Special Issue "Sustainability and Energy Efficiency in Smart Cities and Construction"

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Energy, Physics, Environment, and Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2021.

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Samad M. E. Sepasgozar
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Built Environment, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
Interests: sustainability; energy efficiency; artificial intelligence; smart city; digital twin; applications of the Internet of Things; advanced GIS; LiDAR; BIM; digital technology in infrastructure; mixed reality applications; information and communication technology; spatial analysis and visualization; authentic education
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Research on topics of sustainability and energy efficiency is crucial for cities to improve the quality of life for generations in an era of climate change and the global warming trend. While research shows that the amount of energy used during the COVID-19 pandemic has changed dramatically in many cities, the global warming trend continues:

“The combined global average temperature over the land and ocean surfaces for November 2020 was 0.97 °C (1.75 °F) above the 20th century average of 12.9 °C (55.2°F). This was the second warmest November in the 141-year global record, behind the record warm November set in 2015 (+1.01 °C/+1.82 °F).” [https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/202011 and https://www.co2.earth/global-warming-update]

It is expected that the post-pandemic recoveries in construction areas and cities will consider improving energy efficiency in both domains, considering the lessons learned for possibilities of working remotely that reduce energy consumption during commuting and office use. Investigations on this topic can be one of such topics encouraged for inclusion in this Special Issue. We invite all scholars of the field, who have investigated the following topics, to contribute to this Special Issue through submission of articles detailing their recent research or case studies:

  • Implementation of innovative approaches, proposed novel methods, or tools that can be used for monitoring, measuring, and managing environmental issues (as well as social and economic challenges) in construction and cities at the construction, building, or city scale.
  • Sustainable practices, case studies, technology development, and/or policies developed for smart construction and smart cities.
  • Review papers and conceptual developments discussing the role of regulatory frameworks and complementary policies for further implementation of sustainable cities and building initiatives.

The following useful references in different areas, such as sustainability and digital technologies (e.g., BIM and GIS), are recommended:

Global warming and sustainability:

  • Liang, Y., Gillett, N.P. and Monahan, A.H., 2020. Climate model projections of 21st century global warming constrained using the observed warming trend. Geophysical Research Letters, 47(12), p.e2019GL086757 . https://doi. org/10.1029/2019GL086757
  • Sepasgozar, S.M., Li, H., Shirowzhan, S. and Tam, V.W., 2019. Methods for monitoring construction off-road vehicle emissions: a critical review for identifying deficiencies and directions. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 26(16), pp.15779-15794. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-05003-6
  • Sepasgozar, S.M. and Blair, J., 2019. Measuring non-road diesel emissions in the construction industry: A synopsis of the literature. International Journal of Construction Management, pp.1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2019.1573479
  • Sepasgozar, S.M., Hui, F.K.P., Shirowzhan, S., Foroozanfar, M., Yang, L. and Aye, L., 2021. Lean Practices Using Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Digital Twinning for Sustainable Construction. Sustainability, 13(1), p.161. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13010161

Digital technology applications in construction and smart cities:

  • Sepasgozar, S.M., Hawken, S., Sargolzaei, S. and Foroozanfa, M., 2019. Implementing citizen centric technology in developing smart cities: A model for predicting the acceptance of urban technologies. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 142, pp.105-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2018.09.012
  • Shirowzhan, S., Sepasgozar, S.M., Edwards, D.J., Li, H. and Wang, C., 2020. BIM compatibility and its differentiation with interoperability challenges as an innovation factor. Automation in Construction, 112, p.103086. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2020.103086
  • Ramirez Lopez, L.J. and Grijalba Castro, A.I., 2021. Sustainability and Resilience in Smart City Planning: A Review. Sustainability, 13(1), p.181. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13010181

Suggested areas:

  • Sustainable smart construction and cities
  • Digital technologies (such as BIM-based and web tools as well as GIS and digital twin-enabled energy management systems) for energy efficiency
  • Waste construction and demolition
  • Recycled green building materials, structural analysis, and architectural design considering sustainability approaches
  • Stakeholder management for sustainable construction and resilience cities
  • Blockchain, artificial intelligence, and Internet of Things (IoT) network applications for a circular economy in the construction, smart city, and engineering contexts
  • Noise analysis and management
  • Carbon emission in construction and smart cities
  • Big data-driven sustainable city and infrastructure
  • Data fusion strategies for energy efficiency in smart cities and individual buildings
  • Lean practices using building information modeling (BIM) and digital twinning

Dr. Sara Shirowzhan
Dr. Samad M. E. Sepasgozar
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All papers will be peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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Article
A Study on Evaluation of Influencing Factors for Sustainable Development of Smart Construction Enterprises: Case Study from China
Buildings 2021, 11(6), 221; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings11060221 - 21 May 2021
Viewed by 561
Abstract
Smart construction enterprises are the key subjects in the development and practical transformation of smart building technology, and their sustainable development has been a hot research topic in the new era. In the context of the new round of technology and industrial revolution, [...] Read more.
Smart construction enterprises are the key subjects in the development and practical transformation of smart building technology, and their sustainable development has been a hot research topic in the new era. In the context of the new round of technology and industrial revolution, the rapid accumulation of development uncertainties and their possible transformation into risks at any time, as well as the ambiguity of growth mechanisms and the loss of strategies, have become major challenges that may constrain the development and strategic management of enterprises. Based on SWOT, BCG, GE, QSPM and principal component analysis methods, this paper constructs a new framework combining theory and practice organically for quantitative identification and evaluation of influencing factors, and analysis of strategy selection and the decision-making process. It will provide a scientific basis for sustainable development and strategic management of smart construction enterprises. DK Company is a typical smart building enterprise in China, and the results of its empirical study show that: Firstly, the 28 variable elements influencing the sustainable development of smart construction enterprises can be summarized into six key factors, with significant differences in their influence, and the external influence far greater than the internal driving force. Secondly, a priority set of six alternatives for strategic decision-making and implementation is proposed, based on the quantitative strategy selection and matching analysis, which improves the accuracy and practicality of the study findings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Energy Efficiency in Smart Cities and Construction)
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Review

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Review
Differentiating Digital Twin from Digital Shadow: Elucidating a Paradigm Shift to Expedite a Smart, Sustainable Built Environment
Buildings 2021, 11(4), 151; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings11040151 - 02 Apr 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1464
Abstract
Construction projects and cities account for over 50% of carbon emissions and energy consumption. Industry 4.0 and digital transformation may increase productivity and reduce energy consumption. A digital twin (DT) is a key enabler in implementing Industry 4.0 in the areas of construction [...] Read more.
Construction projects and cities account for over 50% of carbon emissions and energy consumption. Industry 4.0 and digital transformation may increase productivity and reduce energy consumption. A digital twin (DT) is a key enabler in implementing Industry 4.0 in the areas of construction and smart cities. It is an emerging technology that connects different objects by utilising the advanced Internet of Things (IoT). As a technology, it is in high demand in various industries, and its literature is growing exponentially. Previous digital modeling practices, the use of data acquisition tools, human–computer–machine interfaces, programmable cities, and infrastructure, as well as Building Information Modeling (BIM), have provided digital data for construction, monitoring, or controlling physical objects. However, a DT is supposed to offer much more than digital representation. Characteristics such as bi-directional data exchange and real-time self-management (e.g., self-awareness or self-optimisation) distinguish a DT from other information modeling systems. The need to develop and implement DT is rising because it could be a core technology in many industrial sectors post-COVID-19. This paper aims to clarify the DT concept and differentiate it from other advanced 3D modeling technologies, digital shadows, and information systems. It also intends to review the state of play in DT development and offer research directions for future investigation. It recommends the development of DT applications that offer rapid and accurate data analysis platforms for real-time decisions, self-operation, and remote supervision requirements post-COVID-19. The discussion in this paper mainly focuses on the Smart City, Engineering and Construction (SCEC) sectors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Energy Efficiency in Smart Cities and Construction)
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Review
Integration of BIM and Immersive Technologies for AEC: A Scientometric-SWOT Analysis and Critical Content Review
Buildings 2021, 11(3), 126; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings11030126 - 19 Mar 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1547
Abstract
With the outset of Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0), every sector is escalating to get enrichment out of it, whether they are research- or industry-oriented. The Architecture Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry lags a bit in adopting it because of its multi-faceted dependencies [...] Read more.
With the outset of Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0), every sector is escalating to get enrichment out of it, whether they are research- or industry-oriented. The Architecture Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry lags a bit in adopting it because of its multi-faceted dependencies and unique nature of work. Despite this, a trend has been seen recently to hone the IR 4.0 multitudes in the AEC industry. The upsurge has been seen in the usage of Immersive Technologies (ImTs) as one of the disruptive techniques. This paper studies the literature based on ImTs, which are Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR) integrating with Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the AEC sector. A total number of 444 articles were selected from Scopus following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) protocol of reviewing the literature. Among the selected database, 64 papers are identified as the result of following the protocol, and the articles are divided into eight domains relevant to the AEC industry, namely client/stakeholder, design exploration, design analysis, construction planning, construction monitoring, construction health/safety, facility/management, and education/training. This study adopts both a scientometric analysis for bibliometrics visualization and a critical review using Strength Weakness Opportunity Threat (SWOT) analysis for finding gaps and state of play. The novelty of this paper lies in the analysis techniques used in the literature to provide an insight into the literature, and it provides directions for the future with an emphasis on developing sustainable development goals (SDGs). In addition, research directions for the future growth on the adoption of ImTs are identified and presented based on categorization in immersive devices, graphical/non-graphical data and, responsive/integrative processes. In addition, five subcategories for each direction are listed, citing the limitations and future/needs. This study presents the roadmap for the successful adoption of ImTs for industry practitioners and stakeholders in the AEC industry for various domains. The paper shows that there are studies on ImTs with or without BIM; however, future studies should focus on the usage of ImTs in various sectors such as modular integrated construction (MiC) or emerging needs such as SDGs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Energy Efficiency in Smart Cities and Construction)
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