The Sciences behind Sustainability Quantification for Building and Infrastructure Design, Engineering and Construction (S2QBIDEC)

The Sciences behind Sustainability Quantification for Building and Infrastructure Design, Engineering and Construction (S2QBIDEC) was held in conjunction with the Second International Conference on Sustainable Design, Engineering and Construction (ICSDEC 2012), on November 7 to 9, 2012 at Fort Worth, Texas Worthington Renaissance Fort Worth Hotel.  ICSDEC 2012 was held in conjunction with the ASCE Texas Section Conference 2012 and the Construction Institute of ASCE Summit 2012. There were nearly 900 attendees for all three conferences, of which over 300 attendees for ICSDEC 2012.

Focus of Workshop

S²QBIDEC focuses on establishing a network of researchers and industry professionals who are interested in conducting research on sustainability quantification.  Academia and industry participants from various disciplines were invited to participate at the workshop.  A committee of nine experts was set up to review and select presenters for the workshop, and the workshop was opened to all who attended the three abovementioned conferences.  23 out of 56 proposals were selected to present at the workshop. 29 faculties and students, and eight industrial practitioners were invited to present and serve as panelists at the workshop.  The invited participants were grouped into three panels to present their individual proposal and a group proposal, focusing on the followings:

1. Explore the reasons that necessitate a universal approach to quantifying sustainability, develop an understanding of disciplinary-specific needs; and

2. Work towards the creation of S²QBIDEC, a universal and dynamic model for quantifying sustainability.

The panels were divided into three groups: a. Metrics Applied to Building and Infrastructures; b. Metrics Applied to Social and Business Factors; and c. Metrics Applied to Infrastructures and Environmental Engineering.  The names of the participants are listed in the presentation slides posted on the workshop blog site.  Their reports are also posted on the same site.

Outcomes

The workshop generated 23 individual reports and four presentations.  The 23 reports were selected from 56 submittals solicited from the Call for Presenters in July, 2012 (See website for details of the call).  The 29 participants were grouped into three panels, and each panel was required to work together to integrate their reports and ideas into a 2.5 hours presentation and discussion session.  The panels were also required to develop new ideas and concepts, and present them.  Most of the presentations lasted for 1.5 hours, and followed by a 1 hour discussion session.  Ideas and concepts generated during the discussion sessions were taken down and rewritten into a concept paper.  The concept paper is presented, along with the 24 reports and three presentations, on a blog site (http://s2qbidec.blogspot.com/) in order to continue generating new ideas to further refine the topics, and encourage participants and non-participating researchers to collaborate with one another.

We would like to generate more discussions and encourage researchers to collaborate with one another. We're posting all the presentations, reports and concept papers on this website. You can go ahead to download and review them, and we encourage you to contribute to this website.  Our summary outline will be available soon. Please check back with us.

If you wish to be part of this team, please contact Dr. Oswald Chong @ oswaldchong@gmail.com.

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