Approach for sustainability assessment for footbridge construction technologies: Application to the first world D-shape 3D-Printed fiber-reinforced mortar footbridge in Madrid.

Abstract

As a means to improve sustainability in the construction sector, the 3D-printed concrete technologies (3DPCTs) are emerging as potential alternatives to traditional construction for reinforced concrete structural components. Traditional technologies are still used in most architecture and civil engineering applications, although D-shape technology for 3DPCTs (DS-3DPCT) has proven technically feasible for producing pilot structural elements such as footbridges. These pilots have been contextualized within research and industrial frameworks, in which relevant technical information is confidential and cost and environmental performance related conclusions are still to be validated and reported. Moreover, scarce research has been conducted on sustainability performance by DS-3DPCT, and that carried out is primarily incipient and focused on identifying governing indicators and some specific non-generalizable quantifications. Former studies ack dealing with sustainability by DS-3DPCT from a holistic and integrated perspective, which requires quantifying and coupling the three main economic, environmental and social pillars. This research project comprehensively develops a sustainability-oriented decision-making approach for assessing construction technologies for footbridges based on MIVES and Delphi method. The Castilla-La Mancha park DS-3DPCT footbridge constructed by ACCIONA S.A. in 2016 in Madrid was the representative case study to validate this approach applicability. The results quantify the case study as sustainable, with excellent values for greenhouse gas emissions reduction, generation of qualified jobs, benefits to brand, occupational risk prevention, and design flexibility. However, this DS-3DPCT requires more maturity in the technology to improve its economic values. This approach range of application might be extended to other structural typologies by introducing -when necessary-other relevant indicators and weights’ distributions.