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Integration of Digital Strategies and Methods to Support Sustainability in the Built Environment

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Green Building".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2024) | Viewed by 8450

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Stefano Cascone

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Architecture and Territory, Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria, 89124 Reggio Calabria, Italy
Interests: sustainable construction practices; digital technologies in built environment; lifecycle management of structures; environmental impact and resource efficiency; preservation and management of built heritage
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

To achieve the green transition of the built environment, many countries have developed various strategies and methods aiming to improve the sustainability and life-cycle performance of constructions. In addition to the green transition, the digital transition meaningfully affects the construction sector and highlights complex challenges in the transformation of the built environment. Digitalization has become a significant tool to support the supply, integration, and management of information throughout the construction life-cycle.

Since eco-friendly features are increasingly required, a growing number of construction projects, scholarly research and experiments have documented the synergies between digitalization and sustainable design and construction, especially regarding how digital strategies and methods can help to achieve more sustainable project outcomes and improve construction performance. The practical implementation of digitalization by project teams in the pursuit of sustainable design and construction has attacted much attention in the research community because the diverse project information included in the digital model can be extracted for performance simulations, design reviews, quantity take-off and documentation generation, which are critical issues when aiming to achieve sustainability.

This Special Issue is focused on novel developments in the field of the different integration methods for digitalization and sustainability within the broader scope of the socio-economic, scientific, and integrated approaches to sustainable development. Original research articles and reviews are welcome in this Special Issue. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • BIM-based innovations and sustainability;
  • Technological innovations for sustainability;
  • Building performance simulation;
  • Digital technologies and lean construction;
  • Life cycle assessment (LCA) and/or life-cycle cost (LCC);
  • Building certification/sustainability assessments;
  • Tool development and parametric scripting;
  • BIM-based workflows for integrating sustainability assessments in the early design process;
  • Optimization approaches to life-cycle environmental performance, including AI;
  • Automation and robotics;
  • Digital Twins for sustainability.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Stefano Cascone
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainable constructions
  • building information modeling
  • parametric model and scripting
  • green buildings
  • information management
  • sustainability assessment and simulation
  • built environment
  • BIM
  • artificial intelligence
  • digital twins

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 5194 KiB  
Article
Investigating the Impact of Combined Daylight and Electric Light on Human Perception of Indoor Spaces
by Niloofar Nikookar, Azadeh Omidfar Sawyer, Mayank Goel and Siobhan Rockcastle
Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3691; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093691 - 28 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1500
Abstract
People spend more than 90% of their time indoors, and, as such, improving indoor lighting quality can enhance their quality of life by positively influencing both physiological and psychological aspects. Numerous studies suggest that perceptions of a space vary depending on a number [...] Read more.
People spend more than 90% of their time indoors, and, as such, improving indoor lighting quality can enhance their quality of life by positively influencing both physiological and psychological aspects. Numerous studies suggest that perceptions of a space vary depending on a number of lighting attributes present. Significant effort has been made across various fields to identify the spatial lighting conditions and attributes that impact human perception, although we lack studies that explore the impact of these conditions in tandem. This paper investigates how interior lighting conditions influence human impressions of room ambiance. The study examines 16 different interior scenes, considering factors such as sky condition (sunny vs. overcast), shading blinds position (open vs. closed), presence or absence of electric light (on vs. off), and Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) (2700 K, 4000 K, and 6500 K). The evaluation is conducted within an office environment at Carnegie Mellon University, using a combination of objective lighting metrics and subjective assessments. In total, 26 participants, consisting of 11 females, 14 males, and one undisclosed, aged between 18 and 50, evaluated the office ambiance under various lighting conditions using semantic differential scales. The analysis showed that the variation of blinds and CCT levels significantly influenced the participants’ impression of light. The study also identified statistically significant interactions between “blinds and CCT” and “blinds and sky” conditions, highlighting the combined influence of these variables on shaping indoor light impressions. This research offers valuable insights into the complex interplay of different lighting factors in shaping human perceptions, and underscores the importance of optimizing indoor lighting conditions for creating healthy and sustainable indoor environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integration of Digital Strategies and Methods to Support Sustainability in the Built Environment)
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19 pages, 3490 KiB  
Article
Eco-Innovative Construction: Integrating Green Roofs Design within the BIM Framework
by Stefano Cascone
Sustainability 2024, 16(5), 1967; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16051967 - 27 Feb 2024
Viewed by 3119
Abstract
This research delves into the integration of green roofs elements and parameters with Building Information Modeling (BIM), a pivotal advancement in sustainable urban construction. Aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 11, this study explores how this integration can address [...] Read more.
This research delves into the integration of green roofs elements and parameters with Building Information Modeling (BIM), a pivotal advancement in sustainable urban construction. Aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 11, this study explores how this integration can address global challenges like climate change and resource depletion. Using the Dynamo Visual Programming Language within Autodesk Revit, this research develops a computational modeling approach for green roofs, focusing on their thermal and structural characteristics under varied environmental conditions. Key findings demonstrate the significant influence of substrate and drainage material combinations on green roofs’ thermal performance, highlighting the need for tailored designs based on climatic conditions. This study also emphasizes the importance of considering structural performance in both dry and saturated conditions for overall building integrity. This research identifies gaps in current practices, such as limited focus on specific green roof materials and reliance on certain software tools, suggesting the need for broader material selection and software adaptability. Future research directions include expanding material selections, exploring diverse environmental conditions, and integrating green roofs elements and parameters with various BIM software platforms. This study’s implications extend to stakeholders in the construction industry, offering a framework for architects, urban planners, and policymakers to design and implement green roofs aligned with environmental goals. This work contributes to the field by proposing a novel approach to sustainable construction, integrating ecological design with digital technology, and setting a new benchmark in the integration of green roofs design with BIM. By addressing these aspects, this research paves the way for future developments in sustainable urban construction, enhancing the efficiency, sustainability, and resilience of urban communities in line with global sustainability objectives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integration of Digital Strategies and Methods to Support Sustainability in the Built Environment)
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34 pages, 24943 KiB  
Article
A Holonic Construction Management System for the Efficient Implementation of Building Energy Renovation Actions
by Leonardo Messi, Alessandro Carbonari, Carlos Franco, Francesco Spegni, Massimo Vaccarini and Berardo Naticchia
Sustainability 2024, 16(5), 1824; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16051824 - 22 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1251
Abstract
In the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry, many efforts have provided remarkable contributions to construction planning and control processes during work execution. Nevertheless, frequent coordination issues among stakeholders and difficulties in dealing with unexpected events can be explained by the complexity featuring [...] Read more.
In the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry, many efforts have provided remarkable contributions to construction planning and control processes during work execution. Nevertheless, frequent coordination issues among stakeholders and difficulties in dealing with unexpected events can be explained by the complexity featuring the construction sector. Several approaches to deal with this issue were investigated in the manufacturing area, among which this paper looks at the holonic approach as one of the most promising strategies. This study first analyzes the more fragmented and dynamic nature of the construction industry as compared with the manufacturing one. Secondly, it suggests developing a process-based holonic construction management system based on building information modeling (BIM) and a conceptual architecture for manufacturing control called Product Resource Order Staff Architecture (PROSA). The process-based paradigm ensures exploiting the benefits of BIM towards the development of sustainable and efficient regeneration methods of the built environment. Subsequently, a first management system prototype was developed and tested for the purpose of renovation works management. For the first time, results from an actual implementation of PROSA were applied to a real construction site, and its feasibility was assessed using the data on the field. Key performance indicators (KPIs) evaluated during the onsite demonstration confirmed a good performance of PROSA and the presented holonic approach, which contributed to the overall success of the energy efficient refurbishment project. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integration of Digital Strategies and Methods to Support Sustainability in the Built Environment)
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25 pages, 3577 KiB  
Article
Zero Carbon Ready Metrics for a Single-Family Home in the Sultanate of Oman Based on EDGE Certification System for Green Buildings
by Osama A. Marzouk
Sustainability 2023, 15(18), 13856; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151813856 - 18 Sep 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1679
Abstract
A single-family house was designed as a new middle-income green residential building in the Sultanate of Oman, according to criteria defined by the green building certification system EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies), developed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which is [...] Read more.
A single-family house was designed as a new middle-income green residential building in the Sultanate of Oman, according to criteria defined by the green building certification system EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies), developed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which is a member of the World Bank Group (WBG). The design was accomplished through the free cloud-based tool of EDGE. With respect to a base design for the Sultanate of Oman, the green home design achieved savings of 40.86%, 20.22%, and 26.39% in energy, water, and materials (Embodied Energy), respectively. In addition, a saving of 35.48% in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions was estimated. Based on the completed green building design, four green building-normalized metrics were used to quantify the efficiency of the base case and the design case in terms of the consumption of resources and polluting emissions. These efficiency metrics are: Carbon Emission Index (CEI), Energy Performance Index (EPI), Water Consumption Index (WCI), and Embodied Energy Index (EEI). Out of these green building performance metrics, the EPI is directly provided by EDGE, while the other three are introduced here as additional useful indicators that allow fair evaluations and comparison with other buildings, due to their less stringent dependence on the floor area or the number of occupants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integration of Digital Strategies and Methods to Support Sustainability in the Built Environment)
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