title: A web-based Decision Support System for the optimal management of construction and demolition waste.
abstract: Wastes from construction activities constitute nowadays the largest by quantity fraction of solid wastes in urban areas. In addition, it is widely accepted that the particular waste stream contains hazardous materials, such as insulating materials, plastic frames of doors, windows, etc. Their uncontrolled disposal result to long-term pollution costs, resource overuse and wasted energy. Within the framework of the DEWAM project, a web-based Decision Support System (DSS) application - namely DeconRCM - has been developed, aiming towards the identification of the optimal construction and demolition waste (CDW) management strategy that minimises end-of-life costs and maximises the recovery of salvaged building materials. This paper addresses both technical and functional structure of the developed web-based application. The web-based DSS provides an accurate estimation of the generated CDW quantities of twenty-one different waste streams (e.g. concrete, bricks, glass, etc.) for four different types of buildings (residential, office, commercial and industrial). With the use of mathematical programming, the DeconRCM provides also the user with the optimal end-of-life management alternative, taking into consideration both economic and environmental criteria. The DSS's capabilities are illustrated through a real world case study of a typical five floor apartment building in Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Heat Transfer and Environmental Engineering, Aristotle University Thessaloniki, Box 483, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece. gbanias@aix.meng.auth.gr
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Banias
authors.forename: Ch
authors.initials: Ch
authors.lastname: Achillas
authors.forename: Ch
authors.initials: Ch
authors.lastname: Vlachokostas
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Moussiopoulos
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Papaioannou
mesh_terms: D003252:Construction Materials; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D006115:Greece; D020407:Internet; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D012984:Software; D018505:Waste Management / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D014866:Waste Products / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014866:Waste Products