Ignacio J. Navarro

Bio: Ignacio J. Navarro is an academic researcher from Polytechnic University of Valencia. The author has contributed to research in topics: Sustainability & Sustainable design. The author has an hindex of 8, co-authored 19 publications receiving 163 citations.

A Review of Multicriteria Assessment Techniques Applied to Sustainable Infrastructure Design

Abstract: Given the great impacts associated with the construction and maintenance of infrastructures in both the environmental, the economic and the social dimensions, a sustainable approach to their design appears essential to ease the fulfilment of the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations. Multicriteria decision-making methods are usually applied to address the complex and often conflicting criteria that characterise sustainability. The present study aims to review the current state of the art regarding the application of such techniques in the sustainability assessment of infrastructures, analysing as well the sustainability impacts and criteria included in the assessments. The Analytic Hierarchy Process is the most frequently used weighting technique. Simple Additive Weighting has turned out to be the most applied decision-making method to assess the weighted criteria. Although a life cycle assessment approach is recurrently used to evaluate sustainability, standardised concepts, such as cost discounting, or presentation of the assumed functional unit or system boundaries, as required by ISO 14040, are still only marginally used. Additionally, a need for further research in the inclusion of fuzziness in the handling of linguistic variables is identified.

Life Cycle Cost Assessment of Preventive Strategies Applied to Prestressed Concrete Bridges Exposed to Chlorides

Abstract: This paper applies Life Cycle Assessment methodology to aid in the decision making to select the preventive measure against chloride corrosion in concrete structures that works best for the socio-economic context of the structure. The assumed model combines the concepts of Life Cycle Cost Analysis and Social Life Cycle Analysis to assess the impacts on users derived from the maintenance activities associated with each alternative analyzed in terms of economic costs. The model has been applied to a prestressed concrete bridge to obtain a preventive measure that can reduce the total costs incurred over the period of analysis by up to 58.5% compared to the cost of the current solution.

Corrosion of steel by concrete

Abstract: The author details the reactions of various concretes on steel reinforcement. Although portland cements, slag cements and high alumina cements are all hydraulic binders, each possess special properties which are examined. The discussion of causes and methods of preventing the corrosion of steel reinforcement covers such aspects as galvanised steel reinforcement, effects of concrete composition, corrosion of steel reinforcments in concrete and prestressed reinforcement. It is concluded that the most significant influences on the corrosion of prestressing wire in concrete are: the presence of chloride; the presence of nitrates; the composition of the concrete; the degree of carbonation of the concrete; concrete compaction and, chlorides and sulphates should be used as far as possible when steel is embedded. (TRRL)

On the contribution of solar energy to sustainable developments goals: Case study on Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park

Abstract: With the fast growth of the global economy, energy supply and demand have a strong impact on social, economic, and environmental aspects. As a consequence, this has pushed the decision-makers to formulate objectives, guiding economic policies toward sustainable goals. The process is known as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that have been proposed by the United Nations. This being said, the energy sector is a vital domain with a vast potential for improvments in terms of technologies and ligistalations. Solar energy is among the most efficient solutions proposed to reduce the economic and environmental footprints of energy. In this frame, the current paper aims to localize solar energy within SDGs and analyze the contribution of the solar energy towards the achievement of the SDGs. Moreover, the current work highlights the contributions of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (MBR) Solar Park in the United Arab Emirates to achieving the SDGs. Indeed, the MBR Solar Park concept offers valuable insights of environmental impacts by deploying clean and affordable energy sources in place of conventional fossil fuel power plants that are still heavily used in the region. The MBR Solar Park operation has already mitigated 6.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent and this number will likely rise when all phases are installed and operational. Moreover, it has been shown that MBR Solar Park achieve several SDGs such SDG 8: decent work and economic growth, SDG 9: industry, innovation and infrastructure, SDG 11: sustainable cities and communities, and SDG 15: life on land.

Translating the circular economy to bridge construction: Lessons learnt from a critical literature review

Abstract: ‘Sustainability’, ‘circular economy’, ‘circular construction’ have received increasing attention in the last decade. However, their interpretation is often unclear, as is the way a certain study fits into these research fields. In this paper, therefore, first a definition of both ‘sustainability’ and ‘circular economy’ is proposed. It is concluded that sustainability is the goal, while the circular economy is a means to achieve a more sustainable economy. Subsequently, the application of the circular economy in the construction industry is investigated, with a special focus on bridge construction. Reason is that, for instance, many concrete pedestrian bridges currently find themselves in the end-of-life phase, are demolished and often merely rebuilt, with a lot of material and energy loss as a consequence. An investigation of the available circular construction principles is therefore performed in order to determine certain limitations and gaps for future research and to stipulate the path to be followed towards circular bridge construction. This is necessary in order to prevent the same cycle of demolition and replacement from being run through again in a few decades. It is concluded that the meso-scale, the construction in general, is rarely discussed. Yet, an in-depth investigation is necessary in order to develop specific design strategies for circular bridges. A certain standardisation scheme to facilitate circularity, needs to be developed. This scheme should, however, still allow enough architectural freedom. Additionally, this scheme needs to be accompanied by, to be developed, meso-scale circularity indicators to effectively assess the eventual circularity of a bridge.

Social Life-Cycle Assessment: A Review by Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract: This study examined the literature on social life-cycle assessment (S-LCA) published in the last 15 years (2003–2018) using bibliometric methods. Applying scientific mapping and analyzing publication performance, the study describes the structure of and trends in S-LCA publications in terms of related subject categories, authors, journals, countries, and highly cited articles. Challenges and research gaps in the S-LCA literature were also explored. The content of related papers published in the ISI Web of Science databases was examined to identify the main themes investigated, evolution of publication activity, and most representative elements. Analyses were conducted with SciMAT software. This tool enables researchers to map research specialties by extracting qualitative information in the specialized literature and representing it using quantitative measures. The results show rapid and exponential growth of the S-LCA research line in the past ten years, with a clear upward trend in related publications (mostly case studies), especially after publication of the UNEP/SETAC Guidelines for Social Life Cycle Assessment of Products in 2009: 66% of all articles published on S-LCA were published during the period 2015–2018, primarily by European authors. The findings also delineate S-LCA as a highly fragmented research field that has been applied to diverse sectors (agriculture, bioenergy, transport, water management, chemical products, electronics, etc.), mainly in non-European countries. Critical questions concerning methods, framework, paradigms, and indicators remain to be resolved. This study provides insight into the publication performance of S-LCA, characterizing its intellectual structure and salient authors and works. In identifying hotspots in the S-LCA research, the study provides a useful state-of-the-art reference guide for academics and reveals critical research gaps and potential research avenues for future studies to advance in consolidating the discipline.