The recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico underscores our obligation as engineers to improve the planet, and sustainable design and practices are contributions we can make. Owners will place varying degrees of importance on sustainability versus initial construction cost; however, structural engineers can educate themselves on sustainability factors that impact building structures and investigate the technologies that are available to help engineers design with sustainability in mind.

There is currently a lack of available technology that would focus on helping structural engineers assess various sustainable aspects of their designs. However, there may be opportunities to use current technology in new ways to help with process. In addition, current hot topics such as BIM and IPD may also be able to help promote sustainability from the engineering side.

Let’s explore how current technology might be able to be used in a new way to look at sustainable design, considering a three-story steel framed office building. For the “infill” beams, there are two options: a W16x26 with no camber or a W14x22 with 1 inch of camber. Which one is least expensive? Which option is better from a sustainability perspective? When comparing the two options for raw material and energy consumption, which one is better for the environment? How much energy is used for the additional handling to move the W14x22 to camber it as well as the cambering process itself?

In many structural engineering programs, there are tools available that show the total number and length of different member sizes that are used throughout the building. These structural takeoffs can be used to help group together like beams and identify those locations where a beam size is used only one time. If these tools have reports that can be exported to Excel, then additional columns can be added to help assess items that would contribute to sustainable design.

For structural engineers using The RAM Structural System, there is a free tool called “RAM Estimator” that was originally developed together with AISC to provide more detailed quantity information for quickly putting together cost estimates. While it was not designed specifically for assessing sustainability factors, because this tool has steel tonnages, number of cambered beams, and many other variables, it may be possible to use it to assess certain sustainability aspects. For further information on RAM Estimator and to download a copy, please visit www.findyourtechnology.com and click on “Software News.”

In addition to using software in new ways to help assess sustainable design, BIM and sustainability can also be linked. By implementing BIM processes on projects, there is a much greater chance that others will be able to utilize these BIM models to assist in various analyses related to sustainability down the line. By working in a more collaborative environment through BIM where all disciplines are a part of the BIM process, more opportunities exist to utilize various technology tools that can assist in sustainability assessments.

One way BIM technology is positively impacting sustainability is by enabling contractors to provide more shop fabrication of systems instead of field fabrication. This is dramatically reducing waste in the field. One building owner realized an approximate 50 percent reduction in trash dumpsters used on a project where BIM was implemented. This was due to the decrease in waste at the project site with increased shop fabrication. This not only helped the environment, but it saved the owner significant cost.

BIM technology is also helping to reduce the amount of paper and shipping (boxes) related to shop drawing creation and review. Many of the multiple sets of paper drawings have been eliminated or minimized through the use of current technology. For a more detailed discussion of various levels of benefits in this process for structural engineers, our article “I’ll volunteer to review the shop drawings,” in the February 2010 issue of MSC (www.modernsteel.com).

As structural engineers, we now have sustainability variables to consider in our evaluation of the best solutions to our problems. While information from current programs can be used, additional technology tools that will allow structural engineers to more quickly and easily evaluate factors that influence sustainability are likely to emerge over time. Currently, BIM processes are allowing for more information to be contained in models and therefore used downstream by others for sustainability analyses. Once again, this goes to show that the “only thing constant is change.”

Our next article will focus on the 4th step of the SERP process.

Lisa Willard, P.E., and Brian Quinn, P.E., are with SE Solutions, LLC — a firm dedicated to helping match top notch structural engineers with great companies and unique opportunities. They formerly worked for a combined 21 years at RAM International/Bentley Systems and can be reached at lisa.willard@findyourengineer.com or 805-482-8436 and brian.quinn@findyourengineer.com or 616-546-9420, respectively.