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Special Issue "Green Construction Management Practices for a Sustainable Built Environment Future"

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sustainability and Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 December 2021.

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Malindu Sandanayake
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Guest Editor

Institute of Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities, School of Engineering and Science, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC3011, Australia
Interests: green construction; life cycle assessment; green buildings and infrastructure; waste materials in construction
Special Issues and Collections in MDPI journals

Dr. Zora Vrcelj
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Guest Editor

College of Engineering and Science, Institute of Sustainable and Livable Cities, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC3011, Australia
Interests: sustainability of structures; sustainable materials; green buildings and infrastructure; use of waste in construction materials; structural stability; structural mechanics; biomimicry
Special Issues and Collections in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Buildings and infrastructure are the key for the development of any city, region, or country. Due to massive resource and energy consumption, their sustainability and green performance are often criticized. In the past decade, with the introduction of the green concept, there has been a plethora of research on facilitating sustainable benefits in green buildings. Despite the existing advances in sustainability tools and methods, there has been no systematic all-encompassing studies on the sustainability of building and infrastructure. Sustainability is often misunderstood as only considering environmental benefits while neglecting other aspects such as durability requirements, economic and social benefits, local availability, and life-cycle management requirements. Due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic implications, health, safety, and wellbeing in green buildings throughout their lifecycle have become other critical aspects worthy of further investigation.

This Special Issue aims to contribute to the outstanding collection of research, reviews, designs, and technical papers on sustainable construction management aspects of green built environments. The key focus areas of the Special Issue include but are not limited to the following:

Sustainability aspects of green building materials;
Procurement of sustainable construction services;
Durability characteristics of sustainable green construction projects;
Sustainable performance of green construction projects;
Prefabricated technology for sustainable green construction projects;
Sustainable performance simulation tools;
Sustainable management of green assets using smart technologies;
Waste management and minimisation;
Construction ecology—lessons from nature;
Health, safety, and wellbeing improvements in sustainable and green construction projects;
Barriers inhibiting sustainable construction;
Sustainability and its financial impact;
Sustainability transitions;
Risk governance;
Supporting decision making.

Dr. Malindu Sandanayake
Dr. Zora Vrcelj
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. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 1900 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.

Keywords

Sustainable construction
Sustainable procurement
Sustainable construction materials
Green buildings
Sustainable planning and design
Sustainable construction management
Economic and environmental benefits
Life-cycle assessment
Climate change
Health, safety, and wellbeing in green buildings construction
Health monitoring
Sustainable building performance
Building certification and standards
Smart buildings
Risk management
Waste management and minimization.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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Open AccessArticle

Autogenous Healing of Cracked Mortar Using Modified Steady-State Migration Test against Chloride Penetration

and

Sustainability 2021, 13(17), 9519; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13179519 - 24 Aug 2021

Viewed by 246

Abstract

Concrete is a popular building material all over the world, but because of different physiochemical processes, it is susceptible to crack development. One of the primary deterioration processes of reinforced concrete buildings is corrosion of steel bars within the concrete through these cracks. In this regard, a self-healing technique for crack repair would be the best solution to reduce the penetration of chloride ions inside concrete mass. In this study, a rapid chloride migration (RCM) test was conducted to determine the self-healing capacity of cracked mortar. With the help of the RCM test, the steady-state migration coefficient of cracked and uncracked specimens incorporating expansive and crystalline admixtures was calculated. Based on the rate of change of the chloride ion concentrations in the steady-state condition, the migration coefficient was calculated. Furthermore, bulk electrical conductivity tests were also conducted before and after the migration test to understand the self-healing behavior. It was evident from the test results that the self-healing of cracks was helpful to reduce the penetration of chloride ions and that it enhanced the ability of cracked mortar to restrict the chloride ingress. Using this test method, the self-healing capacity of the new self-healing technologies can be evaluated. The RCM test can be an acceptable technique to assess the self-healing ability of cement-based materials in a very short period, and the self-healing capacity can be characterized in terms of the decrease of chloride migration coefficients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Construction Management Practices for a Sustainable Built Environment Future)

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Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Construction through Industry Self-Regulation: The Development and Role of Building Environmental Assessment Methods in Achieving Green Building

Roine Leiringer

Sustainability 2020, 12(21), 8853; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12218853 - 25 Oct 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 693

Abstract

The role of industry self-regulation in facilitating sustainable development has gained increasing recognition over the past two decades. As a result, voluntary certification standards have become ever more common and have been portrayed as effective means of enforcing more environmentally beneficial practices across a range of industries. In this paper, we consider the role of one such type of standard, building environmental assessment methods (BEAMs), and the role they have played in the transition towards green building in the construction industry. Drawing on the theory of strategic action fields, and using the case of HK BEAM in Hong Kong, we investigate the origins, development and impact of BEAMs in what is a highly de-centralised and fragmented industry. The paper concludes with reflections on the need to extend focus from the contents of the BEAMs in terms of categories, criteria and weightings, to instead more actively consider the “taken-for-granted” assumptions around sustainability and the dominant institutionalised practices in construction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Construction Management Practices for a Sustainable Built Environment Future)

Open AccessArticle

Polymeric Waste from Recycling Refrigerators as an Aggregate for Self-Compacting Concrete

Lucas Ramon Roque da Silva

Josimara Aparecida da Silva

Matheus Brendon Francisco

Vander Alkmin Ribeiro

Michel Henry Bacelar de Souza

Patricia Capellato

Marcelo Anderson Souza

Valquíria Claret dos Santos

Paulo Cesar Gonçalves

and

Mirian de Lourdes Noronha Motta Melo

Sustainability 2020, 12(20), 8731; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12208731 - 21 Oct 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 865

Abstract

The inadequate disposal of household appliances by consumers and industries have annually been generating enormous amounts of polymeric waste (PW). So, the interest in reuse of PW in civil construction has increased. The production of new cementitious materials, such as concrete with PW, proves to be a promising solution to inappropriate disposal of this waste. In this study, self-compacting concrete (SCC) was developed with partial replacement of the coarse aggregates by polymeric waste (PW) from the recycling of refrigerators. In the SCC reference mixture, Portland cement, silica fume, sand, gravel and superplasticizer were used. The study also grouped the gravel as replaced by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% of PW. In order to analyze the samples, the following tests were used: spreading, viscosity, passing ability, compressive strength, tensile strength, microstructure, modulus of elasticity, specific gravity, absorption, voids index and electrical resistivity. The SCC found showed adequate homogeneity and viscosity, staying within the normative parameters. The mechanical resistance was above 20 MPa; specific mass between 1870 to 2260 kg/m³; modulus of elasticity ranged from 34 to 14 GPa; and electrical resistivity between 319 to 420 ohm.m. Due to the mechanical resistance, the SCC with PW can be used for structural purposes and densely reinforced structures such as pillars, beams and foundation elements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Construction Management Practices for a Sustainable Built Environment Future)

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Open AccessArticle

Empirical Examination of Factors Influencing the Adoption of Green Building Technologies: The Perspective of Construction Developers in Developing Economies

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Sustainability 2020, 12(19), 8067; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12198067 - 30 Sep 2020

Viewed by 629

Abstract

This study seeks to better understand the determinants of green building technology (GBT) adoption intention of construction developers in developing countries. In order to address these objectives, this study integrates the Diffusion of Innovation theory, the theory of Resource-based View, and the Resource Dependence Theory to analyze and construct the theoretical model of developers’ intentions to adopt GBTs from three perspectives, namely, technological, organizational, and environmental. The model was tested using survey data collected from 142 experienced managers in Vietnam. Data analysis was performed by SEM using the partial least squares (PLS) approach. The findings show that perceived GBT advantages, perceived GBT disadvantages, top management leadership, government support, project partners’ green building readiness, and social demand of green buildings are the significant factors that affect GBT adoption intention by developers. However, organizational GBT resource and GBT market readiness have no significant effect on developers’ GBT adoption intention. Theoretical and practical implications and limitations of the research are discussed, and suggestions for future research are also proposed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Construction Management Practices for a Sustainable Built Environment Future)

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Review

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Open AccessReview

Current Sustainable Trends of Using Waste Materials in Concrete—A Decade Review

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Sustainability 2020, 12(22), 9622; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12229622 - 18 Nov 2020

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 969

Abstract

Concrete is the most used construction material in the world. Consequently, the mass extraction of virgin materials required for concrete production causes major environmental impacts. With a focus on promoting sustainability, numerous research studies on incorporating waste materials to replace virgin substances in concrete were undertaken. Despite this vast volume of published literature, systematic research studies on these sustainable concrete mixes that inform various stakeholders on current research trends, future research directions, and marketability options products are seldom conducted. This paper presents a decade review on sustainable concrete with a focus on virgin materials being replaced with waste materials. It aims to inform researchers of current research trends and gaps in the research area of waste material use in concrete. The review also identifies key parameters that restrict the marketability of these sustainable concrete products. The three-step research methodology involves a bibliometric assessment, a key review of selected waste materials, and an interview with a panel of experts focusing on impediments towards the transition of sustainable concrete products into the industry market. Bibliometric assessment was based on 1465 research publications in which five key materials (plastic, glass, fly ash, slag) and construction and demolition waste were selected for the review. The interview was conducted with ten industry experts to discuss the industry limitations in the commercial establishment of materials. The review of existing knowledge and the findings on sustainable concrete presented in this paper provide directions for both research academics and industry stakeholders to systematically focus on sustainable concrete products that are market-ready. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Construction Management Practices for a Sustainable Built Environment Future)

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