The decommissioning of nuclear power plants (NPPs) is rapidly increasing because NPPs are not only no longer profitable in many cases but are also being decommissioned due to a lack of public acceptance or political reasons in many countries, particularly in Europe, following the explosion of the Fukushima Daiichi NPP. Accordingly, a significant body of research has focused on achieving safe, environmentally sound, and sustainable decommissioning in many countries where there is demand for NPP decommissioning. In order to achieve sustainable decommissioning that restores the NPP site to its pre-NPP environmental state, it is necessary to understand the safety, technology, and cost aspects as well as having the process and strategy to systematically promote them. Although there are a limited number of countries with experience and knowledge in the management of decommissioning multiple NPPs, researchers in countries just starting NPP decommissioning need diverse research information on how to formulate a sustainable decommissioning strategy as well as related factors. In particular, a systematic review of decommissioning strategies, such as DD, ID, and ET, and the influencing factors associated with each strategy is needed from the researcher’s point of view. In this regard, this study reviews the research literature on decommissioning strategies for nuclear power plants with a sustainable perspective. A systematic method involving a meta-analysis is used. The results of this study confirm that many researchers are most interested in DD and are dealing with ID and ET at the same level, but in reality, DD and ID are being adopted at similar rates. Thus far, only three ETs have been adopted in the United States. Most countries that have adopted ID are deemed to have been influenced by political decisions.

Reducing the construction time for large logistics buildings can result in reduced construction management costs and economic gains from early operation. A large logistics building with a heavy load and long spans was constructed as a precast concrete (PC) structure, which required the use of a sizable crane to lift heavy PC members. A basic analytical approach was employed to resolve potential errors in the planning of PC member erection and to build a systematic erection plan. Calculation techniques for the trajectory distance that use the crane location were applied to select an erection plan that minimizes crane work. A crane trajectory distance calculation algorithm for sustainable PC member erection in large logistics buildings with heavy loads and long spans has been developed. The developed model aids in creating simulation and optimization models to ensure the minimal usage of cranes in the future and in determining the cost, construction time, CO₂ emissions, and energy use for each erection plan.

Reducing the construction time for large logistics buildings can result in reduced construction management costs and economic gains from early operation. A large logistic building with a heavy load and long spans was constructed as a precast concrete (PC) structure, which requires the use of a sizable crane to lift heavy PC members. A basic analytical approach is employed to resolve potential errors in the planning of PC member erection and to build a systematic erection plan. Calculation techniques for the trajectory distance, which use the crane location, are applied to select an erection plan that minimizes crane work. A crane trajectory distance calculation algorithm for sustainable PC member erection in large logistic buildings with heavy loads and long spans has been developed. The developed model aids in creating simulation and optimization models to ensure minimal usage of cranes in the future and determining cost, construction time, CO2 emissions, and energy use for each erection plan.

When using concrete to produce exterior finishing panels of free-form building structures, different panel shapes make it difficult to reuse the forms. This results in increased formwork cost as well as a significant amount of embodied CO₂ (ECO₂) generation. Through years of research, we have developed a free-form panel (FCP) production technique engaging the 3D plastering technique (3DPT) without using conventional plywood forms. When 3DPT becomes available for free-form building projects, a great deal of ECO₂ reduction effects is expected in addition to reduced time and cost in FCP production. The purpose of this study is to prove this by analyzing ECO₂ reduction effects achieved through sustainable FCP production using 3DPT. The study involved project case selection, calculation of resources consumed for conventional plywood forms, and analysis of the reduction effects. As a result, it was demonstrated from the case project that 1196 tons of CO₂ were reduced using 3DPT, accounting for approximately 99% of the amount produced from conventional plywood forms (CPF). The study findings will be used as a basic reference for sustainable production of FCPs ensuring speed and precision in production as well as innovative ECO₂ reduction effects.

Global economic fluctuations as exemplified by the recent COVID-19 financial crisis significantly impact the construction industry, particularly steel rebar supply chain and procurement. This impedes engineers’ efforts toward achieving near-zero rebar-cutting waste due to dynamic rebar minimum order quantities and maximum lengths imposed by steel mills. This study addresses the challenge of achieving near-zero rebar-cutting waste by proposing a model that simulates the level of optimization in minimizing rebar-cutting waste amidst such dynamics. The model was implemented in a case study involving reinforced concrete columns in a high-rise building. While achieving near-zero waste consistently proved challenging, particularly for greater than 50 tons of minimum quantity, the study identified a maximum 12 m rebar variant that attained this target regardless of minimum order quantity. Nonetheless, this study introduces a real-time decision-support system for rebar procurement, empowering engineers to optimize usage and minimize waste. This system facilitates near-zero rebar-cutting waste levels in response to rebar procurement requirement dynamics.