Value Model For Sustainable Assessment Research Articles

Integrated Value Model for Sustainable Assessment of Modular Residential Towers: Case Study: Ten Degrees Croydon and Apex House in London

Modular construction can become sustainable by making all aspects of the design and construction process more effective during all phases. This paper aims to develop and use a sustainability assessment model for modular residential buildings in two case studies. This research uses the Integrated Value Model for Sustainable Assessment (MIVES), which is a multi-criteria decision-making model for sustainability assessment. This model considers all aspects of sustainability, environmental, economic and social, and helps stakeholders make decisions. Few previous studies have assessed all these aspects in full and MIVES make this assessment possible. For assessment purposes, two modular buildings have been chosen, namely “Ten Degrees Croydon” as the tallest high-rise modular residential building in the world and “Apex House” as the second tallest modular building in the world, both in London. These residential towers were assessed using MIVES, demonstrating a very satisfactory sustainability index in all the above aspects.

Life cycle triple bottom line sustainability assessment of coal mine overburden sand versus river sand

Crushed coal mine overburden (OB) waste rock has been found to be a promising, robust, and reliable alternative of river sand as fine aggregate in several construction applications. The processing of OB to application ready specification requires preprocessing that may cause negative environmental impacts. The environmental impacts have been quantified in previous studies. However, the economic and social impacts were not addressed, which has created confusion among practitioners and policy makers to take initiatives in promoting OB sand as a sustainable geomaterial considering the triple bottom line (environmental, economic, and social) approach. The present study uses Quantitative Assessment of Life Cycle Sustainability (QUALICS) framework that incorporates Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Integrated Value Model for Sustainable Assessment (MIVES) for integrated triple bottom line (environmental, economic, and social) assessment of processing of OB sand versus typical river sand. OB sand is found to cause relatively less impact in 6 out of 10 indicators in environmental assessment. High direct cost is neutralized by the monetized environmental benefit, direct benefits, and indirect benefits. The social score rating of OB sand is found to be relatively higher than river sand for all four criteria of social assessment (individual, community, socio-environmental, and socio-economic). The integrated sustainability indices for OB sand and river sand were determined to be 0.60 and 0.33, respectively, when equal weightage was given to all three triple bottom line aspects. These results clearly demonstrate that OB sand is a more sustainable option compared to river sand. Furthermore, conducting a sensitivity analysis with increased weightages assigned to the economic and social aspects reaffirmed that OB sand can be a sustainable replacement to river sand as fine aggregate.

An Investment Decision Model for Underground Urban Utility Tunnel Based on MIVES and Real Option Theory from a Sustainable Perspective

Although the importance of urbanization, urban renewal and sustainable development have been increasingly recognized, with the accelerating process of urbanization, the urban above-ground space is no longer sufficient for the process of urbanization, and downward development of the city has become inevitable. Underground Urban Utility Tunnel (UUUT) is an effective measure to promote the sustainable development of urban underground space (UUS). However, decision makers still cannot fully consider the economic, social, environmental and technological factors, as well as the future risks of the project and the value of flexibility in management. In this paper, an investment decision model for UUUT is proposed that combines the Integrated Value Model for Sustainable Assessment (MIVES) and the real option theory, which comprehensively considers the social, economic, environmental and technological impacts, and assists the government in carrying out the investment decision analysis of UUUT from a sustainability perspective by applying the real option theory to the economic evaluation process. The primary process of this study can be divided into four steps. (1) establishment of the investment decision index system for UUUT; (2) determination of the quantitative criteria for each indicator; (3) calculation of the feasibility of UUUT; and (4) a case study to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed model, as well as the achieved results. The proposed investment decision model can be used as an auxiliary tool in the early planning stage of UUUT, and also for the comparison and selection of different options for UUUT.

Sustainability-Oriented Approach to Assist Decision Makers in Building Facade Management

The building sector has a major economic, environmental, and social impact on society; hence, it is crucial to promote sustainable construction practice. The facade is one of the largest main components of a building, which could strongly contribute to the sustainability performance for the whole building. Previous studies started defining tools to assess facade sustainability, although relevant indicators were dismissed or, if considered, they were rather subjectively quantified. Likewise, most existing tools omit stakeholder satisfaction in the assessment process for optimal facade systems. In this regard, this paper presents a new systematic approach based on the Integrated Value Model for Sustainable Assessment (MIVES) for holistic sustainability assessment of building facade systems by integrating stakeholders’ satisfaction in the decision-making process. To this end, for the first time to the authors’ best knowledge, the most representative and discriminative indicators for quantifying facade sustainability were identified to define a new approach to minimize subjectivity in the decision-making process and, consequently, to ease the task of decision makers when choosing and designing facade alternatives for new buildings and rehabilitation. This approach is validated and initially applied to assess the six most common residential facade systems in Barcelona, Spain. Results indicate that these building elements have low to medium sustainability performance.

Evaluation of Reinforced Adobe Techniques for Sustainable Reconstruction in Andean Seismic Zones

This research presents a methodological process for selecting the most appropriate construction technique for the reconstruction of housing after a seismic disaster in a rural and heritage context. This process, which is applicable to a large part of the Andean region, incorporates sustainability criteria to guarantee the economic, social and environmental balance of the intervention. The methodology was developed on a case study: the Colca Valley in Arequipa, Peru. In 2016 an earthquake affected this zone, where traditional unreinforced earthen buildings suffered serious damage. The objective of this research focuses on comparing six traditional building techniques strongly related to self-building: four techniques for adobe housing—reinforced with cane (CRA), wire mesh (WMRA), geogrid (GRA) and halyard ropes (HRRA)—and two techniques for masonry buildings— confined (CM) and reinforced (RM). For this purpose the authors used the Integrated Value Model for Sustainable Assessment (MIVES), a Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) model used to compare alternatives by assigning a “sustainability index” to each evaluated construction technique. This research study includes two types of variables: quantitative, such as economy ($/m2) and environmental impact (kgCO2/m2), among others, and qualitative, such as perception of safety, respect for the urban image and popular knowledge. The research results show that reinforced adobe techniques are a viable and competitive option, highlighting the cane reinforced adobe technique (CRA), with a value of 0.714 in relation to industrialized materials such as masonry. This technique has the same safety characteristics, but at almost half the price, with the additional advantage of using traditional materials and construction methods, having less environmental impact and showing better thermal performance in cold climates.

Integrated Value Model to Assess the Sustainability of Active Learning Activities and Strategies in Architecture Lectures for Large Groups

At present, university professors lack the tools to know which is the most sustainable activity and/or strategy that should be incorporated into large-group theoretical classes in order to improve our students’ learning process whilst taking each scenario into account. These scenarios have different order thinking levels, numbers of students, available time, classroom size and professor skills, among other factors to consider. In architecture schools we have this problem in theoretical lectures. This project has developed and applied a new multi-criteria decision making tool incorporating a mathematical algorithm in order to choose the best set of active learning activities for each case for these lectures in architectural technology courses. This process has relied on seminars involving experts and the use of The Integrated Value Model for Sustainable Assessment. This tool has been very useful to solve the aforementioned problems because architecture professors have been able to choose the most sustainable activity for each scenario considering the alternative sustainability indexes. This first application has been highly useful to assist professors to incorporate active learning methodologies in their classes and to promote lecturers’ management of their course contents and time. Future improved versions of this tool will increase its interactivity and broaden its scope.

Quantitative Assessment of Life Cycle Sustainability (QUALICS): Framework and its application to assess electrokinetic remediation

In recent years, the broader environmental impacts of remediation that arise from different remediation activities has drawn attention of practitioners, remediation design professionals and academicians to evaluate the net environmental benefit of environmental remediation projects. The main objective of this paper is to describe the Quantitative Assessment of Life Cycle Sustainability (QUALICS) framework, a new tool developed to strengthen decision-making in the selection of sustainable remedial technologies for the clean-up of contaminated sites. The proposed framework is a combination of two multi-criteria evaluation methods namely, the Integrated Value Model for Sustainable Assessment (MIVES) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The QUALICS uses a multi-criteria assessment framework to support decision-making in remediation projects. A description of the methodology adopted for sustainability assessment of alternative remedial strategies using QUALICS framework is presented in this study. In addition, a case study is discussed to demonstrate the application of the QUALICS framework for the sustainability assessment of different remediation options for clean-up of a contaminated site. The case study involves sustainability assessment of different remediation options namely, electrokinetic remediation (EKR), excavation/disposal, and phytoremediation for remediation of a contaminated site. A sensitivity analysis was also performed for the EKR option by varying different parameters including electrode materials, energy source, electrolyte used, to analyze their influence on the sustainability of the alternative remedial options. The proposed framework can also be applied to any project in general to quantify and compare the sustainability indices of each of the alternative options considered and thereby identify the most sustainable option.

Use of Steel and Polyolefin Fibres in the La Canda Tunnels: Applying MIVES for Assessing Sustainability Evaluation

Construction involves the use of significant quantities of raw materials and entails high-energy consumption. For the sake of choosing the most appropriate solution that considers environmental and sustainable concepts, tools such as the integrated value model for sustainable assessment (Modelo Integrado de Valor para una Evaluación Sostenible, MIVES) used in Spain, plays a key role in obtaining the best solution. MIVES is a multi-criteria decision-making method based on the value function concept and the seminars delivered by experts. Such tools, in order to show how they may work, require application to case studies. In this paper, two concrete slabs manufactured with differing reinforcements during the construction of the La Canda Tunnels are compared by means of MIVES. The two concrete slabs were reinforced with a conventional steel-mesh and with polyolefin fibres. This research was focussed on the main aspects affecting the construction. That is to say, the environmental, economic, and social factors were assessed by the method, being of special impact the issues related with maintenance of the structure. The results showed that from the point of view of sustainability, the use of polyolefin fibres provided a significant advantage, mainly due to the lower maintenance required.

Can Polyolefin Fibre Reinforced Concrete Improve the Sustainability of a Flyover Bridge?

The use of polyolefin fibre reinforced concrete (PFRC) as an alternative for reducing the reinforcing steel bars employed in reinforced concrete has become real in the past years. This contribution analyses the improvements in sustainability that a change in the aforementioned reinforcement configuration might provide in a flyover bridge. Economic, environmental and social parameters of both possibilities were studied by means of the integrated value model for sustainable assessment. Such model, which acronym is MIVES (Modelo Integrado de Valor para una Evaluación Sostenible, MIVES), is a multi-criteria decision-making method based on the value function concept and the seminars delivered by experts. The results of the MIVES method showed that the use of PFRC in combination with reinforced concrete (RC) has a sustainability index 22% higher. An analysis of the parameters that form this evaluation shows that there are no remarkable differences in the financial costs between the two possibilities studied. Nevertheless, social and environmental aspects provide with a better qualification the option of building a bridge by using PFRC combined with RC.

Sustainability Assessment of Household Waste Based Solar Control Devices for Workshops in Primary Schools

Part of the large amounts of waste generated by human activities could have a second use while solving social problems. In this sense, the authors are carrying out a research project involving the participative development of innovative solar control devices integrated into school architecture using household waste. In general, the objectives of this research project are to: (a) optimize pupils’ learning process by improving lighting and thermal comfort levels and (b) reduce the generation of Spanish household waste by reusing part of it and increase the teaching community’s awareness about this waste. This research article reports on the steps taken to achieve these objectives by characterizing the most sustainable types of the waste-based solar control device. In this sense, this research paper defines and applies a new methodology which combines General Morphology Analysis (GMA), a new tool based on The Integrated Value Model for Sustainable Assessment and Focus groups. First, up to 96 different types of solar control devices composed of household waste have been defined using GMA and, second, these 96 types and conventional roller shutters have been assessed using this new tool. Based on these article results, one of the best alternatives has been prototyped during an initial workshop.

A combination of the Knapsack algorithm and MIVES for choosing optimal temporary housing site locations: A case study in Tehran

In the aftermath of natural disasters, decision-makers often clash when tackling the challenge of choosing suitable temporary housing unit (THU) site locations. Site location considerably impacts temporary housing (TH) delivery time and the displaced population's (DP's) satisfaction. At the same time, selecting a suitable site is important to help increase the performance of the THUs in their subsequent life. To this end, this study aimed to design a new model for selecting site location based on sustainability concepts. The new model combines the integrated value model for sustainable assessment (MIVES) and the Knapsack algorithm to identify a subset of sustainable sites amongst the possible options based on the required area. The new model was applied to determine the best subset of sites for THUs for a seismic hazard along the Mosha fault in Tehran, Iran. The results show that weighting techniques can result in inappropriate weights for some indicators.

Methodology for the development of a new Sustainable Infrastructure Rating System for Developing Countries (SIRSDEC)

The improvement of infrastructures in developing countries has become a priority for the most advanced economies, which have founded a broad range of international development organizations to undertake infrastructure projects worldwide. Infrastructure is the key driver that can accelerate the balance among the economic, social and environmental aspects forming the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) in these countries. Given the lack of appropriate tools to ensure the achievement of this goal, this paper describes the methodology conceived for the development of a Sustainable Infrastructure Rating System (SIRSDEC) aimed at promoting the design, construction and operation of sustainable infrastructure projects in these geographical areas. SIRSDEC is structured into a hierarchical decision-making tree consisting of three levels of elements (requirements, criteria and indicators) selected to assess infrastructure systems according to sustainability principles. The methodology on which SIRSDEC is based combines the action of two multi-criteria decision-making methods (MCDM) such as the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Integrated Value Model for Sustainable Assessment (MIVES). AHP is proposed to weight the elements forming the decision-making tree after processing the opinions provided by a group of international experts regarding the importance of requirements, criteria and indicators, whilst MIVES is suggested to value infrastructure projects according to their contribution to the TBL. The article emphasizes the added value provided by the combination of AHP and MIVES in the design of an ad-hoc rating system aimed at fostering the implementation of sustainable infrastructure projects in developing countries.

Application of the Sustainable Infrastructure Rating System for Developing Countries (SIRSDEC) to a case study

A large amount of international public and private not-for-profit organizations strives to enhance the conditions of less developed economies under the flagship of sustainability throughout a wide range of infrastructure projects. However, the results are uncertain. Sustainable development in poorer countries requires effective frameworks to ensure the balanced consideration of social, economic and environmental dimensions. This paper discusses the application of the Sustainable Infrastructure Rating System for Developing Countries (SIRSDEC) to a mining infrastructure project located in Peru, in order to validate the methodology developed for this framework. The opinions returned from a questionnaire addressed to international experts according to the pairwise comparison scale of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method were processed to obtain the weights of the elements forming the decision-making tree of SIRSDEC. The Integrated Value Model for Sustainable Assessment (MIVES) was introduced to assess infrastructure projects through the definition of value functions for each sustainability indicator, which enables the integration of variables measured in different units into a standardized value index. The weights obtained for SIRSDEC reflected the balance of the three pillars of sustainability, with a slight predominance of the social dimension. The case study highlighted the contribution of the new system to identify key sustainability issues which were omitted in the original project and posed several actions to improve community’s perception and facilitate the development of the project.

Sustainable alternative of structural concrete retaining tanks

The environmental footprint of the construction industry requires the quantification of new developments to appraise their sustainable contribution. Recent developments in relation to the merging of steel fibre reinforced concrete and self-compacting concrete reveal a promising concrete technology that requires extensive experimental studies to assess its benefits. In this study, a constructive analysis of a steel fibre-reinforced self-compacting concrete (SFRSCC) retaining tank segment mockup for waste water treatment systems in terms of its sustainability and economic parameters is performed. The Integrated Value Model for Sustainable Assessment (MIVES) multiple-criteria decision-making method is applied as an environmental assessment tool, which includes economic and social requirements. Although the presented methodology penalises the SFRSCC because of its high cement consumption, in aggressive exposures, reinforced concrete (RC) also requires a noticeable cement dosage. Cement optimisation is the governing criterion and where SFRSCC has more room for improvement. However, SFRSCC favours other social issues that allow the improvement of its final Environmental Sensitivity Index, being superior than RC. Overall cost would remain similar since the reduction of construction period would contribute to balance the increase of material cost and would provide intangible benefits, such as reduction of occupational accidents.

Multicriteria Decision-Making Method for Sustainable Site Location of Post-Disaster Temporary Housing in Urban Areas

AbstractMany people lose their homes around the world every year because of natural disasters, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and hurricanes. In the aftermath of a natural disaster, the displaced people (DP) have to move to temporary housing (TH) and do not have the ability to choose the settlement dimensions, distributions, neighborhood, or other characteristics of their TH. Additionally, post-disaster settlement construction causes neighborhood changes, environmental degradation, and large-scale public expenditures. This paper presents a new model to support decision makers in choosing site locations for TH. The model is capable of determining the optimal site location based on the integration of economic, social, and environmental aspects into the whole life cycle of these houses. The integrated value model for sustainable assessment (MIVES), a multicriteria decision making (MCDM) model, is used to assess the sustainability of the aforementioned aspects, and MIVES includes the value function concept, w...

Sustainability assessment methodology for industrial buildings: three case studies

ABSTRACTFew other sectors have such a great impact on sustainability as the construction industry, which has expressed growing concerns in this regard for a long time, mainly focusing on the environmental dimension. The sustainability assessment methodology tested in this study is the Integrated Value Model for Sustainable Assessment – MIVES, applied to industrial buildings. In addition to traditional requirements (environmental, economic, and social), this non-commercial methodology involves other aspects of sustainability that are also important (employee safety, functionality, and corporate image) to establish a means of evaluation. Its reliability is tested here through its application to three case studies. MIVES is an AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process)-based Multi-Criteria Decision-Making methodology that can be applied in any field. In this study, its specific focus is on improvements to sustainability in construction.

Multi-criteria decision-making method for assessing the sustainability of post-disaster temporary housing units technologies: A case study in Bam, 2003

Temporary housing units (THUs) have been used for displaced population (DP) in the aftermath of natural disasters to serve as an alternative residence while the permanent housing process is completed. A THU is often provided as a prefabricated system, which has been criticized due to the economic, environmental, and social aspects of THUs. However, this model has been widely used in previous recovery programs. Additionally, it should be highlighted that the lack of potential of certain areas persuades decision-makers to implement the THUs. This paper presents a new model for choosing optimized THUs based on the sustainability concept. This model supports decision-makers in selecting a more adequate type of THU, to reduce the negative impact of temporary housing (TH) when there is no other possibility.The Integrated Value Model for Sustainable Assessment (MIVES), a Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) model that includes the value function concept, is used to evaluate the sustainability value of each THU alternative.THU technologies that had been suggested for the Bam earthquake recovery program by a semi-public organization have been analysed by this method to achieve two aims: (1) to determine the most sustainable technology to use and (2) to test the designed model.

Roofs of the Future: Rooftop Greenhouses to Improve Buildings Metabolism

Ancient civilizations had agriculture production in their metropolis but modern urban planning separated agriculture from cities, such as Chandigarh by Le Corbusier. At present, FAO estimates that urban agriculture produces food for a quarter of world's population, reducing food transport, package and waste impact among others and improving food safety. Meanwhile, city governments and citizens are reinventing their roofs usage in order to take more advantage of them. Rooftop Greenhouses (RTGs) are an interesting option because they increase the scarce green area of the cities, create new agricultural spaces and promote food self-sufficiency in urban areas among other growing interests. RTGs are greenhouses located on the roof of the buildings that usually produce food using soil-less culture systems. These structures as well as the green façades called Vertical Farming (VF) are part of the “building-based Urban Agriculture (UA)”.In this sense, this article presents the first results of the research project Fertilecity, which aims to analyze, from a technological and sustainability approach, a new agricultural production system for Mediterranean urban areas through the integration of greenhouses on the roof of buildings. This innovative system is an integrated RTG (i-RTG) that includes energy, water and CO2 flows in the metabolism of the building. Multidisciplinary experts participate in Fertilecity Project using multiple methods such as Life Cycle Assessment and the Integrated Value Model for Sustainable Assessment (MIVES). Their first results are: a review of the main experiences in UA; an environmental and economic life cycle analysis of implementing Rooftop Greenhouses (RTGs) in Barcelona and the construction of the ICTA Rooftop Greenhouse Lab (RTG-Lab) near Barcelona. This project aims to demonstrate the potential of i-RTGs and quantify their environmental, economic and social benefits, as well as study how they can change the image of our cities.

Integrated value model for sustainable assessment applied to technologies used to build schools in Catalonia, Spain

This paper shows a study to find out which technology proves to be the most sustainable to use to build schools in a place where an important shortage of this type of buildings exists. This study searches for the architectural technology which has the least economic, environmental and social impact to solve the need for the urgent construction of hundreds of educational centers in Catalonia, Spain, in the early 2000s.The Integrated Value Model for Sustainable Assessment (Modelo Integrado de Valor para una Evaluación Sostenible – MIVES) has been used in this research to generate a dynamic assessment tool which has been optimized for this case study. To that end exclusively the most significant and discriminatory indicators have been considered: timeframes, initial and maintenance cost; waste, emissions and energy consumption by different life cycle phases; safety, edifice enlargements and function changes… MIVES is a Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) which includes the value function concept and relies upon seminars by experts. Assigning weights and value functions during these workshops brings rigor and objectivity to the assessment.The resulting tool has been tested analyzing 4 technologies: on site concrete, prefabricated concrete, prefabricated steel and prefabricated timber; in order to obtain their sustainability indexes. This tool has proven very useful assessing these technologies and will also be helpful during decision making processes to choose which technology should be used to build the most sustainable school center.

Industrial building design stage based on a system approach to their environmental sustainability

It is well known how the construction sector wields an enormous influence over economic activity, employment and growth rates. Further consideration still needs to be given to sustainability. Accordingly, an Integrated Value Model for Sustainable Assessment is presented in this article that applies a set of six study scopes to define the sustainability criteria of industrial buildings. Assignment of value functions to the sustainability criteria is then described in the context of a case study of a printing works, which demonstrates the effectiveness of this model at unifying both qualitative and quantitative indicators, in order to arrive at a specific “environmental sustainability index” for the industrial building.