new urbanization and achieve sustainable development. Based on in-depth analysis of developing distinctiveness of suburban townlets in southern Jiangsu, four realistic dilemmas these outskirts towns have encountered are pointed out—unclear positioning, obscure characteristics, insufficient space and poor quality. From the perspective of urban renewal, this paper creatively puts forward a four-in-one renewal framework of “positioning reshaping—comprehensive evaluation - renewal scheme—implementation plan”. With fulfilling actual demands of Zhangpu old town as the starting point, implementing planning as orientation, and building a compound and dynamic community in southern Kunshan as the goal, this paper builds a road to the revival of the old town that integrates “humanism, liveliness and livability”, providing reference for sustainable development of other suburban townlets.

To attract more young people return to urban-rural fringe areas, this research aims to shed light on the regeneration of Beiqiao District. Using Beiqiao village as a pilot study, this research combines landscape-led regeneration principle with 5–10–15 minutes life circle to optimize the living facilities. Previous research in this field indicated that facilities and other resources allocated within the 5–10–15-minutes life circle in residential areas had an important impact on people’s quality of life. However, the current layout of facilities are mainly designed based on the accessibility of the facilities, while the ecological matrix of the city has not been properly taken into account in urban planning and design. Based on onsite observation, questionnaire and interview, the information of landscape layout, life facilities status and people’ s satisfaction were collected. It was found from this survey that the existing facilities, especially those related to cultural and sporting activities, did not fully meet the needs of residents. In addition, the distribution of this facilities was unbalanced. As for landscape, there has a variety of types as Ezhen Lake, farmland, interlaced river and green space without a specific purpose. Based on these findings, it is recommended that facilities should be not only upgraded according to the age composition of residents and daily activity but also be integrated with landscape in order to setting up a spatial pattern.

This research aims to explore an innovative approach to retrofit the old residential communities to save energy, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and improve the microclimate. The urban housing stock in China accounts for almost 1/4 of the national total energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. To promote clean and renewable energy and energy-efficient buildings, the Chinese government has promoted the retrofit of old urban residential communities towards energy efficiency. The retrofit of old residential communities has a great potential to improve the microclimate, including thermal performance, neighbourhood wind environment, and air quality. This study takes Panmen Residential Neighbourhood in Suzhou as a case study and investigates the impacts of multiple retrofit measures on the microclimate through an interactive model. This study contributes to a better understanding of microclimate based on the analysis of the building energy performance, outdoor air temperature, relative humidity and ventilation performance at a community level.

The majority of water quality inversions rely on satellite data with poor spectral resolution. Satellite data is tougher to obtain for a specific date and less timely than UAV data due to transit cycles and weather. This method of inferring water quality from UAV multispectral data is based on the use of machine learning. With high resolution, low flying altitude, low cost, and good performance, UAV multispectral data synchronizes with sampling point water body parameters. Studies on inverting water quality is difficult due to the need for a specific inversion model for each location and set of circumstances. In order to improve water quality inversion results and get around the limitations of linear models, machine learning is being used more and more. For efficient and quick water quality monitoring in Yuandang Lake, use machine learning to invert various water quality indicators, compare the results, and select the appropriate indicators.

Targeting the fragility of culture-led urban regeneration (CLR), this study aimed to identify a sustainable redevelopment mode using green open spaces (GOSs) as catalysts for neighborhood-level CLR based on a representative case, the Yuyuan Cultural Heritage Neighborhood (CHN) in Shanghai. By summarizing the development trajectory of the Yuyuan CHN, the essential role of GOS is revealed, where GOSs provide settings for diverse cultural activities and social gatherings. Transforming low-efficiency assets into GOSs in Yuyuan has provided a possible “full-aspect” CLR at the community level. GOSs attract various social groups with diverse social or ethnic backgrounds. The previously closed, isolated creative cluster became organically integrated with the urban environment. New GOSs with artistic elements also contribute to providing cultural and leisure activities for marginalized social groups, including the elderly, the poor, and the working classes. The new GOSs in Yuyuan reflect the integration of cultural development and urban planning. They increase the accessibility of various types of culture to residents, visitors, and passersby on the street. GOSs produce a community identity and cohesion by way of collective memory, which is essential for long-term sustainable development. However, GOSs are threatened by problems such as gentrification and therefore require increased government protection. The analysis further identified the forms and landscape elements of GOSs that respond to cultural requirements. Urban furniture, such as seating benches, allows people to have a moment of peace in the urban environment and a chance to talk. The relatively long-term art installations shed light on ordinary life through exploration and fun. Recommendations are provided to explore the full potential of the cultural value of urban regeneration, as opposed to mere rhetorical sloganeering.

With socioeconomic development and urbanization, Bache Old Street has undergone significant changes in its spatial structure, cultural features, and traditional way of life. As an ancient canal town in the Grand Canal Cultural Belt, it faces depopulation, inadequate preservation of historic buildings, and the loss of historical and cultural continuity. The erosion of Bache Old Street's cultural roots as a traditional fishing village has severed the inhabitant’s ties with the area. This report aims to explore the concept, medium, and manifestation of collective memory. By employing methods such as fieldwork, visits, research, and the restoration and digital design of old buildings, it proposes the establishment of a digital museum to preserve and develop the collective memory of Bache Old Street. This study offers innovative ideas for sustainable urban regeneration, presenting a digital-oriented museum as a means to realize and preserve Bache Old Street's collective memory in the digital space.

In contemporary times, Historic Building Information Modeling (HBIM) has become an effective way for the sustainable development of historic buildings. However, lack of reliable document and technical information remain significant obstacles. Furthermore, discrepancies between the ancient construction regulation and real construction process add difficulty to constructing HBIM. To address these challenges, this research proposes a framework that combines practical 3D reconstruction models with standardized HBIM models to obtain practical HBIM models. For the 3D reconstruction process, laser scanning and photogrammetry are combined together to ensure the quality of the point cloud. While for standardized HBIM models, the parameters that determine the geometric information are identified and presented as variables. The framework is verified by a case study of Twin pagodas in Suzhou, providing ideas for the constructing HBIM and sustainable development of historic buildings.

This paper analyzes and compares the research progress of urban block scale ventilation efficiency and planning at home and abroad in the past half century. This paper focuses on the study of the ventilation efficiency index of urban blocks and the comparative analysis of the existing research results on the correlation between the spatial form of urban blocks and ventilation efficiency, and summarizes and analyzes the wind environment characteristics of various low-carbon building layouts through numerical simulation and discussion under different low-carbon design techniques. To provide theoretical support for shaping low-carbon planning and design at block level from the perspective of carbon neutrality.

In the context of accelerating Sea Level Rise (SLR) globally, elevations of coastal properties are becoming a more important factor for homebuyers given their relationship to current and future. This study investigates the impact of elevation on the residential property market of Pinellas County, FL, USA. Single-family properties no higher than an elevation of 4 m are selected as the sample. The research focuses on two aspects of elevation’s impact: elevation's impact on long-term appreciation and the “price” of this characteristic in property transactions. The first hypothesis tested is that the properties at lower elevation have a slower appreciation rate over time. This hypothesis is tested by constructing price indices at different elevations from 1972 to 2019. The result suggests that the hypothesis applies to the properties no higher than 1 m, and, further, properties at 1 m have the fastest appreciation rate. The second hypothesis tested is that properties at higher elevations can be sold at higher prices over comparable properties. This hypothesis is tested by conducting hedonic regressions on property transactions at different elevations from 1995 to 2019. The results suggest that the hypothesis applies to around a quarter of the areas investigated. All the findings generally indicate that, while homeowners are paying some increasing attention to the elevation of properties in home purchasing, it has not been a significant factor so far in Pinellas County, FL, USA.

As an effective force participating in rural revitalization in addition to the government and villagers, the role of non-governmental organizations (i.e. NGOs) in rural revitalization has also been paid more and more attention. Against the background, this study aims to investigate a case study of the engagement of NGO in rural revitalization in the city of Suzhou. The interview method is employed for data collection (n = 10), and the data are analyzed using the thematic analysis method and SWOT analysis. It is found that Jiang Village NGOs play significant roles in the village environment, village culture, social care, industrial revitalization, organizational cultivation, and democratic deliberation. They cooperate closely with the government and villagers. However, the NGO’s autonomy in rural revitalization was circumscribed, and the scope of contribution was limited. With these findings, this paper contributes to the literature on NGOs’ role in rural revitalization by analysing the current situation and difficulties that Jiang Village's NGOs are faced with.

With the transformation of urban beautification from rapid growth to high-quality urbanization and ecology, biodiversity has increasingly become an important indicator for assessing urban living environment. In recent years, with the concept of “green transformation” of cities, people begin to attach importance to incorporating biodiversity into the greening of urban public spaces, especially through planning and design strategies. However, many urban public space design strategies abandon the original idea of “harmonious coexistence” between human and nature, only become one-sided pursuit of benefits in scene construction emphasizing visual effects. In order to promote the green development of urban space, the purpose of this paper is to explore the potential solutions to the deterioration of urban public space environment and problems caused by unreasonable design, and to put forward a variety of new urban public space planning and design strategies which can be used as useful tools for planner based on the unique perspective of biodiversity.

This paper aims to propose an artificial neural network (ANN) based personal thermal comfort prediction model for inpatients. The indoor thermal environment affects occupant’s physical and psychological health, so it is vital to maintain it within comfort levels in the healthcare environment. Predicted Mean Vote (PMV), as the most popular model, has a limitation in processing various complex parameters and reflecting the individual occupant’s preference in thermal comfort. Some scholars utilized the machine learning (ML) method in exploring personal thermal comfort prediction because of its strong self-study, high-speed computing, and complex problem-solving abilities. However, there was a lack of relevant studies in the healthcare environment due to data collection difficulties and pathology complexity. The present research developed an ANN-based personal thermal comfort prediction model for patients in the healthcare environment. Ten-week fieldwork was conducted in an inpatient room to collect real-world environmental data, personal related information and thermal comfort voting for the model establishment. Additionally, the spatial variables and healthcare-related parameters (personal health information and medical treatment) were represented, and their impact on the model performance was explored. It is found that considering spatial parameters in the ANN-based model development has significantly increased the prediction accuracies compared with the conventional models. In addition, personal healthcare-related parameters also had some effect on the accuracy of model prediction.

Building age and extreme weather can cause thermal defects in the building envelope. Failure to inspect and fix these defects can threaten safety, increase energy consumption, and negatively impact the environment. Infrared thermal imaging (IRT) is a popular, non-destructive technique for building diagnostics due to its safety, practicality, and energy efficiency. However, manual IRT detection is time-consuming and imprecise. Therefore, this paper proposes a framework for automatically identifying and localising thermal defects in building envelopes. The outcomes of this study not only offer direction for categorising thermal defects in buildings but also provide a practical approach for automatically detecting and locating them.

The purpose of this study was to present techniques for managing construction information systematically in the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) period. The efficient handling of information is essential to the success of building projects. Information is gathered, kept, distributed, archived, deleted, or destroyed. Effective information management guarantees that the appropriate individuals have access to the appropriate information at the appropriate time, enabling them to make informed decisions. As a result, information collecting, sharing, and storage for construction-related operations will be improved. This research seeks to investigate how various 4IR tools can be used to achieve effective information management. In order to collect information from architecsts, civil engineers, quantity surveyors, mechanical and electrical engineers, construction managers, and project managers, the study used a quantitative survey technique with the use of a questionnaire. With the help of SPSS, the data were analyzed, and the appropriate measure of dispersion and inferential statistics were used. The study found that using cutting-edge materials, applying artificial intelligence, applying quantum computing, and using autonomous vehicles are the top 4 IR techniques that may be used to manage construction information. Additional research showed that the techniques have been successfully used in other industries, such as manufacturing, leading to development in both the economy and industry. The study came to the conclusion that 4IR tools should be used in construction enterprises for effective and efficient information transmission.

Cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency that is secured by cryptography, which makes it nearly impossible to counterfeit or double-spend. Many cryptocurrencies are decentralized networks based on blockchain technology, a distributed ledger enforced by a disparate network of computers. In this era of digital revolution that is aimed at increasing transparency and lowering operational cost, it is essential to incorporated digital finance into the construction industry. The aim of this study is to examine the usability of cryptocurrency platforms for financial transactions in the built environment. In order to collect information from architects, civil engineers, quantity surveyors, mechanical and electrical engineers, construction managers, and project managers, the study used a quantitative survey technique with the use of a questionnaire. With the help of SPSS, the data were analyzed, and the appropriate measure of dispersion and inferential statistics were used. The study revealed the professionals within the built environment agrees that Cryptocurrency platform like avalanche, ethereum, solano, polkadot can serve as a medium of financial transaction within the built environment. The findings also revealed that because they do not use third-party intermediaries, cryptocurrency transfers between two transacting parties are faster as compared to standard money transfers. The study therefore concluded that the use of cryptocurrency platforms should be encourage as it can serve as access to new capital for construction establishments.

Semantic segmentation is receiving increasing attention from researchers. Many emerging applications require accurate and efficient segmentation mechanisms, and this need coincides with the rise of almost all fields related to computer vision, especially in the construction industry. Building a semantic segmentation model for accurate and rich semantic information to identify, classify and segment building/structural components in construction site scenarios can greatly improve the productivity and informatization of the construction industry and has great potential for automated construction and visual monitoring. However, the accuracy of traditional image recognition technology is low, and it is difficult to adapt to the complex environment, and the illumination and Angle factors will affect the reliability of the final model. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a method to improve the segmentation performance of semantics using thermal images. By using temperature as a characteristic to distinguish different materials, the proposed method improves the accuracy of the segmentation model and has a high potential for automated construction and visual monitoring.

Research on the exchange of information during the design of photovoltaic systems based on Building Information Modeling (BIM) has mainly relied on the transfer of models to dedicated photovoltaic simulation software, and few have used Industrial Foundation Classes (IFC) to de-sign and exchange information for large photovoltaic plants. To address this issue, this study aims to establish a foundation step for the design and operation of solar PV plant harnesses that helps information exchange between different stakeholders, various tools, and construction phases according to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards and IFC. This paper uses Information Delivery Manual (IDM) and Model View Definition (MVD) methods to develop MVD models and to verify the possibility of exchanging information on solar PV harnesses. In this way, the possibility of exchanging information using BIM tools for solar PV harness data was realized, providing a new direction for sustainable research in BIM-based buildings.

With the development of urbanization, many projects transport waste, demolition waste, decoration waste, and so on leading to the growth of urban construction waste. Construction waste has become an urgent problem in environmentally sustainable development. This paper analyzes the status of construction waste in Singapore. Studying the application of Smart Integrated Construction System (SICS) in the materials sustainable supply chain field. It is found that this process can be fully efficient and sustainable in the building transportation system. At the same time, this process cycle is also more suitable for construction waste management, so we propose Construction Waste Management Framework (CWMF) in-depth research through the analogy SICS. CWMF efficient, economical, and sustainable disposal of construction waste to achieve sustainable development.

For project stakeholders to do their engineering and management tasks, they need to be able to quickly find the building information they need. The emerging artificial intelligence (AI)-empowered natural language interface (NLI) has a significant potential to provide a time- and cost-efficient way to extract partial subsets of Building Information Models (BIM). However, although the existing studies have demonstrated different methods to retrieve BIM models via natural language queries (NLQs), what aspects of model information and constraints are valuable and required to be retrieved by end-users using natural language (NL) has not been explored. To address this gap, this study conducts an information requirement analysis to understand the information needs of NLIs in querying BIM models. This research starts with a survey of the existing literature on BIM-oriented query languages and query systems. 102 sample query sentences from these studies are then extracted and analyzed. Next, the information entities, constraints, and question types in the collected sentences are manually identified, classified, and counted. The results reveal which aspects of BIM model subsets, constraints, and question forms are frequently mentioned in common BIM queries, which provide crucial guidance for the future development of AI-driven NLIs for information support in BIM-based construction projects.

With the advocation of green building, prefabricated construction (PC) has become an emerging technology in the Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC) industry. Prefabricated components have much helpful information that must be exchanged and stored. Building Information Modeling (BIM) tools offer robust database systems for the components’ information. But encoding the data into BIM database is manual and error-prone. Current research concentrates on the three-dimensional analysis of PC model. The intelligent management of PC information in the design to construction phases is neglected. An automatic attribute data encoding method for prefabricated elements was developed using Revit, C#, and Excel to optimize the workflow and prevent inaccurate manual information input. By this means, the intelligent management of prefabricated components will be enhanced while mitigating manual risks.

In the last ten years, off-site construction (OSC) has gradually developed into a new research direction. Different from the previous manual literature review, this research proposes a three-step holistic summary method, which integrates bibliometric search, scientometric analysis and qualitative discussion. 283 selected literatures are analyzed by using the visualization software VOSviewer to generate scientific atlas. Core research areas and themes in OSC research in the past decade are identified, visualized and discussed, which include the most attractive keywords and main research content of OSC; performance comparison between OSC and traditional construction methods; research-active scholars, institutions and countries, and the integrating of other concepts in OSC practice. Deficiencies and future research development directions in OSC are also identified from a quantitative and, objective viewpoint.

This paper suggests a pedagogical strategy that roots in the notion of participatory action research (PAR). This methodology advocates a heuristic learning-by-doing process that hinges on recent computational design technologies, digital fabrication, and extended reality techniques. The paper uses lightweight gridshell structures designed and built by undergraduate architectural students, as a demonstrator, to discuss their design exploration workflows based on the cyclic interactions between the digital and physical content. The result highlights a latent teaching approach that encourages architectural students to gain knowledge bottom-up and to seek design solutions through trial and error.

This paper explores structural simulations in the context of freeform facade design, with a particular focus on approaches in architectural and engineering collaboration. The paper presents a structural simulation process for parametrically designed non-standard facade geometry inspired by Erwin Hauer’s sculptural work which is manufactured utilizing ultra-high-performance concrete cast in robotically 3D-printed formwork. Two typical structural performance analysis methods are employed, in Abaqus and Karamba3D, which respectively illustrate the engineering and architectural perspectives. The results and configurations of prior physical testing provide indications on analysis of results from two simulation methods. The two simulation methods offer detailed insights into engineering and architectural simulation processes and the distinct viewpoints taken by structural engineers and architects in collaborative design processes. Based on the analyzed case, the paper concludes by discussing the prospects for the advancement of structural analysis strategies for non-standard structural components in collaborative workflows involving structural engineers and architects.

The upsurge in demand for infrastructure construction due to increasing urbanization and economic growth has prompted governments to invest more in infrastructure and public utilities. However, the high cost of infrastructure construction requires the inclusion of market mechanisms to attract social capital, leading to the innovative Public–Private-Partnership (PPP) model as a public service investment mechanism. Although the PPP model can effectively alleviate the debt burden of local governments, it also poses a variety of risks and complexities in decision-making. Thus, it is crucial to identify and evaluate the primary risks throughout the project lifecycle. This study constructs a risk index system from ten dimensions for infrastructure PPP projects and further adopts the fuzzy analytic hierarchy (FAHP) process to evaluate the identified risk factors. The study examines the Huzhou South Taihu New Area PPP project and identifies the project design stage risk as the most important. The findings in general could provide valuable insights for PPP project stakeholders to effectively manage key risks.

The building is an important facility structure essential to people's production and life. With the continuous development of data and the increasing concept of green building, the design and construction of building engineering began to integrate a large number of intelligent technologies to provide more convenient and diversified services for users. The construction industry has also made great progress in intelligent building, promoting the modernization of the construction industry. The application of intelligent building technology in modern construction projects is an important support to promote the transformation and industrial upgrading of the traditional construction industry, and intelligent building projects involve the application of a variety of high and new technologies to improve the level of intelligence in the construction and use of traditional buildings greatly improves the controllability of building management. The study of typical technologies is of great significance. From the current actual situation, many construction units do not pay attention to project quality and do not combine building intelligent construction management with building construction, which seriously hinders the development of the construction industry and is not conducive to improving the economic benefits of enterprises. In order to promote the long-term development of building intelligence, it is necessary to increase the attention to construction intelligence construction management. Therefore, managers should develop a perfect management plan based on the requirements of intelligent construction, and closely integrate artificial intelligence technology with building construction to provide a strong guarantee for the development of the construction industry. Building intelligent engineering has higher requirements in terms of planning and design, raw material procurement, construction, and operation and maintenance management. This paper mainly analyzes and elaborates on the construction management of building intelligence to increase the understanding of different construction enterprises and construction units on the details of construction management of building intelligence, and relevant enterprises must strengthen the application of building intelligence technology and management to improve management efficiency and quality.

In the construction industry, Digital Twin (DT) encompasses real-time data collection on building models, operational parameters, and other pertinent factors. DT utilizes multidimensional, multi-perspective, and multi-disciplinary simulation processes to enable information mapping via virtual simulations. This study proposes a preliminary framework for applying DT core technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) and the Internet of Things (IoT) into the design and construction phases of building projects, drawing on a comprehensive analysis of DT concepts, technologies, and applications within the construction field. Furthermore, semi-structured interviews and a case study were conducted to validate the framework, with the aim of improving construction site monitoring, quality, and safety. By providing access to a wealth of project information and data, DT can help decrease construction costs, improve quality, and enhance stakeholder management practices.

Fire safety is one of the key considerations in the design of aluminum alloy structures. In the case of a fire, the temperature of aluminum alloy structural components can rise rapidly, resulting in a considerable reduction in their load-carrying capacities. Since fires typically occur in some parts of a structure and may be extinguished before spreading, accurate assessments on the extent of damage and residual material properties of exposed structural aluminum alloys are critical. To this end, the material properties of structural aluminum alloys after exposure to fire were investigated in this study. A testing program was performed, including heating tests and post-fire material tests. Upon completion of the testing program, the experimentally obtained post-fire material properties, including the material elasticity and strengths, were analyzed through a series of quantitative and qualitative comparisons with their room-temperature counterparts. The analyses and comparisons generally indicate that the elevated temperatures have different effects on the key post-fire material properties of structural aluminum alloys. Then, a set of retention factor predictive models were proposed based on the test data, which were shown to provide accurate predictions of the post-fire material properties of structural aluminum alloys.

Multistable architected material composed of curved beam unit has been widely studied for its promising energy dissipation/absorption applications. Although reusable and tailorable performance provided by these materials is gorgeous, one essential weakness of most of these materials is the rate independent energy dissipation/absorption capacity. In this work, we exploit a design strategy on strain rate dependent foam filled multi-stable architected composite material (SMACM). We attempt to introduce the strain-rate dependent behavior into SMACM by inducing strain rate dependent foam filling. Through numerical simulations and experimental tests, we characterize the mechanical behavior of SMACM and the effect of filled foam on it with specific geometric parameters. We first investigated the performance of foam filled curved beam unit cell, followed by planar array. The results indicate that the strength, stiffness, and snap through behavior of multistable structure can be influenced by the property of foam. Due to the strain-rate dependent property of filled foam, SMACM exhibit higher strength and adaptive energy dissipation ability at elevated loading rates. Furthermore, this method is showcased by introducing strain rate dependent foam into multistable structure, aimed to develop novel composite material with enhanced and customizable energy-dissipating properties. We envision that our study paves the way for challenging new applications, such as shock absorption and impact protection, etc.

Soft architected composites (SAC) have exhibited remarkable capabilities in terms of stiffness, ductility, and energy dissipation when subjected to compression conditions. The recent advancements in additive manufacturing have significantly propelled the fabrication of soft architected composites (SAC). To gain comprehensive insights into the mechanical behavior of additive-manufactured SAC, a comprehensive investigation was conducted to analyze the impact of various manufacturing factors on the mechanical properties of the SAC. The effects of printing machines depended on the printed architected core geometry of the SAC units. The compressive performance under cyclic loading was also studied. The damaged composites could still sustain more load with the displacement increasing during the load cycles. The architected cores with negative and positive Passion ratios were appropriate for small and larger displacement loading scenarios, respectively, when no damage was allowed for designing. The findings of this study have made significant contributions towards enhancing the manufacturing efficiency and practical engineering applications of SAC units.

Retaining walls are used for retaining soils at different levels on their two sides. A critical step in the design of retaining structures is to estimate the lateral earth pressure coefficient, which is often based on the classical well-established equations. It is noted that these solutions do not take the effect of the soil width on the lateral earth pressure into account. In practice, the backfill soil behind a retaining wall is often sufficiently wide so that its effect can be neglected. However, there are cases where a retaining wall supports backfill soils of limited width. In such cases, the horizontal earth pressure coefficient calculated using the classical equations is likely to lead to a conservative design and thus a less sustainable engineering solution. Although there are very limited studies looking into the effect of narrow backfill, much more research is required for a sound understanding. This motivated our research work where the values of the at-rest lateral earth pressure coefficient ( $${K}_{0}$$ K 0 ) are investigated under various key variables, including backfill width, wall depth and soil types. Our investigation is based on a set of numerical simulations using ABAQUS. The numerical model is first refined and validated using the data from the laboratory experiments reported in the literature, which is then applied to various simulation cases considered. For the narrow backfill widths considered (0.7, 0.5, 0.3, and 0.1 times the retaining wall height), it was found that the values of $${K}_{0}$$ K 0 generally decreased with the reduced backfill widths and were smaller than those (i.e. the benchmark values) estimated using the classical equations. Along the ground depth, the values of $${K}_{0}$$ K 0 appeared to decrease with increasing depth for narrow backfill width. It was also interesting to observe that when the backfill width was adequately large, the values of $${K}_{0}$$ K 0 obtained in our simulations for sands and gravels were very close to those calculated using the classical equations.

This paper investigates the onset of liquefaction of saturated loose sand under various loading conditions, including monotonic load, cyclic load with strain control and cyclic load with stress control. The undrained tests are conducted under a constant volume. The macroscopic and microscopic behaviours are analyzed based on the available data. Temporary liquefaction is observed for the monotonic loaded sample. For cyclic loaded sample with strain control, the amplitude of deviator stress declines and finally tends to be zero after 11 cycles, while the amplitude of deviator stress is sustained until 9th cycle for cyclic loaded sample with stress control. The redundancy index is found to be applicable for both monotonic and cyclic loaded samples in monitoring the onset of liquefaction.

Lime has been used in masonry mortars for millennia, and many old buildings remain standing today with purely lime technology, despite its low compressive strength compared with cement. Modern approaches tend towards stronger and more durable materials to minimise repair cycles and labour costs, but this comes at the detriment of traditional buildings. Cement-based mortars used to repair historical masonry has accelerated the decay of old buildings, which had previously been in reasonable condition for decades. This has seen the conservation industry return to consider lime technologies as a more compatible solution for solid masonry buildings. Life cycle analysis is used to assess environmental impacts of materials across various categories throughout the different stages of their interaction with humans and the wider environment. Despite an increasing number of life cycle analyses investigating mortars, few studies compare the impacts of cement-based and lime-based mortars, and those that do rarely consider the implications for heritage repair and maintenance. This paper uses life cycle analysis to estimate global warming potential associated with a repair intervention, taking historical sandstone ashlar masonry as a case study, and considering iterative replacement cycles under two different repair methods. Global warming potential per unit area (m2) over 100 years for cement-based mortar is found to be between 43 and 348% greater than scenarios using lime-based mortars. Sensitivity analysis finds the choice of functional unit to greatly impact outputs, such that when comparing mortars, that with highest emission intensity can change. Careful selection is needed of the most relevant functional unit for a specific case.

The rapid increase in global vehicles has led to a large number of expired waste tires, and the disposal of waste tires has become an environmental and economic issue. Rubber particles produced from recycled tires can be used as a substitute for natural aggregates in self compacting concrete (SCC). The purpose of this study is to summarize the impact of rubber particles as a partial substitute for aggregate on SCC, including workability and mechanical properties. The results show that replacing natural aggregate with rubber particles has a negative influence on the fresh and mechanical properties of SCC, whereas greatly enhance the durability of traditional SCC. The properties of rubber particles, including particle sizes, replacement ratios and surface treatment methods, show great impacts on the properties of self-compacting rubberised concrete (SCRC).

The use of minimal material to generate high-stiffness structures is a key goal for reducing material waste and mitigating environmental corrosion in the context of additive manufacturing (AM). This paper proposes a two-scale lightweight optimization approach that infills organic truss-based lattice material within the topology optimization framework to improve structure stiffness. The proposed method utilizes the Subdivision Surface (Sub-D) modeling method to efficiently model organic lattice morphology on the mesoscale level, reducing stress concentration and improving material performance. On the macroscale, topology optimization is used to refine a structurally effective design frame. Guided by the principal stress field of the refined shape, the part of the design domain is tessellated into conformal subdomains where optimized material is smoothly connected and infilled for high stiffness. The proposed method maximizes material efficiency by populating anisotropic lattice materials in a quality morphology from topology optimization. Challenges such as the shortfall of uniform lattice material mapping, the limitation of only porous lattice material, and geometric constraints and stress concentration on lattice units are addressed, with a solid-lattice hybrid structure as an effective solution. The proposed method presents a viable solution for lightweight optimization in AM-based design.

Structures and geometry are closely associated; forms and forces are correlated in structures. With the advancement of geometric systems throughout the centuries, structures got new shapes, thus pushing the boundaries of architectural designs. Geometric advancement also contributed to making structures more efficient than before. Fractal geometry is one of the latest geometric systems systematically studied in the 1970s that opened a new avenue for systematically designing lightweight and sustainable structures. The self-similar repetition quality of fractal geometry is a source of making visually complex and structurally effective shapes. This paper has overviewed and summarized the structural potentials of fractal geometry and its applications in structural forms design in some existing structures and recent research works. It also provides insight into the constructional challenges of fractal-shaped complex structures and finds solutions through the recent development of automation in construction, such as digital fabrications and automated assemblies. Finally, in conclusion, the future prospect of fractal’s potential contribution to efficient structural designs has been further briefed.

Flooding in urban areas is deteriorated due to increased urbanization, concentrated rainfall and impervious pavements. The pervious concrete (Per-C) is prominent in alleviating a significant runoff burden due to impermeable pavement. However, the application of Per-C is limited because of its lower strength to maintain high porosity. This project aims to produce pervious concrete that is able to achieve high strength, by utilizing high strength paste with appropriate rheological properties. A series of experiments including compressive strength, flexural strength, and mini-slump tests were conducted to explore higher-strength paste which can thoroughly and evenly wrap the aggregates. The proportions of paste with optimum performance was identified by orthogonal test, which includes silica fume (SF), ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), and fly ash (FA).

Statistics have shown that construction sites around the world contribute significantly to the global carbon emission, from about 8% contribution of the manufacturing process of cement to the disposal of construction demolition wastes. Attempts are also being made to utilise these wastes in construction, especially concrete, but studies have also shown that they reduce the performance of concrete. Fibre-reinforced polymers have been suggested as a possible solution to enhance the performance of waste-containing concrete, as successes have been achieved in their use for strengthening plain and steel-reinforced concrete structures. However, gaps still exist in using FRPs in concrete columns containing wastes. In this study, investigations are being made to explore the gaps, and the work done so far is presented. A review of the literature was carried out to assess the state-of-the-art in the research area. Various construction wastes and their usage in concrete, recycled aggregates, supplementary cementitious materials, and fibre-reinforced polymers were reviewed. The models of FRP-confined concrete columns were also examined for circular, square, and rectangular cross-sections. Furthermore, initial investigations were carried out on the compressive behaviour of FRP-confined concrete columns by simulating a published experimental study using ABAQUS. A mesh sensitivity test was carried out to know the optimum mesh size, while the compressive behaviour was evaluated using the stress–strain curves. The numerical results were compared with the experimental results, and a good agreement existed between the two outputs. The behaviour of the ductility-enhancing capacity of fibre-reinforced polymers in concrete was also investigated.

The slow creep of microcrack evolution into structural damage and the high embedded carbon value in high Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) concrete mixtures are commonly found in reinforced concrete structures and infrastructure. To test the viability and performance of new and greener alternatives to ordinary Portland cement in concrete, these mixtures of fly ash or Pulverised Fly Ash (PFA) and a bacterial self-healing agent are being used to replace cement in concrete partially. OPC has the most embedded carbon values in concrete, making reducing this element a priority. This paper compares the mechanical properties of concrete mixtures with Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag (GGBS) and fly ash with an added bacterial self-healing agent that heals microcracks. To allow observation of the evolution of these novel concrete mixtures, a series of mechanical tests are performed throughout the 7, 14, 28 and 90 days of curing. These include the evaluation of compression, flexural, tensile splitting strength and dynamic elastic modulus. There is a reduction in mechanical capacity when added PFA, and even further with the self-healing agent, in the same fashion as using GGBS. Thus to improve the early day's mechanical properties, another fly ash mixture was created with an accelerator and plasticiser to counteract these reductions. A step closer to a carbon-free environment is made with reduced embedded carbon values between 39 and 43% while keeping almost the same properties of a fully OPC-based control mix. A self-healing agent that can seal cracks between 0.3 mm and 0.8 mm in theory but is also seen to seal up to 1.5 mm will allow a decrease in structural maintenance and cost frequency while reducing the embedded carbon value of edified concrete structures. The capacity to be used intrinsically with a fresh concrete mixture and extrinsically to concrete cracked surfaces gives the bacterial self-healing agent a versatile range of applications. These novel mixtures will expand a structure's service life whilst allowing the retrofitting of existing structures.

Toward a carbon–neutral future, assembly of prefabricated components like building blocks, as a very advantageous construction way, is being vigorously developed in all areas of civil engineering that can effectively reduce pollution, save resources, and lower costs. Fortunately, this trend is being further driven by additive manufacturing, giving these modular prefabricated assemblies the high performance of lightweight, high strength, and toughness to adapt to the advantages of intelligent construction for structural performance and construction efficiency. Here, we exploit the lattice-reinforced composites (LRC) for the commonly-used cementitious materials and asphalt concrete embedded with versatile 3-dimensional lattices fabricated by 3D printing, and we confirm the “materials by design” approach through experimental tests and numerical simulations. For LRC of cementitious materials, we characterize the reinforcing mechanism of LRC specimens subjected to axial compression and bending, confirm the effects of geometric variations and lattice-reinforcing volume ratios on the strength, ductility, and toughness of LRC specimens, and our LRC can be designed to be stronger and lighter. For LRC of asphalt concrete, we propose the stress absorption interlayers laminated with 3D architected lattices in asphalt mixtures as a bridging toughening mechanism to mitigate reflective cracking. Guided by bending fracture and fatigue tests and extended finite element models (XFEM), we identify the effects of 3D-printing materials, and geometric lattices on crack propagation and load cycles. We envisage that our LRC approach by design broadens the channels to further boost the potential of architected lattices, enhance the high performance of LRC materials, and accelerate the industrialization, digitalization, and intelligent transformation of construction for building sustainable and resilient infrastructures.

The greenhouse effect is becoming increasingly obvious, and the environmental problems are becoming increasingly acute. The constant power supply rationing around the world is warning of two problems. First, the way to generate electricity by relying on fossil energy is not a long-term solution. Second, even at present, there is still a huge gap in the use of electricity. The solution to these two problems is to “tap new sources and husband existing resources”. In architectural design, there are specific designs for both tapping new source and economically utilizing existing resources. As for throttling, the use of environmentally friendly insulation materials is an important way. This paper focuses on the analysis of the economic benefits of energy conservation for house heating and cooling, and evaluates the benefits of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from different environmental protection insulation materials. By simulation and calculation, the thermal scheme that adopts B04 and B07 aerated concrete block can save energy up to 17.79%, and in conclusion, proper selection of thermal insulation materials and scheme can bring up obvious energy saving effect.

In this study, CFB fly ash was used as raw material for alkali excitation, and the geopolymer was studied. Through a series of physical and mechanical tests, the influences of water-cement ratio, sodium silicate and quicklime on the fluidity and unconfined compressive strength of the net slurry of CFB fly ash were analyzed, and the condensation and hardening mechanism of CFB fly ash geopolymer was discussed. The results show that: the net slurry fluidity of CFB fly ash geopolymer ranges from 90 to 320 mm, and the 28-day curing strength ranges from 2 to 35 MPa. The balance points suitable for CFB fly ash geopolymer are: water-cement ratio 0.6–0.65, sodium silicate modulus 1.7, sodium silicate content 14–19%, and lime content 0–5%. The strength of CFB fly ash geopolymer comes from C–S–H gel generated by hydration. When the alkali content in the environment is too low, it is difficult to stimulate the active substance of fly ash vitreous, and thus cannot generate strength. When the amount of calcium in the environment is too large, Ca is more likely to break, and the diffusion rate is faster, resulting in the rapid synthesis of gelling substances in a short time, which inhibits the subsequent depolycondensation process.

The design of Hands-on Inquiry Based Learning (HIBL) Camps has a significant impact on the experience for students who study and live there. As the world strives to achieve carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, Eco-learning camps with a theme of environmental protection have appeared overseas, but few have been built in China. This paper explores how to design such camps according to Eco- learning camp design strategies, such as the replacement of building materials, to make the camp itself the largest teaching aid by design, which allows students to experience and master a more low-carbon and environmentally friendly lifestyle while reducing carbon emissions through design methods. By analyzing the ancient Dragon Kiln Camp in Huangshi Village, Changle City, Fujian Province, and comparing relevant cases, the paper summarizes three main design strategies and techniques for Eco-learning camp design, including coordinating environment and nature, introducing parametric models and choosing efficient materials. Among which the replacement of concrete with timber in the design process, can reduce approximately 45% of carbon emissions. The paper provides a theoretical basis and practical methods for the green building design innovation and sustainable development education.

Guided by positioning and affordance theories, this qualitative study explored female faculty’s perceptions of their roles and responsibilities in male-dominated fields. With detailed narratives of five early-career female faculty’s teaching experiences, the study analyzed their positionings in the workplace and understood their educator identity development. This study contributes to the recruitment and retention of female faculty in the masculine fields and ways to support early-career female faculty to develop their career sustainably.

The average academic programs appear not to contain sufficient elements in favor of computational methods, which remain strongly ghettoized in important modules like design studios in Architecture and structures modules in Engineering. Undergraduate programs are extremely hard to change due to the educational frameworks. Several authors have discussed the difficulties of embedding digital strategies and techniques within the academic realm, even with a specific focus to Architecture. Extra-curricular activities ranging from Parametric Design to BIM, to more appealing technologies such as AI and Robotic Fabrication, have been organized in response to the need for innovation. The paper illustrates the outcomes of a series of teaching activities carried out to frame needs and solutions in Architecture pedagogy. The paper discusses new educational trends which will foster enhanced and sustainable design processes and built environment.

This study aims to shed light on the systematic pedagogical design at the level of higher education and to provide a vision for higher education reform in China. First, the review of the development processes of higher education in China and the West indicates that both are closely related to social economies and policies. While there was a lack of in-depth research in the framework that could support the implementation of government’s macro strategies. Second, through term co-occurrence analysis, it is found that Western higher education research has been developed in a tree-shaped structure. In contrast, the knowledge network in China has not been well developed. Core components of pedagogical design are identified, including ‘learning outcomes’, ‘curriculum’, ‘pedagogy’, ‘learning space/environment’, ‘technology’, ‘assessment’, and ‘employment’. Finally, by reviewing highly cited literature in this field, the relationship across different core components is discussed. To conclude, the theoretical framework of systematic pedagogical design is recommended to be used as a benchmark for future higher education reform and relevant research in the West and China.