Conference Theme and Scope

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 Global warming is driving substantial, and significant change in building design that is spawning novel construction technologies and the use of innovative new materials.  The 17th DBMC will focus on the impact of climate change and novel construction technologies on the durability and performance of building materials, components and systems.

• Evaluating the Durability of Building Materials and Components 
  • Mechanisms of failure, failure modes and reliability analysis of construction materials and components
  • Building pathology, building physics, moisture performance and hygrothermal simulation
  • Performance based Codes and standards focused on durability
  • Review of Design Service Life (DSL), Reference Service Life (RSL), Estimated Service Life (ESL), and Service Life Prediction (SLP) of buildings and components
  • Role of durability in the building design process
  • Case studies pertaining to durability issues and repair techniques—what worked, what did not work, and lessons learned
• Climate Change and Environmental Resilience
  • Adaptation of building design and retrofit to the effects of climate change
  • Thermal adaptation – resilient building design and retrofit strategy
  • Climate-induced degradation of building performance and deterioration of building components and materials
  • Historical monuments conservation in the context of climate change
  • Influence of atmospheric pollution on durability and performance
• Decarbonization, Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Other Environmental Impacts
  • Adopting a circular economy for building materials ─ recycle, re-use, and re-purpose
  • Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) - impacts of material life-span and durability
  • Deep retrofits to decarbonize residential and commercial buildings and implications in respect to their service life
  • Durability and performance of innovative, sustainable, low carbon, building materials and components
• Rapidly Developing Technologies in Construction
  • Integration of IoT/BIM in construction as it relates to durability of materials and components
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) for durability assessments, predictive maintenance and condition monitoring of structures
  • Durability and performance of 3D printed construction materials and components and off-site modular construction
  • Impacts of construction automation and robotics on durability
  • Optimizing the selection of construction materials in respect to cost, durability, long-term performance, and GHG emissions
  • Economics of maintenance and repair to achieve durability and service life of constructed assets
  • Integrating affordability and resiliency in buildings