Life cycle sustainability assessment for selecting construction materials in the preliminary design phase of road construction projects

Road construction project activities cause severe harm to the environment as they consume a tremendous volume of materials and release pollutants into the environment. Besides, an increasing number of researchers is participating in work related to sustainability in the construction industry as well as road construction projects. Similar to other life cycles, a strong influence on sustainability is exerted in the early phases of road construction projects, especially in the preliminary design phase. Especially selecting materials is one of the most critical tasks in this phase because it contributes considerably to the achievement of sustainability targets. For enabling a conscious and systematic selection of materials, a significant evaluation of materials with regard to the three dimensions of sustainability is necessary. However, a well-elaborated and mature instrument supporting such an evaluation has not been developed and presented in literature until now. In the contrary, several studies revealed that the material-dependent activities and the life cycle analysis have been neglected so far. Moreover, selecting materials in the preliminary design phase is mainly based on designers’ experience and not on the application of analytic methods. Such selection is highly error-prone. In this thesis, current material selection methods for sustainable development in the preliminary design phase were analyzed. Initially, material selection studies conducted in the early design phase were analyzed to determine the relevant issues. The result emphasized that the integration of sustainability into material selection in the preliminary design phase encountered many obstacles, such as unavailable information and databases. Then, the most important sustainability criteria for selecting road construction materials were identified, covering the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of sustainability. Next, approaches which suggest the application of LCC, LCA, Social LCA, MCDM, and LCSA in road construction material selection are discussed in order to identify their limitations. Accordingly, this thesis developed an instrument based on the LCC, LCA, Social LCA, MCDM methods, and LCSA for assessing the sustainability performance of road construction materials in the preliminary design phase. The instrument is intended to help designers select the most sustainable materials by addressing the issues that emerge in the preliminary design phase. Firstly, a procedure model for evaluating the sustainability performance of road construction materials is suggested. It is based on two existing procedure models. One is a decision theory-based procedure model for sustainability-oriented evaluations. The model is divided into two levels, with the overall sustainability performance evaluation at the first level and the evaluation of the economic, environmental, and social performances at the second level. Although this procedure model demonstrates some benefits and has been utilized in some cases, the four-step LCA procedure, according to ISO 14044, appears to be more prevalent and well-established. Therefore, it is suggested here to integrate both approaches. This procedure model contributes to integrating the LCC, LCA, and Social LCA). Secondly, this instrument for assessing the sustainable performance of materials is further developed based on the step-by-step models of three pillars of sustainability. This allows for employing numerical methods from the LCC, LCA and Social LCA and thereby reducing the mistakes from the experience-based selection of designers. The proposed instrument also addresses the specific challenges of material selection in the preliminary design phase. The LCC could refine all material-dependent costs incurred during the life cycle and evaluate the material alternatives' total cost. Besides, it defines long-term outcomes by dividing the material life cycle into many consecutive phases and applying the time value of money into the calculation. For the LCA, two scenarios are proposed to solve the problems concerning the lack of available information in the preliminary design phase. Besides, the environmental performance of material-dependent activities, such as the usage of equipment and labor, is also considered in the method. The Social LCA is developed based on the Performance Preference Point (PPR) approach and the Subcategory Assessment Method (SAM) to assess the social performance of road construction materials. The method also shows the potential to support the designers in selecting the most social-friendly material by considering the material-dependent activities and stakeholders. The LCC, LCA, and Social LCA analyses integrated into the LCSA to come up with the general perspective of sustainable level. From the perspective of decision-makers, the importance level of sustainability dimensions might be different. The study suggests applying the AHP method and Likert Scale to evaluate the weightings and then integrating them into the LCSA model to assess the general sustainability performance of road construction materials. After that, a ternary diagram can be drawn to provide a comprehensive picture of the road construction material selection in dependence on these weightings. The assessment of two alternatives, “concrete bricks” and “baked bricks”, was conducted as a case study to illustrate and demonstrate the procedure model

Building A Comprehensive Conceptual Framework for Material Selection in Terms of Sustainability in The Construction Preliminary Design Phase

Construction projects consume a massive amount of renewable and non-renewable resources and negatively affect sustainable development. The selection of materials is necessary to meet the demands of sustainability. The preliminary design phase is essential within construction project phases because the main requirements, budget, and master drawings are planned here. Also, the selection of primary materials is considered in this phase. However, the integration of material selection and sustainability in the preliminary design phase has been underestimated. This paper reviewed sustainability in the preliminary design phase and the importance of material selection in accordance with sustainability in this phase. By using current literature and tools like Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), the paper establishes a conceptual framework including sub-aspects that relate to sustainable aspects (economy, environment, and society). The proposed sus-aspects, such as total cost, cost efficiency, budget management, and water efficiency, define the relevant activities that help select the most sustainable materials. The results can be applied as a guide to decision-makers and promote sustainability right from the preliminary design phase. Future studies may provide methods for each criterion and establish a detailed plan to apply this framework in practice

CAMELLIA HOAANA (THEACEAE, SECTION CORALLINA), A NEW SPECIES FROM BU GIA MAP NATIONAL PARK IN SOUTHERN VIETNAM

Camellia hoaana, a new species of the Camellia sect. Corallina (Theaceae) from Bu Gia Map National Park, Vietnam, is described and illustrated. Morphological features of this species are young branches pubescent and glabrescent. Leaves elliptic to obovate-elliptic; apex bluntly cuspidate, base wide cuneate; above dark green, shiny and glabrous; below paler green and sparsely pubescent along midrib; petiole sparsely pubescent. Flowers solitary or geminate, axillary or terminal; pedicel pubescent. Bracteole 1 (or none),pubescent on both sides, persistent. Sepals 4–5(–6), pubescent on both sides, persistent. Petals 5–6, white, outermost 1–2 pubescent at the apex on both sides, the rest glabrous on both sides. Androecium numerous, 2–3 whorls, glabrous. Ovary 3-locular, white silky tomentose; styles 3, free to the base, glabrous. Capsule subglobose, sparsely pubescent, furfuraceous. Seeds 1–2 per locule, semiglobose or globose, densely brown villous. This new species is assessed as Data Deficient (DD) according to the IUCN categories and criteria

Прогноз возможно максимальных землетрясений в северо-западном районе Вьетнама

In this paper the authors presented some primary results of the application of Neural Network for Earthquake Magnitude Prediction in Tay Bac Viet Nam.Исследована возможность применения нейронных сетей для определения вероятности землетрясений в северо-западном районе Вьетнама

Further Discussion On Applying Case Study Method In Investment Law Course – A Case Of Education Investment In Vietnam

Purpose: The aim of this study is to focus on clarifying using case study method to improve taching law course. Currently, many universities around the world are applying a new teaching method. It can help students absorb knowledge more efficiently and faster. That is the case study. Using a Case Study allows a deeper understanding of cases as a unit, through comparing the similarities and differences of individual cases. Design/methodology/approach: The study uses qualitative analysis, synthesis and inductive methods, together with studies and references from CPTPP, FTA Agreement, as well as Regulations on assurance of business investment activities. Findings: The application of this method to teaching helps learners to approach very applicable situations. The situations or problems close to the theory will also help them to systematize all the knowledge they have learned to apply to solve the assigned problem. Not only use the knowledge learned, but also learn related knowledge outside the program to solve the problem. Case Study is an extremely interesting and interesting learning method, helping us to associate reality and apply it to solve problems and help us remember longer. If you really understand what a case study is, then apply it to your life and work. The results show the regulations on guaranteeing ownership rights as well as ensuring investors' business investment activities have been clearly stipulated in the 2020 Labor Law of Vietnam. These regulations have concretized the constitutional principle of investors' freedom to invest and do business in industries that are not prohibited by la

Study on structure of the Earth’s crust in Thua Thien-Hue province and adjacent areas by using gravity and magnetic data in combination

This paper presents the structural characteristics of the Earth’s crust in Thua Thien-Hue province and adjacent area based on interpretation of gravity and magnetic data in combination. Research results have shown that: The depth of crystalline basement varies complicatedly, in the range of 0–11 km. The depth of Conrad surface increases from Northeast (12 km) to Southwest (18 km) and the depth of Moho surface is 23–34 km; The density of sedimentary layer changes from 2.61 g/cm3 to 2.65 g/cm3. Meanwhile, the density of granitic layer is in the range of 2.68–2.73 g/cm3. The basaltic layer has the density value of 2.88–2.93 g/cm3 and the average density of lower layer of the Earth’s crust is about 3.30 g/cm3; The depth of second-order faults, Red River and A Luoi - Rao Quan, is through the Earth’s crust. Meanwhile, the depth of influence of third-order faults, Chay river, Dong Ha - Phu Vang, Vinh Linh, Hue - Son Tra and Tam Ky - Phuoc Son, is within the thickness of the Earth’s crust

Some preliminary results of paleo-tsunami study in the coastal region of the Nghe An province, Vietnam

In the coastal region of the Nghe An province, the geomorphology is characterized by appearances of fields of arca granosa with placura placenta and hills of placura placenta with arca granosa, namely: The hills of placura placenta with the arca granosa shells in the Quynh Van and Nghi Tien communes; the fields of arca granosa with the placura placenta: deep-seated in the Quynh Nghia, Dien Chau and along the Nghi Yen coast  which have age of 4,500 - 4,300 yrs.; The appearance of the placura placenta-arca granosa shell’s fields and hills which do not originate from either marine transgression in the Holocene epoch, tectonic movement or artificiality; Our results suggest that there were three tsunami events occurring in the past during the periods of 4,500 - 4,300; 4,100 - 3,900 and 900 - 600 yrs., respectively in the region

PRESENT DAY DEFORMATION IN THE EAST VIETNAM SEA AND SURROUNDING REGIONS

This paper presents velocities of present-day tectonic movement and strain rate in the East Vietnam Sea (South China Sea) and surroundings determined from GPS campaigns between 2007 and 2010. We determine absolute velocities of GPS stations in the ITRF05 frame. The result indicates that GPS stations in the North of East Vietnam Sea move eastwards with the slip rate of 30 - 39 mm/yr, southwards at the velocities of 8 - 11 mm/yr. Song Tu Tay offshore moves eastwards at the rate of ~24 mm/yr and southwards at ~9 mm/yr. GPS stations in the South of East Vietnam Sea move to the east at the rate of ~22 mm/yr and to the south at the velocities of 7 - 11 mm/yr. The effect of relative movement shows that the Western Margin Fault Zone activates as left lateral fault zone at the slip rate less than 4 mm/year.In Western plateau, the first result from 2012 - 2013 GPS measurement shows that the velocities to the east vary from 21.5 mm/yr to 24.7 mm/year. The velocities to the south vary from 10.5 mm/yr to 14.6 mm/year. GPS solutions determined from our campaigns are combined with data from various authors and international projects to determine the strain rate in the East Vietnam Sea. Principal strain rate changes from 15 nanostrain/yr to 9 nanostrain/yr in the East Vietnam Sea. Principal strain rate and maximum shear strain rate along the Red River Fault Zone are in order of 10 nanostrain/year. East Vietnam Sea is considered to belong to the Sunda block