Sustainability in Civil Engineering Design - Coursework Example

Sustainability in Civil Engineering Design Name Course Instructor Institution Location Sustainability in Civil Engineering Design 1 Introduction Sustainability in or green construction is the process of designing a building and constructing it using the method that does not take a lot of available resources and also save the environment in which the building is being constructed. Project sustainability large depends on the team that is involved in the design, client, and the architect so that they can come with a reasonable building or structure that can be resources and environmentally friendly. In coming up with the sustainable building, the design should consider the cost, quantity, and type of material to be used in construction in order to achieve the high degree of sustainability. Materials need great concern because it is the essential elements used in the construction of the building. Another factor such as the cost of transporting materials and the workers to construct the building also need to consider during design. Sustainability involves the use of locally available resource to complete the task without over-exploitation of those resources. The aim will be to preserve those resources for future use. The primary goal of sustainability is to maintain the existing resources and keep it for further uses in future. Such resources can be helpful in further educating the young generation for example aggregates quarry sites, lime extraction, etc. Sustainability has a number of advantages that include: Conserve the available limited resources. A building design to be constructed with the minimum amount of resources is of great importance in preserving the environment. Less material used in constructing building preserve resources such as trees for timber, quarry materials like aggregates, gravel, etc. Sustainability in construction helps in protection of the environment against adverse climate changes because it involves the use of locally available resources and in economical manner. In doing so, other components of the environment also benefit from other resources for example preserving trees help in rain formation, windbreak, resting points for birds, animals, and human beings. Sustainability helps of saving resources for recycling and aggregates used in constructing a building to be used again in the construction of another building. Recycling building materials helps in reducing the cost of construction and as well save the available resources. Reduces the quantity of waste materials especially the building site located where materials like gravel are available, such material can be used in the construction of that building. Sustainable building designed is not expensive because of the low quantity of materials to be used in their construction. Sustainability in Civil Engineering Design does not put many constraints to the machine being used because the primary aim will to reduce cost and protect the environment (Vallero & Brasier 2008). Sustainable design in Civil Engineering leads to sustainable development because a durable designed structure can be afforded by the majority of low-income earners hence the sustainable development of the community. Sustainable design helps the designer to develop better strategies for improving the society through developing design techniques that can be affordable by the low-income earners. Sustainability leads to economic growth and development because the available resources can be used to do various things within a particular time. Sustainable design leads to improvement in the standard of leaving of the society because many people can afford to build a house accommodate the family. 2. Brief description of the design proposal 1. Design The design proposal focuses on the sustainability of the hospital right throughout the project lifecycle. With respect to the sustainable design, the key considerations were based information obtained from the review of relevant literature; need assessment, and the principle of good and sustainable design. During assessment of needs, analysis of the client brief was made and this made it easy to understand current need and operation of the health centre, as well as the future need of the project in relation to its vision and the desired goals of the health centre. In developing the sustainable design the following were considered; · Client’s requirements · Statutory Authority specified design parameters · Planning conditions of approved master plan · Cost considerations · Adjacent hospital development · Plot orientation and maximizing plot development potential · Sustainability & BREEAM · Low maintenance, energy efficient, Secure by Design building · Timescales & Phasing of plot release · Environmental impact of the project Sustainability design approach; in this approach the building systems as while was looked at rather than focusing on the goals achievement of design and construction or modification. In this respect, the need was assessed throughout the project life cycle and this approach can result in better performance of the building, general satisfaction and also lowering the cost and catering for long-term use of the building facility. An innate design approach; in an application of this approach, much emphasis will be on the modern concepts of using locally available materials and techniques. To attain the cost control, sustainability, maintenance ease, and a strong sense of ownership attached to the functionality of the end users of the health centre (Vallero & Brasier 2008). Engineering design, the understanding was that the health centre is to be design using an alternative approach that can achieve sustainability. The criteria used in the design and concepts was developed basing on the finding of client requirements and the assessment of needs. The design focuses on the need for sustainability and the environmental impact of the project. Engineering design is presented in standard drawings including the floor plans, elevations and sections, electrical and mechanical services are also considered in the drawings. The design is also based on the topographical map of the plot, the site showing the existing road and driveways, parking, landscaping and others. All these are shown in the master plan of the project area. Liaison with the client; discussion shall be made at all times in different stages of the project lifecycle and review of the design concepts shall be made and the client and users need shall be emphasized in the design. In this proposal the methods of construction, which include good practice, performance to standard, standard of materials and workmanship and specification of various building elements, finishes, fixtures and fitting, including ICT, etc. shall be considered. The client has already made the cost estimate. However, this estimate may be affected due hardship that may be experienced due to site conditions. The cost seems not be realistic because of a number of factors that leads to variation in cost of construction and these among others include. Variation in the site conditions Variation in the cost of building materials Variation in terms and conditions of the contract that is always included in the bills of quantities (BoQ) Variation in weather conditions during construction Etc. In this cost estimate there shall be analysis basing on economic and financial issues to indicate the possible way of adopting the needs for sustainable engineering design i.e. internal rate of return (IRR ), net present value (NPV) and the pay period, etc. The design approaches proposed to be used to achieve sustainability are: Functional Approach; this approach is a feasible approach to developing a health centre because the primary aim will accomplish the functions of the hospital so that the customer can get what they expect from the health centre. To achieve this approach the health centre functions shall have zoning as shown in the drawings Building materials approach; building takes the highest percentages of the project cost and, in this case, the use of the renewable and locally available material shall be used. The materials shall be fixed to robust low maintenance option (Johnson & Gibson 2014). Environmental approach; this approach in the proposed design shall ensure that the building has provision for natural light and ventilation to allow the minimum cost of maintenance. After all, these have been done, the preliminary design report shall be made and submitted to the client for comments and approval. Orientation of the site In the site, there exist the parking space, the hospital square, and the space for future expansion. The garden for refreshment of the patient and all these are in the fence to provide a real border of the health centre. All these consideration are considered in the planning stage of the project lifecycle. The project site The site is located near Main Street, and the surroundings are characterized by green vegetation on the uphill that provide the good view of the health centre, and other structures constructed near the site location. Acreage; the size of the plot the health centre covers an area of 3190 square meters. Environmental issues The site is surrounded by the green vegetation that needs protection against the overuse and to meet the needs of the future. Proper planning of the access ways into the health centre and parking areas in the proposed site shall be made to avoid interference with the traffic flow along the main street. The primary aim of this design is to save the environment and its resources. The criterion is to develop the health centre that is environmentally friendly from global, local external and internal aspects that also minimize the impact on the users. In the proposed sustainable design, the following shall be put in consideration; Reduction of the negative impact of global warming Reducing air pollution Reducing water pollution Reducing overuse of non-renewable resources Reducing the spread of diseases to the neighbours Reducing the design characteristics that can easily lead to sick build syndrome in future Maximizing the use of available local resources and where possible recycling the materials Design to standards that ensure the minimum cost of maintenance of the building and provide a greater performance of the building. In all the design will emphasize on the use of building materials that are friendly to the environment and sustainable to the client. All these shall be referred to as the norms and standards pertaining to environmental issues. 2 Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) The drainage system can be connected straight to the main sewer line, or the septic tank can be provided, or both can be put in place. Management of wastewater can be handled using a septic tank, and the solid waste can be managed using the main sewer line. The waterways can be provided in the design and implemented in the construction period while putting attention on environmental quality and focusing surrounding neighbours. Water supply can be obtained from the national water supply or with ground water. Open channels can be used for wastewater for cleaning the rooms, and the closed channels can be used for other unpleasant waste from the hospital. 3. Materials selection The material to be used in the construction of the health centre shall conform to the requirement of the green guide specification to ensure environmental protection. The materials selected for building should be; Easy to recycle; the material to be used in construction should recyclable content that makes it easy and simple to recover to a different use. The recyclable material helps to reduce the level of solid waste generation and protection of the environment. Easy to renew; the materials such as certified wood obtained from a sustainable source has a high percentage of being renewed and use further in other ways. Such materials should be obtained from a producer certified by the autonomous third party. The materials should be locally available; building material collected from the locality is cost effective, save energy for producing them, and reduces on the expense transportation to the construction site. The material selected for used should be accessible to remanufacture; the material used in their construction must be easy to recycle and use in the manufacture of the same product. Such materials save the cost of repair of the machines, renovation, reduce the effect due to green-housed emotions, save energy in their remanufacture. The materials should be durable; long lasting material are very vital in the construction of any projects. The long lasting materials save money and time because they can last longer when use in construction hence saving the environment Material to be used shall have low-level toxicity especially cement and paints especially the smell should not be irritating. Material should have a low level of volatile organic compounds that means the method employed in their manufacture should have a low level of hazard emissions. The locally available materials should be resistant to moisture for example steel; aggregates (should have low percent water absorption) and prevent the growth of algae in building. Should be healthy during maintenance process and save energy during their manufacture A healthy material shall be recommended for use in construction so as to meet the environment protection criteria (Johnson & Gibson 2014). Aggregates for concrete will be obtained from the quarry sites using the equipment that are approved by the environmental management authority. For aggregates, the re-use or recycling of aggregates shall emphasize where possible so that it can reduce on blasting the new rock to obtain fresh aggregates. Selecting materials for car park; Recyclable material like the one recycled asphalt shall be used in the construction of the car park along the main street. Materials such rubberized asphalt that can be recycled and friendly to the environment can be used during construction of the car park. Porous asphalt shall be specified in the design and use in construction; this material comprise of aggregates (coarse) that are mixed with asphalt cement that have low fine aggregate content to permit the surface water to move over the pavement surface. Pervious concrete shall be specified in the sustainable design for use in construction; this concrete is made using a mixture of uniformly well-graded aggregates, ordinary Portland cement, water, and admixture where possible. All materials that shall be specified in the design and shall have the sustainable cost of maintenance, purchasing, transport, etc. 4 Renewable There are renewable in the project sites and these are; Plants remains, solar energy, wind power, etc. these can be very vital in conserving the environment since they are environmentally friendly due to the less adverse effect they pose to it. Renewable are reliable because they are locally produced and do not involve a lot of transport cost. Renewable have low level of pollution especially solar energy; wind power, etc. because they do not involve a lot of mixing of chemicals for their productions. Renewable resources are safe, reliable because being locally produced they are easily obtained by the consumers, and the processes of their manufacture are safe. Renewable resources improve the environmental quality and the health of the people living in that environment especially wind power and solar energy. Cheap; renewable are cheap as compared to other resources obtained from other sources, and this enables sustainability to be achieved in the civil engineering design. Renewable facilitates economic growth and development; because many people shall be in a position to acquire the renewable than non-renewable products hence increase in revenue production and jobs creations to the people. Provides revenue to the government and the people employed in factories for renewing resources companies. Government gets revenue through tax and people gets their money through monthly salary or sales of their renewable products. Promotes stability in the price of energy especially solar energy because they are many and consistently supplied. References Johnson, A., & Gibson, A., 2014. Sustainability in engineering design an undergraduate text. Waltham, MA, Academic Press. http://lib.myilibrary.com?id=576029. Vallero, D. A., & Brasier, C., 2008. Sustainable design: the science of sustainability and green engineering. Hoboken, N.J., John Wiley. Read More

Sustainability in Civil Engineering Design does not put many constraints to the machine being used because the primary aim will to reduce cost and protect the environment (Vallero & Brasier 2008). Sustainable design in Civil Engineering leads to sustainable development because a durable designed structure can be afforded by the majority of low-income earners hence the sustainable development of the community. Sustainable design helps the designer to develop better strategies for improving the society through developing design techniques that can be affordable by the low-income earners.

Sustainability leads to economic growth and development because the available resources can be used to do various things within a particular time. Sustainable design leads to improvement in the standard of leaving of the society because many people can afford to build a house accommodate the family. 2. Brief description of the design proposal 1. Design The design proposal focuses on the sustainability of the hospital right throughout the project lifecycle. With respect to the sustainable design, the key considerations were based information obtained from the review of relevant literature; need assessment, and the principle of good and sustainable design.

During assessment of needs, analysis of the client brief was made and this made it easy to understand current need and operation of the health centre, as well as the future need of the project in relation to its vision and the desired goals of the health centre. In developing the sustainable design the following were considered; · Client’s requirements · Statutory Authority specified design parameters · Planning conditions of approved master plan · Cost considerations · Adjacent hospital development · Plot orientation and maximizing plot development potential · Sustainability & BREEAM · Low maintenance, energy efficient, Secure by Design building · Timescales & Phasing of plot release · Environmental impact of the project Sustainability design approach; in this approach the building systems as while was looked at rather than focusing on the goals achievement of design and construction or modification.

In this respect, the need was assessed throughout the project life cycle and this approach can result in better performance of the building, general satisfaction and also lowering the cost and catering for long-term use of the building facility. An innate design approach; in an application of this approach, much emphasis will be on the modern concepts of using locally available materials and techniques. To attain the cost control, sustainability, maintenance ease, and a strong sense of ownership attached to the functionality of the end users of the health centre (Vallero & Brasier 2008).

Engineering design, the understanding was that the health centre is to be design using an alternative approach that can achieve sustainability. The criteria used in the design and concepts was developed basing on the finding of client requirements and the assessment of needs. The design focuses on the need for sustainability and the environmental impact of the project. Engineering design is presented in standard drawings including the floor plans, elevations and sections, electrical and mechanical services are also considered in the drawings.

The design is also based on the topographical map of the plot, the site showing the existing road and driveways, parking, landscaping and others. All these are shown in the master plan of the project area. Liaison with the client; discussion shall be made at all times in different stages of the project lifecycle and review of the design concepts shall be made and the client and users need shall be emphasized in the design. In this proposal the methods of construction, which include good practice, performance to standard, standard of materials and workmanship and specification of various building elements, finishes, fixtures and fitting, including ICT, etc.

shall be considered.

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