Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades, there has been growing interest for all industries to consider the impacts they have on the environment, and what measures could be implemented to minimize them. This has become increasingly important in the architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry since it is responsible for 40% of global energy consumption, 33% of greenhouse gas emissions, and requires the substantial consumption of freshwater resources. With the growing population, there is a greater need and demand for buildings, structures, and infrastructures. Thus, sustainability became a growing focus in the AEC industry since there is increasing pressure on stakeholders and firms to reduce their environmental impacts by devising new approaches to improve the built environment and the way people build and live. However, the AEC industry is not yet set up for sustainability, as many of the resources used in one project or structure are hard or impossible to reuse in another, and the associated planning, design, and construction practices can substantially reduce and impact the quality of the environment. Hence, many questions and concerns were raised in relation to strategies to make the AEC industry sustainable. What are sustainable methods that can deal with waste and resource consumption/depletion? How can we use advanced technology in the AEC industry to usher in sustainable techniques?

To address the underlying challenges facing sustainability, this Special Issue focuses on development methods that consider available resources and the built environment, along with measures and policies needed to achieve short-term as well as long-term sustainability goals in the AEC industry. This Special Issue is not limited to a particular sustainability area or pillar, but rather aims to provide a holistic approach towards sustainability by considering every aspect of the AEC industry, from project planning to design approaches, material sourcing and product selection, construction activities, manufacturing techniques, maintenance programs, logistics, supply chain, transportation, infrastructure assets, management methodologies, as well as business and organizational considerations, among others. Research topics that will be considered include, but are not limited to, those that tackle sustainable practices and activities in the AEC industry needed for humans to live in harmony with the natural environment, strategies required for meeting our present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to fulfill their own needs, and means to ensure that everyone enjoys social justice and a high quality of life without depleting natural resources for the future. Papers are recommended to study methods to integrate social and environmental issues in the AEC industry, investigate how smart and intelligent technology can ensure a greener future and help sustainability initiatives to succeed, and concentrate on how ecosystems should be both studied and protected to attain sustainability goals.

While there are challenges involved in adopting sustainable methods and measures in the AEC industry, there are also great benefits. Thus, themes of interest include, but are not limited to, the following: the contributions of the AEC industry to climate change and global warming; eco-friendly, renewable, and recyclable materials; sustainable design and construction methods and techniques; green manufacturing; state-of-the-art and green technological innovations shaping the sustainability agenda; sustainable equipment and tools; water–energy nexus; social development; waste generation, management, and disposal; structure demolition and re-purposing; the effects of economic globalization on the environment; sustainable development goals; Earth’s carrying capacity; environmental protection; the sustainability of ecosystems; mitigation of and adaptation policy approaches to environmental problems; behavior patterns and resource use; among others.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Life-Cycle Assessment.
• Circular Economy.
• Sustainable Facilities (Urban Systems/Built Environment).
• Environmental Sensors.
• Carbon Footprint.
• Climate Change.
• Sustainable Urban Modeling, Simulation, and Optimization.
• Sustainable Material Science and Engineering.
• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
• Green Cities and Green Infrastructure.
• Green Technology and Economy.
• Robotics and Machine Intelligence for Sustainable Systems.
• Financing and Sustainable Investment.
• Sustainability Standards for Data Collection, Monitoring, Management, Analysis, and Reporting.
• Sustainability Governance and Strategy.
• Sustainability Legislation (Mandates, Laws, Rules, Codes, Regulations, and Incentives).
• Renewable/Efficient Energy Systems.
• Water Resources.
• Materials, Waste, and Recycling.
• Transportation and Mobility.
• Sustainable Procurement.
• Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) and Air Quality/Pollution.
• Social Sustainability.
• Behavior Change and Responsible Consumption.
• Community Engagement and Awareness.
• Sustainability in Education, Partnership, and Outreach.

It is perceived that sustainability will only become even more important every year, especially with the impacts of climate change experienced throughout the globe. Hence, it is more important than ever that stakeholders take actions and measures to incentivize sustainability in the AEC industry, and that organizations strive to grow and profit in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Rayan Assaad
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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• sustainable systems
• life-cycle modeling
• climate change and global warming
• green technology
• sustainable development
• urban systems, mobility, air, water, energy, and food
• sustainable practices
• green infrastructure and building
• low-carbon solutions
• resource management
• sustainable architectural, engineering, construction