New Approach for Managing Sustainability in Projects

[Abstract] Despite the work done to date, project sustainability management (PSM) is still at an embryonic stage. The existing literature considers sustainability as a transversal aspect to be incorporated into the traditional management functions (scope, time, cost, quality, etc.). This article proposes sustainability as a key aspect of project management, with three essential components: principles, processes and competences. Regarding principles, the principle of sustainable development should be added to those generally suggested. As for processes, seven are proposed for (1) planning sustainability management; (2) establishing a sustainability breakdown structure; (3) defining the sustainability objective; (4) identifying project alternatives to achieve it; (5) planning and (6) implementing the sustainability strategy; and (7) monitoring and control. The main interrelationships between these processes and those of project initiation, planning, implementation, control, and closure are also analysed. In addition, the competences that the project manager should have in this field are identified, as well as the main criteria to take into account in order to adapt PSM processes to the characteristics of the project and the organisation. Finally, the results of a Delphi analysis carried out to validate these proposals are presented

Diseño, ingeniería, fabricación y ejecución asistidos por ordenador en la construcción: evolución y desafíos a futuro

This paper sets out an analysis on the evolution, present and potential future of computer-aided design (CAD) in construction, from the point of view of the user. The analysis includes the CAD beginnings in the 1960’s and 1970’s, and also the introduction of solid modelling, parametric systems and other progress in the 1980’s and 1990’s. Then, the essential characteristics of current software are analysed, also including its connection with other issues as computeraided engineering and manufacturing (CAE / CAM), or virtual reality (VR). The paper also includes a summary of the specific features of the main commercial software packages to help architects and engineers in conceiving and defining the process (industrial or other types of processes); establishing the plant or building layout; preparing the conceptual, basic and detailed design; and simulating the on-site construction processes. The main characteristics of some software packages developed internally by some of the world’s most important engineering companies are also summed up. Finally, taking into account the current trends and the present needs of the construction sector, the main future challenges of CAD in this sector are summarised.El presente artículo expone un análisis realizado por los autores sobre la evolución histórica del diseño asistido por ordenador (DAO) en construcción, su estado actual, y posible futuro, todo ello desde el punto de vista del usuario. El análisis incluye los orígenes del DAO en los 60 y los 70, así como la introducción del modelado sólido, los sistemas paramétricos y otros avances en los 80 y en los 90. A continuación se analizan las características esenciales del software actual, incluyéndose también su relación con otros aspectos como la ingeniería y la fabricación asistidas por ordenador (IAO / FAO), o la realidad virtual (RV). Y se resumen las características especificas de las principales aplicaciones comerciales de ayuda en la definición del proceso (industrial o de otro tipo); de ayuda en la definición de la distribución en planta del edificio o planta industrial; de diseño arquitectónico conceptual; de apoyo en el proyecto básico y de detalle; y de simulación y visualización de los procesos de construcción. El artículo también refiere las peculiaridades de algunas aplicaciones de desarrollo interno en las mayores empresas mundiales de ingeniería. Finalmente, en función de las tendencias actuales y de las necesidades del sector todavía pendientes de satisfacer, se resumen los principales desafíos a futuro en este campo

Optimisation Techniques for Managing the Project Sustainability Objective: Application to a Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger

[Abstract] In addition to traditional project management objectives (cost, time, scope and quality, among others), it is now necessary to include a global sustainability objective in all projects, regardless of their nature and scale. The processes for managing this objective may include sub-processes for optimising the sustainability of some or all of the project’s deliverables. In this paper an integrated optimisation technique was applied to optimise the design of a shell and tube heat exchanger (STHE) by taking into account economic, social and environmental indicators. A case study previously analysed in the literature, although with different objectives and scope, was considered for such a purpose. Diverse sets of weights were defined for the environmental impacts, as well as two additional cases. In the first one, all the indicators where assessed in a linear way. Non-linearities were studied in the second one. Both non-nature-inspired (exhaustive search and Monte Carlo simulation) and nature-inspired (Particle Swarm Optimisation, Crow Search Algorithm and Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm-II) optimisation techniques were used to solve the problem. The results were presented and discussed in depth. The findings show the necessity of applying these kinds of methodologies in the design of energy systems and, in particular, STHE

Assessing the risk of robbery in bank branches to reduce impact on personnel

Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade da Coruña/CISUG[Abstract] According to existing literature, bank robberies can have a considerable impact on the people involved (employees, customers, and police officers), even if the direct economic losses are negligible. Consequently, this article presents a model to assess the risk of bank robbery, with the aim of reducing the impact on the people and prioritizing the investments in security measures. It is based on the MIVES (Spanish acronym for the Integrated Value Model for Sustainability Assessment) method and it was combined with Monte Carlo simulation as a way of taking into account the uncertainty. Correlations were also modeled, for simulation purposes. Indicators for addressing issues related to security features, employees, operational procedures, and physical and social environment were defined. The model was applied to two fictitious but realistic sets of cases. The first simulation provides a quick overview of the risk level of a fictitious bank, before collecting the full set of data from hundreds or thousands of branches. The second simulation analyzes the risk variation of a specific bank branch over time. The model was also used to assess the risk index of 636 real branches belonging to a Spanish bank. All the results are presented and discussed in depth. The model allows the user to identify the weak points of a branch, so that corrective measures can be taken

Fuzzy method for analysing uncertainty in the sustainable design of concrete structures

The model presented here is based on fuzzy arithmetic techniques and the MIVES method, which is based, in turn, on requirement trees, value analysis and the Analytic Hierarchy Process. Even though it encompasses the approach for assessing sustainability adopted by the Spanish Structural Concrete Code (EHE), the model can also be applied to concrete structures designed according to other structural codes. The EHE model serves to estimate the Structure’s Contribution to Sustainability Index (ICES) and constitutes the first sustainability model included in a structural code. The ICES crisp model is inadequate in terms of managing the structural sustainability objective of medium and high uncertainty projects. In such cases, a method not only has to assess the potential sustainability index at the end of the project, but also the degree of uncertainty affecting compliance with the sustainability objective laid down by the client or promoter. The paper compares this model with a Monte Carlo simulation method conceived for the same purpose. The fuzzy method could be a better solution in specific cases of limited time or budget for creating the model

FUZZY METHOD FOR ANALYSING UNCERTAINTY IN THE SUSTAINABLE DESIGN OF CONCRETE STRUCTURES

The model presented here is based on fuzzy arithmetic techniques and the MIVES method, which is based, in turn, on requirement trees, value analysis and the Analytic Hierarchy Process. Even though it encompasses the approach for assessing sustainability adopted by the Spanish Structural Concrete Code (EHE), the model can also be applied to concrete structures designed according to other structural codes. The EHE model serves to estimate the Structure’s Contribution to Sustainability Index (ICES) and constitutes the first sustainability model included in a structural code. The ICES crisp model is inadequate in terms of managing the structural sustainability objective of medium and high uncertainty projects. In such cases, a method not only has to assess the potential sustainability index at the end of the project, but also the degree of uncertainty affecting compliance with the sustainability objective laid down by the client or promoter. The paper compares this model with a Monte Carlo simulation method conceived for the same purpose. The fuzzy method could be a better solution in specific cases of limited time or budget for creating the model

New approach for assessing and optimising the environmental performance of multinational electricity sectors: a European case study

Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade da Coruña/CISUG[Abstract] The afim of energy pflannfing fis to achfieve a reflfiabfle suppfly of energy resources at competfitfive costs and wfith the fleast negatfive fimpacts on socfiety and the envfironment. However, most of the exfistfing studfies tend to fignore envfironmentafl fimpacts, aflthough the eflectrficfity sector contrfibutes greatfly to envfironmentafl degradatfion. Therefore, the afim of thfis study fis threefofld: fi) to assess the envfironmentafl performance of the most common types of renewabfle and non-renewabfle power pflants fin Europe, fifi) to estfimate an envfironmentafl findex for each one of the eflectrficfity sectors fin the European countrfies, and fififi) to evafluate and optfimfise the envfironmentafl behavfiour of the European eflectrficfity sector as a whofle; fin aflfl cases takfing finto account fifteen envfironmentafl mfidpofint findficators wfith a cradfle-to-grave approach. A combfined procedure fincfludfing a mufltfi-crfiterfia decfisfion makfing modefl and an optfimfisatfion approach under three dfifferent scenarfios was used for such a purpose. Accordfing to the resuflts, hydro as weflfl onshore and offshore wfind resuflted to be the best aflternatfives wfith envfi- ronmentafl findfices above 0.95 (befing 1 the maxfimum possfibfle vaflue), whfifle bfiogas and ofifl-fired power pflants usuaflfly occupfied the flast posfitfions of the rankfing, wfith findfices beflow 0.5. Some countrfies achfieved outstandfing envfironmentafl resuflts such as Austrfia, Croatfia, Irefland, Lfithuanfia, Luxembourg, Latvfia or Sweden, wfith findfices aflways above 0.85, whfifle Buflgarfia, Cyprus, Estonfia or Pofland obtafined dfiscouragfing resuflts, sfince thefir productfion fis flargefly based on ofifl, flfignfite or hard coafl. Europe shoufld boost hydro, onshore and offshore wfind and naturafl gas power pflants fin order to fimprove fits current findex of 0.7363

Effects of pre-operative isolation on postoperative pulmonary complications after elective surgery: an international prospective cohort study an international prospective cohort study

We aimed to determine the impact of pre-operative isolation on postoperative pulmonary complications after elective surgery during the global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. We performed an international prospective cohort study including patients undergoing elective surgery in October 2020. Isolation was defined as the period before surgery during which patients did not leave their house or receive visitors from outside their household. The primary outcome was postoperative pulmonary complications, adjusted in multivariable models for measured confounders. Pre-defined sub-group analyses were performed for the primary outcome. A total of 96,454 patients from 114 countries were included and overall, 26,948 (27.9%) patients isolated before surgery. Postoperative pulmonary complications were recorded in 1947 (2.0%) patients of which 227 (11.7%) were associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients who isolated pre-operatively were older, had more respiratory comorbidities and were more commonly from areas of high SARS-CoV-2 incidence and high-income countries. Although the overall rates of postoperative pulmonary complications were similar in those that isolated and those that did not (2.1% vs 2.0%, respectively), isolation was associated with higher rates of postoperative pulmonary complications after adjustment (adjusted OR 1.20, 95%CI 1.05–1.36, p = 0.005). Sensitivity analyses revealed no further differences when patients were categorised by: pre-operative testing; use of COVID-19-free pathways; or community SARS-CoV-2 prevalence. The rate of postoperative pulmonary complications increased with periods of isolation longer than 3 days, with an OR (95%CI) at 4–7 days or ≥ 8 days of 1.25 (1.04–1.48), p = 0.015 and 1.31 (1.11–1.55), p = 0.001, respectively. Isolation before elective surgery might be associated with a small but clinically important increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. Longer periods of isolation showed no reduction in the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. These findings have significant implications for global provision of elective surgical care. We aimed to determine the impact of pre-operative isolation on postoperative pulmonary complications after elective surgery during the global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. We performed an international prospective cohort study including patients undergoing elective surgery in October 2020. Isolation was defined as the period before surgery during which patients did not leave their house or receive visitors from outside their household. The primary outcome was postoperative pulmonary complications, adjusted in multivariable models for measured confounders. Pre-defined sub-group analyses were performed for the primary outcome. A total of 96,454 patients from 114 countries were included and overall, 26,948 (27.9%) patients isolated before surgery. Postoperative pulmonary complications were recorded in 1947 (2.0%) patients of which 227 (11.7%) were associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients who isolated pre-operatively were older, had more respiratory comorbidities and were more commonly from areas of high SARS-CoV-2 incidence and high-income countries. Although the overall rates of postoperative pulmonary complications were similar in those that isolated and those that did not (2.1% vs 2.0%, respectively), isolation was associated with higher rates of postoperative pulmonary complications after adjustment (adjusted OR 1.20, 95%CI 1.05–1.36, p = 0.005). Sensitivity analyses revealed no further differences when patients were categorised by: pre-operative testing; use of COVID-19-free pathways; or community SARS-CoV-2 prevalence. The rate of postoperative pulmonary complications increased with periods of isolation longer than 3 days, with an OR (95%CI) at 4–7 days or ≥ 8 days of 1.25 (1.04–1.48), p = 0.015 and 1.31 (1.11–1.55), p = 0.001, respectively. Isolation before elective surgery might be associated with a small but clinically important increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. Longer periods of isolation showed no reduction in the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. These findings have significant implications for global provision of elective surgical care