Article
Environmental Sciences
Samia Richards, Lakshminarayana Rao, Stephanie Connelly, Anjali Raj, Lakshmi Raveendran, Shahana Shirin, Priyanka Jamwal, Rachel Helliwell
Summary: This study evaluates the effectiveness of a rooftop rainwater harvesting system in reducing the pressure on groundwater supply at a public school in rural India. The stored rainwater quality and the application of low-cost treatment methods were assessed, indicating that chlorine dosing was effective in reducing microbial abundance over time. The results showed that the installed rainwater harvesting system has reduced water supply pressure by up to 25% with proper chlorination, allowing for greater savings and multiple uses of the stored water.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Lijun Zhang, Ambrose Njepu, Xiaohua Xia
Summary: This paper introduces an integrated rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling system to address the issue of unreliable water and electricity supply in residences. By using a mixed integer linear programming model, optimal sizes of water tanks and operation of pumps were determined to reduce potable water consumption and electricity cost. The system was applied to a practical case study in South Africa, showing significant water and financial savings with an acceptable payback period.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Bongchan Jeong, Jungsoo Kim, Dong Chen, Richard de Dear
Summary: This study examines the perception of thermal comfort and behavioral adaptation of residents in Sydney and Brisbane, Australia. The statistical analysis reveals that the current international standard of adaptive comfort model may not be suitable for residential buildings, and suggests expanding the acceptable temperature range to around 11 K. The findings also demonstrate that the climate influences the shifting of the 80% acceptability range.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Jersain Gomez Nunez, Magdalena Garcia Martinez, Rojacques Mompremier, Beatriz A. Gonzalez Beltran, Icela Dagmar Barcelo Quintal
Summary: This article presents a methodology for modeling rainwater harvesting, storage, and water consumption, aiming to analyze the best configuration and tank-sizing selection based on various indicators, to avoid underutilization.
WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Rebecca Maskwa, Kevin Gardner, Weiwei Mo
Summary: The study combined system dynamics modeling with life cycle cost assessment to investigate the economic and water-saving benefits of household greywater recycling and rainwater harvesting systems in different cities across the United States. It found optimal tank sizes and demand met percentages for different decentralized water systems, indicating a tradeoff between sizing for minimized payback time or maximized demand met. Boston, Seattle, and Atlanta performed the best in terms of payback time and demand met regardless of housing and system types.
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
G. B. Vale, P. S. Scalize, A. L. Tonetti, H. C. Ruggeri Junior
Summary: This study aims to determine the population thresholds at which the per capita cost of collective management becomes more cost-effective compared to single-family and joint single-family management. The results showed that the population thresholds for collective management with analytical control were found to be 218 and 1168 inhabitants, while without analytical control, the respective thresholds were 37 and 168 inhabitants.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zaved Khan, Mohammad A. Alim, Muhammad Muhitur Rahman, Ataur Rahman
Summary: This study examined the viability of rainwater harvesting system in Australia in terms of water savings, reliability and financial viability, revealing different results for different water use scenarios and certain cost-effective conditions for implementing the system.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Diego Antonio Custodio, Enedir Ghisi
Summary: Population increase, climate change and soil impermeability are factors causing floods in large urban centres. This research aims to evaluate the influence of rainwater harvesting in residential buildings on stormwater in a basin located in Southern Brazil. The study considers various factors such as urbanized and non-urbanized areas, soil types, curve numbers, and time of concentration of each sub-basin. The results show that rainwater tanks in residential buildings have little influence on stormwater runoff, and the reduction in peak flows is insignificant when considering the flooding in the region.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Economics
Fateh Belaid, Zeinab Ranjbar, Camille Massie
Summary: This research investigates the cost-effectiveness of energy performance measures in French residential buildings, finding that low-temperature and condensing boilers, as well as floor insulation, are the most cost-effective energy efficiency measures. The study also demonstrates that the cost-effectiveness of energy renovation measures is widely dependent on dwelling initial characteristics and the value of the inputs used in economic indicators.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zia Sadique, Sarah Willis, Kaat De Corte, Mark Pennington, Carmel Moore, Stephen Kaptoge, Emanuele Di Angelantonio, Gail Miflin, David J. Roberts, Richard Grieve
Summary: Shortening interval between blood donations can safely increase the frequency of whole-blood donations. Reducing the donation interval can lead to an increase in the number of donations, but it also comes with additional costs, and the significance of self-reported symptoms needs further investigation.
Article
Hematology
Aleksandra Tuleja, Dante Salvador, Taulant Muka, Sarah Bernhard, Armando Lenz, Iris Baumgartner, Marc Schindewolf
Summary: This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of approved and off-label anticoagulants in patients with suspected HIT. The results showed that fondaparinux and rivaroxaban were more clinically effective and had lower costs compared to argatroban. This makes fondaparinux a viable alternative to argatroban.
Article
Environmental Studies
Alessandro Avenali, Giuseppe Catalano, Mirko Giagnorio, Giorgio Matteucci
Summary: This paper analyzes the economic and environmental performances of alternative bus powertrains in different urban contexts in the U.S. It utilizes real-world data from 256 transport operators to develop a life cycle cost model for bus technologies, and includes scenario and sensitivity analysis. The results show that electric buses are cost-competitive in congested cities, but face barriers in towns and suburban areas with longer and faster bus routes.
TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH PART D-TRANSPORT AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Mohammad T. Alresheedi, Abdulmohsen M. Albuaymi, Saleem S. AlSaleem, Husnain Haider, Md. Shafiquzzaman, Abdulaziz AlHarbi, Amimul Ahsan
Summary: The present study investigates the application of a low-cost ceramic filter bioreactor (CFBR) for treating septic tank effluent in smaller communities in Saudi Arabia. The results show that CFBR operated at a flux value of 0.4 m/d can effectively remove various pollutants and produce high-quality effluent. The use of cyclic aeration promotes nitrification/denitrification, leading to enhanced nitrogen removal.
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
(2023)
Article
Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology
Mutsa Gumbie, Bonny Parkinson, Harvey Dillon, Ross Bowman, Rachel Song, Henry Cutler
Summary: Using Sound Scouts to screen 5-year-old children for hearing loss at home in Australia is likely to be cost-effective. This screening method allows for early identification and intervention of childhood hearing loss, thereby reducing early childhood disadvantages and improving quality of life, education, and economic outcomes over their lifetime.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Monzur Alam Imteaz, Sameer Shadeed
Summary: This study presents a water balance modelling concept for rainwater harvesting analysis and compares the results with the traditional Rippl method, finding a more practical and feasible tank size calculation method. The research also indicates the correlation between optimal tank size, roof size, and rainwater demand, which can be incorporated into a generalized equation for determination.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Vivian W. Y. Tam, Anthony Butera, Khoa N. Le
Summary: This paper investigates and compares the performance of CO2 Concrete and ordinary virgin aggregate concrete in terms of shrinkage, concrete shrinkage reversibility, and permeability. The results show that CO2 Concrete consistently achieves similar to better performance than virgin aggregate concrete for drying shrinkage and permeability. CO2 Concrete with 30% and 50% recycled aggregate content outperforms virgin aggregate concrete in many cases. The injection of CO2 does not significantly affect the concrete shrinkage reversibility.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Mingxue Ma, Vivian W. Y. Tam, Khoa N. LE, Anthony Butera, Wengui LI, Xiangyu Wang
Summary: In the current age of enhanced environmental awareness, transformation to sustainable management in the construction sector is needed. China currently produces the largest amount of construction and demolition (C&D) waste around the world, but the average recovery rate of the waste was only about 5% in 2017. In order to investigate problems in current C&D waste management in China, a cross-national comparative analysis is conducted among China and seven selected countries (Japan, South Korea, Germany, Italy, Austria, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom), to compare legal texts of national policies and laws which relate to C&D waste management and are currently being used. Through the comparison, problems in management of C&D waste in China are investigated. The problems could be concluded to: (a) inadequate guidance on recycling, (b) lack of market incentives in utilising recycled materials, (c) incomplete knowledge of stakeholders' responsibilities, (d) lack of penalty for other stakeholders, and (e) inefficient supervision system. By understanding these problems, this paper further provides recommendations to enhance the performance of C&D waste management in China.
JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Vivian W. Y. Tam, Yijun Zhou, Liyin Shen, Khoa N. Le
Summary: This research develops a way of selecting the optimal BIM-LCA integration approach that incorporates the needs of different scenarios. Three scenarios of environmental impact assessment are designed to demonstrate the application of the proposed way. The results indicate that using visual programming languages is the optimal BIM-LCA integration approach for assessing environmental impacts in the early and construction design stages, while using LCA plugin and visual programming languages are the optimal approaches for environmental assessment in the scenario of detailed design stages.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Qi Liang, Hong Liang, Qin Li, Vivian W. Y. Tam, Jingyu Yu, Lin Zhu
Summary: This study developed a framework for assessing building functions using a hybrid approach. Through the collection and analysis of over 300 valid empirical data from major building stakeholders, 16 key building functions were identified and ranked in terms of their importance.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Archiman Lahiry, Khoa N. Le, Vo Nguyen Quoc Bao, Vivian W. Y. Tam
Summary: A simple and energy-efficient communication system configuration is proposed for UAV-ETs for WPT applications, improving WPT time and reducing power consumption compared to UAV-BSs. The study also introduces a holistic framework for energy efficiency optimization and hardware design parameters, as well as a 3D placement optimization for maximizing WPT time. Additionally, it examines the impact of AA losses and power amplifier efficiency on WPT time and presents a manufactured AA that meets the hardware component design requirements.
Article
Engineering, Civil
Clyde Zhengdao Li, Yu Zhen, Hengqin Wu, Zhe Chen, Bing Xiao, Vivian W. Y. Tam
Summary: Building Information Modeling (BIM) is the latest engineering brain used for the whole life cycle planning of construction projects. However, research on BIM lacks systematic review and analysis. In this paper, a holistic analysis method is adopted to comprehensively analyze the research trend of BIM in the field of engineering management. This research provides valuable insights for researchers and practitioners to identify influential research and journals, and understand the current research hotspots and future directions.
JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Civil
Kun Lu, Xueyuan Deng, Xiaoyan Jiang, Baoquan Cheng, Vivian W. Y. Tam
Summary: This paper addresses the unclear state of LCCA based on BIM by reviewing 45 relevant peer-reviewed articles through a systematic literature search, selection, and assessment. The results show that three data exchange methods integrate BIM and LCCA. Precision management, optimization measures, and parameter analysis through BIM significantly improve the value of buildings. A methodological framework that combines LCC with other indicators based on BIM is summarized to assess life cycle sustainability costs.
JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Weiqi Xing, Vivian W. Y. Tam, Khoa N. Le, Jian Li Hao, Jun Wang
Summary: Massive emissions and energy consumption in concrete production pose threats to sustainable development and human health. Studies on sustainable concrete mainly focus on technical properties, while limited research has integrated life cycle assessment (LCA) to measure environmental impacts. This research examines 570 concrete mix designs incorporating recycled aggregate (RA) and supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) to analyze their environmental behavior and develop a model to predict carbon emissions and energy consumption. The results show that the environmental impact of sustainable concrete is related to compressive strength, water-to-binder ratio, and RA/SCMs ratios, and the allocation coefficient and alternative fuel utilization significantly affect the impact.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2023)
Review
Management
Jingyang Zhou, Vivian W. Y. Tam, Yanjun Qin, Chethana Illankoon
Summary: Prefabrication construction has attracted attention in the industry, with mixed reviews on its cost. Cost management in prefabricated construction involves various considerations such as initial design costs, supply chain costs, maintenance costs, and assembly costs. These costs are interconnected, highlighting the importance of a holistic cost management system that incorporates economic, social, and environmental aspects.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Robert Osei-Kyei, Vivian Tam, Ursa Komac, Godslove Ampratwum
Summary: This study aims to review and analyze the emerging and leading urban community resilience indicators. It identifies 45 indicators grouped into eight categories and highlights the lack of research from developing economies. The findings will be useful for policymakers, practitioners, and further empirical investigations.
SMART AND SUSTAINABLE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Lei Liu, Vivian W. Y. Tam, Khoa N. Le, Laura Almeida
Summary: This study aims to explore the previously un-identified factors for enhancing accurate building energy consumption prediction and proposes a method combining LCA and a non-linear model. Through an empirical study, it predicts the future energy consumption of urban residential buildings in China and identifies different development stages.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Lei Liu, Vivian W. Y. Tam, Laura Almeida, Khoa N. Le
Summary: Rapid urbanization and rising living standards in China have led to significant increases in building energy consumption, creating environmental pressures. Accurately assessing national energy consumption can be challenging due to the complexity of energy systems. This study develops a national-level Integrated Dynamic Energy Assessment (IDEA) model to explore the interactions among energy-related factors and quantify the life cycle energy consumption of urban residential buildings in China. The results provide insights into the growth and connections of energy-related subsystems and reveal changes in occupants' energy-use behaviors.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2023)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Xiaoxiao Xu, Hao Yu, Qiuwen Sun, Vivian W. Y. Tam
Summary: This research aims to review the evolution of occupant behavior research, investigate the knowledge base and domains, and identify current research gaps and future directions. The results show that the focus has shifted from individual behavior to complex behaviors. By using bibliometric approach and content analysis on 2791 relevant articles, this research provides potential researchers with sufficient knowledge and inspires them for future studies.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Mingxue Ma, Vivian WY. Tam, Khoa N. Le, Robert Osei-Kyei
Summary: Effectively managing and utilizing construction and demolition waste is crucial for sustainability. Recycling waste into usable materials, like recycled aggregate, for concrete production offers both environmental and economic benefits. However, the price competitiveness of recycled concrete is a major obstacle. This study develops a system dynamics model to evaluate the dynamic effects of key factors on the price of recycled concrete and suggests short-term and long-term solutions.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Management
Ivan Polanco-Guzman, Marcos Rodriguez-Troncoso, Ahmed W. A. Hammad, Assed N. Haddad, Vivian W. Y. Tam, Diego A. Vasco
Summary: This study examines the development of a push-pull ventilation system for use in wastewater treatment. The proposed system aims to minimize H2S concentration in the settling stage of a wastewater treatment plant. Computational simulations and measurements were used to assess and improve the existing ventilation system. The results show that the improved system effectively decreases H2S concentration, meeting the regulations in Chile.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yui Kawasaki, Sayaka Nagao-Sato, Misa Shimpo, Kahori Fujisaki, Emi Yoshii, Rie Akamatsu, Petra Warschburger
Summary: This study qualitatively describes sustainable dietary behaviors (SDBs) that Japanese and German adults can implement in their lives, and quantitatively compares the similarities and differences in understanding SDBs between the two samples. The study found that Japanese participants were more focused on food waste prevention, while German participants were more focused on solving environmental problems.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Kechun Chen, Yuan Ding, Liming Yang, Zhihao Wang, Haoxuan Yu, Difan Fang, Yufa Feng, Liying Hu, Chenxi Xu, Penghui Shao, Xubiao Luo, Liang Chen
Summary: This study proposes a targeted repair scheme for the recovery of graphite anodes from spent LIBs by systematically characterizing and analyzing the structure and composition of spent graphite (SG). The results show that the repair scheme achieves effective SG repair and the repaired graphite anode displays excellent lithium storage performance.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Takao Ueda, Shigeki Koyanaka, Tatsuya Oki
Summary: Fires caused by accidental crushing of batteries are a serious issue in the e-waste recycling process. A new in-line sorting system that uses X-ray scanning and deep learning has been developed to accurately detect batteries. Through a validation study, the system achieved higher accuracy compared to other existing programs.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hannes Geist, Frank Balle
Summary: Research on circular economy often lacks empirical data, especially in the theory of circular process design and design for remanufacturing. This study systematically collected and analyzed engineering data on seven remanufacturing processes in the European automotive remanufacturing industry for the first time, providing empirical support for circular engineering challenges, potentials, and solutions.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiaojing Li, Fan Lue, Nanlin Liao, Hua Zhang, Na Yang, Pinjing He
Summary: This study assesses and predicts the greenhouse gas emissions on the timeline as waste treatment technologies develop in Shanghai from 1991 to 2025 using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. The findings demonstrate that GHG emission has reached net-zero in 2019 owing to the application of alternative technologies and waste segregation.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Bingchun Liu, Haoyang Wang, Xiaoqin Liang, Yibo Wang, Zijie Feng
Summary: The expansion of the photovoltaic market has resulted in a significant increase in PV waste. Therefore, conducting scientific research to determine the importance of the circular economy for sustainable growth in the PV industry is essential. The study demonstrates that accurate prediction of PV installed capacity and quantifying the importance of recycling in balancing the supply and demand of raw materials can be achieved through a multi-factor installed capacity prediction model and recovery potential prediction.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Chuanzhen Zhang, Baojing Gu, Xia Liang, Shu Kee Lam, Yi Zhou, Deli Chen
Summary: Reactive nitrogen is crucial for agriculture and human nutrition, but mismanagement can have detrimental effects on human health and ecosystem services, hindering the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Progress towards nitrogen-related targets varies across countries, highlighting the need for integrated management to achieve overall synergies.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Alessandro Gatto, Marijke Kuiper, Corina van Middelaar, Hans van Meijl
Summary: This study examines the economic and environmental effects of transitioning towards more circular food systems in the European Union (EU27) by feeding animals with low-opportunity-cost feed and better utilizing local feed resources. The results show that providing subsidies for circularity and promoting the use of low-cost feed can increase animal production, but also have negative impacts on land use and emissions. On the other hand, promoting domestic feed sourcing through import tariffs can decrease animal production and greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture. However, complementary policies are needed to mitigate drawbacks and enhance benefits of a more circular agri-food system.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jinbo Zhang, Liu Chen, Yulei Xie, Pingjian Yang, Zheng Li, Huaicheng Guo, Yang Zhang, Lirong Liu
Summary: This study examines the impact of carbon taxes on low-carbon development and climate change mitigation. By constructing a cross-system bi-layer model, the study finds that reasonable carbon taxes can promote the stability of the energy network, reduce carbon emissions and air pollutants, and optimize production efficiency and the structure of the energy system. This study contributes to a better understanding of the effects and implementation pathways of carbon taxes.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Konstantin Born, Mehmet Metehan Ciftci
Summary: Increasing recycling of metals is important for reducing reliance on mining, but it cannot fully meet future metal demand. Primary production of metals is expected to continue rising, highlighting the need for alternative circular economy strategies such as demand reduction and mitigating harmful impacts of primary metal production.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yinqiu Ma, Lin Huang, Jiahui Li, Wei Cao, Yumei Cai
Summary: Afforestation and reforestation, such as China's Grain for Green Program, have shown to effectively mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to carbon sink capacity. This study highlights the significant carbon potential of the program and its potential application in other countries to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Arlind Dervishaj, Kjartan Gudmundsson
Summary: This paper reviews digital tools for supporting the Circular Economy (CE) in the built environment and provides suggestions. The study identifies limitations in the functionalities of current tools, including a lack of representative data for LCA and underdeveloped circularity indicators. Further development is needed in terms of interoperability aspects, integration of more sources of data for LCA and circularity, and possibilities for a comprehensive evaluation of design choices.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mohamadreza Y. Azarfam, Anuj Maheshwari, Frank D. Blum, Siddhesh Chaudhari, Clinton Switzer, Ranji Vaidyanathan, Jay C. Hanan, Sudheer Bandla
Summary: This study introduces a feasible method for manufacturing recycled composites using post-consumer carpets and recycled resin. The resulting composites have impressive strength and modulus, surpassing commercial thermoplastics and making them suitable for structural applications. This research presents a promising approach to address carpet landfilling and reduce reliance on additives.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Pujiang Shi, Tianle Huang, Hong Kit Lim, Chiew Kei Tan, Jong-Min Lee, Chor Yong Tay
Summary: This study developed a highly porous bioadaptive 3D sponge-like construct from plastic materials in discarded keyboards for advanced in vitro applications. The findings demonstrate the potential of using discarded keyboards as a waste-to-resource feedstock to achieve waste reduction and maximize value-capture.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Kuo-Jui Wu, Hailing Qiu, Caiyan Huang, Anthony S. F. Chiu, Ming-Lang Tseng
Summary: Government resource allocation practices for achieving carbon neutrality should be guided by dynamic system theory to identify potential dynamics. Carbon intensity control dynamics have a significant influence on other dynamics.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2024)
