In civil engineering, carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites have emerged as a promising alternative to conventional materials. The article provides a comprehensive overview of the application of CFRP composites in various building structural elements and their characteristics and properties, such as their fatigue and corrosion resistance, stiffness and high strength, and incorporation of temperature factors. The advantages and disadvantages of CFRP composites and the current trends and prospects for CFRP composites in the construction sector are discussed. In addition, the article compares various studies on CFRP composites to shed light on their performance and potential limitations. This paper aims to provide useful information to researchers and practitioners interested in using CFRP composites in civil engineering applications. In addition, the article discusses emerging materials in CFRP, such as nanostructured carbon fibres, hybrid fibre reinforcement, and self-sensing CFRP. Additionally, the paper outlines how CFRP composites promote sustainability by increasing structural durability and longevity.

In recent years, civil engineering has increasingly embraced communication tools for automation, with sensors playing a pivotal role, especially in structural health monitoring (SHM). These sensors enable precise data acquisition, measuring parameters like force, displacement, and temperature and transmit data for timely interventions to prevent failures. This approach reduces reliance on manual inspections, offering more accurate outcomes. This review explores various sensor technologies in SHM, such as piezoelectric, fibre optic, force, MEMS devices, GPS, LVDT, electromechanical impedance techniques, Doppler effect, and piezoceramic sensors, focusing on advancements from 2019 to 2024. A bibliometric analysis of 1468 research articles from WOS and Scopus databases shows a significant increase in publications, from 15 in 2019 to 359 in 2023 and 52 in 2024 (and still counting). This analysis identifies emerging trends and applications in smart sensor integration in civil and structural health monitoring, enhancing safety and efficiency in infrastructure management.

Modern environmental protection standards have a direct impact on the construction and shaping of public space. Designers are increasingly reaching for materials produced via recycling technologies. Waste materials are more readily adopted and used in urban planning and architecture. Current projects in this area are being increasingly designed to meet the requirements of the circular economy, which is facilitated by the reuse of once-used components. The aim of the study is to review research papers in the Scopus database (bibliometric analysis) and other selected materials applied in construction, which are recycled and used again in various ways in the construction of subsequent buildings. The results show various application possibilities of recycled materials in construction. The study draws attention to the fact that the use of recycled materials in modern construction is becoming more and more effective, which may contribute to increasing the share of the circular economy in the implementation process related to this subject.

Green building is a way to reduce the impact of the building stock on the environment, society, and economy. Despite the significance of a systematic review for the upcoming project, few studies have been conducted. Studies within the eco-friendly construction scope have been boosted in the past few decades. The present review study intends to critically analyse the available literature on green buildings by identifying the prevalent research approaches and themes. Among these recurring issues are the definition and scope of green buildings, the quantification of green buildings’ advantages over conventional ones, and several green building production strategies. The study concludes that the available research focuses mainly on the environmental side of green buildings. In contrast, other crucial points of green building sustainability, such as social impacts, are often neglected. Future research objectives include the effects of climate on the effectiveness of green building assessment methods; verification of the actual performance of green buildings; specific demographic requirements; and future-proofing.

The COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns altered people’s perception of the relationship between indoor and outdoor living spaces, pushing the home balcony concept into new levels of ambiguity. Particularly in European contexts, people’s perspectives on its existence, functions, features, and borders are now unclear territory. Therefore, our study intends to assess the balcony design features and activities during pandemic times through the lens of selected key informants’ preferences in Lisbon and Warsaw, resorting to a post-occupancy evaluation of an online survey and a subsequent statistical analysis using a Mixed Model Analysis of Variance. Differences in cultural/social background, climate, and geography appear to be irrelevant during the pandemic, as both locations’ respondents show similar outcomes concerning balcony preferences. Activities previously practised elsewhere are now preferential to occur on balconies, such as having meals, gathering people, or reading and writing. The study concludes that the importance of home balconies increased during the pandemic, demanding an update of its design features to accommodate the newly rediscovered activities with direct implications on its users’ health and life quality.