This study evaluates the durability of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars under sustained loading combined with industrial wastewater. Towards this, twenty-four concrete beams (150 × 200 × 1800 mm) were cast, five with steel reinforcement and the rest with GFRP bars. The beam specimens were subjected to sustained loading at 40 % of ultimate flexural capacity and immersed in wastewater for 3, 6, and 12 months at 25 °C, 40 °C, and 60 °C. Subsequently, four-point bending tests were conducted to assess flexural behavior, including load-displacement response, ultimate capacity, deflection, cracking, and failure modes. Concurrently, bare GFRP bars exposed under identical conditions to assess degradation of the mechanical properties. Results showed up to 12 % capacity loss in steel-reinforced beams, whereas GFRP-reinforced beams maintained superior performance. Bare GFRP bars exhibited strength and stiffness reductions of 6 % and 9 %, respectively, after 12 months at 60 °C. Experimental findings were compared with analytical models available in design codes.
{"title":"Durability of GFRP bars subjected to the combined effect of high sustained load and industrial wastewater","authors":"Hamid Reza Shayegh , Mohsen Ali Shayanfar , Abolfazl Eslami , Sajjad Mirvalad","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100840","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100840","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study evaluates the durability of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars under sustained loading combined with industrial wastewater. Towards this, twenty-four concrete beams (150 × 200 × 1800 mm) were cast, five with steel reinforcement and the rest with GFRP bars. The beam specimens were subjected to sustained loading at 40 % of ultimate flexural capacity and immersed in wastewater for 3, 6, and 12 months at 25 °C, 40 °C, and 60 °C. Subsequently, four-point bending tests were conducted to assess flexural behavior, including load-displacement response, ultimate capacity, deflection, cracking, and failure modes. Concurrently, bare GFRP bars exposed under identical conditions to assess degradation of the mechanical properties. Results showed up to 12 % capacity loss in steel-reinforced beams, whereas GFRP-reinforced beams maintained superior performance. Bare GFRP bars exhibited strength and stiffness reductions of 6 % and 9 %, respectively, after 12 months at 60 °C. Experimental findings were compared with analytical models available in design codes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 100840"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145939635","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-27DOI: 10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100837
Qiansheng Fang , Wentao Li , Fukang Sun
Operational carbon emission prediction is the essential component of building carbon emission management. Hence, an interpretable machine learning framework is proposed for residential building hourly operational carbon emission prediction with indoor and outdoor environment parameters. In the proposed framework, a dynamic correlation graph is introduced to structure building carbon emission and environment parameter time series, which used to represent the relation among environment parameters and building carbon emission. The TCN-GCN algorithm and SHAP method are utilized to construct the hourly operational carbon emission prediction model for residential buildings. To validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method, case study are implemented with the experiment dataset from Smartline project in Cornwall, UK. The experiment results demonstrate the proposed DCG-TCN-GCN method can accurately predict residential building operational carbon emission with 0.7578–0.8416 Corr, and 0.1288–0.1827 RSE. The research results can provide benefits to more sustainable energy-efficient and low-carbon residential buildings.
{"title":"An interpretable machine learning framework for residential building hourly operational carbon emission prediction with indoor and outdoor environment","authors":"Qiansheng Fang , Wentao Li , Fukang Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100837","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100837","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Operational carbon emission prediction is the essential component of building carbon emission management. Hence, an interpretable machine learning framework is proposed for residential building hourly operational carbon emission prediction with indoor and outdoor environment parameters. In the proposed framework, a dynamic correlation graph is introduced to structure building carbon emission and environment parameter time series, which used to represent the relation among environment parameters and building carbon emission. The TCN-GCN algorithm and SHAP method are utilized to construct the hourly operational carbon emission prediction model for residential buildings. To validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method, case study are implemented with the experiment dataset from Smartline project in Cornwall, UK. The experiment results demonstrate the proposed DCG-TCN-GCN method can accurately predict residential building operational carbon emission with 0.7578–0.8416 Corr, and 0.1288–0.1827 RSE. The research results can provide benefits to more sustainable energy-efficient and low-carbon residential buildings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 100837"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145939629","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-27DOI: 10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100838
Mariana Mateus Pinto , Rafaela Cardoso
Biocementation, or MICP (Microbiologically Induced Calcite Precipitation), has been used with success to repair cracks and consolidate porous stones and other construction materials. An experimental study was performed to investigate biocement adhesion to three different stone materials (limestone, shist and basalt) and to a poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) control plate. Adhesion strength was quantified by pull-out tests performed under controlled conditions, this being the novel contribution of this paper. The mineralogical composition of the materials, roughness and contact angles with the treatment solutions were determined to better understand adhesion mechanisms. The thickness of the biocement coating on the different materials was measured and visualized under microscope, aiming to conclude that the biocement adheres to the porous and rough stone substrates, which serve as nucleation sites for the precipitation. Adhesion measurements were done after 2 and 4 treatments to understand biocement coating process and the influence of the thickness of the precipitated layer. The adhesion forces recorded, although affected by experimental error, allow understanding that detachment occurs between the precipitate and the substrate. The results suggest that time may affect this adhesion due to the creation of more bacterial attachment and because the thickness of the biocement layer has increased.
{"title":"Study on the adhesion of bacterially precipitated biocement to different stone substrates","authors":"Mariana Mateus Pinto , Rafaela Cardoso","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100838","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100838","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biocementation, or MICP (Microbiologically Induced Calcite Precipitation), has been used with success to repair cracks and consolidate porous stones and other construction materials. An experimental study was performed to investigate biocement adhesion to three different stone materials (limestone, shist and basalt) and to a poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) control plate. Adhesion strength was quantified by pull-out tests performed under controlled conditions, this being the novel contribution of this paper. The mineralogical composition of the materials, roughness and contact angles with the treatment solutions were determined to better understand adhesion mechanisms. The thickness of the biocement coating on the different materials was measured and visualized under microscope, aiming to conclude that the biocement adheres to the porous and rough stone substrates, which serve as nucleation sites for the precipitation. Adhesion measurements were done after 2 and 4 treatments to understand biocement coating process and the influence of the thickness of the precipitated layer. The adhesion forces recorded, although affected by experimental error, allow understanding that detachment occurs between the precipitate and the substrate. The results suggest that time may affect this adhesion due to the creation of more bacterial attachment and because the thickness of the biocement layer has increased.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 100838"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145939535","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-26DOI: 10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100836
Abdulkader El-Mir , Joud Hwalla , Joseph J. Assaad , Amr El-Dieb , Hilal El-Hassan
This study investigates the incorporation of rejected brine waste (BW) into geopolymer (GP) composites made of different binder blends of blast furnace slag (BFS) and fly ash (FA), while varying the alkali-activated solution-to-binder (A/B) ratio. The mechanical and durability performance of the GP mortars was assessed through various tests, including compressive strength, bulk resistivity, water absorption, sorptivity, accelerated carbonation, and resistance to sulfuric and hydrochloric acid attacks. Microstructure characterization was carried out to evaluate the changes to the mineralogy due to acid exposure. Results indicated that the BW-based GP mixture composed of 100 % BFS with an A/B ratio of 0.55 exhibited superior mechanical and durability performance among all BW-based mixes. Furthermore, BW integration into the GP mortar had a limited impact on its performance, morphology, and durability and caused insignificant leaching of sodium, chloride, and sulfate ions. Yet, the electrical conductivity was marginally improved (up to 7 %) due to BW incorporation. Sulfuric acid exposure revealed the vulnerability of FA-rich mixes, with extensive gypsum formation and structural degradation. Compared to hydrochloric acid, GP composites exposed to sulfuric acid experienced up to 1.5 and 3 times less mass and strength retention, respectively. Microstructure analysis revealed the deterioration of crystalline and amorphous phases in GP composites having higher FA and alkaline solution contents upon acid exposure. These findings provide evidence for the ability to replace potable water with BW and cement with GP binders while also recycling industrial waste in cement-free composites.
{"title":"Durability of slag-fly ash blended geopolymer composites incorporating reject brine waste","authors":"Abdulkader El-Mir , Joud Hwalla , Joseph J. Assaad , Amr El-Dieb , Hilal El-Hassan","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100836","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100836","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the incorporation of rejected brine waste (BW) into geopolymer (GP) composites made of different binder blends of blast furnace slag (BFS) and fly ash (FA), while varying the alkali-activated solution-to-binder (A/B) ratio. The mechanical and durability performance of the GP mortars was assessed through various tests, including compressive strength, bulk resistivity, water absorption, sorptivity, accelerated carbonation, and resistance to sulfuric and hydrochloric acid attacks. Microstructure characterization was carried out to evaluate the changes to the mineralogy due to acid exposure. Results indicated that the BW-based GP mixture composed of 100 % BFS with an A/B ratio of 0.55 exhibited superior mechanical and durability performance among all BW-based mixes. Furthermore, BW integration into the GP mortar had a limited impact on its performance, morphology, and durability and caused insignificant leaching of sodium, chloride, and sulfate ions. Yet, the electrical conductivity was marginally improved (up to 7 %) due to BW incorporation. Sulfuric acid exposure revealed the vulnerability of FA-rich mixes, with extensive gypsum formation and structural degradation. Compared to hydrochloric acid, GP composites exposed to sulfuric acid experienced up to 1.5 and 3 times less mass and strength retention, respectively. Microstructure analysis revealed the deterioration of crystalline and amorphous phases in GP composites having higher FA and alkaline solution contents upon acid exposure. These findings provide evidence for the ability to replace potable water with BW and cement with GP binders while also recycling industrial waste in cement-free composites.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 100836"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145939533","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-25DOI: 10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100834
Hassan Sabetifar, Mehdi Mousavimehr, Arman Aminian, Mahdi Nematzadeh
This study investigates the residual axial behavior of concretes with recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and tire rubber after high-temperature exposure and subsequent confinement using carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) strips. Four mixes, including control, PET-modified, rubber-modified, and PET-rubber hybrid, were heated to 400 or 600 °C, cooled, and confined with five or seven CFRP strips before axial compression testing. Parameters examined included compressive strength, peak strain, elastic modulus, lateral/volumetric strains, and toughness indices. Heating reduced strength and stiffness but increased strain capacity and dilation. CFRP confinement markedly improved performance, particularly at 600 °C, with rubberized mixes showing the highest strain capacity under seven-strip confinement. Strength retention ranked as control, rubberized, hybrid, and PET. Volumetric and energy analyses showed that CFRP confinement restrained dilation and enhanced toughness, while rubber modification primarily increased strain capacity and promoted a more ductile, confinement-controlled response.
{"title":"Residual axial performance of PET/rubber-modified concrete confined with CFRP strips after thermal exposure: Experimental and theoretical analysis","authors":"Hassan Sabetifar, Mehdi Mousavimehr, Arman Aminian, Mahdi Nematzadeh","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100834","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100834","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the residual axial behavior of concretes with recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and tire rubber after high-temperature exposure and subsequent confinement using carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) strips. Four mixes, including control, PET-modified, rubber-modified, and PET-rubber hybrid, were heated to 400 or 600 °C, cooled, and confined with five or seven CFRP strips before axial compression testing. Parameters examined included compressive strength, peak strain, elastic modulus, lateral/volumetric strains, and toughness indices. Heating reduced strength and stiffness but increased strain capacity and dilation. CFRP confinement markedly improved performance, particularly at 600 °C, with rubberized mixes showing the highest strain capacity under seven-strip confinement. Strength retention ranked as control, rubberized, hybrid, and PET. Volumetric and energy analyses showed that CFRP confinement restrained dilation and enhanced toughness, while rubber modification primarily increased strain capacity and promoted a more ductile, confinement-controlled response.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 100834"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145939536","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
To address the carbon emissions of cement-based grouting materials and the environmental challenges caused by industrial solid waste, this study developed a ternary all-solid-waste geopolymer grouting material incorporating ferronickel slag (FNS), blast furnace slag (BFS), and fly ash (FA). The properties of the geopolymer were systematically investigated under different mix proportions. The mixture containing 20 wt% FNS, 50 wt% BFS, and 30 wt% FA achieved a 28-day compressive strength of 69.6 MPa, demonstrating excellent hardening performance. Increasing the BFS content or decreasing the FNS proportion enhanced flowability and shortened setting time. Microscopic analyses revealed that BFS promoted the conversion of N-A-S-H gel into C-A-S-H gel, which was responsible for the significant strength enhancement. Grouting simulation confirmed the effective penetration and consolidation capacity of the developed geopolymer in medium sand. These findings highlight the feasibility of utilizing industrial solid wastes for high-performance grouting applications, offering a sustainable pathway for large-scale solid waste valorization.
{"title":"Sustainable all-solid-waste ternary geopolymer grouting materials: Mechanical performance and microstructural evolution","authors":"Zuxiang Lei , Lichen Zhao , Feiyang Zhong , Jiasheng Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100835","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100835","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To address the carbon emissions of cement-based grouting materials and the environmental challenges caused by industrial solid waste, this study developed a ternary all-solid-waste geopolymer grouting material incorporating ferronickel slag (FNS), blast furnace slag (BFS), and fly ash (FA). The properties of the geopolymer were systematically investigated under different mix proportions. The mixture containing 20 wt% FNS, 50 wt% BFS, and 30 wt% FA achieved a 28-day compressive strength of 69.6 MPa, demonstrating excellent hardening performance. Increasing the BFS content or decreasing the FNS proportion enhanced flowability and shortened setting time. Microscopic analyses revealed that BFS promoted the conversion of N-A-S-H gel into C-A-S-H gel, which was responsible for the significant strength enhancement. Grouting simulation confirmed the effective penetration and consolidation capacity of the developed geopolymer in medium sand. These findings highlight the feasibility of utilizing industrial solid wastes for high-performance grouting applications, offering a sustainable pathway for large-scale solid waste valorization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 100835"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145939630","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-24DOI: 10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100833
Min Chen , Guoqiang Lan , Tao Li
Dental clinics face high cross-infection risks due to aerosol-generating procedures. This study employed computational fluid dynamics to analyze indoor airflow and aerosol distribution in a typical dental clinic, evaluating two heating systems (warm air supply vs. radiator) and three ventilation strategies. A new metric was introduced to assess heating methods' impact on initial aerosol dispersion. Results demonstrated that warm air supply heating enhanced aerosol removal rate by up to 33.4 %, significantly lowering exposure risk for healthcare workers (HCWs). Conversely, radiator heating reduced aerosol removal rate to 10.9 % and increased deposition rate to 70.6 %, elevating surface-transmission risk. The highest aerosol deposition density on HCWs occurred with radiator heating and side vents (40.1 pc/m2), while the lowest was with warm air supply (4.1 pc/m2). These findings provide theoretical guidance for optimizing heating and ventilation to improve infection control in dental settings.
{"title":"Spatiotemporal dynamics of exhaled aerosols in dental clinics: comparing heating systems and developing a novel pressure-driven dispersion model","authors":"Min Chen , Guoqiang Lan , Tao Li","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100833","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100833","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dental clinics face high cross-infection risks due to aerosol-generating procedures. This study employed computational fluid dynamics to analyze indoor airflow and aerosol distribution in a typical dental clinic, evaluating two heating systems (warm air supply vs. radiator) and three ventilation strategies. A new metric was introduced to assess heating methods' impact on initial aerosol dispersion. Results demonstrated that warm air supply heating enhanced aerosol removal rate by up to 33.4 %, significantly lowering exposure risk for healthcare workers (HCWs). Conversely, radiator heating reduced aerosol removal rate to 10.9 % and increased deposition rate to 70.6 %, elevating surface-transmission risk. The highest aerosol deposition density on HCWs occurred with radiator heating and side vents (40.1 pc/m<sup>2</sup>), while the lowest was with warm air supply (4.1 pc/m<sup>2</sup>). These findings provide theoretical guidance for optimizing heating and ventilation to improve infection control in dental settings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 100833"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145939631","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-20DOI: 10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100832
Linchao Li , Zijian Huang , Junzhen Wang , Bowen Du , Linfabao Dai
This review synthesizes recent advancements in automated construction monitoring, focusing on key dimensions including equipment, methodologies, datasets, evaluation metrics, and practical applications. It examines diverse data collection setups including single camera, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), mobile phones, and multi-cameras, along with a range of models such as deep learning models and simulation-based models. The analysis highlights the critical role of dataset scale, diversity, and realism in model robustness, and reviews commonly used metrics like accuracy, precision, mean Average Precision (mAP), and Frames per Second (FPS) to evaluate performance trade-offs. Applications span safety monitoring, equipment tracking, productivity analysis, and structural health assessment. The review identifies gaps in dataset generalizability, metric standardization, and real-world validation, offering recommendations such as developing hybrid models, large-scale construction-specific datasets, and integrated multi-functional platforms. This work aims to guide future research and support the practical adoption of intelligent monitoring systems for safer and more efficient construction management.
{"title":"Automated construction monitoring based on computer vision: A comprehensive review","authors":"Linchao Li , Zijian Huang , Junzhen Wang , Bowen Du , Linfabao Dai","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100832","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100832","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This review synthesizes recent advancements in automated construction monitoring, focusing on key dimensions including equipment, methodologies, datasets, evaluation metrics, and practical applications. It examines diverse data collection setups including single camera, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), mobile phones, and multi-cameras, along with a range of models such as deep learning models and simulation-based models. The analysis highlights the critical role of dataset scale, diversity, and realism in model robustness, and reviews commonly used metrics like accuracy, precision, mean Average Precision (mAP), and Frames per Second (FPS) to evaluate performance trade-offs. Applications span safety monitoring, equipment tracking, productivity analysis, and structural health assessment. The review identifies gaps in dataset generalizability, metric standardization, and real-world validation, offering recommendations such as developing hybrid models, large-scale construction-specific datasets, and integrated multi-functional platforms. This work aims to guide future research and support the practical adoption of intelligent monitoring systems for safer and more efficient construction management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 100832"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145939634","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-17DOI: 10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100831
Nina Chi Johansson , Johan Rootzén , Santiago Escudero Carmona
Cement, a crucial material in the construction industry, contributes about 8 % of global greenhouse gas emissions. While substituting clinker with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) is a key mitigation measure, SCM availability is expected to decline. In this work, a 2023–2050 scenario analysis predicts a decline in the supply of common SCMs in the EU, with fly ash supply decreasing from 8.5 Mt in 2025 to 1.9–2.7 Mt in 2035 and 0–1.1 Mt in 2045, and granulated blast furnace slag supply decreasing from 18 to 19 Mt in 2025 to 6.9–11.4 Mt in 2035 and 0–3.2 Mt in 2045. Thus, the supply of conventional SCMs will be insufficient to meet demand, even if demand for ordinary Portland cement is assumed to decline significantly in 2025–2045. Efforts to develop the production and logistics of alternatives in order to sustain a lower clinker-to-cement ratio are therefore needed.
{"title":"Concrete change: Exploring future scenarios for the supply of supplementary cementitious materials in the EU","authors":"Nina Chi Johansson , Johan Rootzén , Santiago Escudero Carmona","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100831","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100831","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cement, a crucial material in the construction industry, contributes about 8 % of global greenhouse gas emissions. While substituting clinker with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) is a key mitigation measure, SCM availability is expected to decline. In this work, a 2023–2050 scenario analysis predicts a decline in the supply of common SCMs in the EU, with fly ash supply decreasing from 8.5 Mt in 2025 to 1.9–2.7 Mt in 2035 and 0–1.1 Mt in 2045, and granulated blast furnace slag supply decreasing from 18 to 19 Mt in 2025 to 6.9–11.4 Mt in 2035 and 0–3.2 Mt in 2045. Thus, the supply of conventional SCMs will be insufficient to meet demand, even if demand for ordinary Portland cement is assumed to decline significantly in 2025–2045. Efforts to develop the production and logistics of alternatives in order to sustain a lower clinker-to-cement ratio are therefore needed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 100831"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145939537","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
For the European countries, the issue of combating climate change has become a matter of existence. Therefore, it is of extreme importance to present economic–based evidence for these countries' climate action. One emerging yet underexplored area is the environmental implications of the Economic Complexity Index (ECI), which reflects the knowledge intensity embedded in a country's production structure. Despite its relevance, studies examining the relationship between ECI and environmental degradation (ED) in the European context remain scarce. This paper aims to fill this gap by investigating the impact of ECI on ED between 1995 and 2021, focusing on the European Union countries recognized for their environmental sustainability efforts. For this purpose, the relationship between ECI and two of the pioneer indicators of ED—ecological footprint (EFP) and carbon emissions (CO2)—is assessed through two separate models. To address the dynamic and heterogeneous structure of the relationship, the novel Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR) approach is employed. Empirical evidence suggests that ECI contributes to ED, with a stronger impact observed on CO2 emissions than on EFP. Another key finding is that higher levels of ED limit the negative environmental effects of ECI. However, the robustness of the findings is confirmed using the Driscoll–Kraay (D–K) standard error estimator and also, the symmetric causality test of Dumitrescu–Hurlin (D–H). As global leaders in environmental initiatives, EU countries must guarantee the availability and variety of green financing sources to expedite the transition to sustainable production methods in sectors impacting the ECI index via the European Investment Bank and the EU Innovation Fund.
Policymakers can provide favorable tax incentives to industries that implement eco-friendly production methods to lower their expenses, thereby rewarding these industries and fostering acceptance of this strategy among sectors beyond this framework. Achieving higher ECI scores through the integration of renewable energy and green technologies is therefore essential for EU countries striving for a greener and more resilient future.
{"title":"Shining the dynamics of the Economic Complexity Index on the European Union's climate change strategy: Evidence from the novel approach of MMQR","authors":"Ömer Faruk Kömürcüoğlu , Elif Duygu Kömürcüoğlu , Sinem Koçak , Dilek Çi̇l , Çiğdem Karış , Aykut Fatih Güven , Mohit Bajaj , Vojtech Blazek","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100830","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100830","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>For the European countries, the issue of combating climate change has become a matter of existence. Therefore, it is of extreme importance to present economic–based evidence for these countries' climate action. One emerging yet underexplored area is the environmental implications of the Economic Complexity Index (ECI), which reflects the knowledge intensity embedded in a country's production structure. Despite its relevance, studies examining the relationship between ECI and environmental degradation (ED) in the European context remain scarce. This paper aims to fill this gap by investigating the impact of ECI on ED between 1995 and 2021, focusing on the European Union countries recognized for their environmental sustainability efforts. For this purpose, the relationship between ECI and two of the pioneer indicators of ED—ecological footprint (EFP) and carbon emissions (CO<sub>2</sub>)—is assessed through two separate models. To address the dynamic and heterogeneous structure of the relationship, the novel Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR) approach is employed. Empirical evidence suggests that ECI contributes to ED, with a stronger impact observed on CO<sub>2</sub> emissions than on EFP. Another key finding is that higher levels of ED limit the negative environmental effects of ECI. However, the robustness of the findings is confirmed using the Driscoll–Kraay (D–K) standard error estimator and also, the symmetric causality test of Dumitrescu–Hurlin (D–H). As global leaders in environmental initiatives, EU countries must guarantee the availability and variety of green financing sources to expedite the transition to sustainable production methods in sectors impacting the ECI index via the European Investment Bank and the EU Innovation Fund.</div><div>Policymakers can provide favorable tax incentives to industries that implement eco-friendly production methods to lower their expenses, thereby rewarding these industries and fostering acceptance of this strategy among sectors beyond this framework. Achieving higher ECI scores through the integration of renewable energy and green technologies is therefore essential for EU countries striving for a greener and more resilient future.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 100830"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145799059","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}