The real price - Holistic cost-efficiency considerations in design and construction of infrastructure projects

Oliver Fischer, Casimir Katz, Alexander Putz, Friedrich Schneider, Walter Streit, Uwe Willberg

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The present paper focuses on holistic sustainability evaluations for infrastructure measures and the related engineering structures. Following a brief overview on the current state of development of rating concepts both in the building and infrastructure sector, general options for assessing the overall sustainability are discussed and some major infrastructure-specific characteristics regarding the holistic performance are explained. Since indirect (external) effects often play an important role in the assessment of infrastructure measures, the respective influence on the overall performance and the interrelation between direct and indirect costs are exemplarily discussed by means of three examples (road infrastructure). Hereby, it is shown that the indirect costs easily may reach a level being in the range of the construction costs of the entire project and that an initial additional investment during construction in high-quality structural members and components is being typically paid off by a reduced maintenance effort, even if the external effects are not included.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationLarge Structures and Infrastructures for Environmentally Constrained and Urbanised Areas
PublisherInternational Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE)
Pages236-237
Number of pages2
ISBN (Electronic)9783857481222
StatePublished - 2010
Event34th International Symposium on Bridge and Structural Engineering: Large Structures and Infrastructures for Environmentally Constrained and Urbanised Areas - Venice, Italy
Duration: 22 Sep 201024 Sep 2010

Publication series

NameLarge Structures and Infrastructures for Environmentally Constrained and Urbanised Areas

Conference

Conference34th International Symposium on Bridge and Structural Engineering: Large Structures and Infrastructures for Environmentally Constrained and Urbanised Areas
Country/TerritoryItaly
CityVenice
Period22/09/1024/09/10

Keywords

  • Durability
  • Environmental performance
  • External effects
  • Holistic assessment
  • Indirect costs
  • Infrastructure
  • Maintenance costs
  • Robustness
  • Structures
  • Sustainability

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