bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Green buffer areas and green roofs: performance design to improve the urban water cycle
Authors: Giacomello Elena 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
While in all Europe the land use does not decrease – contrary to EU soil strategy that would actualize the zero net land use by 2050 – cities are plagued by problems such as air pollution, urban heat island effect and uncontrolled run-off following intense rain events, which degrade the environment threatening the health and the safety of inhabitants. The impermeable materials and are responsible for the worsening of the urban water cycle and, at the same time, for the increase in summer air temperatures: both those effects can be mitigated by nature-based and draining solutions. The paper explains the hydrological phenomena of the urban impervious surfaces, highlighting the typical functional defects, providing then a list of various green technologies suitable to overcome the common issues of city centers like high density / reduced spaces, irreversible impervious surfaces, undersized drainage, presence of sub-structures / sub-systems, conservation of architectural heritage. The technical green solutions on the ground (bio-retention systems, rain gardens, trees, pervious pavements…) and on the roofs, specifically designed, behave 1) as a buffer for the stormwater and superficial run-off, being able to collect water, 2) as providers of side effects that can affect water quality, biodiversity, amenity in cities. Experimental results from a rain simulation are presented in order to argue potentials and limitations of these solutions, often narrated as salvific, or, on the contrary, underestimated in their technological specificities.
Use of Vertical Greenery Systems for the domestic scale treatment of greywaters for fit-for-purpose reuse. Applicability and future prospects.
Authors: Todesco Ruggero 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Only less than 1% of the Earth’s water is fit for human activities. Domestic consumption accounts for roughly 20% of all uses of water, adding pressure to the increasing water scarcity stress. Water intakes of residential buildings for all everyday uses are constituted by a high-quality resource, which is either costly to produce or conspicuous in amounts to withdraw from natural sources. The present proposal aims to test the feasibility of the application of decentralized greywater treatment strategies, based on the use of vertical greenery systems integrated into residential buildings to assess both the optimal scale of application in residential settlements and a comparative analysis on reclaimed water resource savings. The aim is to promote the circular use of water resources by allowing for fit-for-purpose employment, thus reducing the overall intake due to the residential sector. The methodology hereby proposed has been developed using as a case study the most widespread residential typologies in the Southern Italian context, such as single detachment, row houses, low and medium-rise apartment buildings. The result is the proposition for each residential typology of a retrofitting strategy that employs the integration of a green infrastructure inside the residential spaces. Until now, the Mediterranean context has been characterized by limited use of strategies directed towards the efficient employment of water resources, since the mild climatic conditions have always provided for an adequate amount of freshwater. Therefore, limited studies have been carried out on the application of those strategies in Mediterranean landscapes. However, the rapid shift in precipitation patterns due to climate change has defined the need to quickly embrace new strategies, systems, and technical solutions for improving water use efficiency and promoting reuse.
Briefing for Circularity. Translating EU policies into operational guidelines for the building project
Authors: Atta Nazly , Paganin Giancarlo , Talamo Cinzia 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
The current EU interest in Circular Economy offers novel opportunities to move towards more sustainable production and consumption practices. Literature confirms that building stakeholders are expressing a growing demand of common references and tools to support the integration of circular principles in building processes. The paper introduces a methodological approach meant as an information support tool to translate EU circularity policies into guidelines for building design and management. Indeed, the challenge is to translate circularity objectives and targets into specific requirements expressed from one stakeholder to another, up to the last operator involved in the supply chain. The requests along the different levels of the supply chain must be consistent with each other and with the initial circularity objectives expressed at the origin by the client. Hence, starting by outlining the complexity of the fragmented building supply-chain, the paper identifies the proper level of detail for expressing circularity requirements and, therefore, for communicating mutually consistent circularity objectives at the different levels of the supply chain. Supporting the integration of circularity requirements within Project Briefs (design phase) and Invitations to Tender (management phase), the proposed tool lays the foundations for the experimentation of circular building practices and for the systemic evaluation of compliance with EU circularity objectives.
Stirring digital innovation in wood waste upcycling: system dynamics as a circular design decision-making methodology
Authors: Paragliola Federica , Galluccio Giuliano , Russo Ermolli Sergio , Perriccioli Massimo , Rigillo Marina , Giannino Francesco 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
The urgency to reduce climate-changing emissions and natural resources exploitation is pushing architecture and industrial design to explore viable options to innovate current practices on material use. In forest-based industries, in particular, wood upcycling is emerging as a pivotal investigation field, with a specific research agenda aimed at reducing the impacts generated by the rising demand of timber products and the actual incineration and landfilling rates. Indeed, the development of new technological solutions needs to account for energy and material flows, as well as for the environmental impacts and social and economic dynamics. Such a new complexity pushes towards a design approach that links digital technologies to circularity goals for a more comprehensive understanding of the forest-based resource management and the evalutation of alternative scenarios.
In this paper, we propose System Dynamics (SD) as a methodology to provide a qualitative and quantitative framework to promote digital circular innovation in the wood industry.
SD is a dynamic, multi-scale, multi-dimension and site-specific decision-making support tool wich helps designers, researchers and industrial stakeholders to understand and simulate the dynamic behavior and performances of complex systems within specific time and space parameters. The proposed SD for wood waste upcycling allows to model “stock and flow” scenarios, to simulate and compare the consequences of technological options on the system and to target their development in time - and space-based projections. This study outlines the first advances for the SD application to the Italian wood industry, and examines the consequences of the application of different circular strategies on a “business-as-usual” scenario.
Circular Economy: The 4Rs reduce-reuse-recycle-recover
Authors: Hom Kevin 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
This article summarizes the lecture presented at the Net Built 2024 conference. The lecture addresses the unsustainability of the current linear economy, characterized by the “take, make, dispose” model, in light of environmental challenges. The inefficiencies of this system lead to increased energy consumption, elevated CO2 emissions, and the exacerbation of climate change. It examines the current state of design and construction with respect to climate change and sustainable resource management. Additionally, the lecture introduces a methodology that integrates technologies and design philosophies capable of driving significant positive change. By advocating for a transformative approach to the expected lifetime of buildings and components, this presentation explores new paradigms grounded in the principles of the circular economy. To illustrate these strategies and their outcomes, the author provides a series of case studies. The presentation delves into open methods and strategies for managing building systems, focusing on lifecycle impact, durability, serviceability, and obsolescence.
Exploring the relationship of building area and GHGe: a mitigation strategy?
Authors: Tozan Buket , Hoxha Endrit , Ole Olsen Christoffer , Grau Sørensen Christian , Birgisdóttir Harpa 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe) from new constructions must be reduced to address the climate change crisis. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is widely applied to document the environmental impacts of buildings, often reporting results by dividing the total emissions over the measured building area, such as the gross floor area. The appropriateness of this approach has been debated in the building LCA research community and the construction industry, with concerns about the potential consequence of designing larger buildings to reduce emissions over the buildings’ life cycle and if this entails easier compliance with limit values in regulations. With a large collection of 291 case studies divided into four weight categories, potential correlations between constructing larger areas and GHGe are explored by fitting linear models. The results show that theoretically, GHGe reported per area can be decreased due to increased building area. However, this requires significant increases in area, which realistically results in increased costs, resource use, and related environmental impacts, which is not feasible. Therefore, the findings do not support the notion that interpreting LCA results per square meter encourages the enlargement of buildings to reduce emissions over their life cycle. It should be noted that the study’s conclusions are drawn from the end results of individual LCAs. The potential decrease in GHGe by enlarging the building area during the design process is not possible to derive without involving stakeholders. Thus, this study underlines the need for future research to achieve a nuanced relationship between building size, design choices, and environmental impacts.
The risk of shifting environmental burdens in biobased construction - Life cycle assessment of a residential renovated building case study in Belgium
Authors: Brahma Shalini , Van de moortel Els , Wurm Jan , Allacker Karen 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
The construction industry is a major contributor to environmental degradation, resource depletion, and energy consumption. As global concerns about sustainability and environmental impact continue to rise, it becomes imperative to reassess the materials used in building construction. This research paper presents a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) using the Belgian TOTEM tool according to EN15804+A2 for evaluating material choices in building construction with a focus on the renovation of residential buildings in Belgium. The study aims to provide a holistic understanding of the environmental implications associated with biobased construction materials enabling informed decision-making for sustainable building practices. To achieve this, we conducted an analysis of the life cycle environmental performance of biobased materials used in external walls of a renovation case study project and compared it to common built-up scenarios of conventional construction materials applied in the same case study. The research results show that using biobased materials for renovation can significantly reduce embodied GHG emissions but can lead to burden shifting such as resulting in an increased impact on land use, particulate matter emissions, depletion of abiotic resources and eco-toxicity. The study not only underscores the importance of comprehensive cradle-to-grave life cycle thinking but also provides valuable insights for stakeholders in the construction industry.
Insulation materials for building : dealing with climate change along with other challenges yet to come
Authors: Gourovitch Marceau , Laratte Bertrand , Costes Jean-Philippe 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
In France, numerous regulations have been enacted to tackle climate change. The initial ones focused on the use phase of buildings, while the last regulation considered both the construction and use phases. Meanwhile, issues such as energy supply and resource scarcity are becoming increasingly important, but no current regulations address these challenges. To go further than climate change, five impact categories are studied: global warming potential, abiotic depletion potential – fossil fuels, consumption of primary non-renewable energy, transport distances, and abiotic depletion potential – elements. These categories are used to rank 11 insulation materials: polyurethane, expanded polystyrene, extruded polystyrene, rock wool, glass wool, hemp concrete, hemp wool, cellulose wadding, straw, semi-rigid wood fiber, and rigid wood fiber. For this purpose, we analyzed 664 Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) from the French EPD database, using a functional unit of 1 m² of insulation with an R-value of 5 m²•K/W. It appears that bio-based materials generally performed better than conventional ones across all five impact categories. However, the ranking based on the five indicators provided a nuanced view of the ranking solely based on the global warming potential and did not significantly alter the overall ranking.
Toward sustainable urban health: defining hospital outdoor spaces for community well-being
Authors: Bertelli Matteo , Cristiana Palazzo Angela , Gibertoni Chiara , Rainaldi Francesco , Gaspari Jacopo 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
The challenges that Bologna is facing belonging to the 100-carbon neutral city list are largely related to the quality of its urban fabric. The site hosting the IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero - Universitaria di Bologna Policlinico di Sant’Orsola represents one of the largest green areas of the city. The renovation plan the hospital has launched represents an opportunity to contribute to the city’s sustainability goals and to enhance the value of the hospital’s outdoor spaces for users. The hospital experiences over 20, 000 accesses per day, with a significant proportion of these being for work or medical visits; the informal use of outdoor spaces often leads to tensions among users with diverse needs, discouraging access and depriving individuals of potential benefits that could be derived from spending time outdoors. Reflecting the management’s commitment towards two of the UN Sustainable Development Goals: Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3) and Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), the hospital created a design team with the cooperation of the University of Bologna to research the technical and functional requirements for adapting outdoor spaces to meet the needs of users. The research is based on a human-centred design approach while the methods are grounded in Service Design practices.
Integration of cognitive dynamics in the project to address the challenges of climate change.
Authors: Mastrolonardo Luciana , Candeloro Giulia 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
This study addresses the pressing need for methodological innovation in response to climate change, with a particular focus on integrating cognitive dynamics with environmental design. The study is grounded in the theories of Extended Mind and Embodied Cognition, and proposes a novel approach that transcends traditional views. This approach uses innovation diagrams to analyse and integrate the physical and social environment as active elements of the cognitive process. The systemic approach is designed to develop practical tools and frameworks for the design of resilient and sustainable urban spaces that enhance human-environment interactions. The project not only seeks to provide new methodological insights but also fosters a holistic view that incorporates ecological sustainability in architectural and urban planning, thereby better addressing global environmental challenges.
An Infrastructure’s emissions assessment tool: AMICO - Account Method of Infrastructures embodied CarbOn
Authors: Quaglio Benedetta , Gallina Federica , Giordano Roberto 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
In 2013, the UK Infrastructure Carbon Review report highlighted how the infrastructure sector contributed to the national total emissions and, therefore, had a key role in contributing to the national reduction, adopting targeted strategies to reduce them. The main objective of AMICO’s research project: “Account Method of Infrastructures embodied CarbOn”, is the development of a tool for the analysis and parametric evaluation of carbon emissions (Embodied Carbon, EC) and energy resource requirements (Embodied Energy, EE) related to the design and construction of infrastructures (railway tunnels, bridges, highways …) AMICO tool is designed to be used for tendering, contract start-up and construction of infrastructure by Webuild Group (Italian Joint Stock Company) as part of a research project funded by MIMIT - Ministry of Business and Made in Italy, with the scientific support of the Politecnico di Torino (Department of Architecture and Design).
AMICO aims to assess potential impacts in terms of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and potential primary energy resource needs over the infrastructure life cycle and at different design process stages, allowing designers and constructors to evaluate decarbonisation in their choices. AMICO is currently organised into two calculation models:
1. An Excel spreadsheet file, divided into worksheets containing algorithms for accounting of EC and EE, organised into two usage models: Basic, which will be used for tenders and the early design stage, and Advanced, which will be used in the detailed design or construction stage.
2. A code for the BIM environment that accounts for impacts (EE and EC) related to infrastructure systems (as defined by UNICLASS) combined and concurrently with design in the BIM environment (this section is not the focus of this paper).
An innovation aspect is sharing a database of environmental data about materials and processes (transportation, construction, demolition) directly related to the Bill of Quantity without using Life Cycle Assessment software. The database will be integrated into the Datalake to speed up and optimise infrastructure design and construction work. You can set the database to the location of the work. Through data digitisation, AMICO is designed to be as automated, easy to fill in, and intuitive as possible.
The mitigation potential of environmental compensations: a challenge for the carbon neutrality transition
Authors: Mussinelli Elena , Tartaglia Andrea , Castaldo Giovanni , Riva Raffaella , Cerati Davide , Sereni Annamaria 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Carbon neutrality targets introduced at European level set new challenges for the built environment’s transformation. By considering the entire lifecycle of buildings, the integration of nature-based solutions (NBS) into design is increasingly necessary, but sometimes not sufficient to balance CO2 emissions, opening up the need for compensations. Environmental systems are also subject to new anthropogenic pressures arising from urbanisation processes and the effects of climate change. In the face of an increasingly widespread compensatory model based on the carbon credits market, the paper intends to demonstrate the structural, mitigating and regenerative role of environmental compensations, when adequately planned and applied in a site-specific way, in the contexts directly and indirectly affected by interventions. The paper presents an ongoing research activity in which environmental compensations has been quantified and evaluated in their mitigation potential. The added value of the study is the provision of a methodological framework for the quantification of environmental compensations and for the measurement of the contribution of NBS to the achievement of carbon neutrality and their optimal localisation for the improvement of environmental quality.
EU building stock characterization for whole life cycle assessment: Data challenges and key insights
Authors: Pristerà Giulia , Ramon Delphine , Röck Martin , Dalla Valle Anna , Giorgi Serena , Verhaeghe Robine , Lavagna Monica , Allacker Karen 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
The building sector plays an important role in achieving the climate objectives of the EU Green Deal. While prioritizing measures to reduce operational energy and GHG emissions has proven beneficial, it has shifted burdens by increasing embodied emissions. Quantifying and regulating emissions throughout the entire building life cycle is therefore crucial. An ongoing DG GROW project is investigating strategies to reduce life cycle GHG emissions within the EU. Various steps are being carried out to achieve the research goals: identification of data needs and sources, baseline analysis of the existing whole life carbon emissions of the EU building stock, modelling of future scenarios. This paper elaborates on the building stock characterization, demonstrating innovation through its level of granularity. Firstly, key data sources are chosen to provide the desired granularity. Secondly, archetypes are defined based on the data sources. Thirdly, attributes are chosen to describe the building stock in terms of geometry, building element composition, energy use, etc. The paper concludes by discussing challenges related to collecting attribute information and managing data gaps. The insights derived offer valuable recommendations for establishing a future data repository dedicated to environmental LCA of the EU building stock.
Productivity forecasting of the solar still with phase change material using LSTM and GRU neural networks
Authors: Kateshia Jyotin , Lakhera Vikas J 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Solar desalination is one of the renewable energy techniques by which freshwater can be obtained economically. Solar desalination experiments are time and resource-consuming methods; hence there is a need for a robust system to identify the serviceability of the solar still in a specific region. The objective of the present study is to develop a forecasting model using artificial neural networks to predict freshwater productivity. Specifically, the study aims to compare the accuracy of Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) neural networks in forecasting the productivity of Conventional Solar Stills (CSS) and Solar Stills with Phase Change Material (SSPCM). Additionally, the research seeks to analyze the impact of advanced materials, such as phase change materials (PCM) and pin fins, on solar still productivity; determine which neural network model provides more accurate and reliable forecasts for different solar still designs; and contribute to the optimization of solar still implementations by developing predictive models applicable to diverse geographical regions. The current investigation involved analysing the experimental outcomes of a solar still that employed phase change material (PCM) and pin fins. Palmitic acid was implemented as the energy storage material and was placed beneath the absorber plate. The neural network model was trained and validated using time-series solar still experimental data. Different statistical measures were utilised to evaluate the accuracy of Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) and Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU). The results indicate that the freshwater productivity forecasted by LSTM exhibited greater accuracy than GRU. Specifically, the coefficient of determination values for LSTM were 0.96 and 0.98 for the CSS and SSPCM, respectively, which were higher than the corresponding values for GRU.