Reuse potential of the Van Brienenoord arch bridge: Fatigue and corrosion damage evaluation of structural steel elements

The building and construction industry is one of the main polluting sectors contributing to climate change, and is responsible for around 37% of global CO2 emissions. A circular approach is needed to address the global demand for construction materials and resources in a sustainable way. Steel is a commonly used material in construction and...

Incorporating climate change in I&M planning for engineering structures - A Deep Reinforcement Learning Framework

In the last decades, climate change is causing our environment to change rapidly, unprecedented in recent history. Civil engineering structures are dependent on the deteriorating environment they are situated in. Changes can cause an increase in loading due to, for example, extreme weather events or alter the structure’s resistance by, for...

Design of a pervious concrete quay wall suitable for vascular plant growth

This research aimed to design a modern-day quay wall that can host ecologically valuable species by using pervious concrete, which offers a suitable growing layer for plants due to its high interconnected porosity. The study investigated which vascular plant species are dependent on quay wall ecosystems in the Netherlands and determined the...

Environmental and economic impact assessment of innovative concrete recycling systems

Over the last few years, the construction sector has experienced increasing demand for raw materials due to the rapid growth of the urban population. At the same time, most of the post-war buildings in Europe have reached the end of their service life. As a consequence, a period of intense demolition activities with<br/>significant waste...

LIVING WALL SYSTEM: As a strategy to mitigate the Urban Heat Island effect in Damascus

Urbanization has led to the accumulation of heat in urban areas. In other words, cities demonstrate higher temperatures than surrounding rural suburbs, known as the Urban Heat Island effect (UHI). This phenomenon has substantial consequences on energy consumption for cooling purposes, air quality, and human health.<br/>As a metropolitan city,...

Compact Nature for Compact Cities: Towards an urban nature network in streets and on buildings that enhances ecological values and well-being, a Rotterdam case study

As cities are getting denser and larger, space for conventional green features is diminishing. Cities without green alienate people from nature, deteriorate ecological systems and directly harm personal well-being. Limited open areas and many sealed surfaces in today’s cities raise the need for a renewed green space approach that fits in an...

Quay walls Greening with Mosses: “How can quay wall elements be designed with improved bio receptivity to stimulate high moss growth coverage that will add social and environmental values to Amsterdam citizens’ wellbeing?”

Amsterdam city is currently facing problems of old quay walls and bridges renovation, followed by insufficient greening in the city. This study aims to propose a method to increase Amsterdam's greenery that will add social and environmental value through the renovation work of quay walls. The main objective is investigating how the quay walls...