Search Results (4,211)

The integration of distributed energy resources (DERs) has enhanced the operational flexibility and complexity of smart building energy management, which is crucial to urban sustainable development. However, the limitations of strategy applicability across different environments and lengthy development cycles pose significant challenges for energy management. To address this, this paper proposes a transferred multi-thread deep reinforcement learning (TMDRL) framework for the cross-domain energy management of smart buildings. Firstly, a source-domain heterogeneous exploration architecture based on multi-thread deep reinforcement learning (DRL) is proposed. A transferable source-domain knowledge base is constructed to enhance the generalization ability of pre-trained strategies. Secondly, a decoupled double-critic optimization mechanism is designed to mitigate policy evaluation bias during cross-domain transfer. Finally, simulations using real-world datasets from different times and areas are conducted. The results show that compared to A3C, DDPG, and SAC, the proposed TMDRL framework reduces total costs by 32.77%, 18.14%, and 37.24%, while improving convergence efficiency by 29.55%, 22.89%, and 32.84%, respectively. The reduction in total cost and improvement in convergence efficiency demonstrate that the proposed TMDRL framework effectively saves energy and enhances the utilization of renewable energy, proving the sustainable benefits of smart building energy management across domains. Full article

In line with circular bioeconomy goals, this research focuses on circular materials—reused, bio-based (including waste-derived ones) and recycled—as a strategic solution to simultaneously cut Embodied Carbon and material resource uptake in buildings. The research develops a methodology for early, rapid assessment of circular materials’ contribution to cutting climate-altering emissions and material consumption, supporting architects during the initial design stage, where strategic choices are most impactful. Multiple case studies of buildings employing 12 circular design strategies and different materials were analysed, of which 10 are presented here, mapping approaches and material mixes. In parallel, by analysing 15 existing circularity and sustainability evaluation frameworks at the building and product level, screening 80 relevant indicators and integrating specific ones, the research develops a set of eight KPIs enabling designers to assess alternative combinations of reused, bio-based and recycled building materials from the early design stage. Validated on three case studies, the KPIs proved sensitive in capturing the diversity of circular material strategies by measuring circular material origin, local materials, disassemblability, material and Embodied Carbon intensity, with the latter proving particularly effective in cross-measuring the impacts of material choices. The research thus provides operational support for rapid comparative assessments guiding design decisions during early stages, focusing on materials, processes and relative impacts. Full article

The integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into architectural education has received increasing scholarly attention; however, this discussion has largely focused on design studios, environmental design, sustainable design pedagogies, or program-level curriculum mapping. By contrast, project/construction management, construction economics, design economics, time management, and construction project management courses have received comparatively less attention as specific curricular sites for SDG-oriented integration. This study analyzes course information packages related to project/construction management in selected undergraduate architecture programs in Türkiye through an SDG-oriented curriculum mapping approach. Methodologically, the study combines document-based comparative curriculum mapping, directed qualitative content analysis, six thematic coding areas, 0–3 thematic intensity coding, and SDG alignment. The comparative analysis group consists of eight courses related to project/construction management, construction economics, design economics, time management, and construction project management. The findings show that the project/construction management core is strongly represented across all analyzed courses. Sustainability and SDG orientation are most visible in the Design Economics and Special Topics of Construction Project Management courses, while the Time Management in Building Production course stands out in relation to digital/software-supported management. The SDG alignment profile indicates strong visibility for SDG 11, SDG 4, SDG 16, and SDG 12; moderate-to-strong visibility for SDG 9; and a more indirect visibility for SDG 13 through life-cycle thinking, resource efficiency, and sustainable construction management. The original contribution of the study lies in positioning project/construction management courses as a specialized curricular field within SDG-oriented architectural education and in proposing the SDG-Oriented Project/Construction Management Education Matrix. The results suggest that project/construction management courses are not merely technical professional courses; rather, through time, cost, quality, risk, contracts, life-cycle costing, resource management, BIM, supply chains, facility operation, ethics, and applied learning, they provide a strategic curricular foundation for sustainable built environment education. Full article

Substation buildings must achieve energy conservation and carbon reduction, and thereby realize sustainable development, by optimizing envelope structures and adopting systematic design, all while meeting the operational demands of high-precision electrical equipment. This research takes a typical substation building (including switchgear building, main control building, and guard room) in a hot-summer and warm-winter zone as a case study to evaluate the effects of building thermal performance on building energy use. The building cooling load and the energy-saving rate of the air conditioning system are selected as key evaluation metrics. Using building cooling load and energy-saving rate as core indicators, energy simulation software is employed to analyze the thermal parameters of the building envelope of the switchgear building and the main control building. The influence of operational parameters, such as air conditioning setpoint temperature and internal heat gains, on the building cooling load is also investigated in order to explore design solutions that achieve sustainable development. Results indicate that the cooling load per unit area of the switchgear building is significantly higher than that of the main control building. Among the factors analyzed, the air conditioning setpoint temperature has the most substantial impact on the cooling load; increasing it by just 1 °C can reduce the load by 7–8%. When the optimal values of each factor are adopted, the energy-saving rates of the switchgear building and the main control communication building can reach 32.09% and 24.08%, respectively. This research aims to provide valuable references for determining appropriate building thermal performance parameters and operational settings for fully outdoor 220 kV substation buildings in hot-summer and warm-winter zones, thereby contributing to the sustainable development of buildings. Full article

Magnesium hydroxide is attracting growing interest as a versatile, halogen-free flame retardant, and this review surveys its production routes, structure–property relationships and use in polymer systems from commodity polyolefins to advanced bio-based materials. Industrial Mg(OH)₂ is still predominantly obtained from mining or hydration of MgO, but increasing attention is being devoted to recovery from seawater and saltwork brines, where precipitation from Mg²⁺-rich streams followed by controlled rehydration or direct precipitation yields fine, high-purity powders suitable for flame retardant use and simultaneously valorizes saline wastes. In parallel, hydrothermal synthesis has been extensively explored to tailor particle size and morphology by adjusting the precursor, solvent, temperature and time, enabling high-surface-area Mg(OH)₂ or MgO with narrow size distributions that are attractive for high-performance composites also evaluated via ball milling, crushing and refining. More recently, process intensification strategies such as microwaves and ultrasounds have been proposed to shorten reaction times, lower temperatures and better control nucleation and growth, opening paths toward energy efficient production of structured Mg(OH)₂ from both conventional and brine-derived precursors. The second part of the review analyzes how the intrinsic endothermic decomposition and basic character of Mg(OH)₂ can be utilized across a broad range of polymer matrices and how surface functionalization strategies extend its applicability. In addition to “as received” powders, stearic acid and other fatty acids, metal soaps and various organic coupling agents are widely used to render the surface more hydrophobic, enhance dispersion and interfacial adhesion, and in some cases introduce additional char-forming or barrier functionality. In terms of the application, the review methodically synthesizes and contrasts fire and mechanical data for Mg(OH)₂-containing polyolefins (HDPE, LLDPE, PP and EVA) utilized in cables and building products, expandable polymers and foams, biopolymers (PLA and PBS), and elastomers. The review places particular emphasis on the balance between loading level, processability, flame performance and mechanical integrity. This review aims to provide a comprehensive framework for designing next-generation Mg(OH)₂-based flame-retardant systems for both conventional and emerging polymer technologies. To this end, it integrates advances in sustainable feedstocks, controlled synthesis and surface engineering with the rapidly expanding application space. Full article

Driven by China’s “dual carbon” (carbon peak and carbon neutrality) goals and the national strategy of new-type urbanization, prefabricated construction has emerged as a pivotal pathway toward industrialized and sustainable development in the construction sector—leveraging its distinctive advantages in construction efficiency, cost optimization, environmental performance, and design adaptability. Nevertheless, the inherently sequential and interdependent nature of the full construction process—encompassing off-site component manufacturing, logistics transportation, and on-site assembly—introduces pronounced cross-stage risk transmission mechanisms, with prefabricated components serving as critical risk carriers. Such transmission dynamics significantly impede the scalable and safe deployment of prefabricated construction. To date, scholarly efforts on construction safety in prefabricated buildings have predominantly addressed isolated, stage-specific risks, falling short in quantitatively modeling the coupled propagation of risks across stages, accommodating epistemic uncertainties and latent (i.e., unknown or unobserved) risks, and informing targeted, evidence-based mitigation strategies. To bridge this gap, this study develops a rigorous quantitative framework for assessing cross-stage risk transmission in prefabricated construction safety. Specifically, it aims to (i) uncover the structural patterns and driving mechanisms underlying inter-stage risk propagation; (ii) reduce the likelihood of safety incidents throughout the construction life cycle; and (iii) deliver actionable theoretical insights and methodological guidance for practitioners and policymakers. Methodologically, we first conduct a systematic identification of safety-critical risk factors and establish a hierarchical risk indicator system comprising three first-level dimensions and twenty second-level indicators. Second, using the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method, causal relationships among risk factors are clarified, while incorporating the Leaky Noisy-or Gate (LNOG) extended model to account for unknown risks. Risk data are processed using triangular fuzzy functions, and a Bayesian network (BN) topology diagram is constructed via the GeNIe 5.0 platform, forming a DEMATEL-LNOG-BN-based model for assessing cross-phase risk transmission. Finally, applying the model to an actual project—”a prefabricated construction project in Shanghai”—the study conducts a cross-phase risk transmission analysis. Through forward probability inference, backward causality tracing, sensitivity analysis, and pathway decomposition, sensitivity comparisons are performed under different LNOG unknown risk parameters. Results are compared with those from the traditional DEMATEL-BN model to validate the stability and consistency of high-sensitivity risk factor identification, comprehensively verifying the applicability and predictive reliability of the proposed DEMATEL-LNOG-BN model. The study quantitatively reveals the progressive diffusion and amplification mechanisms of risks across the production–transportation–assembly process, providing scientific support and practical reference for precise safety risk prevention, critical node control, and the optimization of management systems in prefabricated construction sites. Full article

The integration of renewable energy technologies into urban buildings is a key strategy in sustainable city development. This study explores the application of building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems in a selected building at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU), aiming to identify the most balanced solution among energy efficiency, architectural quality, and operational feasibility. Using a Building Information Model (BIM) of the existing structure, five alternative design scenarios were developed by varying the number and capacity of façade-mounted photovoltaic (PV) panels and semi-transparent PV windows. Each scenario was evaluated against six criteria: (1) potential solar energy yield, (2) temporal correlation between energy generation and building consumption, (3) maintenance accessibility and associated cost, (4) architectural aesthetics, (5) installation cost, and (6) cost effectiveness. To ensure a rigorous and interdisciplinary evaluation, the Delphi-based ELECTRE Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) method was applied. Expert panels representing disciplines of construction engineering, architecture, electrical engineering, and business management participated in determining the relative importance of each criterion. The results demonstrate the potential of combining BIM-based energy simulation with expert-driven decision analysis to optimize BIPV integration strategies in complex urban environments. The proposed framework offers a replicable methodology for guiding sustainable façade design and supporting the adoption of renewable energy in various public and administrative buildings across cities. Full article

Across the Saharan region of North Africa, oasis territories constitute the dominant form of human settlement. In Algeria, the Sahara is undergoing rapid urban and agricultural expansion, resulting in significant spatial and demographic transformations and increased environmental pressures on oasis systems. Despite these critical dynamics, existing studies have addressed oasis sustainability only superficially, lacking quantitative, territory-scale indicators that integrate both spatial and demographic dimensions. As a result, preserving oasis territories has become a critical challenge for national economic and industrial development. Spatial planning and demographic balance are key drivers for oasis landscape sustainability. This study focuses on the Tolga oasis territory, one of the largest in North Africa, to investigate the spatial and demographic relationships among the built environment, urban perimeters, population dynamics, and palm grove areas. The methodology combines: (1) historical cartographic analysis using georeferenced maps from 1900 to 2020 processed in QGIS (RMSE < 5 m); (2) GIS-based digitization of built-up areas (BuA) and palm grove areas (PGA) across four reference periods (1900, 1940, 1980, 2020); (3) polynomial regression modeling for urban perimeter vs. inter-oasis distance; and (4) least squares method for the population–palm tree correlation. Using spatial and statistical analyses, the results indicate that the built-up area should remain below a threshold ratio of 0.05 relative to the cultivated area to maintain the oasis landscape. Strong polynomial correlations (0.5876 ≤ R² ≤ 0.974) confirm the structural link between urban perimeter growth and inter-oasis distance, outperforming linear regression (mean ΔR² = +0.226). In addition, a strong correlation is identified between population size and palm tree abundance, as expressed by the relationship PT = 1.6376 Po + 755,050, where P denotes population size (F-statistic = 178.4; p < 0.01; N = 24; 95% CI of slope = ±0.24). Adopting a territorial-scale approach, this study proposes novel quantitative indicators, including ratio and formula-based models that can be integrated into Saharan territorial planning strategies to support sustainable oasis development. Full article

Reducing building energy demand is essential for achieving carbon neutrality and advancing sustainable urban development. This study examines the associations between building-related and topographical characteristics and summer electricity consumption using large-scale empirical data from Seoul, South Korea. A Gamma regression model was employed, with geometric, scale, system, and topographical variables as predictors and building electricity consumption as the dependent variable. The results indicate that compact building forms are significantly associated with lower electricity consumption, suggesting their relevance for energy-efficient and low-carbon building design. In contrast, horizontal expansion appears to increase energy use more strongly than vertical, tower-type configurations. The findings further show that larger building scale amplifies energy demand even under similar geometric conditions. Among topographical variables, slope exhibits a relatively strong association with energy consumption, whereas elevation shows a weaker relationship. These results highlight the importance of integrating building form, scale, and site conditions into early-stage design decision-making. The study provides empirical evidence for sustainable built-environment strategies by linking architectural form, urban spatial context, and energy-demand reduction. Full article

Students’ agency and assets are increasingly recognized as central to advancing equitable educational opportunities and fostering a sense of community belonging in graduate STEMM education. However, a key question remains: where and how can students’ assets and agency be translated into forms of institutional engagement and change? We argue that course innovation and proactive pedagogy are critical sites for creating such opportunities. This article presents a case study of the design and implementation of a graduate-level JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) course. Drawing on retrospective course records from 2021 to 2025, this study demonstrates how course innovation and proactive pedagogy can foster community building while bridging students’ knowledge and skill development to institutional engagement. Within this course, proactivity, understood as a future-oriented and intentional process, emerged as a shared theme within major domains of the course design and implementation: (1) application process, (2) interdisciplinary collaboration and community building, (3) mentoring circles, (4) evaluation, and (5) supported capstone projects that help learners practice navigating institutions and leading change with the community. The course creates opportunities for institutional change, positions students as partners in reform, and translates their assets and insights into sustained institutional practices. By making the “how” of institutional change visible, this case offers generalizable, actionable design principles for curriculum reform in graduate STEMM education. Full article

Urban green spaces (UGSs) are increasingly recognised as critical infrastructure for mitigating climate extremes and promoting public health; indeed, the microclimatic mechanisms through which vegetation structure translates into measurable improvements in human comfort at the neighbourhood scale are of significant interest, particularly in the context of new urban developments. This study examines the cooling effects of an urban redevelopment project in the Marconi district of Imola, Italy, using ENVI-met (Version 6.0.0, ENVI-met GmbH, Essen, Germany) simulations to compare ex ante (current) and ex post (planned) scenarios under extreme heat conditions. Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) was computed at the pedestrian level for both standard adult and elderly models to assess spatial patterns of thermal comfort. The results demonstrate that tree canopies are the primary determinant of local cooling, with newly planted trees reducing PET by up to 3.5 °C at the core of the regenerated block and by 1–2 °C along adjacent pavements, while grass and low vegetation provided negligible mitigation. However, new buildings generated localised warming bands of 0.5–2 °C along façades, revealing a trade-off between densification and outdoor liveability. Elderly populations experienced slightly stronger thermal stress near buildings, highlighting spatial concentrations of vulnerability. These findings reinforce the need to prioritise tree planting and canopy management as core climate adaptation strategies, while simultaneously addressing near-building heat accumulation through integrated design approaches such as façade greening and ventilation preservation. The study demonstrates the value of spatially explicit microclimate simulation for evidence-based urban planning, contributing to the development of sustainable and liveable urban environments. Full article

Decarbonizing China’s urban operational residential buildings is essential for carbon neutrality and sustainable building energy systems. However, regional variations in the effectiveness and costs of low-carbon measures for urban residential buildings remain unclear, limiting policy pathway design. We employ a bottom-up framework to evaluate emission reduction potentials and costs across scenarios, aiming to identify region-specific and time-specific strategies for urban residential building operations. An integrated pathway of improving green building energy efficiency standards could reduce 2060 emissions from urban residential operations to 535 MtCO₂, 63.7% below the business-as-usual (BAU) level in 2060. In non-heating areas, cooling standard upgrade offers the largest reduction potential (18.1% of total reduction). In heating areas, heat structure optimization contributes the largest reduction, 207 MtCO₂. From a cost-optimal perspective, cooking electrification offers the lowest marginal cost, declining to 9 CNY/tCO₂ by 2060. Improving envelope retrofit standards requires high upfront investment but yields long-term returns, with costs potentially falling by 63% under policy support. By integrating regional mitigation potential with cost-effectiveness analysis, this study provides a roadmap for decarbonizing China’s urban residential building operations that supports climate goals and promotes sustainable living. Full article

Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as three-dimensional (3D) printing, has emerged as a revolutionary digital near-net-shape manufacturing technology, offering innovative solutions for the design and fabrication of complex, high-performance structures and equipment. This paper reviews the recent advancements and applications of metal AM technologies in the marine sector. Firstly, the principles and characteristics of three most widely adopted metal AM processes in this field are introduced: laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF), directed energy deposition (DED), and wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM). Subsequently, the application status of metal AM is summarized in four key marine sectors: propulsion systems, underwater vehicle housings and structures, hull structures and shipboard equipment and components, as well as marine equipment repair and emergency support. Building on this, the major challenges for metal AM applications in the marine environment are further discussed, including the fabrication of large-scale components, standardization of materials and processes, integration of smart manufacturing and digital technologies, and sustainability and circular manufacturing. Finally, future trends are projected toward higher efficiency, intelligence, and environmental sustainability. It is indicated that metal AM will fundamentally reshape the manufacturing mode of marine equipment and support its high-performance, low-cost, intelligent and rapid-response development. Full article

The built environment in Saudi Arabia accounts for approximately 78% of the country’s total electricity consumption, positioning building energy performance as one of the most consequential levers available to policymakers pursuing the kingdom’s net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target for 2060 and Vision 2030’s sustainability agenda. Despite the progressive introduction of the Saudi Building Code (SBC) energy chapters SBC 601, SBC 602, and the Saudi Green Building Code (SgBC 1001), a persistent gap remains between regulatory intent and measurable outcomes across Saudi Arabia’s five distinct climatic zones. Building codes are, by design, generic policy instruments encompassing structural, fire, accessibility, and energy provisions; this paper focuses specifically on the energy and sustainability dimensions and critically examines how the SBC’s update cycle and prescriptive compliance architecture shape actual performance outcomes. This study presents three explicit research questions: (RQ1) What zone-differentiated energy savings does SBC implementation deliver across residential typologies? (RQ2) How does the Mostadam national rating system compare with international benchmarks in the Saudi context, and what caveats govern that comparison? (RQ3) What evidence-based policy interventions are needed to transition from compliance-led to performance-led building energy governance? Drawing on a systematic synthesis of 53 building energy simulation models (2018–2025), official programme data, and a structured comparative analysis of Mostadam against LEED v4.1 and BREEAM, the study finds EUI reductions of 5–25% from SBC compliance, with the largest savings in the hot–humid coastal zone. Seven prioritised policy recommendations are proposed, addressing code revision, financial incentives, digital monitoring, renewable energy thresholds, and capacity building. Full article

Studentpreneurship has gained prominence in South Africa as universities are increasingly expected to foster innovation, job creation, and youth participation in the economy. However, despite the establishment of incubators, entrepreneurship centres, mentorship programmes, and EDHE-aligned initiatives, support for studentpreneurs remains unevenly implemented, poorly integrated, and inconsistently accessible, particularly within a historically disadvantaged university. This study examines how university support mechanisms shape the experiences, challenges, and business development trajectories of studentpreneurs in a South African university. Guided by Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Theory, the study adopts a qualitative research design involving in-depth interviews with 15 studentpreneurs. Thematic analysis reveals significant gaps in awareness, accessibility, and continuity of institutional support. While students valued motivational workshops, pitching opportunities, and limited mentorship, these interventions lacked sustained follow-up, sector-specific guidance, and financial or infrastructural resources necessary for business growth. The study contributes to South African entrepreneurship scholarship by highlighting the lived realities of studentpreneurs at a historically disadvantaged university and by proposing institutional reforms to build more coherent, equitable, and sustainable studentpreneurship ecosystems. Full article