Exploring the appropriateness of Urban Underground Space (UUS) for sustainability improvement

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Zargarian, Roya (2018). Exploring the appropriateness of Urban Underground Space (UUS) for sustainability improvement. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

Due to the dramatic rate of urbanisation worldwide, sustainability of global cities is called into question, and there is global agreement that making cities more sustainable is a key priority. Greater use of underground space is one such solution, hence wider adoption of Urban Underground Space (UUS) within the urban environment needs consideration. One way to measure the efficiency of these solutions within the urban environment is to provide sustainability credentials through sustainability indicators. However, a detailed review of the current ‘construction sector’ sustainability indicator systems (BREEAM, CEEQUAL, etc.) within this research shows that there is a substantial need for a sustainability indicator tool tailored toward UUS. Hence, a new tool, called USPeAR, is proposed, developed on the basis of the SPeAR® framework system revised and restructured for application on UUS projects.

The USPeAR tool includes a series of indicators based on SPeAR®. They have been selected according to the materiality review method introduced by SPeAR® itself. In addition a panel of experts, who are experienced in terms of construction and sustainability, has been surveyed via a questionnaire to inform the development of an appropriate weighting system for the selected indicators. Lastly, a Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) method has been combined with USPeAR to identify the most cost-effective solution for the sustainability improvement of a UUS project. The application of the developed tool was demonstrated through two case studies.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

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