Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering (CAEE) doctoral student Kimberlee Marcellus was awarded a Drexel International Travel Award (ITA) to present her research at the IACLCCE 2012 - Third International Symposium on Life-Cycle Civil Engineering in Vienna, Austria, in October 2012. This IALCCE Symposium provided a forum for researchers, engineers and industry professionals to collectively exchange ideas about life cycle engineering as it pertains to civil engineering. “Life-cycle civil engineering relates to the design, inspection, monitoring, assessment, maintenance and rehabilitation of civil engineering structures in order to effectively manage the function of these structures throughout their lifetime”(IALCCE 2012). This conference addressed many aspects of life cycle engineering from the design phase to the end of life for many different structures such as buildings, dams, and roadways, focusing on improving the sustainability, safety, life span, and efficiency of such structures.
More than 500 abstracts from 52 countries were submitted for this conference and approximately 60 percent were accepted. Kim presented a paper entitled: Utilizing GIS as a geospatial tool to inventory LEED Certified Buildings and Construction and Demolition (C&D) Waste Flows in the United States. This paper is in the field of recycling construction and demolition waste flows in Industrial Ecology. Geospatial analysis is used to inventory sustainable buildings in Pennsylvania and track construction material stock. A Philadelphia region material flow analysis was conducted and then incorporated in the study to better understand material exchange and identify opportunities for recycling C&D waste. Material flow analysis of region-specific C&D waste stocks and flows is then incorporated to understand material exchange and opportunities for recycling C&D waste. It has been found that there are ample resources available in C&D waste in Philadelphia; with potential to be diverted from the solid waste landfills and to be reused or recycled in the construction material loop, thus improving material recycle efficiency.
Kim’s paper was published in the conference proceedings and she plans to expand this work and submit it to a journal as well as look for additional opportunities to present this work at future symposiums. Thankful for this travel award, Kim notes that “this experience has enriched my research and taken my academic career to the next level.” Kim is advised by Dr. Patricia Gallagher and Dr. Sabrina Spatari.
The Drexel International Travel Award (ITA) is a great opportunity for graduate students (and faculty) to travel internationally to present their research. More information on the ITA can be found at the Office of International Programs website.