scholarly journals Integration of Emergy Analysis with Building Information Modeling

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 7990
Author(s):  
Suman Paneru ◽  
Forough Foroutan Jahromi ◽  
Mohsen Hatami ◽  
Wilfred Roudebush ◽  
Idris Jeelani
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Building Information Modeling ◽  
Energy Analysis ◽  
Information Modeling ◽  
Environmental Cost ◽  
Emergy Analysis ◽  
Modeling Tools ◽  
Building Information

Traditional energy analysis in Building Information Modeling (BIM) only accounts for the energy requirements of building operations during a portion of the occupancy phase of the building’s life cycle and as such is unable to quantify the true impact of buildings on the environment. Specifically, the typical energy analysis in BIM does not account for the energy associated with resource formation, recycling, and demolition. Therefore, a comprehensive method is required to analyze the true environmental impact of buildings. Emergy analysis can offer a holistic approach to account for the environmental cost of activities involved in building construction and operation in all its life cycle phases from resource formation to demolition. As such, the integration of emergy analysis with BIM can result in the development of a holistic sustainability performance tool. Therefore, this study aimed at developing a comprehensive framework for the integration of emergy analysis with existing Building Information Modeling tools. The proposed framework was validated using a case study involving a test building element of 8’ × 8’ composite wall. The case study demonstrated the successful integration of emergy analysis with Revit®2021 using the inbuilt features of Revit and external tools such as MS Excel. The framework developed in this study will help in accurately determining the environmental cost of the buildings, which will help in selecting environment-friendly building materials and systems. In addition, the integration of emergy into BIM will allow a comparison of various built environment alternatives enabling designers to make sustainable decisions during the design phase.

scholarly journals Life Cycle Environmental Assessment of Light Steel Framed Buildings with Cement-Based Walls and Floors

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (24) ◽  
pp. 10686
Author(s):  
Mona Abouhamad ◽  
Metwally Abu-Hamd
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
Life Cycle Assessment Methodology ◽  
Building Information Model ◽  
Building Information ◽  
Cold Formed Steel ◽  
Environmental Measures ◽  
Materials Used

The objective of this paper is to apply the life cycle assessment methodology to assess the environmental impacts of light steel framed buildings fabricated from cold formed steel (CFS) sections. The assessment covers all phases over the life span of the building from material production, construction, use, and the end of building life, in addition to loads and benefits from reuse/recycling after building disposal. The life cycle inventory and environmental impact indicators are estimated using the Athena Impact Estimator for Buildings. The input data related to the building materials used are extracted from a building information model of the building while the operating energy in the use phase is calculated using an energy simulation software. The Athena Impact Estimator calculates the following mid-point environmental measures: global warming potential (GWP), acidification potential, human health potential, ozone depletion potential, smog potential, eutrophication potential, primary and non-renewable energy (PE) consumption, and fossil fuel consumption. The LCA assessment was applied to a case study of a university building. Results of the case study related to GWP and PE were as follows. The building foundations were responsible for 29% of the embodied GWP and 20% of the embodied PE, while the CFS skeleton was responsible for 30% of the embodied GWP and 49% of the embodied PE. The production stage was responsible for 90% of the embodied GWP and embodied PE. When benefits associated with recycling/reuse were included in the analysis according to Module D of EN 15978, the embodied GWP was reduced by 15.4% while the embodied PE was reduced by 6.22%. Compared with conventional construction systems, the CFS framing systems had much lower embodied GWP and PE.

scholarly journals Radon monitoring in a historical building in Košice city, Slovakia – a case study

2021 ◽  
Vol 900 (1) ◽  
pp. 012040
Author(s):  
E Singovszká ◽  
A Eštoková ◽  
M Vertaľ
Keyword(s):  
Human Exposure ◽  
Continuous Monitoring ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Indoor Radon ◽  
Research Topic ◽  
Relevant Research ◽  
Historical Building ◽  
Limit Value ◽  
Radon Monitoring

Abstract It is known that the highest contribution to the yearly radiation dose for the population derives from natural radioactivity. About 50% of that is estimated to be caused by exposure to radon (Rn) and its products. Human exposure to indoor Rn is currently considered a relevant research topic, because of the associated epidemiological aspects. This paper aimed at Rn concentration measurement in a selected building in Košice city, Slovakia. The continuous monitoring of indoor radon levels was performed over a period of 40 days. The measured concentrations ranged in a wide interval up to 92 Bq/m3. The WHO limit value of 100 Bq/m3 wasn´t exceeded. Analysing the possible sources, both contributions of radon from the building materials and radon from the soil was observed.

scholarly journals Playing Global Monopoly in Cement: The Globalization of CEMEX

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Mark William Cawman ◽  
Patricia Fine-Skalnik
Keyword(s):  
International Business ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Multinational Corporation ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Cultural Dimensions ◽  
Business Growth ◽  
Research Article ◽  
Political Implications

This research article is intended for use as a classroom case study with questions for discussion in International Business. This research analyzes CEMEX and their strategy for globalization. CEMEX is a Mexico founded building materials company that operates in more than fifty countries and maintains trade relationships in over one-hundred nations. In addition to CEMEX creating an international business, CEMEX embraces core values including ethics, integrity, and environmental sustainability. The literature review in this study, documents how CEMEX overcame cultural and political implications, and significant risk to become a significant multinational corporation. The topical focus and purpose of this research is to explore CEMEX critically as a specimen company representing cross-cultural and international business growth. The analysis includes the utilization of the Hofstede Cultural Dimensions framework and the PESTLEEG analysis.

scholarly journals Estimation of the Inhaled Dose of Airborne Pollutants during Commuting: Case Study and Application for the General Population

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (17) ◽  
pp. 6066
Author(s):  
Francesca Borghi ◽  
Giacomo Fanti ◽  
Andrea Cattaneo ◽  
Davide Campagnolo ◽  
Sabrina Rovelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Pulmonary Ventilation ◽  
Ventilation Rate ◽  
The Other ◽  
Winter Period ◽  
Airborne Pollutants ◽  
Traffic Conditions ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
The City

During rush hours, commuters are exposed to high concentrations and peaks of traffic-related air pollutants. The aims of this study were therefore to extend the inhaled dose estimation outcomes from a previous work investigating the inhaled dose of a typical commuter in the city of Milan, Italy, and to extend these results to a wider population. The estimation of the dose of pollutants inhaled by commuters and deposited within the respiratory tract could be useful to help commuters in choosing the modes of transport with the lowest exposure and to increase their awareness regarding this topic. In addition, these results could provide useful information to policy makers, for the creation/improvement of a mobility that takes these results into account. The principal result outcomes from the first part of the project (case study on a typical commuter in the city of Milan) show that during the winter period, the maximum deposited mass values were estimated in the “Other” environments and in “Underground”. During the summer period, the maximum values were estimated in the “Other” and “Walking (high-traffic conditions)” environments. For both summer and winter, the lowest values were estimated in the “Car” and “Walking (low-traffic conditions)” environments. Regarding the second part of the study (the extension of the results to the general population of commuters in the city of Milan), the main results show that the period of permanence in a given micro-environment (ME) has an important influence on the inhaled dose, as well as the pulmonary ventilation rate. In addition to these results, it is of primary importance to report how the inhaled dose of pollutants can be strongly influenced by the time spent in a particular environment, as well as the subject’s pulmonary ventilation rate and pollutant exposure levels. For these reasons, the evaluation of these parameters (pulmonary ventilation rate and permanence time, in addition to the exposure concentration levels) for estimating the inhaled dose is of particular relevance.

scholarly journals Experimental Study on Ready-Mix Concrete: Case Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 149 ◽  
pp. 01071
Author(s):  
Dorra Ellouze ◽  
Aida Ghammouri ◽  
Rahma Ben Amar
Keyword(s):  
Building Materials ◽  
Mechanical Tests ◽  
Professional Life ◽  
Price Ratio ◽  
Minimal Cost ◽  
Concrete Case ◽  
Fresh State ◽  
Hardened State ◽  
Ready Mix Concrete

Ready-mix concrete (RMC) in Tunisia is becoming more and more in demand in the civil engineering sector thanks to its qualities of handling in the fresh state and resistance in the hardened state, this composite material must respect the quality-price ratio. A RMC with a minimal cost is the object of our work. This research is part of the opening of higher education on professional life, where we optimized the formulation of a RMC. This work has 3 axes. In the first place the resources in building materials were characterized, namely various samples of sand, gravel, cement and water. Subsequently, the adjuvant-cement ratio (A/C) was optimized. Finally, the workability of the concrete as well as its mechanical aptitude at various ages 7, 14 and 28 days were characterized. These examinations have resulted in an appropriate formulation for any type of resource that varies according to the provenance of the quarries (gravel and sand), the effect of the plasticizer-water reducer is found for a very interesting A/C ratio, the mechanical tests for different ages are also conclusive.

scholarly journals Rewards and Recognition Strategies in Reducing the Employees Attrition Rate: Case Study of a MNC Pharmaceutical Company in Mumbai, India

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Syaquera Anastasia ◽  
Junaimah Jauhar
Keyword(s):  
Pharmaceutical Company ◽  
Attrition Rate ◽  
Rate Case

<p>The editorial board announced that this article has been retracted on July 01, 2015, If you have any further question, please contact us at: <a>[email protected]</a></p>

scholarly journals Low Polluting Building Materials and Ventilation for Good Air Quality in Residential Buildings: A Cost–Benefit Study

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Babich ◽  
Ingrid Demanega ◽  
Francesca Avella ◽  
Annamaria Belleri
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Capital Cost ◽  
Ventilation Rates

Nowadays, people spend an average of 87% of their time inside buildings, and about 69% at home. Hence, it is essential to ensure the highest possible level of indoor air quality (IAQ). Providing that the quality of the outdoor air is acceptable, the IAQ level is improved by increasing the ventilation rates. However, this means that a larger volume of air must be cooled down or warmed up to ensure the same level of thermal comfort. The aim of this study was to conduct a cost–benefit analysis of the IAQ in residential buildings. A case-study building was defined, and three sets of materials with different pollution emission levels were chosen: High, low, and very low. For each option, the ventilation rates required to have the same IAQ level were calculated, and the consequent energy consumption and costs were estimated by means of dynamic thermal simulation. The results show the range of the initial capital cost that could be compensated for by lower running costs, and the effect of each energy and economic input assumption on the appraisal of the affordable capital cost. In the discussion, insights into the IAQ co-benefits are also given.

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