Building Life Cycle Research Articles

BIM Technology and Sustainable Application Development of Green Building under New Evaluation Standard

Taking the integration of modern information technology and green building as the research background, we study the current status of BIM technology and green building development and application in the existing green building evaluation standard system, analyze the obstacles existing in the practical application of BIM technology in the whole life cycle of green building under the new global evaluation standard, and point out the direction of further research. The results of the study show that at this stage, BIM technology and green building-related regulations and systems are not yet sound, the evaluation standard system is not yet perfect, and there is a lack of organic synergy between each other,"Siloing" at certain points throughout the life cycle of a building. Green buildings are far away from the development and application of BIM technology and green buildings. The phenomenon of "isolated" in some stages of the whole life cycle of the building, some links appear as an "island" phenomenon, there is still a gap between green building and comprehensive coverage, and the widespread application of BIM technology needs to be promoted. In the future, the application research on sustainable development of green buildings based on BIM should be committed to further improve the relevant regulations, systems, and evaluation standards, create a core database of all relevant information in each stage of the whole life cycle of the building, realize the interactive sharing of information, implement the BIM integrated application mode, give full play to the advantages of the whole life cycle and integrated management of BIM, and integrate BIM technology with green building in a deeper way.

An integrated model of the driving mechanism for the building energy performance gap

The gap between the designed and actual energy performance of buildings (BEPG) poses a severe challenge to achieving building energy efficiency goals and has garnered global attention. However, previous studies have predominantly concentrated on the identification of factors influencing BEPG and have not systematically explored the interrelationships among these factors. In this study, the Integrated Decision-Making combined with Trial Evaluation Laboratory and Adversarial Interpretive Structural Modeling (DEMATEL-AISM) were employed to explore the driving mechanism for BEPG. Initially, a total of 40 influencing factors were identified through literature review and interviews, and 18 representative factors were selected from the building lifecycle perspective. Subsequently, the importance level and causal attributes of each influential factor were assessed by the DEMATEL method. Furthermore, a multi-level hierarchy was constructed based on the AISM model to illustrate the intricate interrelationships among the representative factors. The results indicated that there were seven cause factors and eleven effect factors for BEPG, with the six most significant factors were setting errors in simulation, lack of supervision, performance of equipment, differences in building performance, occupant behavior, and improper design. Additionally, the hierarchical structure model was categorized into five levels, which comprehensively indicated the driving relationship between the 18 influencing factors and the generation mechanism of BEPG. Finally, nine targeted strategies to address BEPG were proposed. This study offers new insights into the mechanisms of BEPG formation through the integration of DEMATEL and AISM, providing a robust framework for researchers and practitioners to systematically understand and address BEPG, as well as essential guidance for policymakers to develop effective strategies to reduce BEPG.

Transformation of the AECO industry through the metaverse: potentials and challenges

The integration of the metaverse into the real estate and construction industry reveals various potentials, but also challenges. The increasing digitization in the architecture, engineering, construction, and operation (AECO) sector requires a critical examination of aspects such as the metaverse. This paper is dedicated to examining the impact of the metaverse on the real estate and construction industry. The following specialist article is primarily aimed at the target group of the AECO sector, with the aim of gaining an initial overview of the opinions within this sector. The methodology used includes an in-depth literature review and a representative survey. Respondents from different age groups and areas of activity within the construction and real estate industry took part in this survey. The research questions of this paper are aimed at identifying the range of metaverse applications in the AECO industry, assessing their potential impact on business potential and challenges. The aim is to develop initial definitions and use cases and to create an overview of opinions in the industry. In this context, potential opportunities and risks will be examined to derive recommendations for an effective integration of the metaverse into the AECO industry. The results of this paper conducted indicate that there is still considerable uncertainty in the construction and real estate industry. It appears that the term “metaverse” and the associated potential through targeted use cases are not yet widespread in this industry. The survey participants recognize a potential for 3D visualizations in the metaverse that extends over the entire life cycle of buildings. An exemplary scenario for this is the use of 3D visualizations both during the planning phase and in marketing. The challenges identified shed light on uncertainties relating to data protection, privacy, and the influence of the internet. The results of the study reveal a high level of uncertainty and ignorance within the industry when it comes to understanding the metaverse. Based on the results, further studies are needed to establish the understanding and real potential of the metaverse in the industry. Conducting workshops specifically aimed at the AECO sector can help to deepen understanding of the potential of possible use cases.

Advancing Circular Buildings: A Review of Building Strategies for AEC Stakeholders

The uptake of a circular economy (CE) in the building sector is challenging, primarily due to the complexity associated with the design process and the dynamic interaction among architects, engineers, and construction (AEC) stakeholders. The standard and typical design process and construction methods raise concerns about building life cycles. Buildings should not only fulfill current needs, but one also needs to consider how they will function in the future and throughout their lifetime. To address these complexities, early planning is required to guide designers in holistically applying systems thinking to deliver CE outcomes. This paper outlines a critical review of CE implementation in buildings, with a proposed trifecta of approaches that significantly contribute to the development of circular buildings (CBs). The findings outline a proposed visualized framework with a conceptual formula that integrates CE design strategies to simplify and enhance AEC stakeholders’ perception of the circularity sequence in buildings. By strategically integrating loop-based strategies with the value retention process (VRP) and design for X (DFX) strategies, along with efficient assessment tools and technologies, it becomes feasible to embrace a CE during the design phase. The outcome of this review informs AEC stakeholders to systematically and strategically integrate the critical dimensions of a CE throughout the building life cycle, striking a balance between environmental concern, economic value, and future needs.

Experimental study on energy saving and thermal insulation of AAC walls and sandwich structures

Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) materials are increasingly being recognized as an effective method of improving the thermal efficiency of buildings. This paper uses a bolted AAC sandwich wall with rock wool to measure the indoor temperature enhancement and energy savings achieved by applying AAC and autoclaved aerated concrete sandwich (AACS) to building surfaces without ventilation. In addition, the energy efficiency and insulation of sintered brick (S) walls, AAC walls, and AACS walls in three test rooms are discussed in the fall and winter seasons. The study showed that the average daytime room temperatures of the AAC and AACS walls were reduced by 9.11 % and 14.31 %, and the heat load levelling was reduced by 28.41 % and 46.76 % compared to the S walls. The study concluded that compared to the S wall, AAC and AACS walls were reduced by 0.64 W and 0.8 W, respectively, and CO2 emissions were reduced by 11.78 g/m2day and 14.69 g/m2day.Under the premise that the building life cycle is 50 years, the energy consumption of the building electricity bill is saved by 157.14 RMB/m2 and 195.84 RMB/m2 for AAC wall and AACS wall, respectively, compared with S wall. Therefore, AAC shows a growing trend in the building material market due to its low-carbon insulation, green energy saving, and policy support, and it should be promoted in the construction industry.

Integrating effects of overheating on human health into buildings’ life cycle assessment

PurposeDue to climate change, the severity and length of heat waves are increasing, and this trend is likely to continue while mitigation efforts are insufficient. These climatic events cause overheating inside buildings, which increases mortality. Adaptation measures reduce overheating but induce environmental impacts, including on human health. This study aims to integrate the overheating-related effects on human health in building LCA to provide a design aid combining mitigation and adaptation.MethodsIn a novel approach, an existing building LCA tool is utilised to evaluate life cycle impacts, including damage to human health expressed in DALYs. The overheating risk is then evaluated using an existing dynamic thermal simulation (DTS) tool and prospective climatic data. Overheating is expressed as a degree-hour (DH) indicator, which integrates both the severity (temperature degrees over a comfort threshold) and the duration (hours). By assuming proportionality between DALYs and DH × area in a first step, the 2003 heat wave mortality data, 2003 climatic data, and a simplified model of the national residential building stock were used to identify a characterisation factor, which can then be used to evaluate DALYs corresponding to any building using DH obtained by thermal simulation.ResultsThe proposed overheating model not only allows to derive a characterisation factor for overheating to be used in building LCA but also provides practical insights. The first estimation of the characterisation factor is 1.35E-8DALY. DH-1.m-2. The method was tested in a case study corresponding to a social housing apartment building in France built in 1969 without insulation. The thickness of insulation implemented in the renovation works was varied. For this specific case study, the contribution of overheating is significant, ranging from 1.1E-5DALY.m-2.y-1 to 2.2E-5DALY.m-2.y-1, comparable to the contribution of heating. DTS and LCA results found an optimal thickness, minimising the human health indicator in DALYs. This underscores the potential of active cooling to reduce human health impacts, especially if it consumes electricity produced by a photovoltaic system integrated in the building.ConclusionCombining DTS and LCA makes it possible to evaluate damage indicators on human health, including building life cycles (e.g., material and energy) and overheating-related impacts. An application on a case study shows this method’s feasibility and gives a first order of magnitude of overheating health impacts induced by buildings. A more sophisticated model could replace the assumed proportionality between DALYs and DH.

Life cycle assessment and multi-criteria decision-making for sustainable building parts: criteria, methods, and application

PurposeSustainable building design relies heavily on building parts, with crucial consideration for climate and environmental impact. Due to numerous criteria and diverse alternatives, employing multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) to choose the best alternative is essential. Yet, relevant criteria and suitable MCDM methods for life cycle-based building planning still need to be determined. This study highlights prevalent environmental criteria and offers guidance on MCDM approaches for sustainable building parts.MethodsThis study introduces an innovative approach by integrating life cycle assessment and MCDM. This provides comprehensive decision support for planners. A systematic literature review identifies environmental criteria for building parts and is validated in expert workshops. Thus, the relevance of criteria across the building life cycle is established. Furthermore, the study analyzes MCDM approaches in the built environment. From this, the study employs and evaluates the Analytical Network Process (ANP) and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) in a case study. Thereby, it offers insights into effective decision-making methodologies for sustainable building practices.ResultsThis research categorizes environmental criteria for building parts and buildings into emissions, energy, resources, and circularity. Among 26 building part-related criteria, the global warming potential is highlighted. While the AHP is widely used in MCDM, a standardized method in planning processes is yet to emerge. Applying the ANP and AHP reveals similar rankings for the best and worst alternatives in a case study focused on selecting the optimal ceiling structure. Ribbed or box slab ceiling constructions are favored over reinforced concrete and composite timber-concrete constructions.ConclusionsThis study presents a novel method for life cycle-based MCDM challenges, identifying key environmental criteria. While material correlations exist, evaluating building parts demands simultaneous consideration of multiple criteria. Future research aims to compare further MCDM methods regarding their applicability, transparency, and ranking to enhance decision-making in sustainable construction. These investigations are essential for refining decision-making processes in the built environment, ensuring effective and transparent sustainability planning approaches.

Prospects for digital twin technology in the building modular construction and operation phases: A game theory-based analysis

Modular construction and operation significantly impact building lifecycle management, with various stakeholders playing key roles. Digital twin technology emerges as a cutting-edge tool for information exchange, management, and forecasting in the construction sector, offering comprehensive services for diverse stakeholders. However, research primarily explores potential applications and practical solutions, with limited focus on application strategies considering all stakeholders' interests. This gap hinders the transition of digital twin technology from theoretical to practical use. Addressing this, the paper employs game theory to develop models that analyze key stakeholder decisions during the modular construction and operational phases. It creatively introduces mathematical models for complex conditions in the operation phase and conducts numerical simulations. Findings show that the diffusion rate of digital twin technology significantly affects decision-making by main stakeholders in the construction industries in two stages. The diffusion rate in other industries influences the decision of facility management contractors from different backgrounds, yet its implementation ultimately depends on their status and profitability during the operation process. These diffusion rates are influenced by various factors like government subsidies, development costs, and revenues. To enhance the application rate of digital twin technology, the paper suggests initiating pilot projects, creating project pools, expanding industry-university-research collaborations, and implementing subsidies and incentive programs.

The Application of Infrared Thermography for Enhancing Maintenance in Public University

A university’s main function is to produce quality graduates, and in doing so, university buildings do play significant roles and are vital assets and resources. Hence, to prolong a university building lifecycle to ensure all university activities to continue performing at an optimum level, building maintenance management is central. Eventhough previous studies have been conducted in this area, university buildings maintenance is still viewed as insignificant. The research about utilization of infrared thermography in term of maintenance in public universities is still lacking. The objective of this research was to provide recommendations for areas within the public universities that can benefit from the application of infrared thermography to enhance maintenance. The research method used in this research was a qualitative method. Three public universities that were established for more than 50 years were chosen as case studies. The data was collected through narrative review and then analyzed. The findings highlighted the benefits of implementing infrared thermography in older building maintenance within public universities, particularly in improving energy efficiency and identifying hidden issues such as moisture intrusion and structural defects. The study emphasized the importance of timely maintenance actions based on infrared thermography assessments to reduce energy consumption and apply predictive maintenance strategies. By conducting in-depth analyses at three established public universities in Malaysia, the researchers demonstrate the effectiveness of infrared thermography in enhancing maintenance practices and prolonging the lifecycle of university buildings.

The technological assessment of green buildings using artificial neural networks

This study aims to construct a comprehensive evaluation model for efficiently assessing appropriate technologies within green buildings. Initially, an Internet of Things (IoT)-based environmental monitoring system is devised and implemented to collect real-time environmental parameters both inside and outside the building. To evaluate the technical suitability of green buildings, this study employs a multifaceted approach encompassing various criteria, including energy efficiency, environmental impact, economic benefits, user comfort, and sustainability. Specifically, it involves real-time monitoring of environmental parameters, analysis of energy consumption data, and indoor environmental quality indicators derived from user satisfaction surveys. Subsequently, a Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) is selected as a conventional artificial neural network (ANN) model, while a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) model is chosen as an advanced recurrent neural network model in the realm of deep learning. These models are utilized to process and explore the collected data and assess the technical suitability of green buildings. The dataset comprises physical quantities such as temperature, humidity, and light intensity, as well as economic indicators including energy efficiency and building operating costs. Furthermore, the assessment process considers the building's life cycle assessment and indoor environmental quality factors such as health, comfort, and safety. By incorporating these comprehensive criteria, a holistic evaluation of green building technologies is achieved, ensuring the selected technologies' suitability and effectiveness. The model prediction results demonstrate that the proposed hybrid evaluation model exhibits high accuracy and robust stability in predicting building environmental parameters. For instance, the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) for temperature prediction is 1.2 °C, the Mean Absolute Error (MAE) is 0.9 °C, and the determination coefficient (R2) reaches 0.95. Similarly, for humidity prediction, the RMSE, MAE, and R2 are 3.5 %, 2.8 %, and 0.88. Compared to the traditional MLP and LSTM models alone, the proposed hybrid model shows significant improvements in predicting building energy consumption, with approximately 15 % and 12 % reductions in RMSE and MAE, respectively, and an increase in R2 values of approximately 7 percentage points. These findings indicate that by amalgamation of the IoT and ANNs, this study successfully establishes a comprehensive model for accurately assessing technologies suitable for green buildings. This approach offers a novel perspective and methodology for the design and evaluation of green buildings.

Systematic literature review of BIM application in the whole life cycle of green building projects

ABSTRACT Building information modelling (BIM), as an effective digital method of information representation in the field of construction engineering, helps to deal with a series of works including design optimization, construction planning, and facility management. BIM enhances sustainability through energy simulations, material selection, waste reduction, and energy monitoring. However, challenges like talent shortage, interoperability issues, data management, and lack of standardization hinder its widespread use. Current research lacks systematic exploration of BIM's application in green buildings' life cycle, limiting further development. To fill this research gap, this study aims to provide a systematic review of the application of BIM in the design, construction and operation stages of the whole life cycle of green buildings. As a guideline to conduct this research, the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) model are used to identify the main procedures for literature screening and review. Through the systematic review, the main applications of BIM technology in green buildings are summarized, while the challenges in the current applications and the corresponding solutions are discussed. Finally, the study proposes key points for the future development of BIM to help the construction industry truly realize the development of man and nature and harmony and greenery.

Towards net-zero embodied carbon: Investigating the potential for ambitious embodied carbon reductions in Australian office buildings

Embodied carbon is recognised as a major contributor to building-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In response, ambitious targets have been posed to reduce embodied carbon in the built environment, including the aspiration of ‘net-zero embodied carbon’. This research uses a life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology to explore the magnitude of embodied carbon reductions viable within a multi-storey office building in Australia. It compares a typical building with more ambitious design scenarios to determine if net-zero embodied carbon is feasible in the current context and how design, material and methological decisions impact this. The results show that upfront embodied carbon reductions of 17–45% are achieveable with ambitious design and material changes, including a full timber structure, hybrid timber-aluminium façade, reduced columns grids, straw insulation, and more. However, the magnitude of reductions is highly influenced by material data sources and methodology. Net-zero embodied carbon was achievable when considering biogenic emissions stored in timber and other biomaterials, although only temporarily, for a period of up to 19 years. In response, we propose a new term ‘temporal net-zero embodied carbon’ to identify the point in time during a building's life cycle when it can no longer be considered a temporary carbon sink. The paper concludes by highlighting the opportunties and challenges temporal net-zero embodied carbon presents in terms of transparency and reliability of metrics, the need for consistent approaches to measurement and benchmarking, and the challenges of achieving large-scale embodied carbon reductions in the office sector.

Occupancy Comfort Evaluation in Green Building Rating Tools in Malaysia: A Comparative Review

Passive design strategy is the approach that maximizing utilization of natural resources to achieve occupancy comfort which covers the thermal comfort, visual comfort and acoustic comfort while minimizing secondary energy usage. Adapting passive design strategy during building design-stage is beneficial in reducing energy load of the building for long term, furthermore to reduce the energy consumption in day to day building operation. Applying Green Building Rating Tools, GBRT promotes passive design strategy for non-residential building and will assist the building designer to comply with the local and international standard. The minimum requirement of occupancy comfort is captured in GBRT rating system with different approach and intension of the system. This review summarize the coverage of passive design strategy sectors for non-residential building in Malaysia by comparing three GBRT system namely Green Building Index, GBI NCNR, MyCREST ICSAS and GreenRE NRB system. GreenRE NRB seems more aggressive in occupancy comfort evaluation compared to GBI NCNR and MyCREST ICSAS. GreenRE allocates 48.7% of total marks focus on occupancy comfort aspect while GBI and MyCREST allocates 14% and 13.2% respectively from the total score. MyCrest had enforce the mandatory compliance of OTTV, RTTV and Uroof to meet baseline requirement as per MS1525:2019 with zero marks allocation. Based on marks percentage allocation, GBI and MyCrest prioritizing visual comfort while GreenRE give more focus on thermal comfort with higher marks allocation. All rating system give less focus on acoustic comfort. On average, 16.3% of marks covers the thermal comfort, 9% covers visual comfort and 1% cover acoustic comfort. GBI and MyCrest focus more on green building materials which covers the building lifecycle includes water management and waste disposal. All system contributes to Malaysia-UNFCCC ratification of Paris Agreement on 45% GHG reduction in longer runs.

Conceptual Framework of Information Flow Synchronization Throughout the Building Lifecycle

The construction industry’s reliance on traditional methods and fragmented workflows results in significant information loss, inefficiencies, increased costs, and errors. This study addresses these issues by integrating comprehensive urban planning with building information modeling (BIM) to create a seamless information flow throughout the building lifecycle. We propose a holistic framework that synchronizes data from planning to demolition, incorporating national and municipal digital twins. An imperative literature review and analysis of international best practices were conducted to develop a conceptual framework aimed at improving data accuracy and interoperability. Our findings underscore the importance of adopting open standards such as Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) and CityGML for effective information exchange. By implementing an information model (IM)-based approach in urban planning and public sector permit processes, project timelines can be streamlined, and regulatory compliance enhanced. This study concludes that continuous, integrated information flow facilitates more efficient, cost-effective construction practices and improved decision-making. Furthermore, this research illustrates the potential of digital twin technology to revolutionize the construction industry by enabling real-time data integration and fostering stakeholder collaboration, ultimately offering a robust framework for practitioners, and significantly enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of construction processes.

Research on Carbon Emission Pre-Assessment of Residential Buildings in Xi’an City during the Scheme Design Stage

The effect of energy saving and carbon reduction in the building industry is closely related to the realization of China’s double carbon goal. In this study, a two-dimensional framework for building life cycle carbon emissions was established, which takes into account the early stages of building design such as the feasibility study stage and scheme design stage. Taking 57 residential buildings in Xi’an City as examples, the life cycle carbon emission characteristics of residential buildings in cold areas were introduced. This study found that the life cycle carbon emission intensity is about 45~55 kgCO2/(m2·a). The operation and maintenance stage and building materials production stage accounted for the largest proportion of carbon emissions, and the sum of carbon emissions of the two stages accounted for 92.3% of the total carbon emissions. In addition, based on the probability density function, the carbon emission intensity distributions of the building life cycle, building material production stage, building material transportation stage, and operation and maintenance stage were analyzed, and it was found that each distribution fitting graph was generally in line with a lognormal distribution, and their expected value provided a reference index for carbon emission pre-assessment in the feasibility study stage. Based on the analysis and determination of 11 independent variables that affect the total carbon emissions, such as area, floor number, story height, and number of households, a multiple linear regression model for carbon emission pre-assessment in the design stage of building schemes is proposed. The R2adj of the model is 0.985 and the error is about 10%. The prediction model can provide beneficial guidance for the life cycle carbon emission prediction in the design stage of building projects, so as to reduce carbon emissions by changing building design.

دمج تقنية نمذجة معلومات البناء مع نهج البناء المرن في صناعة الهندسة المعمارية والإنشاءات والبناء

The construction sector is a cornerstone of economic growth, encompassing building, repairing, renovating, and maintaining structures. To enhance efficiency and precision across various parameters such as time, cost, and quality, the industry has embraced innovative methodologies. Among these, Building Information Modeling (BIM) stands out, revolutionizing architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) practices. BIM entails the continuous utilization of digital models throughout the building lifecycle, facilitating seamless collaboration and decision-making. This paper serves to offer a comprehensive understanding of BIM, drawing from extensive bibliographic studies on BIM literature. It elucidates BIM's role as the genesis of Lean Construction (LC), viewed through a technical lens. Moreover, it meticulously examines the background, evolution, standardization, and adoption process of BIM. It delves into various dimensions of BIM, including levels, languages, types, and the diverse roles and professions involved in its implementation. The paper also elucidates the myriad benefits and challenges associated with integrating BIM into construction projects. Furthermore, it explores the intricate relationship between BIM and lean construction methodologies, shedding light on the synergies and potential hurdles in their convergence. By identifying key factors and barriers, the paper seeks to provide actionable insights into effectively integrating Lean Construction and BIM practices. This holistic approach aims to pave the way for enhanced project outcomes, fostering innovation and efficiency in the construction industry.

МЕТОДИКА ВЫБОРА РЕСУРСОСБЕРЕГАЮЩИХ ОРГАНИЗАЦИОННО-ТЕХНОЛОГИЧЕСКИХ РЕШЕНИЙ НА ЭТАПЕ ЗАВЕРШЕНИЯ ЖИЗНЕННОГО ЦИКЛА ЗДАНИЙ

The article discusses the main aspects of resource and energy conservation at the stage of completion of the life cycle of buildings. It is shown that the stage of completion of the life cycle is extremely important for buildings and other capital construction projects and requires a systematic approach to the choice of organizational and technological solutions for the liquidation or reconstruction of the building. The concept of the final stage of the life cycle of buildings has been clarified. The importance of making resource-saving organizational and technical decisions taken at the stage of completion of the life cycle of buildings is shown. Indicators have been developed for making appropriate organizational and technical decisions. The methodology of choosing organizational and technological solutions at the stage of completion of the life cycle of buildings, taking into account resource conservation, is presented. The methodology includes several stages, the results of which are a star-shaped infographic model of the values of organizational and technological solutions, which is created at the stage of completion of the life cycle of buildings. The methodology takes into account the indicators of resource and energy consumption for the implementation of various organizational and technological solutions. Calculation formulas for use in the infographic model are proposed: material consumption, labor costs of workers, financial costs labor costs of construction machines and mechanisms energy intensity of construction reconstruction. The proposed model is used to evaluate and select options for the feasibility of reorganizing buildings at the end of their life cycle, taking into account resource and energy conservation.

Assessing experiential performance in basketball halls: a comparative measure through post-occupancy evaluation

ABSTRACT Designing architectural spaces that effectively cater to the dynamic and evolving needs of diverse user groups is a complex and challenging task. This complexity is especially pronounced in public spaces like basketball halls, which must accommodate a wide range of user needs and have specific spatial requirements to ensure optimal functionality and user satisfaction. This study introduces a novel measure for comparing qualitative data obtained from Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) studies in basketball halls. POE is a powerful tool for assessing how well a building meets its intended purpose and user needs after a period of occupancy. However, comparing the success of different buildings can be challenging when evaluations are based on qualitative data. To address this issue, our measure incorporates the perspectives of key decision-makers involved in different stages of the building's lifecycle: the designer, facility manager, and sports manager. These perspectives are integrated using the Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) method SWARA. The validity of the proposed measure was tested through a field study. Results demonstrate its effectiveness in enabling the comparison of user-based qualitative data, offering a valuable tool for evaluating the experiential performance of basketball halls, a building type underrepresented in POE studies to date.

New guidelines on radiation survey and sanitary assessment of residential, public and industrial buildings and facilities in terms of radiation safety indicators. Part 1

The paper (in two parts) presents an overview of the new guidelines MR 2.6.1.0333-23 (approved on 01 December 2023) that supersede guidelines MU 2.6.1.2838-11, which were used for organizing radiation surveys of residential, public and industrial buildings and facilities and their sanitary assessment in terms of radiation safety indicators over the past 12 years. Due to a large number of critical comments on the document received during this period, a need for significant revision emerged. The scope of the revised document was expanded and now covers all stages of the life cycle of buildings and facilities: commissioning; operation period; overhaul and reconstruction; demolition. In the first part of the paper, the structure and legal status of the new guidelines are considered, as well as the main innovations in terms of measuring the ambient dose equivalent rate of gamma radiation, searching and identifying local radiation anomalies and sites of radioactive contamination, measuring surface contamination levels, and determining the minimum number of premises to be surveyed. The reasons for the introduction of certain changes are outlined. The issues of evaluation of measurement uncertainty, reporting of measurement results and registration of test reports are covered in detail. In the second part of the paper, numerous innovations will be considered in terms of estimating the indoor average annual equilibrium equivalent concentration of radon isotopes.

Operation and Maintenance Challenges in Building Life Cycle Management: A Literature Review with Insights from Nigeria

Building life cycle management is crucial for ensuring the longevity and efficiency of buildings. However, operation and maintenance challenges hinder the effective management of buildings, leading to dilapidation and reduced lifespan. This literature review explores the reasons for building dilapidation, the impact of professionalism and finance on building life cycle, and the essential aspects of operations and maintenance. The study reveals that poor maintenance, lack of professionalism, and inadequate funding are significant contributors to building dilapidation. Furthermore, effective operations and maintenance involve regular inspections, preventive maintenance, and timely repairs. The findings have implications for building managers, policymakers, and stakeholders in the Nigerian building industry.