Environmental Impact of Earthquake-Resistant Design: A Sustainable Approach to Structural Response in High Seismic Risk Regions

This study evaluates the environmental impact of earthquake-resistant structural design choices in high-risk seismic regions through life cycle assessment. As climate change concerns intensify, understanding the environmental implications of structural design decisions becomes crucial for sustainabl...

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Main Authors: Alvaro Bohorquez, Esteban Viteri, Edgar Rivera, Carlos Avila
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Buildings
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/14/12/3821
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author Alvaro Bohorquez
Esteban Viteri
Edgar Rivera
Carlos Avila
author_facet Alvaro Bohorquez
Esteban Viteri
Edgar Rivera
Carlos Avila
author_sort Alvaro Bohorquez
collection DOAJ
description This study evaluates the environmental impact of earthquake-resistant structural design choices in high-risk seismic regions through life cycle assessment. As climate change concerns intensify, understanding the environmental implications of structural design decisions becomes crucial for sustainable construction. Examining a building in Quito, Ecuador, the research compares three structural systems: Optimized Framed System (OFS), Optimized Dual System (ODS), and Equivalent Framed System (EFS). The assessment quantifies emissions through a ‘cradle to gate’ approach, encompassing materials fabrication, transportation, and construction processes. The results demonstrate that the ODS achieves optimal seismic performance equal to the EFS while reducing emissions by 38%, with only 5% higher emissions than the OFS. The findings establish that effective earthquake-resistant design can simultaneously achieve structural resilience and environmental sustainability, providing valuable insights for sustainable structural engineering practices in seismic regions.
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issn 2075-5309
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publisher MDPI AG
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series Buildings
spelling doaj-art-770f8ec145144b378749ade5ea500b7b2024-12-27T14:15:25ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092024-11-011412382110.3390/buildings14123821Environmental Impact of Earthquake-Resistant Design: A Sustainable Approach to Structural Response in High Seismic Risk RegionsAlvaro Bohorquez0Esteban Viteri1Edgar Rivera2Carlos Avila3Facultad de Ingeniería Civil y Ambiental, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito 170143, EcuadorFacultad de Ingeniería Civil y Ambiental, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito 170143, EcuadorGrupo de Investigación de Energía, Minas y Agua (GIEMA), Facultad de Ciencias, Ingeniería y Construcción, Universidad UTE, Quito 170527, EcuadorGrupo de Investigación de Energía, Minas y Agua (GIEMA), Facultad de Ciencias, Ingeniería y Construcción, Universidad UTE, Quito 170527, EcuadorThis study evaluates the environmental impact of earthquake-resistant structural design choices in high-risk seismic regions through life cycle assessment. As climate change concerns intensify, understanding the environmental implications of structural design decisions becomes crucial for sustainable construction. Examining a building in Quito, Ecuador, the research compares three structural systems: Optimized Framed System (OFS), Optimized Dual System (ODS), and Equivalent Framed System (EFS). The assessment quantifies emissions through a ‘cradle to gate’ approach, encompassing materials fabrication, transportation, and construction processes. The results demonstrate that the ODS achieves optimal seismic performance equal to the EFS while reducing emissions by 38%, with only 5% higher emissions than the OFS. The findings establish that effective earthquake-resistant design can simultaneously achieve structural resilience and environmental sustainability, providing valuable insights for sustainable structural engineering practices in seismic regions.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/14/12/3821earthquake-resistant designenvironmental impactlife cycle assessmentsustainable buildingsstory drift
spellingShingle Alvaro Bohorquez
Esteban Viteri
Edgar Rivera
Carlos Avila
Environmental Impact of Earthquake-Resistant Design: A Sustainable Approach to Structural Response in High Seismic Risk Regions
Buildings
earthquake-resistant design
environmental impact
life cycle assessment
sustainable buildings
story drift
title Environmental Impact of Earthquake-Resistant Design: A Sustainable Approach to Structural Response in High Seismic Risk Regions
title_full Environmental Impact of Earthquake-Resistant Design: A Sustainable Approach to Structural Response in High Seismic Risk Regions
title_fullStr Environmental Impact of Earthquake-Resistant Design: A Sustainable Approach to Structural Response in High Seismic Risk Regions
title_full_unstemmed Environmental Impact of Earthquake-Resistant Design: A Sustainable Approach to Structural Response in High Seismic Risk Regions
title_short Environmental Impact of Earthquake-Resistant Design: A Sustainable Approach to Structural Response in High Seismic Risk Regions
title_sort environmental impact of earthquake resistant design a sustainable approach to structural response in high seismic risk regions
topic earthquake-resistant design
environmental impact
life cycle assessment
sustainable buildings
story drift
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/14/12/3821
work_keys_str_mv AT alvarobohorquez environmentalimpactofearthquakeresistantdesignasustainableapproachtostructuralresponseinhighseismicriskregions
AT estebanviteri environmentalimpactofearthquakeresistantdesignasustainableapproachtostructuralresponseinhighseismicriskregions
AT edgarrivera environmentalimpactofearthquakeresistantdesignasustainableapproachtostructuralresponseinhighseismicriskregions
AT carlosavila environmentalimpactofearthquakeresistantdesignasustainableapproachtostructuralresponseinhighseismicriskregions