Abstract

Over the last four decades, the concept of sustainability has evolved significantly, gaining prominence since the Brundtland report in 1987. Operating at the intersection of built and natural environments, Civil and Construction Engineering (CCE) projects and designs inherently impact the natural surroundings. In this context, the concept of sustainability serves not only as a guiding principle to mitigate depletion but also as a pathway to achieving balance among diverse societal needs so every creature can survive and thrive. Despite considerable efforts in this domain, the definition of sustainability within the CCE discipline remains elusive. Paradoxically, the popularity and vagueness of the term impede a broader application of sustainability in CCE, presenting a challenge to the effective integration of these principles into the field. This dissertation sought to thoroughly investigate the utilization of the term "˜sustainability' in both the teaching and literature of CCE. The exploration involved an in-depth examination of the prevalent attributes of the concept and their interconnectedness, coupled with an investigation into the practical challenges associated with its implementation. To systematically address these objectives, the research was organized into four distinct and interrelated steps: 1, investigating the current usage of the term "˜sustainability' in CCE disciplines through an innovative approach, namely corpus linguistics. 2, exploring the interrelationships among different attributes of the term using collocational network analysis. 3, examining the perceptions of the term by CCE faculty at an American university through qualitative analysis, namely grounded theory, to construct a definitional framework for sustainability in CCE. 4, exploring the challenges and motivations of implementing sustainability concept in Salt Lake City International Airport project through stakeholder engagement. Results reveal that civil engineers prioritize the measurement of sustainability, with a particular emphasis on the 'three pillars of sustainability' (environmental, social, and economic) and the dominant principles of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The dissertation proposes a framework for defining sustainability in CCE disciplines. It also suggests a paradigm shift, encouraging consideration of the three environments (built, social, and natural) instead of adhering to the less context-based paradigm of the 'three pillars of sustainability.' This research contributes to advancing sustainability discourse within CCE, addressing practical challenges, and proposing a nuanced perspective for effective implementation.

Degree

PhD

College and Department

Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering; Civil and Environmental Engineering

Rights

https://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/