Ultralight Membrane Structures Toward a Sustainable Environment

The building construction industry is the largest anthropogenic source of pollution, with massive energy consumption and substantial CO2 emissions. Lightweight tension structures allow the simultaneous implementation of several sustainable strategies by using recyclable low-carbon structural membranes offering a greener alternative to glass and...

Risk Management in Green Retrofit Projects: Eco Uncertainties

This study addresses the critical need for specialized risk identification practices in green retrofit projects within the construction industry, particularly under the increasing pressure to meet the EU's net-zero emissions target by 2050. Focusing on the Netherlands, it investigates how companies navigate the unique challenges posed by...

CMO Opportunity-Identifying Framework for Complex Sustainable Construction Projects

As the effects of climate change have been negatively impacting the environment, several industries have started to work towards minimizing them. The construction industry is responsible for 40% of the global carbon emissions and many companies are currently working on net-zero and other sustainability goals. As several sustainability practices...

PET Paradise: Turning a waste problem into a source to preserve the Maldivian Islands

The Maldivian Islands are facing multiple challenges, including sea level rise, coastal erosion, and poor waste management. This research explores the development of a future-proof system using recycled plastic waste in order to protect the islands. The developed system includes an engineered artificial reef design, which is acting as wave...

The Use of Timber in a Temporary Multi-storey Car Park: Proof of Concept for a Structural System for a Temporary Multi-storey Car Park

<b>Problem definition:</b> In the car park industry, a new trend has emerged, shifting the demand for parking from permanent one-of-a-kind parking structures towards temporary modular structures (Drenth, 2020). Meanwhile, the building industry faces a transition into a more sustainable industry. This requires rethinking of the design process,...

Closing the carbon cycle: Active Carbonation technology for concrete production as possible sequestration method: A TIS analysis on the Dutch concrete system

Carbon dioxide can be used during concrete production, which leads to stronger concrete as well as a sequestration method for CO2. While these technologies are developed quite far, they are currently not being used within society nor is there any systemic overview of the system and a reason why these technologies are not used. This thesis...

Conceptual framework for sustainable construction

Growing global demand for sustainable development places immense pressure on the construction industry to select and promote sustainable construction practices. The selection of sustainable construction practices is a challenging task, as there are numerous variables and uncertainties involved in the concept of sustainability and a consistent...

Micromechanics-guided development of strain-hardening alkali-activated composites: Towards a low-carbon built environment

Alkali-activated Materials (AAMs), including those classified as geopolymer, are obtained through the reaction between a solid precursor and an alkaline solution. Compared with ordinary Portland cement (OPC) binders, these materials maintain comparable mechanical properties but have the advantage of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and...

Architectural Photovoltaic Application

Today, photovoltaic technology is one of the fastest-growing fields of technology and is becoming the lowest-cost option for electricity generation in the greatest part of the world. Based on IEA projection, the number of households relying on solar PV grows from today’s 25 million to more than 100 million by 2030. Based on this projection, we...

Design of a Demountable Steel Timber Floor System: Design Rules and Recommendations for the Application of a Demountable Steel Timber Floor System

With the effects of climate change being more and more frequent, the European union, and other governments world-wide are looking for sustainable alternatives for processes and products that are part of the daily requirements of people. Among these requirements, the construction industry plays a vital role, as it accounts for the consumption of...

Exploring the impact of the EU emissions tradings system allowance price on sustainable construction: a Dutch case study: Exploring the relation between the allowance price and the affordability of a wooden structure compared to conventional structures out of steel and concrete for a large distribution centre

The global population is growing rapidly, so the construction sector must keep up by increasing the number of houses and improving the infrastructure. The construction sector is importance to support economic growth and social development within society. However, the conflict that arises here is that the activities of the construction sector are...

Future perspectives for alkali‐activated materials: from existing standards to structural applications

The production of cement and concrete contributes significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions. Alkali‐activated concretes (AACs) are a family of existing alternative construction materials that could reduce the current environmental impact of Portland cement (PC) production and utilisation. Successful applications of AACs can be found in...

Study of structural behaviour of geopolymer concrete to check the applicability of Eurocode 2

Global climate change has been a huge matter of concern today. While there are several factors that contribute to greenhouse gases, adversely affecting the planet, CO2 emission is one of them. It is said that 8% of total carbon dioxide emission is caused due to the production of Ordinary portland cement used for concrete in...

A novel asynchronous-pouring-construction technology for prestressed concrete box girder bridges with corrugated steel webs

Owing to the superior mechanical performance and material efficiency, the combination of prestressed concrete (PC) slabs and corrugated steel webs (CSW) as PC girder with CSWs (PCGCSW) is extensively applied to railway and highway bridges. To overcome the shortcomings of traditional balanced cantilever construction (TBCC) of PCGCSW, reduce...

Tall Timber Extension: Design study for a new construction method in the city of Rotterdam

In most of city centres in the Netherlands, there is a growing demand for residential housing. However, as most of the land is occupied by existing buildings, developers recur to demolish and build higher buildings, in order to fulfil the urban need. Even though demolition, may be the simplest option in technical and economic terms, it can also...