scholarly journals A transnational multicriteria assessment method and tool for sustainability rating of the built environment

2020 ◽  
Vol 410 ◽  
pp. 012068
Author(s):  
C A Balaras ◽  
K G Droutsa ◽  
E G Dascalaki ◽  
S Kontoyiannidis ◽  
A Moro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Multicriteria Assessment

Assessing the exposure of the built environment to potential ignition sources generated from vegetative fuel

2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 299 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Beverly ◽  
P. Bothwell ◽  
J. C. R. Conner ◽  
E. P. K. Herd
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
Short Range ◽  
Radiant Heat ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Wildland Urban Interface ◽  
Entry Points ◽  
Treatment Plans ◽  
Over Time

We assessed the exposure of the built environment to potential ignition sources generated from vegetative fuel for four communities in the province of Alberta, Canada. Ignition processes generated by burning vegetation that were included in the analysis were radiant heat, short-range spotting, and longer-range spotting. Results were used to map the boundaries of the wildland–urban interface and to delineate zones within each community that identify the degree to which these areas represent potential wildfire entry-points into the wildland–urban interface. The assessment method can be used to set priorities for mitigation activities; compare conditions within and between communities and over time; and identify priority areas for time- and resource-intensive site assessments that are often completed for individual structures located in the wildland–urban interface. We compared results among the four case-study communities and demonstrated an application of the approach for evaluating community fuel treatment plans. Factors that influenced the exposure of the built environment to potential ignition sources differed among the communities, which suggested the need for community-specific mitigation strategies. Spatial patterns of areas with elevated ignition exposure reflected not only the amount of ignition-producing vegetation around the built environment, but also the size and arrangement of fuel patches in relation to the unique morphology of the community and the occurrence of occluded interface zones.

scholarly journals Dynamic relationship between embodied and operational impacts of buildings

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 70-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saheed O. Ajayi ◽  
Lukumon O. Oyedele ◽  
Jamiu A. Dauda
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Mineral Resources ◽  
Green Building ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Assessment System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Dynamic Relationship

Purpose Buildings and their construction activities consume a significant proportion of mineral resources excavated from nature and contribute a large percentage of CO2 in the atmosphere. As a way of improving the sustainability of building construction and operation, various sustainable design appraisal standards have been developed across nations. Albeit criticism of the appraisal standards, evidence shows that increasing sustainability of the built environment has been engendered by such appraisal tools as Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), Code for Sustainable Homes (CfSH), Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and Comprehensive Assessment System for Built Environment Efficacy, among others. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of the appraisal standards in engendering whole lifecycle environmental sustainability of the built environment. Design/methodology/approach In order to evaluate the adequacy of sustainability scores assigned to various lifecycle stages of buildings in the appraisal standards, four case studies of a block of classroom were modelled. Using Revit as a modelling platform, stage by stage lifecycle environmental impacts of the building were simulated through Green Building Studio and ATHENA Impact estimator. The resulting environmental impacts were then compared against the assessment score associated with each stage of building lifecycle in BREAAM and CfSH. Findings Results show that albeit the consensus that the appraisal standards engender sustainability practices in the AEC industry, total scores assigned to impacts at each stage of building lifecycle is disproportionate to the simulated whole-life environmental impacts associated with the stages in some instances. Originality/value As the study reveals both strengths and weaknesses in the existing sustainability appraisal standards, measures through which they can be tailored to resource efficiency and lifecycle environmental sustainability of the built environment are suggested.

scholarly journals CHALLENGES ON URBAN AGEING IN HIGH DENSITY SETTLEMENTS: Relationship of built-environment attributes and lifestyle of elderly in Western province, Sri Lanka

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.N. Jayaratne ◽  
◽  
I. Rajapaksha ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Population Aging ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Health Related

Urbanization and population aging are two key phenomena in the twenty-first century that concerns the elders living in cities, especially those in low- and middle-income countries like Sri Lanka. In such a setting, understanding the responsiveness of the built environment for active aging is crucial. However, even the few available studies are prioritized on health rather than the built environment attributes. Therefore, this study aims to assess the built environment attributes related to elders, for the first time, in developing countries like Sri Lanka. The assessment method composes of two case studies in Colombo, Sri Lanka with a questionnaire survey, an axial map, and a frequency analysis using the SPSS software. The case studies comprise of a middle-income and a low-income settlement both with high population density. The analysis results explicitly informed that, in comparison, the middle-income settlement is more adversely affected by the built environment response related to health and social relationships. This finding is further supported by the prominence in health-related issues of loneliness (ρ-value .042) and lack of freedom (ρ-value .014) in the middle-income settlement. The built environment attributes were ranked based on their significance in correlation with the Quality-of-Life measures and the individual age-related characteristics. This was further developed for an appraisal that assesses health-related aspects of built environment response for vulnerable age groups like elders. The findings and the appraisal could support the future decision-making process of the National health budget and future urban design interventions since Sri Lanka has the highest South Asian aging population.

Sustainability Assessment Method of GRIHA for Sustainable Built Environment: A Review Based on a Design Perspective

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 156-164
Author(s):  
Shiva Ji ◽  
◽  
Ravi Mokashi Punekar ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
North East ◽  
The North ◽  
World Energy ◽  
Design Perspective ◽  
Definition Of

Building industry is the largest world energy consumer at 40% of total world energy. Various agencies across the world have formulated Sustainability Assessment (SA) methods for its assessment. In India, TERI and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Govt. of India, have established GRIHA as the assessment guideline for the built environment. SA methods recommend a pre-design check list and post completion assessment of the projects. The major parameters of evaluation aim to address environmental, social and economic impact on well- being of society. A comparison is drawn on the broader definition of sustainability which has been adopted world over and it is felt by local practitioners that the parameters need to be adapted to deal with local situations and conditions for effective results. This paper attempts to review the various assessment parameters considered under the GRIHA model in the design evaluation of the built environment considering local conditions in specific locations in the north east. The paper infers to devise a normalization factor to help achieve equalized balance in achieving sustainability.

scholarly journals Determining the Level of Market Concentration in the Construction Sector—Case of Application of the HHI Index

2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 779
Author(s):  
Kęstutis Peleckis
Keyword(s):  
Market Power ◽  
Market Concentration ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Determine Factor ◽  
Power Balance ◽  
Construction Sector ◽  
Market Conditions ◽  
A Value ◽  
Multicriteria Assessment ◽  
Business Entities

Background—competitive conditions are often distorted in the construction sector, therefore this affects the market position of all participants. This paper seeks to find the tools for properly assessment of participants by Herfindahl-Hirschmann index (HHI) and to identify what parameters have the greatest impact in the competitiveness of the construction sector. Methods: in this article the DEMATEL method was used whereas tool for assessing the balance of market concentration as it may help to determine factor with the greatest influence on a firm’s HHI. Results in this work showed how different parameters affect each other and their impact on a value of a firms’s HHI. When the parameters are determined, they can be useful for assesment of mergers their influence on the HHI and alteration of the market’s power balance. Conclusions—The calculation of the HHI by using the DEMATEL method allowed to check the empirical implementation check of the multicriteria assessment method, on the market power of business entities, operating in the distorted market conditions of the construction sector.

scholarly journals A GIS-Based Multicriteria Assessment for Identification of Positive Energy Districts Boundary in Cities

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (22) ◽  
pp. 7517
Author(s):  
Beril Alpagut ◽  
Arantza Lopez Romo ◽  
Patxi Hernández ◽  
Oya Tabanoğlu ◽  
Nekane Hermoso Martinez
Keyword(s):  
Urban Design ◽  
Land Use Planning ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Technology Selection ◽  
Positive Energy ◽  
European Cities ◽  
Macro Scale ◽  
Multicriteria Assessment ◽  
Definition Of

Discussions regarding the definition of Positive Energy Districts and the concept of a boundary are still being actively held. Even though there are certain initiatives working on the boundary limitations for PEDs, there is no methodology or tool developed for selecting peculiar spaces for future PED implementations. The paper focuses on a flexible GIS-based Multicriteria assessment method that identifies the most suitable areas to reach an annual positive non-renewable energy balance. For that purpose, a GIS-based tool is developed to indicate the boundary from an energy perspective harmonized with urban design and land-use planning. The method emphasizes evaluation through economic, social, political, legal, environmental, and technical criteria, and the results present the suitability of areas at macro and micro scales. The current study outlines macro-scale analyses in six European cities that represent Follower Cities under the MAKING-CITY H2020 project. Further research will be conducted for micro-scale analyses and the outcomes will pursue a technology selection process.

Multicriteria Assessment of Projects and Scenarios

2017 ◽  
pp. 72-99
Keyword(s):  
Optimal Allocation ◽  
Hierarchical Structures ◽  
System Optimization ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Expert Assessment ◽  
Optimization Approach ◽  
The Hierarchical Structure ◽  
Multicriteria Assessment ◽  
Profile Approach

Chapter 5 deals with formulation of the problem of multicriteria assessment of projects and scenarios. Expert assessment methods are reviewed. Determination of criteria values, multicriteria estimation and data processing methods are proposed. Nested scalar convolutions method is proposed. Project profile approach is considered. Vector optimization of hierarchical structures methods is proposed. Structural optimization, description of structure, parameters of significance and calculation of priority factors methods are considered. Calculation of the nested scalar convolutions and calculation of the hierarchical structure assessment method is proposed. Parametric synthesis and substantial model is considered. Optimal allocation of fewer resources method is proposed. System optimization approach is given.

The perceived importance and objective measurement of walkability in the built environment rating

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (9) ◽  
pp. 1655-1671 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuan Zhang ◽  
Lan Mu
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy Process ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Objective Measurement ◽  
Environment Design ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy ◽  
Objective Measurements ◽  
Perceived Importance ◽  
Hierarchy Process

The built environment plays an important role in shaping physical activities and furthering a healthy lifestyle. An obesogenic environment, which promotes obesity through uninviting neighborhood design, can cause sedentary living and environmentally induced inactivity, particularly by reducing walking. Existing measures of walkability consider the distribution and features of potential destinations, but fail to account for key aspects of the built environment design, pedestrian preferences, or various reasons for walking. In this paper, we propose a new assessment method, the Perceived importance and Objective measurement of Walkability in the built Environment Rating (POWER), incorporating pedestrian preferences derived from a walking preference survey. By conducting a university campus-based case study, we developed a quantitative method, the customized analytic hierarchy process, to analyze data from the survey. The customized analytic hierarchy process was used to calculate the perceived importance of various factors. In addition, objective measurements were collected and processed from Geographic Information System (GIS) data and fieldwork. Using both perceived importance and objective measurements, we created a POWER map showing the most walkable and unwalkable places on campus. The outcome of this case study reveals the nuanced spatial variations with regard to walkability. The proposed integral measure creates an improved method for rating the walkability of the built environment. Future applications and limitations are also discussed.

scholarly journals Urban Sustainability Audits and Ratings of the Built Environment

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (22) ◽  
pp. 4243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Constantinos A. Balaras ◽  
Kalliopi G. Droutsa ◽  
Elena G. Dascalaki ◽  
Simon Kontoyiannidis ◽  
Andrea Moro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Assessment System ◽  
Urban Systems ◽  
Audit Process ◽  
Social Challenges ◽  
Current State ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Neighbourhood Scale ◽  
Environment Service

Buildings and the built environment in cities are seen as both a source of, and solution to, today’s economic, environmental and social challenges. The audit process to collect data and rate their sustainability levels is a demanding process given the complexity of the issues involved. Stakeholders often lack advanced knowledge on the sustainability issues involved, access to practical tools that match the local priorities and the overall resources to diagnose and evaluate the current state, analyse, assess and rank different scenarios, and monitor implementation and progress towards meeting sustainable development goals and local priorities. A new multicriteria European built environment assessment method that is supported by practical tools was developed in a transnational collaborative effort to support the assessment, planning, monitoring and overall decision-making process for rating the sustainability at the building or neighbourhood scale. The assessment system addresses the main sustainability issues (e.g., site and infrastructure, urban systems, energy and natural resources, emissions and environment, service quality, social aspects, economy), which are described and quantified with an “exhaustive” list of ~180 sustainability criteria and indicators, and a manageable number of common mandatory key performance indicators. The assessment system can satisfy the public administrations’ needs for being easy to use, open access, flexible and adaptable tools in order to facilitate their efforts for developing effective sustainability plans.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document