QUB Centre for Built Environment Research 18 June 2010 Delivering sustainable development in construction and its relation to structural monitoring & assessment Roger Venables Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor in Engineering Design for Sustainable Development at Queen s, Managing Director, Crane Environmental Ltd Chief Executive, CEEQUAL Ltd
Sustainability in construction and its link to ISM&A Scope To explain the link Some Sustainability and Sustainable Development fundamentals UK policy Professional institution support UK Sustainable construction strategy The Link made
Sustainability and Sustainable Development: Some fundamentals
What s all the fuss about?
X X X
We need to think in terms of oneplanet-living, not three Think globally act locally Engineer locally, while thinking globally X X X
UK Government Sustainable Development Strategy 2005
What are Sustainability and Sustainable Development Humanity has the ability to make development sustainable to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. World Commission on Environment and Development, Brundtland Commission, "Our Common Future"
What are Sustainability and Sustainable Development? Sustainability, a sustainable society or sustainable living are the goals
What are Sustainability and Sustainable Development? Sustainability, a sustainable society or sustainable living are the goals Getting there requires sustainable development, a process or journey to move us forward from where we are now towards a more-sustainable or less-unsustainable future
What are Sustainability and Sustainable Development? Sustainability, a sustainable society or sustainable living are the goals Getting there requires sustainable development, a process or journey to move us forward from where we are now towards a more-sustainable or less-unsustainable future Actually getting there may be impossible but gives a target to aim at, a route to follow.
What are Sustainability and Sustainable Development? Sustainability, a sustainable society or sustainable living are the goals Getting there requires sustainable development, a process or journey to move us forward from where we are now towards a more-sustainable or less-unsustainable future Actually getting there may be impossible but gives a target to aim at, a route to follow. Sustainable development also applied to built developments with particular characteristics
What are Sustainability and Sustainable Development? So, what are the key elements of Sustainable Development, Sustainable Engineering, Sustainable Construction?
Built development that sustains life and improves the quality of life for human beings Thames Barrier, London
flood defence schemes and railways
built development that provides jobs and enhances economic prosperity
work that removes the environmental or social damage from the past Gas works clean-up, Melbourne, Australia
work to improve the sustainability of the wider environment and ecosystems Boardwalk, Thursley Common, Surrey, UK
development of individuals as people, of groups, and of societal quality of life generally Infrastructure consultation in Africa Crane funded Environmental by UK DFID
Hampton Court preserving our cultural heritage for quality of life and economic prosperity Luxor Temple Guildhall, City of London Forbidden City, Beijing
enhancing politicians understanding of sustainable development practicalities
Delivering sustainable development Delivering all of these things all in an economically successful way that brings business advantage that brings social improvement but
all within Planet Earth s carrying capacity
Economic Success Sustainable Development Social Success High Environmental Quality
Economic Success Severe environmental damage Sustainable Development Social disquiet or unrest Social Success Does not proceed, or economic loss High Environmental Quality
Economic Success Un-sustainable project Social Success High Environmental Quality
Economic Success Sustainable Development : delivering equally on all three objectives all at the same time Sustainable Development Social Success High Environmental Quality
New Civil Engineer Jan 2003 Sustainable Development is now absolutely central to Civil Engineering and we must organise ourselves accordingly ICE Council 17 December 2002
Sustainability in civil engineering ICE Vision Civil Engineers at the heart of society, delivering sustainable development through knowledge, skills and professional expertise
CEEQUAL The Assessment & Awards Scheme for Improving Sustainability in Civil Engineering and the Public Realm www.ceequal.com
RAEng Guide to Engineering for Sustainable Development Downloadable via www.qub.ac.uk/susdev www.raeng.org.uk and www.craneenvironmental.co.uk News and selected Projects
RAEng Guide to Engineering for Sustainable Development 1. Look beyond your own locality and the immediate future 2. Innovate and be creative 3. Seek a balanced solution 4. Seek engagement from all stakeholders 5. Make sure you know the needs and wants 6. Plan and manage effectively 7. Give sustainability the benefit of any doubt 8. If polluters must pollute then they must pay as well 9. Adopt a holistic, cradle-to-grave approach 10. Do things right, having decided on the right thing to do 11. Beware cost reductions that masquerade as value engineering 12. Practice what you preach.
Delivering sustainable development Influence on our personal and professional actions as well as engineering decisions 1. Look beyond your own locality and the immediate future do we always know about the remote impacts of what we buy? 12. Practice what you preach do not expect more of others than you expect of yourself.
UK SD Strategy 2005
UK Sustainable Construction Strategy 2008
UK Sustainable Construction Strategy 2008
UK Sustainable Construction Strategy 2008
Sustainable development - How do we get there? How do we get there in practice? How do we make the journey?
Sustainable development - How do we get there? How do we get there in practice? How do we make the journey? Not as a log on the Mississippi
Sustainable development - How do we get there? How do we get there in practice? How do we make the journey? Not as a log on the Mississippi By taking action, not leaving it to others
Sustainable development - How do we get there? How do we get there in practice? How do we make the journey? Not as a log on the Mississippi By taking action, not leaving it to others By thinking outside our norms
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Sustainable development - How do we get there? How do we get there in practice? How do we make the journey? Not as a log on the Mississippi By taking action, not leaving it to others By thinking outside our norms By making sustainable development the normal way of development
And the link to in-situ monitoring and assessment?
Delivering sustainable development Sustainable Living and Sustainable Development : not possible without economic activity and recreation.. and not possible without infrastructure not possible without resources not possible forever without safeguarding planet earth not possible without maximising the ultilisation of materials ensuring extended longevity and renewal only when necessary So, think of borrowing your project s resources from the world and maintaining its usefulness for as long as possible
Delivering sustainable development So the key issues include Societal should we maintain/extend or demolish and rebuild minimising community disruption of renewal continuing with the old vs the excitement of the new maximising return on investment Technical innovation in assessing residual strength and life maximising resource efficiency by extending useful life and delaying replacement minimising adverse environmental impact of renewal maximising environmental gains & benefits
Delivering sustainable development ISM & assessment in the context of sustainability Economic issues, for example costs of poor infrstructure vs costs of upkeep vs costs of disruption Environmental issues, for example primary resource use vs waste disposal vs reuse and recycling + pollution prevention Social issues, for example accidents and/or irritation from poor infrastructure vs accidents, irritation & delay quality of life issues for users, neighbours & workforce
Delivering sustainable development Some questions to add to your ISM&A thinking : Is your project increasing human wellbeing or reducing nuisance? Have you struck the best balance on economic, social and environmental performance? Are you maximising the utilisation of materials already won from the world? Is it leading to the most effective and timely replacement decisions? Are you therefore helping to minimise waste? and minimise energy use? and minimise the need for new virgin resources?
Delivering sustainable development And finally Consider impacts on people as well as the environment Consider the role of your project in increasing social harmony Don t just go through the motions Take off the blinkers Think outside the box Aim for a holistic solution by considering the whole life cycle And remember we borrow resources from the world for our infrastructure so make them last and last, and then be recoverable for reuse
Delivering sustainable development Let s get the balancing act right! Design life durability ease of maintenance ease of disassembly and reuse All supported by ISM&A
Delivering sustainable development roger@crane-enmvironmental.co.uk www.qub.ac.uk/susdev www.crane-environmental.co.uk