Sustainability in life-cycle structural engineering: Review

Although numerous studies have investigated sustainability in construction engineering focusing on eco-efficiency factors, it is crucial to assess sustainability across the entire life-cycle of buildings, bridges and other infrastructure facilities, by taking into account the time-variant structural performance while incorporating environmental, economic and social considerations. Structures and infrastructure systems are exposed to natural and human-made hazards, whose potential impact is exacerbated by the detrimental effects of ageing and structural deterioration processes worsened by climate change, reducing in this way the operational service life with inherent consequences on sustainability. This review paper promotes the central role of structural engineering in the sustainability implementation process and emphasises the importance of integrating sustainability with resilience, risk, reliability and safety, throughout the life-cycle of structures and infrastructure systems. The various stages of a structure's life-cycle - material selection, design, construction, operation, maintenance, decommissioning, dismantling, waste management, recycle and/or reuse - are examined highlighting how sustainability can be incorporated at each phase to mitigate adverse impacts and improve efficiency. Metrics, tools and rating systems for quantifying sustainability are also discussed, addressing challenges in adopting sustainable practices. Finally, implications and future research directions are provided to advance sustainable constructions and infrastructure systems under a life-cycle perspective.