Author(s)

IGNACIO J. NAVARRO, JOSÉ V. MARTÍ, VÍCTOR YEPES

Abstract

Since the Paris Agreement was established, great interest has arisen in evaluating the sustainability performance of our structures along with their life cycles. The remarkable economic expenses, the important environmental impacts associated with the construction sector, and the great social benefits that might be derived from a well-designed infrastructure system have put the design of essential infrastructures in the spotlight of many researchers. One of today’s main challenges is the derivation of adequate sustainability indicators that aid designers when deciding on the most sustainable design alternative. The sustainability performance of infrastructures is based on various indicators that are often conflicting given their different nature. Consequently, the obtention of such indicators usually needs to be addressed using multi-criteria decision-making methods. The present communication shows the analytic hierarchy process (ANP) for the sustainability assessment of a concrete bridge exposed to a coastal environment, involving several decision-makers. A set of nine quantitative criteria, covering the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of sustainability, has been considered here.

Keywords

life cycle assessment, sustainability, sustainable design, bridges, analytic network process, multi-criteria decision-making, group