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With increasing construction activity and concrete consumption globally, the economic, environmental, and social impacts of human activities continue to increase rapidly. Therefore, it is imperative to assess the choice and construction of each structure and structural component from a sustainability-based perspective. In this study, such a multi-criteria decision-making approach using the MIVES method is applied to the choice of grouped continuous flight auger (CFA) piles. Different alternatives of CFA piles are studied: length (10 and 20 m), reinforcement (steel cage reinforcement and structural fibers), and aggregates (natural crushed aggregates and recycled aggregate concrete sourced from stationary and mobile recycling plants), based on experimentally verified mix designs. All alternatives were analyzed considering economic, environmental, and social requirements, using a decision-making tree with eight criteria and eleven indicators, with weights assigned by an expert panel. The results of the analysis showed a clear advantage in terms of all three sustainability requirements for CFA piles with steel fibers and recycled aggregate concrete, with all solutions with steel cage reinforcement having significantly lower values of the sustainability index. Such results demonstrate the need for implementing innovative solutions even in structural members such as CFA piles that are often considered in insufficient detail.
Irene Josa; Nikola Tošić; Snežana Marinković; Albert de la Fuente; Antonio Aguado. Sustainability-Oriented Multi-Criteria Analysis of Different Continuous Flight Auger Piles. Sustainability 2021, 13, 7552 .
AMA StyleIrene Josa, Nikola Tošić, Snežana Marinković, Albert de la Fuente, Antonio Aguado. Sustainability-Oriented Multi-Criteria Analysis of Different Continuous Flight Auger Piles. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (14):7552.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIrene Josa; Nikola Tošić; Snežana Marinković; Albert de la Fuente; Antonio Aguado. 2021. "Sustainability-Oriented Multi-Criteria Analysis of Different Continuous Flight Auger Piles." Sustainability 13, no. 14: 7552.
Apart from the importance of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) in and of themselves, the potential contribution that they can make to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) is huge. Even though some STEM fields have already incorporated SSH elements in their research and education, there are still other disciplines that have not yet approach the intersection between them and SSH. Among these is civil engineering (CE), which has traditionally been set as purely technological and has lacked the inclusion of SSH elements in it. Nonetheless, it is indispensable that engineers have knowledge in SSH to allow them to make decisions more perceptively, realistically and critically. Ultimately, this social understanding can lead them to design and plan solutions that are more socially sustainable. However, there are still no clear guidelines on how to include aspects from social sciences and humanities at the higher education level. This article analyses perceptions, the real status and possible barriers for the incorporation of SSH in the studies of CE. Besides, it analyses and discusses the different methodologies in which engineering students can be introduced to these topics. A triangulation method that combined the use of qualitative and quantitative data was used. Surveys to students, researchers, professors and practitioners were carried out (n=583). Besides, accreditation criteria and CE syllabuses of 100 faculties were reviewed. The analyses showed a dissent between individual perceptions, collective reality and legislative frameworks. Even though the survey responses showed a common agreement concerning the inclusion of SSH, only a minority of CE schools have introduced SSH in their curricula. Besides, accrediting bodies have not yet introduced this as a specific requirement in their criteria. The barriers detected in the incorporation of SSH in CE curricula were: (1) resistance to change, (2) external influences on the curricula, (3) lack of guidelines, (4) misconceptions on what SSH in relation to CE involves. It is necessary to gradually incorporate both hard social skills and soft skills from the beginning of the degree courses and to do so in a transversal way in most of the subjects if professionals and researchers that are capable of designing socially sustainable activities are needed.
I. Josa; A. Aguado. Social sciences and humanities in the education of civil engineers: Current status and proposal of guidelines. Journal of Cleaner Production 2021, 311, 127489 .
AMA StyleI. Josa, A. Aguado. Social sciences and humanities in the education of civil engineers: Current status and proposal of guidelines. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2021; 311 ():127489.
Chicago/Turabian StyleI. Josa; A. Aguado. 2021. "Social sciences and humanities in the education of civil engineers: Current status and proposal of guidelines." Journal of Cleaner Production 311, no. : 127489.
The design of sustainable sewerage infrastructure is fundamental for achieving long-term sustainability goals. Piping systems are essential components in the water supply chain and in waste disposal systems worldwide. Among possible designs for concrete pipes, steel cages consisting of curved rebars have been predominantly used as reinforcement. However, structural fibres have emerged as an attractive technical and economical alternative for substituting steel cages. Due to increasing urbanisation, thousands of kilometres of pipes will be constructed in the near future. At present, decisions regarding reinforcement of concrete pipes are primarily cost-driven. To consider other aspects, it is fundamental to identify and quantify potential sustainability issues properly. Hence, this paper focuses on the sustainability analysis of reinforced concrete pipes using a multi-criteria decision-making method. A model based on criteria, indicators, weights and value functions is developed and calibrated by assessing various concrete reinforcement strategies (steel bars or steel/synthetic fibres). The main contributions of the article are the proposal and application of a model for the case of concrete pipes which can be adapted for other case studies; determining how different typologies of pipes contribute to the overall sustainability of infrastructure systems; and the use and application of a robust and interesting multi-criteria decision-making methodology. The results show that fibre reinforced concrete pipes are promising alternatives in social, economic and environmental terms. Both the model and results are expected to be useful to stakeholders in decision-making processes.
Irene Josa; Albert de la Fuente; Maria Casanovas-Rubio; Jaume Armengou; Antonio Aguado. Sustainability-Oriented Model to Decide on Concrete Pipeline Reinforcement. Sustainability 2021, 13, 3026 .
AMA StyleIrene Josa, Albert de la Fuente, Maria Casanovas-Rubio, Jaume Armengou, Antonio Aguado. Sustainability-Oriented Model to Decide on Concrete Pipeline Reinforcement. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (6):3026.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIrene Josa; Albert de la Fuente; Maria Casanovas-Rubio; Jaume Armengou; Antonio Aguado. 2021. "Sustainability-Oriented Model to Decide on Concrete Pipeline Reinforcement." Sustainability 13, no. 6: 3026.
Inequality and its analysis have received increasing attention in the literature over the last decades, which has led to the development of a large number of inequality measurement methodologies. In the analysis of inequality, results rely heavily on the choice of a measurement methodology and, very often, different methodologies do not lead to the same rankings. Therefore, in the assessment of inequality, the choice of an appropriate measure is crucial. Important as this choice may be, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, there exists no research on the development of a systematic and unified framework for the selection of an adequate inequality measure depending on the context. In consideration of the foregoing, this paper provides a framework with practical guidelines for researchers and practitioners to facilitate the task of choosing the most appropriate inequality measure for their specific needs. The proposed guidelines are based on seven main properties of inequality indexes and are preceded by a comprehensive review of the different methods developed so far, focusing specifically on the advantages and drawbacks of each. Besides, they are accompanied by an empirical application of the different methodologies reviewed in order to better illustrate the various properties of the different inequality measures.
I. Josa; A. Aguado. Measuring Unidimensional Inequality: Practical Framework for the Choice of an Appropriate Measure. Social Indicators Research 2020, 149, 541 -570.
AMA StyleI. Josa, A. Aguado. Measuring Unidimensional Inequality: Practical Framework for the Choice of an Appropriate Measure. Social Indicators Research. 2020; 149 (2):541-570.
Chicago/Turabian StyleI. Josa; A. Aguado. 2020. "Measuring Unidimensional Inequality: Practical Framework for the Choice of an Appropriate Measure." Social Indicators Research 149, no. 2: 541-570.
A model to evaluate the sustainability of structural elements is developed. MIVES is proved to be an adequate sustainability assessment tool in these cases. Girders and trusses made of timber, concrete and steel are analysed. Timber and concrete trusses achieve the highest global sustainability indexes.
I. Josa; O. Pons; A. de la Fuente; A. Aguado. Multi-criteria decision-making model to assess the sustainability of girders and trusses: Case study for roofs of sports halls. Journal of Cleaner Production 2019, 249, 119312 .
AMA StyleI. Josa, O. Pons, A. de la Fuente, A. Aguado. Multi-criteria decision-making model to assess the sustainability of girders and trusses: Case study for roofs of sports halls. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2019; 249 ():119312.
Chicago/Turabian StyleI. Josa; O. Pons; A. de la Fuente; A. Aguado. 2019. "Multi-criteria decision-making model to assess the sustainability of girders and trusses: Case study for roofs of sports halls." Journal of Cleaner Production 249, no. : 119312.
Currently, poverty and inequality are crucial social issues around the world. They demand objective evaluations with the purpose of defining policies and prioritizing actions. Most of the times the most important problem lies on the fact that individuals under poverty circumstances or belonging to vulnerable collectives cannot escape these conditions by themselves and need external assistance or interventions. Another added difficulty is that both poverty and inequality can be studied from different angles and require a multidimensional approach whose definition is not straightforward. There exists a vicious cycle defined by a collection of determinants or events that lead to a phenomenon in which various disadvantages work circularly so that it is impossible for individuals or households to break the cycle. In this context, setting the background in which these vicious cycles arise can be helpful in order to conduct in-depth studies as a first step to establishing possible solutions. Even though many researchers have proposed alternative schemes for the poverty's vicious circle, none has been introduced for inequality. In this contribution, a meaningful and integrated cycle is defined for inequality at two different levels: first of all, at an individual level; secondly, at a collective level in which a certain group is made vulnerable. This cycle includes similar parameter as those comprised in the poverty cycle such as income, access to education and access to healthcare. However, it additionally places emphasis on other aspects such as participation in politics and access to leadership positions. Besides, a conceptual and analytical framework is built, whose objective is to describe ways in which infrastructure, innovation and industry can help interrupt the continuation of the cycle. This model integrates a collection of different measures that is to be potentially helpful for policy makers. Additionally, the frame accounts for not only the fight of current existing cycles, but also of future generations ones, hence considering sustainability dimensions.
Irene Josa; Antonio Aguado. Infrastructure, innovation and industry as solutions for breaking inequality vicious cycles. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 2019, 297, 012016 .
AMA StyleIrene Josa, Antonio Aguado. Infrastructure, innovation and industry as solutions for breaking inequality vicious cycles. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. 2019; 297 (1):012016.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIrene Josa; Antonio Aguado. 2019. "Infrastructure, innovation and industry as solutions for breaking inequality vicious cycles." IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 297, no. 1: 012016.
While economic and environmental aspects of civil engineering have attracted the greatest attention among contemporary academy, its social side has frequently been set aside. However, the social impact that infrastructures have is huge and its analysis and understanding are fundamental. At the same time, social aspects such as culture or human behaviour can have significant effects during the different stages of the lifecycle of infrastructures. Therefore, a better understanding of the connections between civil engineering and society can help to better adapt infrastructures to their contexts, as well as minimise their negative impacts; as a result, this understanding can bring about infrastructures that are more socially sustainable. The scarce studies that have assessed the connection between society and civil engineering have considered this relationship as unidirectional. The real scenario is not so simple. The analysis of this relationship needs to be interdisciplinary, and it is in this context that this paper addresses the analysis of infrastructures and of social sciences from a sociotechnical point of view. We draw on the interrelationships found to propose a conceptual framework with the main objective of providing both practitioners and academics with tools to carry out more sustainable and context-adapted decisions. We classify the fields of civil engineering and social sciences into several different subfields, namely six for infrastructures (transport, water, energy, environment, urban planning and buildings) and twelve for social sciences (culture and history, behaviour and mind, communication and interaction, socioeconomics, juridical sciences, life and health, politics, social problems, social groups, ethics and philosophy, arts and education and innovation). Afterwards, we review the existing literature at the intersection between the various categories. We conclude proposing a framework that can support decisions and actions made at different levels and working areas. The framework includes guidelines for a more holistic consideration of the interaction between infrastructures and society in key activities whereby an improved understanding of the effect of this relationship is often required. The guidelines provide a description of different key areas and can be applied to a wide variety of actions ranging from the development of university curricula to the social impact assessment of projects.
I. Josa; A. Aguado. Infrastructures and society: from a literature review to a conceptual framework. Journal of Cleaner Production 2019, 238, 117741 .
AMA StyleI. Josa, A. Aguado. Infrastructures and society: from a literature review to a conceptual framework. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2019; 238 ():117741.
Chicago/Turabian StyleI. Josa; A. Aguado. 2019. "Infrastructures and society: from a literature review to a conceptual framework." Journal of Cleaner Production 238, no. : 117741.