Development of LCA Calculator to support community infrastructure co-design
Development of LCA Calculator to support community infrastructure co-design
复制标题
DOI：
10.1007/s11367-018-1492-2
复制
发表时间：
2019-07-01
影响因子：
4.8
通讯作者：
Bell, Sarah
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Borrion, Aiduan;Matsushita, Jun;Bell, Sarah
目的ca工具越来越多地用于支持决策制定。然而，当前这一代工具主要针对具有重要工业和环境过程背景的用户。本文提出了一种开发LCA计算器的新方法，该方法将社区成员的输入嵌入到协同设计过程中。它展示了如何通过考虑最终用户的观点来开发工程工具，并用于交流基础设施协同设计中的系统思维。方法LCA计算器的开发过程是通过共同设计过程中社区参与的结果来进行的。该方法包括四个部分，包括适当技术选择的水平扫描、LCA建模、LCA计算器的开发以及与选定案例研究社区的居民进行计算器的试点测试。案例研究社区是伦敦市中心一个社会住宅小区的居民。该地产共有123套公寓，分布在三个低层建筑中，有共享的花园和庭院。以堆肥、雨水收集和城市粮食种植三种技术方案为例，说明了LCA方法，并对计算器的开发进行了测试。结果和讨论本项目开发的计算器突破了专家用户的界限，为更广泛的决策者开发了新一代的LCA工具。作为协同设计过程的一部分，LCA结果在研讨会上使用LCA计算器进行交流。计算器的可视化语言、技术选项的信息表以及社区成员在计算器开发过程中的参与支持了沟通过程。计算器为可持续设计的讨论提供了坚实的基础。它为参与者提供了宝贵的见解，了解不同设计选择的物料流规模，例如一个月产生的废物量或凸起床的灌溉要求以及这些选择对环境的影响。结论已经开发了一个原型版本的LCA计算器软件工具，可以对工程系统的概念设计进行快速评估。LCA计算器在一个社区研讨会上成功地进行了测试，使工程设计选择与资源和环境影响之间的联系更加清晰。计算器促进了社区成员和基础设施设计师之间的双向交流，将最终用户的观点嵌入到他们使用的基础设施的设计和实施中，同时考虑到技术和材料选择的生命周期影响。
PurposeLCA tools are increasingly used to support decision making. However, the current generation of tools is mainly targeted at users with significant background in industrial and environmental processes. This paper presents a novel process of developing the LCA Calculator with inputs from community members embedded in a co-design process. It demonstrates how engineering tools can be developed by considering end-user perspectives and used to communicate systems thinking in infrastructure co-design.MethodsThe process of the LCA Calculator development was informed by the outcomes of community engagement through the co-design process. The method consists of four parts including horizon scanning of suitable technology options, LCA modelling, development of the LCA Calculator and pilot testing of the Calculator with residents from the selected case study community. The case study community are residents of a social housing estate in central London. The estate has a total of 123 flats arranged in three low-rise blocks with shared gardens and courtyards. Three technology optionswormery composting, rainwater harvesting and urban food growingwere used to illustrate the LCA methods and test the Calculator development.Results and discussionThe Calculator developed in this project pushes the boundaries beyond expert users to develop a new generation of LCA tools for a wider range of decision makers. The LCA results were communicated using the LCA Calculator in a workshop as part of the co-design process. The communication process was supported by the visual language of the Calculator, information sheets of the technology options and community members' involvement in the process of the Calculator development. The Calculator provided a solid base on which sustainable design discussions could happen. It provided to the participants valuable insights into the scale of material flow given different design choicessuch as the amount of waste generated over a month or the irrigation requirements of a raised bedand environmental impacts of these options.ConclusionsA prototype version of an LCA Calculator software tool has been developed to enable rapid assessment of conceptual design of engineering systems. The LCA Calculator was successfully tested at a community workshop, enabling clear engagement between engineering design choices and resource and environmental impacts. The Calculator facilitated a two-way exchange between community members and infrastructure designers that embeds end-user perspectives in the design and implementation of the infrastructure they use, taking into account lifecycle impacts of technology and material options.