Improving the feasibility of building deconstruction and adaptability

Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2010.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 91-93).Design for Adaptability and Deconstruction (DfAD) is an emerging trend in the construction industry that focuses on the end-of-life aspect of buildings. It is based on the concept that the life of a building or building component ends because it is unable to adapt to change. With proper implementation, DfAD is an important tool to achieve sustainable design for buildings, as it ideally may form a closed materials loop for construction materials by optimizing the amount of materials salvaged at the end of a building's useful life through deconstruction. This thesis focuses on ways to improve the feasibility of deconstruction and material savings, primarily through DfAD. By implementing DfAD principles and guidelines, designing with reusable materials, and planning and implementing a project effectively, the current practical and economic barriers to deconstruction may be mitigated. This thesis presents the essential considerations for deconstruction and materials salvage and presents potential policies to improve its viability. Three case studies present the applications of DfAD approaches and the lessons learned from common challenges associated with deconstruction.by Karen E. Quinn.M.Eng

Optimal design of HVAC systems for the design of nearly Zero Energy Buildings under different climate conditions

This master thesis aims to develop a methodology to identify the optimal operation of different HVAC system configurations for different climate conditions and building typologies. To reach the objective, the work is carried out in three main steps using dedicated tools (DesignBuilder, EnergyPlus, and eppy script (python language)) and running co-simulation. In addition, the nZEB standard established by the most recent edition of the Spanish Technical Building Code is addressed in this study through a parametric optimization study of a reference building. The effectiveness of this legislation is evaluated in terms of its capacity to disseminate the idea of building energy cost optimization and reduce the annual energy consumption in the residential sector. To this end, a reference building was designed and multiple HVAC designs were evaluated using DesignBuilder building energy simulation software and found the best optimization of HVAC solutions through EnergyPlus and eppy. In total, a set of 30 alternative scenarios was established and parametrically evaluated for 5 cities representing the 5 climatic zones of inland Spain (Bilbao, Burgos, Seville, Madrid, and Almeria) resulting in 150 simulations. The results were evaluated utilizing annual energy consumption (electricity, natural gas, and other fuels) values concerning the calibration of set point manager temperature (heating), obtaining the cost-optimal and minimum consumption levels of annual energy. It is worth mentioning that this study is mainly concentrating on the Energy Supply System (ESS), where the Energy Saving Measure (ESM) is kept unchanged, which should be reviewed in future updates

Measuring knowledge sharing processes through social network analysis within construction organisations

The construction industry is a knowledge intensive and information dependent industry. Organisations risk losing valuable knowledge, when the employees leave them. Therefore, construction organisations need to nurture opportunities to disseminate knowledge through strengthening knowledge-sharing networks. This study aimed at evaluating the formal and informal knowledge sharing methods in social networks within Australian construction organisations and identifying how knowledge sharing could be improved. Data were collected from two estimating teams in two case studies. The collected data through semi-structured interviews were analysed using UCINET, a Social Network Analysis (SNA) tool, and SNA measures. The findings revealed that one case study consisted of influencers, while the other demonstrated an optimal knowledge sharing structure in both formal and informal knowledge sharing methods. Social networks could vary based on the organisation as well as the individuals’ behaviour. Identifying networks with specific issues and taking steps to strengthen networks will enable to achieve optimum knowledge sharing processes. This research offers knowledge sharing good practices for construction organisations to optimise their knowledge sharing processes

The 45th Australasian Universities Building Education Association Conference: Global Challenges in a Disrupted World: Smart, Sustainable and Resilient Approaches in the Built Environment, Conference Proceedings, 23 - 25 November 2022, Western Sydney University, Kingswood Campus, Sydney, Australia

This is the proceedings of the 45th Australasian Universities Building Education Association (AUBEA) conference which will be hosted by Western Sydney University in November 2022. The conference is organised by the School of Engineering, Design, and Built Environment in collaboration with the Centre for Smart Modern Construction, Western Sydney University. This year’s conference theme is “Global Challenges in a Disrupted World: Smart, Sustainable and Resilient Approaches in the Built Environment”, and expects to publish over a hundred double-blind peer review papers under the proceedings

Knowledge Capturing in Design Briefing Process for Requirement Elicitation and Validation

Knowledge capturing and reusing are major processes of knowledge management that deal with the elicitation of valuable knowledge via some techniques and methods for use in actual and further studies, projects, services, or products. The construction industry, as well, adopts and uses some of these concepts to improve various construction processes and stages. From pre-design to building delivery knowledge management principles and briefing frameworks have been implemented across project stakeholders: client, design teams, construction teams, consultants, and facility management teams. At pre-design and design stages, understanding the client’s needs and users’ knowledge are crucial for identifying and articulating the expected requirements and objectives. Due to underperforming results and missed goals and objectives, many projects finish with highly dissatisfied clients and loss of contracts for some organizations. Knowledge capturing has beneficial effects via its principles and methods on requirement elicitation and validation at the briefing stage between user, client and designer. This paper presents the importance and usage of knowledge capturing and reusing in briefing process at pre-design and design stages especially the involvement of client and user, and explores the techniques and technologies that are usable in briefing process for requirement elicitation

An Investigation on Benefit-Cost Analysis of Greenhouse Structures in Antalya

Significant population increase across the world, loss of cultivable land and increasing demand for food put pressure on agriculture. To meet the demand, greenhouses are built, which are, light structures with transparent cladding material in order to provide controlled microclimatic environment proper for plant production. Conceptually, greenhouses are similar with manufacturing buildings where a controlled environment for manufacturing and production have been provided and proper spaces for standardized production processes have been enabled. Parallel with the trends in the world, particularly in southern regions, greenhouse structures have been increasingly constructed and operated in Turkey. A significant number of greenhouses are located at Antalya. The satellite images demonstrated that for over last three decades, there has been a continuous invasion of greenhouses on all cultivable land. There are various researches and attempts for the improvement of greenhouse design and for increasing food production by decreasing required energy consumption. However, the majority of greenhouses in Turkey are very rudimentary structures where capital required for investment is low, but maintenance requirements are high when compared with new generation greenhouse structures. In this research paper, life-long capital requirements for construction and operation of greenhouse buildings in Antalya has been investigated by using benefit-cost analysis study