Foreword [Sustainable Construction, A Life Cycle Approach in Engineering]

Abstract

The COST Action C25 "Sustainability of Constructions - Integrated Approach to Life-time Structural Engineering11 is a network of scientists and researchers from 28 European countries and the EU Joint Research Centre in lspra. It was established to promote science-based developments in sustainable construction in Europe through research on life-time structural engineering. The Action is in its fourth year of activity. The Action concentrates on R&D issues that are fundamental for sustainable construction processes and technologies. These include methods to assess environmental, social and economic impacts of construction activities; methods to analyse eco-efficiency of materials, components, buildings and infrastructures; methods to integrate research approaches from various disciplines; and methods of structural design that incorporate holistic understanding of safety, eco-efficiency and sustainability.