Grant: Alliance Grants
University of Alberta
$246,250.00
Application of knowledge-based decision support systems (KBDSS) to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in the major phases of construction projects
FY 2022-23
Summary
The Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry contributes 13% to the world's gross domestic product (GDP) and employs around 7% of the workforce. However, the industry produces 25% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, consumes 60% of the raw materials, and 36% of global energy. The objective of this research program is to reduce anthropogenic GHG emissions and embodied carbon during the design, manufacturing, modularization, transportation, construction, and operational phases of AEC projects. The second objective is to maximize the long-term environmental impact using life cycle assessment (LCA). The third objective is to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration among academic researchers, industry practitioners and policymakers to help Canada achieve Net-zero vision and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and 13 (Climate Action).The research objectives will be achieved via developing a set of knowledge-based decision support systems (KBDSS), for stakeholders in the construction process (owners, architects, discipline-specific engineers, prime contractors, subcontractors, other suppliers, regulators), to enhance real-time LCA decision-making during the design and construction phases. The proposed KBDSS will combine qualitative input from industry subject matter experts, useful knowledge mined from quantitative data using machine learning (ML), multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques, and optimization algorithms to achieve our goals. We will work on topics including selection of the most sustainable, cost-effective solutions; construction materials, design processes and construction methods. The concepts of: Qualification Based Selection (QBS), early construction involvement (ECI), construction digitization, integrated project delivery (IPD) and externality will be utilized to reduce GHG emissions. We have the support of major public, private and not-for-profit AEC organizations in Canada as explained in the cover letter.
Program
Alliance Grants
Recipient
Location
Alberta, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
577032-2022
Name nom
Hammad, Ahmed AH
Department département
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Organization id
9
Institution établissement
University of Alberta
Province en
Alberta
Province fr
Alberta
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2022
Competition year année de concours
2022
Award amount
246250
Program id
ALLRP
Program name en
Alliance Grants
Program name fr
Subventions Alliance
Group en
RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS
Group fr
PARTENARIATS DE RECHERCHE
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
9999
Area of application group en
Not available
Area of application group fr
Non disponible
Area of application en
Not available
Area of application fr
Non disponible
Research subject code
1001
Research subject group en
Civil engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie civil
Research subject en
Construction engineering and management
Research subject fr
Génie et gestion du bâtiment
Installment
inst:1
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Application of knowledge-based decision support systems (KBDSS) to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in the major phases of construction projects
Application summary
The Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry contributes 13% to the world's gross domestic product (GDP) and employs around 7% of the workforce. However, the industry produces 25% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, consumes 60% of the raw materials, and 36% of global energy. The objective of this research program is to reduce anthropogenic GHG emissions and embodied carbon during the design, manufacturing, modularization, transportation, construction, and operational phases of AEC projects. The second objective is to maximize the long-term environmental impact using life cycle assessment (LCA). The third objective is to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration among academic researchers, industry practitioners and policymakers to help Canada achieve Net-zero vision and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and 13 (Climate Action).The research objectives will be achieved via developing a set of knowledge-based decision support systems (KBDSS), for stakeholders in the construction process (owners, architects, discipline-specific engineers, prime contractors, subcontractors, other suppliers, regulators), to enhance real-time LCA decision-making during the design and construction phases. The proposed KBDSS will combine qualitative input from industry subject matter experts, useful knowledge mined from quantitative data using machine learning (ML), multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques, and optimization algorithms to achieve our goals. We will work on topics including selection of the most sustainable, cost-effective solutions; construction materials, design processes and construction methods. The concepts of: Qualification Based Selection (QBS), early construction involvement (ECI), construction digitization, integrated project delivery (IPD) and externality will be utilized to reduce GHG emissions. We have the support of major public, private and not-for-profit AEC organizations in Canada as explained in the cover letter.
