PILLARS
MATERIALS & RESOURCES
Environmental Declaration
Focuses on the environmental impact of construction materials, assessing their full life cycle from extraction to disposal.
Sustainable Materials
Utilizes materials that minimize environmental impact and promote resource efficiency throughout the building's life cycle.
Materials Flow
Manages the sourcing, transportation, and sustainability of construction materials to reduce the environmental and economic impacts of the built environment.
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Materials & Resources in Action: Interactive Building Life Cycle
Interactive Water Management Model
Explore the interactive model showcasing key projects under the Materials & Resources pillar. This dynamic representation highlights our research into sustainable materials, life-cycle assessments, and innovative techniques like 3D printing. The model demonstrates how different materials and project delivery systems influence the environmental and economic performance of buildings.
Goals
Reduce Construction Waste
Focus on minimizing waste from construction and demolition projects, optimizing material use, and encouraging recycling and reusability.
Promote Sustainable Materials
Develop and promote the use of materials with lower environmental impact, such as those with better thermal properties and energy efficiency.
Enhance Environmental Impact Assessment
Improve life-cycle assessment tools and methodologies to assess the environmental impact of construction materials, including emissions, resource depletion, and waste
Integrate 3D Printing Technologies
Advance the integration of additive manufacturing technologies like 3D printing into the construction industry to reduce material waste and increase efficiency.
Improve Project Delivery Systems
Optimize project delivery systems for green buildings to enhance performance, reduce costs, and ensure sustainability from design to execution.
Development of High-Performance Lightweight Concrete for 3D Printing
This project focused on creating a high-strength, lightweight concrete mixture suitable for 3D printing applications, improving thermal insulation, and reducing environmental impact.
Framework to Evaluate Quality Performance of Green Building Delivery
Explores project delivery systems and their effectiveness in the context of green building projects, linking obstacles faced with the capabilities of BIM.
Life Cycle of Primary Construction Materials Sourcing Under Geopolitical Uncertainties
Assesses the environmental and economic sustainability of building materials in Qatar, examining the impact of geopolitical uncertainties on material sourcing.
Framework for Organizational Efficiency Improvement in Qatari Organizations
Develops a framework for improving organizational efficiency in Qatari institutions, analyzing sustainability, economic, and environmental performance.
Environmental Life-Cycle Assessment of Polypropylene Manufacturing
Evaluates the environmental impacts of polypropylene (PP) manufacturing in the Middle East, focusing on emissions and resource depletion.
Sustainability of Additive Manufacturing for the Built Environment
Investigates the sustainability and challenges of 3D printing in construction, assessing the global warming potential and environmental performance of additive manufacturing technologies.
Examines progress towards the UN SDGs in the Middle East, focusing on gender equality and education quality in the context of sustainable development.
Investigated the potential of seawater toilet flushing technology in the GCC region, assessing its effectiveness and trade-offs with water conservation efforts.
Green Building Rating Systems and Whole-Building Life-Cycle Assessment
Compares various life-cycle assessment (LCA) tools available to building designers, analyzing their impact on sustainability metrics within green building rating systems.
Sustainable Composite Materials for Construction
This project focuses on developing composite materials with lower environmental impact for use in structural applications, assessing their performance and sustainability.
Optimization of Recycling and Reuse Strategies in Construction Waste Management
Explores strategies for improving recycling and reusability in the construction industry, focusing on minimizing waste and enhancing resource efficiency in the built environment.
Achievements
The framework developed with Ph.D. student Ayman Raouf was awarded the 2020 Qatar Sustainability Award—Research Category by the Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC), recognizing our work in sustainable construction.
The research paper "The Effectiveness of Project Delivery Systems in Executing Green Buildings" was selected as an Editor’s Choice in the 2019 American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Library, highlighting its impact on green construction projects.
