How to Design Sustainable Structures

*Kazutoshi Fujihira*

### **Abstract**

Achieving sustainability is the ultimate goal-oriented challenge. Control science can be applied to all goal-oriented tasks. Accordingly, utilizing control science, we have been progressing in research on sustainability and sustainable design. Here this chapter illustrates the methodology for designing sustainable structures with two examples. In this context, "structures" include various city components, such as buildings, roads, and parks, as well as the whole city. First, this chapter illustrates the control system for promoting sustainable structure design. Next, it shows the process of producing and revising sustainable structure design guidelines. Based on this process, Section 4 demonstrates how to produce and revise sustainable housing design guidelines, with the completed guidelines' extracts. Moreover, Section 5 outlines a way of producing sustainable urban design guidelines. Designing the whole city needs extensive spatial planning; therefore, the guidelines consist of three parts: (1) development allowable areas, (2) spatial relationships among city components, (3) principles of designing city components. This methodology's characteristics include visualization of the whole picture for promoting sustainable design, user-friendliness, comprehensiveness, and adaptability to different and changing situations.

**Keywords:** sustainable structure, system control, design guidelines, housing design, urban design, sustainable design, climate change

#### **1. Introduction**

Cities are becoming increasingly related to environmental change and sustainability. Since 2007, more than half of the world's population has been living in urban areas; that share is projected to rise 60% by 2030 [1]. A vast number of buildings, transport systems, and other facilities occupy cities, where intense socio-economic activities are performed. On the other hand, there have been various urban problems, including sprawl, traffic congestion, environmental pollution, waste, unemployment, and crimes. World cities are responsible for up to 70% of harmful greenhouse gases [2]. Furthermore, cities lie near waters, such as seas and rivers; therefore, urban areas are at increased risk from flooding and sea-level rise caused by climate change.

Cities, as well as various city components, need to be designed and implemented toward sustainability. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations in 2015 also refer to cities, housing, and infrastructure. Typically, Goal 11 demands to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Meanwhile, Goal 9 requires people to build resilient infrastructure [3].

As the term "goal" indicates, achieving sustainability is the ultimate goaloriented challenge. The science of control can be applied to all goal-oriented tasks [4]. Besides, control science has produced remarkable results in many fields, particularly engineering [4]. Accordingly, utilizing control science, we have been progressing in research on sustainability and sustainable design.

Based on our accomplished research results, this chapter illustrates the methodology for designing sustainable structures with two examples. First, it shows the "control system for promoting sustainable structure design" and "process of producing and revising sustainable structure design guidelines." Following these basic schemes, Section 4 demonstrates a way of producing and revising sustainable housing design guidelines. Furthermore, Section 5 outlines how to produce sustainable urban design guidelines.

#### **2. Control system for promoting sustainable structure design**

The "control system for promoting sustainable structure design" is demonstrated in **Figure 1**. The upper and lower areas divided by the dotted line represent the "theoretical world" and the "practical world," respectively.

conditions for internal stability are "health," "safety," "mutual help," and "self-realization," which are essential for the humans' well-being [9].

for controlled variables [10, 11].

**Figure 2.**

*Model of sustainability [9].*

*How to Design Sustainable Structures*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95012*

"Controlled variables" mean the variables that relate to controlled objects and are necessary to be controlled for chiefly solving or preventing the problems or adapting to disturbances [10, 11]. On the other hand, "desired values" are extracted from the purpose of control, that is, sustainability. The control objective of this control system is to adjust the controlled variables to their desired values.

In the practical world, the subjects of control are "people involved in design." The subjects vary depending on types of structures. For example, if controlled objects are houses, people involved in design are homeowners, architects, designers, and homebuilders. Meanwhile, in case of the whole city, people involved include city planners, administrative staff, and representatives of the city residents.

In this control system, people involved in design adjust the controlled variables to their desired values, by using the "sustainable design guidelines" and "sustainability checklist." The design guidelines and checklist have nearly the same expressions, that is, elements, variables, and desired values. But the checklist is formed to smoothly compare measured or estimated variables to the desired values and search

When new structures are objects, information about the desired values first reaches "people involved in design" through the "sustainable design guidelines." People involved prepare "drawings and specifications," so that the variables of structure's elements can satisfy their desired values to the maximum. At significant phases in the design process, people involved in design check the drawings and

In the case where objects are existing structures, the design process starts with "inspection" on the structure as an object. Referring to the "sustainability checklist," the "people involved in design" measure or estimate each element's variables of that structure. After finishing the inspection, the people involved mostly prepare "drawings and specifications" for improvement, so that controlled variables meet

**3. Process of producing and revising sustainable structure design**

figure is the theoretical world; the lower area is the practical world.

The process of producing and revising the sustainable structure design guidelines and sustainability checklist is demonstrated in **Figure 3**. The upper area of the

specifications by seeing the "sustainability checklist" [10, 11].

their desired values to full potential [10, 11].

**guidelines**

**279**

In this control system, "controlled objects" are structures, which include both new and existing structures. In this context, "structures" include various city components, such as houses, other buildings, roads, and parks, as well as the whole city.

"Disturbances" mean harmful influences on controlled objects resulting from environmental, social, or economic problems. Instances of the disturbances are adverse effects due to environmental pollution and a variety of impacts caused by climate change. The course from "disturbances" to "sustainability" means "adaptation." This course has been added, on the basis of the current scientific understanding that achieving sustainability also needs adaptation measures to climate change impacts [5–8].

The purpose of control is the accomplishment of "sustainability." The model of sustainability (**Figure 2**) demonstrates that sustainability requires both fundamental stability and internal stability, to achieve the long-term well-being of all humankind, within the finite global environment and natural resources [9]. Fundamental stability means environmental stability and a stable supply of necessary goods; the conditions for fundamental stability are "environmental preservation" and "sustainable use of natural resources" [9]. Meanwhile, internal stability is social and economic stability; the

**Figure 1.** *Control system for promoting sustainable structure design.*

**Figure 2.** *Model of sustainability [9].*

[4]. Besides, control science has produced remarkable results in many fields, particularly engineering [4]. Accordingly, utilizing control science, we have been

Based on our accomplished research results, this chapter illustrates the methodology for designing sustainable structures with two examples. First, it shows the "control system for promoting sustainable structure design" and "process of producing and revising sustainable structure design guidelines." Following these basic schemes, Section 4 demonstrates a way of producing and revising sustainable housing design guidelines. Furthermore, Section 5 outlines how to produce

progressing in research on sustainability and sustainable design.

**2. Control system for promoting sustainable structure design**

the "theoretical world" and the "practical world," respectively.

The "control system for promoting sustainable structure design" is demonstrated in **Figure 1**. The upper and lower areas divided by the dotted line represent

In this control system, "controlled objects" are structures, which include both new and existing structures. In this context, "structures" include various city components, such as houses, other buildings, roads, and parks, as well as the whole city. "Disturbances" mean harmful influences on controlled objects resulting from environmental, social, or economic problems. Instances of the disturbances are adverse effects due to environmental pollution and a variety of impacts caused by climate change. The course from "disturbances" to "sustainability" means "adaptation." This course has been added, on the basis of the current scientific understanding that achieving sustainability also needs adaptation measures to climate change impacts [5–8]. The purpose of control is the accomplishment of "sustainability." The model of sustainability (**Figure 2**) demonstrates that sustainability requires both fundamental stability and internal stability, to achieve the long-term well-being of all humankind, within the finite global environment and natural resources [9]. Fundamental stability means environmental stability and a stable supply of necessary goods; the conditions for fundamental stability are "environmental preservation" and "sustainable use of natural resources" [9]. Meanwhile, internal stability is social and economic stability; the

sustainable urban design guidelines.

*Environmental Issues and Sustainable Development*

**Figure 1.**

**278**

*Control system for promoting sustainable structure design.*

conditions for internal stability are "health," "safety," "mutual help," and "self-realization," which are essential for the humans' well-being [9].

"Controlled variables" mean the variables that relate to controlled objects and are necessary to be controlled for chiefly solving or preventing the problems or adapting to disturbances [10, 11]. On the other hand, "desired values" are extracted from the purpose of control, that is, sustainability. The control objective of this control system is to adjust the controlled variables to their desired values.

In the practical world, the subjects of control are "people involved in design." The subjects vary depending on types of structures. For example, if controlled objects are houses, people involved in design are homeowners, architects, designers, and homebuilders. Meanwhile, in case of the whole city, people involved include city planners, administrative staff, and representatives of the city residents.

In this control system, people involved in design adjust the controlled variables to their desired values, by using the "sustainable design guidelines" and "sustainability checklist." The design guidelines and checklist have nearly the same expressions, that is, elements, variables, and desired values. But the checklist is formed to smoothly compare measured or estimated variables to the desired values and search for controlled variables [10, 11].

When new structures are objects, information about the desired values first reaches "people involved in design" through the "sustainable design guidelines." People involved prepare "drawings and specifications," so that the variables of structure's elements can satisfy their desired values to the maximum. At significant phases in the design process, people involved in design check the drawings and specifications by seeing the "sustainability checklist" [10, 11].

In the case where objects are existing structures, the design process starts with "inspection" on the structure as an object. Referring to the "sustainability checklist," the "people involved in design" measure or estimate each element's variables of that structure. After finishing the inspection, the people involved mostly prepare "drawings and specifications" for improvement, so that controlled variables meet their desired values to full potential [10, 11].
