bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Building physics design of urban surfaces
Authors: Leistner P , Kaufmann A , Koehler M , Würth M , Hofbauer W K , Dittrich S 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
Structural-spatial form and urban land use are among the main transformative fields of action of cities. Quality of life and environment, identity and individuality as well as participation in local society are significantly influenced by urban surfaces. Most urban surfaces have so far been designed for the long-term fulfilment of individual purposes, but offer greater scope for design in terms of functionality and adaptability, quality and efficiency. It therefore makes sense to develop, evaluate, technologically expand and test the potential of urban surfaces in terms of building physics as a whole. In view of growing stress on urban structures due to climate-induced influences, such as flooding, extreme weather conditions or heat islands, new possibilities, processes, systems or materials are needed to improve resilience. The article presents exemplary developments that can be supplemented and combined. Hydroactive surfaces can buffer rainwater and release it with a time delay to reduce heat and flooding equally. Green façades improve city climate and air quality. Sound-absorbing façades reduce inner-city noise. Innovative transparent foil enclosures provide equally visibility and an optimum weather protection of objects to be protected throughout the year.
Sustainability of innovative urban surfaces – a new approach of assessment
Authors: Henzler K , Horn R , Jäger M , Maier S D 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
The physical design of urban surfaces determines the management processes that are required to ensure that their intended functions are fulfilled within a set period of time and influences their linked material flows. Those flows are causing numerous environmental, economic, and social impacts. In the field of urban surfaces, there is a broad variety of innovations available that has the potential to contribute to a more sustainable environment and quality of life in cities. However, before implementing any kind of innovation, it is important to quantitatively and qualitatively assess its sustainability impacts in a holistic manner. While current assessment methods provide a suitable framework for the sustainability assessment of products and services, without modification, they cannot be applied to urban surfaces and related management processes.
The herein introduced methodological approach is designed to overcome this problem by not only being tailored to the sustainability assessment of innovations in the field of urban surfaces but also by combining life cycle thinking with a holistic approach. By integrating SDGs, it will provide insight into the possible impacts of an innovation in all three dimensions of sustainability at the municipal level. This knowledge can be used to support the municipality in its decision on the design of urban surfaces and management processes by showing whether or not it is advisable to implement an innovation from a sustainability point of view. The focus of this publication is on the development of a general life cycle of urban surfaces and its interaction with product innovations.
Land resource management of coastal areas in Indian cities: comparative assessment with prevailing methods
Authors: Dhiman R , Kalbar P , Inamdar A 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
Indian coastal cities, enriched with a variety of marine resources, are a major driver of economic growth where the Indian coast provides shelter to a large part (∼49%) of the total population in India. Proper planning of coastal resources is crucial for sustainable development, which can be achieved through advanced planning methods. Current methods for the planning of coastal landscapes in Indian coastal cities are ineffective in sustainable utilization of coastal resources and need improvements. This paper evaluates the application of the new planning method for classification of coastal landscapes in Mumbai city. The new method incorporates geospatial technology and multicriteria decision-making approach. The existing method of coastal area classification is based on Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notifications by the central government, which has ambiguities in implementation. In the new method, coastal areas of Mumbai city are classified based on the physical eligibility of the coast for management of coastal resources and spatially compared with prevailing unscientific classification of coastal areas. The most dense urban area is considered for quantitative comparison of prevailing and new classification approach. Results of coastal area classifications by both methods disclosed the significant differences among different classes of coastal land. The results are validated with field visits and ground truthing along the coast of Mumbai. The findings of this study will enable the stakeholders to utilize available coastal land resources in an efficient manner for developmental and conservational activities at regional and neighborhood scale.
Seismic and solar performance of historical city Urban form-based multicriteria analysis
Authors: D’Amico A , Morganti M 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
The understanding of the global performance of a historical city is a complex balance of several specific issues and requires a multi-disciplinary approach to face with actual urban phenomena and challenges, such as the seismic risk and energy efficiency, that are strongly influenced by urban form. This paper focuses on the potential of urban metrics and typological indicators for describing the seismic vulnerability and the solar radiation availability of distinct urban textures, and the correlation between the two aspects. Comparative analysis at fabric scale was conducted on the historical centre of Rieti (Latium, Italy), to underline the main seismic and solar indicators. In the last decade, we witnessed the spreading of urban scale assessment and analysis tools, but seldom using an integrated approach to face the complexity of the historical city. Relying on morpho-typological indicators, the proposed method characterizes the fabrics in terms of seismic vulnerability and solar availability through a multicriteria analysis. The analysis reveals substantial differences between fabrics using three groups of indicators: Plan, Space and Analysis-oriented. Each group describes different features of the urban fabrics that affect seismic and solar performance and suggests improvement strategies. The purpose is to support policymaker and designer in the urban renovation process.
Integration of multiple methodologies to evaluate effects of Nature Based Solutions on urban climate mitigation and adaptation
Authors: López A , Mabe L , Cantergiani C 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
Nature Based Solutions contribute both to mitigate and to adapt the cities to the impacts caused by climate change at urban level. Several methods and tools exist for assessing each strategy. However, none of them allow to cover the whole steps included from analyzing climate trends that could affect the cities, to NBS effectiveness. This paper reviews and classifies existing methods according to the relevant steps of climate resilience and NBS effectiveness, and a combination of various of those methods is presented in a practical case study. Bottom-up city energy, economic and environmental modelling have been performed to understand mitigation effects of NBS implementation at building and neighborhood level. Urban hydrodynamics and fluid dynamics have been modelled too, allowing the estimation of the adaptation effectiveness of the NBS scenarios in flooding and temperatures reduction respectively. Moreover, city vulnerability and urban risks, considering IPCC scenarios regarding climate trends, have been assessed to understand the areas of the city more vulnerable to the impact of climate change. Results show that strategies and climate hazards has been worked in a split way and there is a need to connect better mitigation and adaptation information to facilitate the municipalities taking robust decisions regarding the NBS implementation.
Life Cycle Assessment of Alternative Road Base Materials: the Case of Phosphogypsum
Authors: Saadé-Sbeih M , Feraille A , Alaoui Soulimani A 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
Phosphogypsum (PG) is the most abundant by-product generated by the phosphate fertilizer industry. Formed during the production of phosphoric acid from natural phosphate rock, PG is mostly disposed in stacks or released into coastal regions’ waters. Due to the expected increase in the world PG production – currently estimated to be around 250 Mt per year – and the environmental impacts of actual waste management scenarios, there is a call for a paradigm shift, by considering PG not as a waste but as a resource. About 15% of the total PG production is nowadays used as fertilizer, retarder, road base material or building material. The load of radionucleids and heavy metals contained in PG however questions the sustainability of such valorization routes. This paper aims to compare the environmental impacts of different PG valorization scenarios through life cycle assessment. Based on Moroccan conditions for phosphoric acid production, it discusses the key parameters influencing the assessment as well as assumptions regarding the allocation of emissions and resource use over PG and phosphoric acid.
Considering the dynamics of electricity demand and production for the environmental benchmark of Swiss residential buildings that exclusively use electricity
Authors: Beloin-Saint-Pierre D , Padey P , Périsset B , Medici V 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
The environmental impacts of buildings can significantly vary with the dynamics of their energy demand and production. Significant variations have been modelled for buildings in the U.S., France, Denmark and Switzerland but the levels of variation are different between these countries. This difference can be explained by factors like the existing energy sources, the availability of renewable energy and the importation of electricity from nearby countries. With its high share of renewable energy and significant electricity exchanges with neighbouring countries, Switzerland presents a specific case where benchmark values from dynamic life cycle assessment should be well understood. The project’s goal is to provide results from a dynamic life cycle assessment with a detailed study of the influence from temporal fluctuations in the national electricity production, electricity imports, decentralised generation and electricity demand from buildings. Additionally, consequences of changing the temporal precision (i.e. hourly, daily, monthly and annual) of energy dynamics are analysed. This assessment is conducted with demand and production estimations for the design of a residential building in Switzerland. Disparities of results are assessed for all temporal precision levels with a comparison to the values that are obtained with the current national methodology which operates with values based on average annual electricity production. Results thus suggest some methodological recommendations to develop the temporal aspects of the environmental impact assessment methodology for the Swiss building sector.
Step-by-step implementation of BIM-LCA: A case study analysis associating defined construction phases with their respective environmental impacts
Authors: Di Bari R , Jorgji O , Horn R , Gantner J , Ebertshäuser S 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
Building Information Modelling (BIM) supports construction processes by dealing with the variety and complexity of design in a single virtual model. The model may also be complemented by the static and energy performance of buildings. Facing the growing demand of sustainability strategies in the construction sector, the consideration of environmental information within the planning process influences the decision making of planners and stakeholders. Nevertheless, the life cycle assessment of buildings has been so far excluded in BIM, due to the high variety of accurate information and time required. In this paper, a systematic framework is presented and applied to a case study. BIM-LCA assists actors along the planning and designing phase, from the building conception as a whole, up to the elements’ details and materials’ definition. BIM and LCA intertwine in an application scheme of seven phases for integral planning and four levels of structural composition of a building. With respect to these, involved actors examine potential solutions through a tool which exploits alternative specifications in order to assess the environmental impacts. The goal of this paper is to demonstrate the application of a BIM-LCA model regarding decision making for reliable values of environmental impact in a given structural level of the building. The main findings of this framework are due to the multitude of actors and information orchestrated, namely to uncertainties which characterize the whole planning process and data handling. Through BIMLCA, actors are assisted by ensuring flexibility of models and consistency of results throughout planning and designing.
Connecting BIM and LCA: The Case Study of an Experimental Residential Building
Authors: Veselka J , Růžička J , Lupíšek A , Hájek P , Mančík Š , Žd’ára V , Široký M 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
The aim of this paper is to present application of BIM models for the complex quality assessment and environmental analysis based on LCA. An experimental two storey building of TiCo Project representing a full scale part of a real multi-storey residential building has been used for this case study. The presented BIM model contains all relevant environmental characteristics and it will be used for environmental analysis, coordination, and operation (e.g. real-time data analysis from the sensors). Theoretical part covers development of the methodology for data transfer from BIM model to assessment scheme based on SBToolCZ, which is a national tool for building sustainability certification in the Czech Republic. Next step will be focused on describing connection of LCA and the BIM model databases and mapping data between them. Case study is focused on utilisation of BIM model with all relevant environmental characteristics for LCA analysis. All changes during construction phase and their impact on environmental analysis and LCA will be monitored and assessed.
Computer-aided supporting tool for LCA evaluation of energy efficiency of the buildings – assessment method and case studies
Authors: Domjan S , Arkar C , Medved S 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
In the paper methods and the development of computer tool for the comprehensive life cycle assessment evaluation of the new or renovated buildings is presented. To support decision making process, computer tool was developed and consists of two computational units: the building description unit (BDU), and the life cycle assessment tool (Etool). BDU enables the determination of energy needs and final energy demand for the operation of EPBD systems. For the purpose of environment impact assessment, the life cycle inventory database is integrated into the BDU. Data are exported to LCA evaluation tool Etool that include two assessment modules: life cycle environmental impact module for mid-point and end-point assessment taking into account impact groups and damage factors from IMAPCT2002+ and ReCiPe methods and life cycle costs assessment module for evaluation of costs optimal values of energy efficiency measures for nearly zero energy buildings (nZEB). In the paper case studies are presented and discussed. The results show that energy use has dominant influence on buildings’ environment impacts and that life cycle cost analysis show optimal thermal insulation thickness higher than required in current regulative.
A design integrated parametric tool for real-time Life Cycle Assessment – Bombyx project
Authors: Basic S , Hollberg A , Galimshina A , Habert G 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has become a widely accepted method for environmental assessment of buildings, but is still not commonly applied in design practice. The biggest potential for optimization and reduction of GHG emissions lies in the early stages of the design process. Therefore, a design-integrated approach for LCA is needed. The goal of this paper is to describe the development of a parametric LCA tool for application in early design stages in the Swiss context. The envisioned users of the tool are primarily architecture and engineering students, but also practitioners. The integration of LCA throughout the design process is solved through a modular strategy. In the early stage, pre-defined components are selected to model a complete LCA. In the following design steps when more information is available, individual materials can be input with higher level of detail. The Bombyx tool is developed as a plugin for Grasshopper based on Rhinoceros3D and includes an SQL material and component database. Users are able to choose different materials and building systems and quickly modify the building’s geometry while continuously receiving the calculated environmental impact in real-time. Visualization of the results, e.g. colour code indicate how the design performs in relation to a benchmark or optimization potential. The project is developed in open source to broaden the user and developer community and foster new ideas, designs and implementations in Bombyx.
Multi-objective optimization of building’s life cycle performance in early design stages
Authors: Yu H , Yang W , Li Q 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
The early design stages of buildings have the highest potential for optimizing energy efficiency. From the aspect of architectural design, the architects can hardly make the best decisions of the complexed variables of geometries and materials. The choice and weighting of different optimization objectives also have no reference while considering the impacts from the whole view of the life cycle. In this paper, a simulation-based parametric approach through the use of multi-objective optimization method is framed. The extraction of geometry variables from the original design and the principles of explaining optimization results obtained from different objective combinations are discussed.
This process is carried out in Rhino and Grasshopper. To fully consider the aesthetic and building performance step by step in early design stages, the geometry and material parameters are tested simultaneously. The life cycle inventory data of materials and energy resources are imported by programming, and local data is partly used. Life cycle environmental impacts (PED and GWP), life cycle cost, and operating energy consumption are used as optimization objectives. A case study is verified on a project of a small campus museum building in northern China. The results indicate that the combination of geometry and material values in the optimal solution set is various and needs to be artificially selected according to actual needs. The optimization objectives should be considered comprehensively; an incomplete set may result in poorly behavior of the unselected objectives.
Early Design Stage Building LCA using The LCAbyg Tool: New Strategies For Bridging The Data Gap
Authors: Kanafani K , Kjær Zimmermann R , Nygaard Rasmussen F , Birgisdóttir H 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
There is an increasing demand for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) as a method for environmental impact and resource assessments of buildings. At early design stages, where major design decisions are made, the potential for improving the environmental performance using LCA is greatest. However, detailed building information is usually not available at this time. This paper presents the recent extension of LCAbyg, the official Danish building LCA-tool, integrating an LCA approach for situations, where building design and material choices are not yet fully determined. The tool assists the user in establishing a complete building inventory by providing a default component library including building services and a guide for estimating quantities. Default components in the library are based on the integrated product database Ökobaudat. A convenient generation and comparison of variants improves usability, while a new LCA design guide shall increase the uptake of LCA in larger parts of the building industry. The methodological choices of the approach are laid out and discussed. The presented approach is not limited for use in early stages, but may improve feasibility in building LCA in general as default and estimated values may be refined towards more detail in later stages of the project.
An innovative user feedback system for sustainable buildings
Authors: Monsberger M , Koppelhuber D , Sabol V , Gursch H , Spataru A , Prentner O 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
A lot of research is currently focused on studying user behavior indirectly by analyzing sensor data. However, only little attention has been given to the systematic acquisition of immediate user feedback to study user behavior in buildings. In this paper, we present a novel user feedback system which allows building users to provide feedback on the perceived sense of personal comfort in a room. To this end, a dedicated easy-to-use mobile app has been developed; it is complemented by a supporting infrastructure, including a web page for an at-a-glance overview. The obtained user feedback is compared with sensor data to assess whether building services (e.g., heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems) are operated in accordance with user requirements. This serves as a basis to develop algorithms capable of optimizing building operation by providing recommendations to facility management staff or by automatic adjustment of operating points of building services. In this paper, we present the basic concept of the novel feedback system for building users and first results from an initial test phase. The results show that building users utilize the developed app to provide both, positive and negative feedback on room conditions. They also show that it is possible to identify rooms with non-ideal operating conditions and that reasonable measures to improve building operation can be derived from the gathered information. The results highlight the potential of the proposed system.
Image-obfuscation as a means for privacy-conscious visual data acquisition from building systems
Authors: Subramaniam S , Hoffmann S 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
In the last two decades, numerous studies have demonstrated the viability of using High Dynamic Range Imaging (HDRI) to quantify lighting conditions in the built environment. Several human factor studies have demonstrated correlation between visual comfort perceived by occupants and glare metrics calculated by analysing HDR images. However, the use of HDRI in real-world applications has been severely limited owing to privacy concerns. This research investigates the feasibility of employing obfuscated (i.e. deliberately distorted) HDR images for analysing glare. The authors present a pilot study where visual conditions inside an office-space were simulated and captured as HDR images using a validated, physically-based renderer. The images were then obfuscated to various degrees by application of blur filters. Glare metrics calculated for the obfuscated images, when compared with the metrics generated for the original HDR images, were found to be within 2%-12% relative error. The proof-of-concept demonstrated through this study provides the framework for field-testing of an HDR-based lighting control system in a real office space.