In recent years, sustainability has become an increasingly important topic for property asset management companies. However, implementing it within daily operations remains a significant challenge. While regulatory initiatives like the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) are designed to improve transparency and stimulate sustainable practices, it remains unclear to what extent such directives support actual internal change. This research therefore explores how property asset management companies can improve and implement sustainability within their operations, and what role the CSRD can play in this process.

The study draws on qualitative methods, including semi-structured interviews with ESG managers from property asset management companies and independent CSRD-experts. The findings reveal that companies face a broad range of barriers, including limited internal awareness, a lack of clear performance indicators, and conflicting priorities between sustainability and profitability. At the same time, motivation emerged as a foundational element: whether driven by intrinsic values or external incentives, a shared ambition for sustainability was seen as essential to achieving progress.

Based on the interviews and supported by literature, a flowchart was developed to guide companies in implementing sustainability across strategic, tactical, and operational levels. It includes various strategies, ranging from defining a sustainability vision and developing KPIs to launching internal implementation programs and creating a sustainability-positive culture. The flowchart also highlights the importance of structured coordination, internal alignment, and continuous feedback loops. It helps organisations identify which steps are still missing and how to move from ambition to execution.

After, the CSRD was evaluated to determine its effectiveness in supporting this process. While it provides a structured framework for reporting and can act as an initial incentive for companies to engage with sustainability, it does not offer the internal guidance needed to support meaningful organisational change. Its focus remains on disclosure, and not on implementation. Therefore, national governments and sectoral bodies may need to play a more active role in translating the CSRD’s requirements into practical support tailored to different industries.

This thesis contributes to the academic and professional understanding of sustainability implementation by offering a structured, practice-based tool that helps bridge the gap between vision and execution. It demonstrates that improving sustainability requires more than reporting obligations alone; it depends on clear internal strategies, cross-level coordination, and long-term commitment embedded throughout the organisation.

This research presents the development and validation of a machine learning-assisted closed-loop control system designed for robotic 3D clay printing, with a particular focus on enhancing print quality and structural stability of complex overhang geometries. Unlike traditional open-loop manufacturing processes, the proposed framework integrates real-time visual feedback captured by dual Raspberry Pi cameras and leverages a multi-objective neural network model to dynamically adjust the robotic printing speed. This enables the system to detect and correct extrusion anomalies such as over-extrusion and under-extrusion, thereby significantly improving the printability and quality of challenging overhang structures.
Two advanced deep learning architectures, ResNet-56 and a DINOv2-based hybrid network, were systematically evaluated to determine their effectiveness in defect detection and prediction of overhang success. The system was implemented using a UR5 robotic arm equipped with a clay extruder, demonstrating practical feasibility within a laboratory environment. Experimental results show that the closed-loop control approach substantially enhances print consistency, reduces structural failures, and maintains geometric accuracy compared to baseline open-loop methods.
This foundational work lays the groundwork for future scaling to construction-scale additive
manufacturing, highlighting the potential to extend this system to other construction materials such as concrete. The study discusses key challenges including material variability, sensor integration, real time control complexity, and robotic motion planning, and provides strategic recommendations for future research aimed at achieving robust, adaptive, and scalable additive manufacturing systems for complex architectural applications.

Public participation is crucial for achieving ambitious societal goals, including housing expansion, emissions reduction, mobility accessibility, and climate resilience. However, satisfying diverse stakeholders becomes increasingly challenging as projects become more complex. The Environment and Planning Act (Omgevingswet) in the Netherlands aims to streamline permit processes and enhance collaboration among stakeholders, emphasising public participation. This research investigates how public participation processes are shaped following the implementation of the act, focusing on the Oude Lijn and the HOV4 case study. Through 13 semi-structured interviews and 10 observations, the study examines organisational aspects, such as participation planning, coordination, transparent communication, organisational choices, mindset, and perspectives. Various effects such as influence, expectations, understanding, trust, efficiency, and representativeness are analysed. Findings reveal nuanced relationships between participation processes and effects, providing valuable insights for professionals seeking to understand and optimise participation processes. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for achieving effective and inclusive public participation, ultimately contributing to more sustainable and resilient infrastructure and urban development projects.