Alvanchi, A; Bajalan, Z and Iravani, P (2021) Emission assessment of alternative dam structure types, a novel approach to consider in new dam projects. Construction Innovation, 21(2), pp. 203-217. ISSN 1471-4175
Abstract
Dams require high-volume of construction materials and operations over the life cycle. This paper aims to select a proper type of dam structure that can significantly contribute to the sustainability of dam projects. This research proposes a complementary fuel consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emission assessment method for the alternate dam structure types to assist decision-makers in selecting sustainable choices. Related equations are developed for two common earthen and rock-fill dam structures types in Iran. These equations are then successfully applied to two real dam project cases where the significance of the achieved results are assessed and discussed. The achieved results of the case studies demonstrate a high deviation of up to 41.3% in CO2 emissions comparing alternate dam structure scenarios of earthen and rock-fill dam structures. This high deviation represents an important potential for CO2 emission reduction considering the high volume of the emission in large dam projects. The life cycle emission assessment of the alternate dam structures, proposed in this research as a novel complementary factor, can be used in the decision-making process of dam projects. The results in this research identify high potential sustainability improvement of dam projects as a result of the proposed method.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | carbon dioxide emission; dam construction; energy consumption; infrastructure; life cycle assessment; life-cycle analysis; materials; sustainability; green buildings |
| Index terms: | decision-making process, fuel consumption, dam project, life cycle assessment, green building, carbon dioxide, deviation, dam structure, life cycle, case study, construction material, CO2 emissions, carbon dioxide emission, energy consumption, dam construction |
| Subjects: | infrastructure and transport systems, value management, decision analysis, design practice, data collection methods, infrastructure engineering, structural engineering, building materials, climate science, financial and cost management, energy systems, air quality, environmental impact |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Risk Management, Design Practice, Sustainability, Engineering Principles, Project Management, Cost Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCE |
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