Search

Buildings have been shown to have impacts on the environment. Consequently, green building rating systems have become a tool to help reduce these impacts. The objectives of this study were to identify gaps in information and access to green building materials as viewed by Oregon design professionals. The scope was limited to the major structural materials: concrete, steel, and wood. This article focuses on the results unique to wood products. Information was collected through group interviews. Each group was composed of professionals representing different aspects of material selection and construction of different scales. The results showed that structural material selection is driven by building code, cost, and building performance requirements. The environmental performance of the material was not considered. However, once the material was selected, designers tried to maximize environmental performance. The results showed that green building rating systems do not influence structural material selection, and interviewees noted that there is room for improvement in this area. Respondents had a positive view of wood and a strong desire to use more wood, particularly Forest Stewardship Council certified wood. Wood was viewed as the most sustainable structural material available. However, there were some concerns about wood products, with formaldehyde emissions being the most significant. Resume: Il a ete demontre que les batiments ont des impacts sur l'environnement. Les systemes d'evaluation des batiments ecologiques sont donc devenus un outil pour aider a reduire ces impacts. Les objectifs de cette etude consistaient a identifier les lacunes dans l'information et l'acces aux materiaux de construction ecosympathiques telles qu'elles sont perc ues par les professionnels de la conception de l'Oregon. La portee de l'etude etait limitee aux principaux materiaux structuraux: le beton, l'acier et le bois. Cet article met l'accent sur les resultats uniques aux produits du bois. L'information a ete collectee par le biais d'entrevues de groupe. Chaque groupe etait compose de professionnels representant differents aspects du choix des materiaux et de la construction a differentes echelles. Les resultats montrent que le choix des materiaux structuraux est determine par le code du batiment, le cout et les exigences de performance du batiment. On ne tient pas compte de la performance environnementale du materiau. Cependant, une fois que le materiau est choisi, les concepteurs essaient de maximiser la performance environnementale. Les resultats montrent que les systemes d'evaluation des batiments ecologiques n'influencent pas le choix des materiaux structuraux et les personnes interrogees ont note qu'il y avait place a amelioration dans ce domaine. Les sujets interroges ont une vision positive du bois et sont tres desireux d'utiliser plus de bois, particulierement le bois certifie par le [much less than] Forest Stewardship Council [much greater than] Le bois est considere comme le plus durable des materiaux structuraux disponibles. Cependant, il y a des preoccupations au sujet des produits du bois dont la plus importante concerne les emissions de formaldehyde. [Traduit par la Redaction], Introduction During recent decades, there has been increasing concern about the impact that humans are having on the environment. People have begun to realize that at some point, demand for [...]

Incentive/disincentive (I/D) contracting has developed from basic cost- and profit-sharing arrangements between an owner and a contractor. To motivate the contractor to put in an extra effort to realize one or more project objectives of an accelerated, costly, and complex undertaking, the owner may offer an award to the contractor. The owner may also threaten the contractor with a penalty if the objectives are not met. This paper reviews the fundamental incentive/disincentive arrangements in contracting literature. Then, results are reported of a survey conducted on a sample of Illinois DOT highway contracts that included I/D provisions. The survey investigates whether there exists an agreement or disagreement between IDOT's and the contractors' perceptions of I/D contract provisions. The findings reveal how I/D contract milestones are established, how they are executed, what kind of work practices the contractor uses to fulfill I/D targets, and how the contracting parties perceive I/D contracts' effectiveness as opposed to non-I/D contracts. Certain issues pointed out by the respondents as problematic and in need of further refinement in I/D applications are also highlighted.

Great engineers use a matrix form of thought which uses association of ideas to arrive at creative solutions. The matrix thinker takes information from one object or discipline to form a solution in another. Examples of this type of thinking include Sir Marc Brunel's development of the tunneling shield to construct a tunnel under the river at St Petersburg, Russia. Brunel's original brief was to construct a bridge, but observation of the tunneling pipeworm furthered his thinking on alternative solutions. Other products of matrix thinking include the Crystal Palace and the Eiffel Tower.

The American Society of Civil Engineers discussed the impact of the L'Ambiance Plaza's collapse on the construction industry during their Oct 1991 Orlando, FL, convention. Engineers propose the upgrading of the conduct of investigations of major structural disasters and increasing the engineer's authority during construction. They criticize the disregard for safety and sound engineering principles and emphasized the importance of a clear delineation of responsibilities for all parties concerned. They also stressed stability as a crucial design factor in construction.

The lessons learnt by civil engineers and city planners during the reconstruction of Lake Street in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on the revitalization of the community by balancing traffic issues are discussed.