Sustainable Material Selection Research Articles

Determining the importance levels of criteria in selection of sustainable building materials and obstacles in their use

The construction industry has become the focal point of sustainability as one of the largest con- sumers of natural resources and waste producers. A sustainable construction industry is possible with the sustainability of building materials, which is the main factor controlling the construc- tion management process. In this research, the importance levels of a total of 17 criteria under the headings of economic, environmental, and social sustainability in terms of sustainability of building materials and the importance levels of 11 obstacles to the use of sustainable materials were investigated through a survey conducted with the participation of 60 people. Whether there were differences between the participants’ opinions was investigated through inferential analysis. In ranking criteria according to their importance level, the health of workers and cit- izens, safety in construction and operation, and toxic emissions took the first three places. The risks of higher initial cost, total cost, and extra time are the biggest obstacles to using sustainable materials. In addition, the obstacles were subjected to factor analysis, and a model consisting of four factors was created. The study revealed the criteria for sustainable material selection and the barriers to sustainable material use in a holistic manner. In this respect, it is evaluated that it will be a guide for governments, local governments, building material manufacturers, designers, contractors, and ultimately users to achieve a more sustainable construction sector.

The Pilot Creation of Sustainable Stall Design to Promote Temporary Pottery Market in the Baan Muang Kung Community

Although local intellectual property products have received support from both the government and private sectors, including increasing consumer interest in craft products, the residents of the Muang Kung community, Chiang Mai province, who produce handmade clay pottery with unique and distinctive shaping techniques and intricate patterns, still lack a market space to accommodate their products. Therefore, it is necessary to study the sustainable market format to help promote community products appropriately and stimulate tourism in this area. This research aims to achieve the following objectives (1) Study sustainable market pattern design principles suitable for community markets (2) Explore the potential capabilities and the local community’s requirements in market (3) Propose sustainable market design guideline to promote community products. This research primarily explores the sustainability value of a sustainable market within the field of retail design, employing qualitative research methods such as interviews, observational note-taking, photography, and comparative case study analysis. The on-site survey to determine the project's feasibility involved convening a community meeting with 50 residents to discuss findings. The outcomes of this gathering were then used in designing the temporary market. The findings present design guidelines that illustrate how markets continue to play important socio-economic roles in local communities, serving as key components that can be transformed to promote sustainable development. The proposed design practice guidelines encompass considerations such as site layout, the application of sustainable design principles, including the thoughtful selection of sustainable materials, the incorporation of flexible design, and the creation of participatory area experiences to attract people.

A Review of Sustainable Concrete Construction: Strategies, Advancements, and Future Directions

The construction industry significantly impacts the environment. This review article explores various strategies and advancements in sustainable concrete construction, focusing on environmentally friendly concrete constituents, novel construction approaches, and sustainable material selection practices. The article discusses the benefits and potential of green concrete, permeable concrete, cool concrete, Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC), and the integration of local aggregates. Novel approaches like Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs), photocatalytic concrete, 3D-printed concrete, and self-healing concrete are examined for their potential to revolutionize construction practices. Furthermore, the article explores the utilization of low-carbon concrete mixes with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs). Challenges and considerations associated with sustainable concrete construction are also addressed, including the need for continued research, complex design considerations, economic barriers, and the importance of awareness within the industry. Finally, the article provides recommendations for future advancements, including research and development efforts, standardized practices, economic incentives, and collaborative initiatives to overcome regulatory hurdles. By implementing these recommendations, the construction industry can leverage the full potential of sustainable concrete construction for a more environmentally friendly and resilient future.

Towards More Sustainable Aqueous Zinc‐Ion Batteries

AbstractAqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs) are considered as the promising candidates for large‐scale energy storage because of their high safety, low cost and environmental benignity. The large‐scale applications of AZIBs will inevitably result in a large amount of spent AZIBs, which not only induce the waste of resources, but also pose environmental risks. Therefore, sustainable AZIBs have to be considered to minimize the risk of environmental pollution and maximize the utilization of spent compounds. Herein, this minireview focuses on the sustainability of AZIBs from material design and recycling techniques. The structure and degradation mechanism of AZIBs are discussed to guide the recycling design of the materials. Subsequently, the sustainability of component materials in AZIBs is further analysed to pre‐evaluate their recycling behaviors and mentor the selection of more sustainable component materials, including active materials in cathodes, Zn anodes, and aqueous electrolytes, respectively. According to the features of component materials, corresponding green and economic approaches are further proposed to realize the recycling of active materials in cathodes, Zn anodes and electrolytes, respectively. These advanced technologies endow the recycling of component materials with high efficiency and a closed‐loop control, ensuring that AZIBs will be the promising candidates of sustainable energy storage devices. This review will offer insight into potential future directions in the design of sustainable AZIBs.

Towards More Sustainable Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are considered as the promising candidates for large-scale energy storage because of their high safety, low cost and environmental benignity. The large-scale applications of AZIBs will inevitably result in a large amount of spent AZIBs, which not only induce the waste of resources, but also pose environmental risks. Therefore, sustainable AZIBs have to be considered to minimize the risk of environmental pollution and maximize the utilization of spent compounds. Herein, this minireview focuses on the sustainability of AZIBs from material design and recycling techniques. The structure and degradation mechanism of AZIBs are discussed to guide the recycling design of the materials. Subsequently, the sustainability of component materials in AZIBs is further analysed to pre-evaluate their recycling behaviors and mentor the selection of more sustainable component materials, including active materials in cathodes, Zn anodes, and aqueous electrolytes, respectively. According to the features of component materials, corresponding green and economic approaches are further proposed to realize the recycling of active materials in cathodes, Zn anodes and electrolytes, respectively. These advanced technologies endow the recycling of component materials with high efficiency and a closed-loop control, ensuring that AZIBs will be the promising candidates of sustainable energy storage devices. This review will offer insight into potential future directions in the design of sustainable AZIBs.

SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS IN CONSTRUCTION

The construction industry is one of the largest exploiters of both renewable and non- renewable natural resources. It was inevitable that it would find itself at the centre of concerns regarding environmental impact. The process and operation of building construction consumes a great deal of materials throughout its service life cycle. The selection and use of sustainable building materials play an important role in the design and construction of green building. This chapter sets out to present an overview of sustainable building materials and their impacts on the environment. Materials used for the structure of buildings require properties of strength, whereas other parts, such as the envelope, are selected for their insulation or aesthetic properties. Comparisons become more complex when materials perform more than one function such as load-bearing walls that provide good thermal insulation. There is also a need to distinguish between finite resources and renewable resources when reviewing the sustainability of a material. Some materials, despite being non-renewable may be considered plentiful on earth; however, the consequences and impacts of mining them may be considered unacceptable. The effect of construction material selection will impact upon sustainability throughout the lifetime of both the material and that of the building itself. The need to maintain the building, replacing individual components, disposing of the old, and procuring the new will have environmental impact from cradle to grave. Keywords: Sustainable material, concrete, maintain, selection, renewable resource

Integration of Blockchain & Machine Learning Approach in Sustainable Material Selection

Integration of Blockchain & Machine Learning Approach in Sustainable Material Selection

A Framework for Leveraging the Incorporation of AI, BIM, and IoT to Achieve Smart Sustainable Cities

This study investigates the significance of leveraging the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Building Information Modeling (BIM), and the Internet of Things (IoT) to Achieve smart sustainable cities. Understanding their applications for Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) projects. The study encompasses three key dimensions: Design Optimization and Performance Simulation, Material and Life Cycle Sustainability, and Operational Efficiency and Environmental Impact. By leveraging BIM and AI, the research explores the integration of renewable energy, sustainable material selection, and smart building controls. BIM and AI experts were given a structured questionnaire, which was then analysed using SPSS. Descriptive and correlation analyses reveal significant positive correlations between energy efficiency and design visualization, construction sustainability visualization, as well as adaptability and education through visualization. The proposed framework deepens the capabilities of the combination of different technologies towards Smart Sustainable Cities. This work not only contributes theoretical insights to the field but also provides practical implications for industry professionals striving to enhance sustainable practices in AEC projects. Further studies to encourage a combination of other recent technologies to improve smart sustainable cities' performance.

A decision support framework to evaluate the main factors affecting the selection of sustainable materials in construction projects

A decision support framework to evaluate the main factors affecting the selection of sustainable materials in construction projects

Development of Bambusa tulda-reinforced different biopolymer matrix green composites and MCDM-based sustainable material selection for automobile applications

Development of Bambusa tulda-reinforced different biopolymer matrix green composites and MCDM-based sustainable material selection for automobile applications

Development of a hybrid artificial neural network method for evaluation of the sustainable construction projects

Planned methods may be developed to improve the efficiency of building construction. The construction business is profoundly impacted by the prevalence of inaccurate cost and schedule prediction. The main strategy to improve the project performance is to evaluate the hybrid sustainable materials using the artificial neural network (ANN) method based on the effective factors in construction projects in Iraq. This strategy needs an effective method to classify the project input representation and specify the accurate activity of each factor. This paper uses a hybrid artificial neural network to correlate and classify the sustainable hybrid of construction projects to evaluate their performance. The contribution of this method is the selection of the Multi-Criteria Decision-Maker method (MCDM) based on time and cost-effective factors correlated with the artificial neural network method. A dynamic selection procedure for project materials may be created using the existing technique as an evolutionary model for successful project completion. The MCDM observed that the appropriate sustainable material was considered as the main factor with a rank of 0.823 for cost effect and 0.735 for time effect and the main influence factor in Iraqi projects was the building height. The results present superior functional cost evaluation results correlated with the selection of hybrid sustainable materials.

Advancing circular economy in industrial chemistry and environmental engineering: Principles, alignment with United Nations sustainable development goals, and pathways to implementation

This groundbreaking review explores the crucial role of the circular economy in industrial chemistry and environmental engineering. It surpasses a mere examination of principles and methods, delving into the profound significance and urgency of this transformative shift. By analyzing key elements such as resource efficiency, waste valorization, sustainable product design, industrial symbiosis, and policy integration, the study highlights the power of collaboration, technological advancements, and extensive literature research. It reveals the remarkable alignment between the circular economy and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing how circular practices promote resource efficiency, waste reduction, and sustainable production and consumption patterns, thus driving progress across multiple SDGs. With a specific focus on responsible consumption and production, clean energy, innovative industrial practices, climate action, ecosystem protection, water resource management, job creation, economic growth, sustainable urbanization, and collaboration, the review provides a comprehensive roadmap for adopting circularity. Its practical recommendations cover sustainable material selection, resource efficiency, closing loop, digitalization, and robust policy support. In addition, it emphasizes the paramount importance of collaboration, stakeholder engagement, education, capacity building, circular supply chain management, and effective policy frameworks in spearheading circular economy initiatives. Drawing inspiration from diverse circular economy models and compelling case studies in industrial chemistry, the study highlights the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors, ensuring both sustainability and positive societal impact. This comprehensive review serves as a guiding light, demonstrating the immense potential of the circular economy in driving sustainable development. It offers actionable guidance for implementing circular practices, empowering professionals to make tangible contributions to a more sustainable future. Additionally, it serves as a foundational piece, fueling the advancement of knowledge, inspiring further research, and propelling remarkable progress in the ever-evolving fields of industrial chemistry and environmental engineering.

Decision Making Toward Sustainable Material during Planning Stage at Construction in Seberang Perai Tengah Pulau Pinang

The efficiency of using sustainable materials has been an important issue in ensuring the success of sustainable construction in Pulau Pinang. Unfortunately, the construction sector is one of the most energy-intensive sectors, contributing to global climate change and environmental issues. Thus, this study aims to identify the factor of sustainable materials selection in focusing on Seberang Perai Tengah and to determine the relationship between the decision-making factor and elements in the planning stage toward sustainable construction. The quantitative method was conducted by survey, and the instrument used was an online questionnaire survey. About 54 samples of the questionnaire were collected from those involved in the construction sector in Seberang Perai Tengah, Pulau Pinang. The result shows the factors of decision-making that have the most influence on sustainable material selection are technology and training. Meanwhile, the planning stage element that has the most significant influence on the criteria of sustainable material is the project life cycle. This study could be valuable for all parties in the construction industry, especially to the decision-maker, engineers, clients, employers and staff, academicians, policymakers, researchers, and organizations.

Design and selection of suitable sustainable phase change materials for latent heat thermal energy storage system using data-driven machine learning models

Design and selection of suitable sustainable phase change materials for latent heat thermal energy storage system using data-driven machine learning models

The Dynamics of Sustainable Material Selection for Green-Certified Projects

Material selection is a challenging process in which several parameters should be considered for green-certified projects. Hence, this study investigates the dynamics of sustainable material selection (SMS) across the project life cycle using system thinking. A dynamic model was developed based on the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design where relevant environmental categories and credits were represented, and their dependency coefficients (DCs) were computed. This pinpointed the effect of SMS on the point-accrual pattern across project phases, showing that the high leverage points were demonstrated for the operation phase. The result showed that SMS extended beyond the efficient use of materials, which indicated a DC of 100% in the Materials and Resources category to affect other sustainable categories, i.e., the indoor environmental quality, energy efficiency, and sustainability of the project site comprised 68.8%, 57.6%, and 50% of DCs, respectively. Thus, optimal SMS could earn the project 48% of the total possible points, putting it in the ‘Certified’ level. Accordingly, the proposed model can be used to evaluate the level of certification as well as the building performance therein.

BIM-enabled decision optimization analysis for architectural glass material selection considering sustainability

The careful consideration and choice of Sustainable Architectural Glass Material (SAGM) is a crucial step towards reducing energy consumption and enhancing the overall sustainability of buildings. However, the current techniques employed for selecting architectural glass material do not take into account the aspect of sustainability in the ultimate adoption of material solutions, as perceived by the stakeholders. This study aims to develop a comprehensive evaluation criteria system and introduce a group decision support framework that utilizes Building Information Modeling technology to facilitate the selection of SAGM in large-scale projects, in accordance with the demands of various stakeholders. The proposed framework is utilized to address a selection problem related to SAGM faced by a large construction corporation in Wuhan. The findings indicate that the criteria of daylighting and thermal insulation performance hold significant importance, with insulating glass being a subtype of SAGM exhibiting superior performance. Ultimately, the proposed model is subjected to sensitivity and comparative analyses to validate its advantages over several existing methodologies. The proposed model in this study offers practitioners an optimized methodology for the selection of SAGM, while also providing a framework for the selection of other sustainable building materials.

Probabilistic dual hesitant Archimedean–Dombi operators for selection of sustainable materials

Probabilistic dual hesitant Archimedean–Dombi operators for selection of sustainable materials

A Personalized Individual Semantic Extraction Model Based on Criterion for Adaptive Consensus Reaching Process Under Improved Basic Uncertain Linguistic Environment

Personalized individual semantics (PIS) is an important factor reflecting the personal habits of decision makers (DMs) and has been widely studied by scholars. Using criteria as a non-negligible information source in multi-criteria group decision making (MCGDM), how to extract PIS from it is a research gap to be solved. In addition, existing measurements of consensus are insufficiently sensitive to differences between individuals, while the current direction rules use a matrix as the unit of measurement, which is not detailed and precise enough. Therefore, this paper first constructs a PIS extraction model according to the principle that similar criteria have similar descriptions and mutually exclusive criteria have dissimilar descriptions. Secondly, the preference information of PIS is mingled with uncertainty and reliability of improved basic uncertain linguistic information (IBULI) as the data of the consensus reaching algorithm. The proposed consensus algorithm not only fully considers the dispersion of DMs in the consensus measurement stage, but also improves the objectivity of the consensus process through an adaptive feedback stage. Finally, the validity of the proposed model is verified by an example and comparative analysis of the selection of sustainable building materials.

Sustainable cathode material selection in lithium-ion batteries using a novel hybrid multi-criteria decision-making

Nowadays, energy supply chains have been entangled with many factors (e.g., overconsumption, depletion of fossil fuels, and contamination of natural resources). Besides, many efforts have been made to discern different sources of renewable energy (e.g., photovoltaic solar energy, biomass energy, and various metals for energy storage). Among the metals, lithium has been more used in different industries, particularly the lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), due to their very high reactivity and lightweight. LIBs are energy storage systems containing an electrolyte, anode, cathode, current collector, and separator. The cathode is characterized as the most significant part of LIBs since it has a significant impact on the main features of the battery (e.g., power, energy density, and lifetime). In this study, the evaluation of cathode materials is investigated based on a set of economic, environmental, and tactical criteria in three main phases. In the first phase, a hybrid multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) based on subjective, objective, and combined weights including SAW-AHP, SAW-CILOS, SAW-AHP-CILOS, TOPSIS-AHP, TOPSIS-CILOS, TOPSIS-AHP-CILOS, CoCoSo-AHP, CoCoSo-CILOS, CoCoSo-AHP-CILOS, MARCOS-AHP, MARCOS-CILOS, and MARCOS-AHP-CILOS methods is developed and the performance of cathode materials is evaluated based on the final ranking of alternatives (FRA) and Copeland methodologies. In the second phase, using the efficient and anti-efficient frontiers determined by the data envelopment analysis (DEA) model, the performance of cathode materials is evaluated. In the third phase, the performance of the three proposed methodologies is compared. The results of this study demonstrate that the hybrid MCDM-FRA methodology is more flexible than the modified DEA model and hybrid MCDM-Copeland method to address the sustainable cathode material selection problem.

A review of sustainability applications in the construction industry: perspectives and challenges

Introduction. One of the main causes of annual environmental degradation directly or indirectly is construction. The purpose of this study is to highlight current environmental issues in the construction industry. Besides how the construction sector can contribute to reducing the negative impact on the environment and creating “healthy buildings” that can be sustainable for both residents and our environment.
 Materials and methods. An overall literature survey was carried out to get relevant information and provide an overview of the current situation regarding the applications of sustainability in the construction industry. According to the selected theme, an inclusive investigation was conducted using several databases, such as Google Scholar, Scopus, eLIBRARY.RU,and ScienceDirect. Many crucial key words, such as environmental sustainability, social sustainability, economic sustainability, sustainable development, environmental issues, etc. Were used to extract data on the sustainability issues in the construction industry. The primary data was compiled in the form of tables and figures. In most cases,the emphasis was on recent data.
 Results. The most common methods for modelling sustainable construction indicators are described below, as well asthe sustainable construction materials that have been used recently.
 Conclusions. Building information modelling (BIM) appears is the single most commonly used technology today. With the development of computer technology, BIM is increasingly being used in combination with other techniques to achieve sustainable building goals. Careful selection of sustainable building materials may be the quickest way for builders to start integrating sustainable building design concepts.