Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.8
3.3
Journals
Sustainability
Special Issues
Timber's Green Revolution: Sustainable Construction from Start to Finish
sustainability-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Sustainability Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Timber's Green Revolution: Sustainable Construction from Start to Finish

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 4085

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Manuel Carpio

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Centre of Excellence for the Timber Industry of Chile, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
Interests: sustainable constructions; life cycle assessment; timber construction; sustainability

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

There is a growing awareness of the importance of using environmentally sustainable materials in construction. Timber in particular is experiencing a surge in popularity within the construction sector due to its renewable nature and significant social and environmental benefits. To utilize timber sustainably in construction, it is essential to consider the entire value chain of the timber sector, from its initial stages to the finished products. This chain begins with forest management and silviculture, encompassing various aspects related to the growth and development of forests. It extends to forest development, which focuses on the responsible use and conservation of natural resources, ensuring the production of goods and services. The subsequent phase involves the timber industry, where raw materials are processed and transformed into various new products following harvesting and transportation.

In this Special Issue, we invite high-quality original research articles that explore the following topics:

  • Quantification of resources and assessment of threats, such as fire, soil, and water;
  • Proposal of measures to ensure the sustainability of territories;
  • Implementation of measures to enhance the productivity, quality, and diversity of forests;
  • Development of structural products;
  • Creation of non-structural products;
  • Manufacturing using cutting-edge technology;
  • Modification of properties and functionalities;
  • Waste recovery;
  • Innovative materials;
  • Seismic engineering of timber structures;
  • Timber–concrete hybrid buildings;
  • Design and construction of medium and high-rise structures;
  • Development of new types of walls, slabs, and roofs;
  • Strategies for fire protection;
  • Construction management, digitalization, and industrialization;
  • Preservation and durability methods;
  • Quantification and enhancement of the sustainability of timber constructions;
  • Urban planning and public policies promoting timber-based construction;
  • Any other topic related to timber throughout its life cycle.

Looking forward to your valuable contributions.

Warm regards,

Dr. Manuel Carpio
Guest Editor

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 submissions that pass pre-check are 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 2400 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

  • timber
  • building
  • construction
  • forest
  • fire
  • life cycle

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

18 pages, 2051 KiB  
Article
Life Cycle Assessment and Cost Analysis of Mid-Rise Mass Timber vs. Concrete Buildings in Australia
by Riley Jolly, Holly Fairweather, Scott Rayburg and John Rodwell
Sustainability 2024, 16(15), 6465; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16156465 - 28 Jul 2024
Viewed by 841
Abstract
The building and construction industry is one of the largest greenhouse gas producers, accounting for 39% of global emissions, most of these coming from concrete and steel. Mass timber construction (MTC) potentially offers a sustainable alternative to these traditional building materials. However, more [...] Read more.
The building and construction industry is one of the largest greenhouse gas producers, accounting for 39% of global emissions, most of these coming from concrete and steel. Mass timber construction (MTC) potentially offers a sustainable alternative to these traditional building materials. However, more research is needed to establish the sustainability credentials of MTC relative to traditional concrete and steel structures, especially for mid-rise structures. The aim of this study is to evaluate the environmental and cost performance of mid-rise mass timber buildings by conducting a life cycle assessment (LCA). The LCA uses a cradle-to-cradle approach, considering the global warming potential (GWP), freshwater use (FW), and total use of non-renewable primary energy resources (PENRT). Results indicated that mid-rise mass timber buildings have significantly lower impacts than concrete buildings, with their GWP approximately 30 times lower, FW about 20 times lower, and PENRT reaching a negative value. Additionally, the cost analysis revealed that MTC buildings can be cheaper to build and thus possibly more profitable than concrete buildings. These findings establish mass timber as a viable and sustainable option for the future of Australia’s construction industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Timber's Green Revolution: Sustainable Construction from Start to Finish)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 7549 KiB  
Article
Bibliometric Analysis of Urban Coastal Development: Strategies for Climate-Resilient Timber Housing
by Andrés García-Ruiz, Manuel Díez-Minguito, Konstantin Verichev and Manuel Carpio
Sustainability 2024, 16(4), 1431; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16041431 - 8 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1009
Abstract
Urban development in coastal areas has become increasingly important due to the climate crisis and its effects on sea level rise and extreme events, which increased the vulnerability of coastal zones. Therefore, it is important to analyze possible sustainable development techniques in urban [...] Read more.
Urban development in coastal areas has become increasingly important due to the climate crisis and its effects on sea level rise and extreme events, which increased the vulnerability of coastal zones. Therefore, it is important to analyze possible sustainable development techniques in urban planning and residential housing construction based on low-carbon footprint materials such as timber. These techniques should be capable of mitigating the effects of flooding and uncontrolled rises in coastal areas, as well as identifying normative and economic differences in their application in the Chilean context. For this purpose, a bibliometric analysis of 3882 articles selected from the Web of Science database between 1987 and 2022 was conducted, allowing us to identify a range of possible solutions to be developed in the study area. This includes evaluating their potential for normative application and a cost analysis of these solutions. In this regard, housing solutions such as amphibious houses and houses on stilts are two types of flood-resistant homes that are gaining popularity worldwide. Following the technical–economic analysis, it was observed that the solution on stilts can be up to 50% more cost-effective to implement in Chile. However, both options offer a promising solution to minimize the risks of coastal flooding and should be taken into account in the urban planning of coastal areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Timber's Green Revolution: Sustainable Construction from Start to Finish)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

29 pages, 5373 KiB  
Review
Bibliometric Review of Prefabricated and Modular Timber Construction from 1990 to 2023: Evolution, Trends, and Current Challenges
by Nohelia Gutiérrez, João Negrão, Alfredo Dias and Pablo Guindos
Sustainability 2024, 16(5), 2134; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16052134 - 4 Mar 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1671
Abstract
Due to its inherent characteristics, such as a light weight and ease of workability, timber is ideal for prefabricated and modular construction. However, since the research in this field covers a wide range of niches such as structural engineering, building physics, design for [...] Read more.
Due to its inherent characteristics, such as a light weight and ease of workability, timber is ideal for prefabricated and modular construction. However, since the research in this field covers a wide range of niches such as structural engineering, building physics, design for assembly and disassembly, and life cycle analysis, among others, and since there has been considerable development of the field in past years—boosted by new mass timber products and tall timber construction—it is difficult to critically analyze the current state of the art, current trends, and research challenges. Therefore, this research aimed to cover a systematic review of 409 articles to assess the field of prefabricated and modular timber construction critically. The methodology comprised a co-word network approach using the Science Mapping Analysis Software Tool (SciMAT, Version 3) to illustrate their evolution from 1990 to 2023. The findings show that the circular economy and digital technologies significantly impact the development of these technologies, which can potentially provide practical solutions for designing buildings with a circular approach and improving productivity and efficiency in the construction process. However, it is essential to acknowledge a notable deficiency in the research and understanding of these subjects. Therefore, various sectors must take the lead in conducting a thorough reassessment to enhance research and development in the field. Finally, the findings from this research can significantly contribute to existing knowledge and serve as a comprehensive platform for the further exploration of prefabricated and modular timber construction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Timber's Green Revolution: Sustainable Construction from Start to Finish)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop