The outlook of building information modeling for sustainable development

As human needs evolve, information technologies and natural environments require a wider perspective of sustainable development, especially when examining the built environment that impacts the central of social-ecological systems. The objectives of the paper are (a) to review the status and development of building information modeling (BIM) in regards to the sustainable development in the built environment, and (b) to develop a future outlook framework that promotes BIM in sustainable development. Seven areas of sustainability were classified to analyze forty-four BIM guidelines and standards. This review examines the use of BIM in sustainable development, focusing primarily on certain areas of sustainability, such as project development, design, and construction. The developed framework describes the need for collaboration with the multiple disciplines for the future adoption and use of BIM for the sustainable development. It also considers the integration between “BIM and green assessment criteria”; and “BIM and renewable energy” to address the shortcomings of the standards and guidelines

Food Industry Co-streams: Potential Raw Materials for Biodegradable Mulch Film Applications

Vast amounts of co-streams are generated from plant and animal-based food processing industries. Efficient utilization of these co-streams is important from an economic and environmental perspective. Non-utilization or under-utilization of co-streams results in loss of potential revenues, increased disposal cost of these products and environmental pollution. At present, extensive research is taking place around the globe towards recycling of co-streams to generate value-added products. This review evaluates various co-streams from food processing industries as raw materials in developing biodegradable agricultural mulching applications. Among the agriculture-based co-streams, potato peels, tomato peels, carrot residues, apple pomace, coffee residues and peanut residues were reviewed with respect to production amount, composition, film forming components and film forming capabilities. Similarly, selected co-streams from slaughterhouses, poultry and fish processing industries were also reviewed and evaluated for the same purpose