1. State of the art methodologies for the estimation of fire costs in buildings to support cost–benefit analysisIkwulono David Unobe, Andrea Lucherini, Shuna Ni, Thomas Gernay, Ranjit Kumar Chaudhary, Ruben Van Coile, 2024, review article Abstract: Fires can lead to costly building damage as well as loss of lives and injuries. Installed to protect buildings from fire, or to limit the damage from such outbreaks, fire protection measures are a common feature in buildings. However, these features come at a cost. Although quite ubiquitous in buildings, the value of these features to private individuals and to society is not fully understood. To understand their value, a cost benefit analysis detailing the costs and benefits of fire protection measures is needed. Carrying out such an analysis requires methods for computing both the cost of these fire protection measures, and losses from fires (including both direct and indirect losses). This study outlines methodologies for evaluating those costs and losses. An exhaustive collection of available data necessary for estimating both costs and losses is presented. Several limitations in current methodologies and data constraints were identified, with recommendations proposed to address these shortcomings. Relevant sections of a study by the authors that refines fire protection cost estimation at national and sub-national levels are emphasized, including updated building categories, guidance on computing multipliers, and detailed cost calculation methods for installation and maintenance costs. The calculation uses regularly updated U.S. Census Bureau construction data, ensuring timely multiplier updates. The insights and suggestions presented in this study will ultimately refine the process of selecting fire protection strategies that maximize the net benefit of fire protection measures for both private stakeholders and society at large.
Keywords: fire protection measures, cost of fire protection, losses from fire, cost benefit analysis, installation costs, maintenance costs
Published in DiRROS: 18.04.2024; Views: 83; Downloads: 12
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2. Biorefining twin transition : digitalisation for bio-based chemicals/materials - discovery, design and optimisationMatej Žula, Miha Grilc, Andrii Kostyniuk, Giorgio Tofani, Edita Jasiukaityte, Tina Ročnik, Ramesh Kumar Chowdari, Žan Lavrič, Janvit Teržan, Brigita Hočevar, Ana Jakob, Emilija Rakić, Brett Pomeroy, Miša Mojca Cajnko, Filipa A. Vicente, Dana Marinič, Ana Oberlintner, Uroš Novak, Davide Benedetto Tiz, Matej Huš, Blaž Likozar, 2023, original scientific article Published in DiRROS: 10.01.2024; Views: 163; Downloads: 78
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3. Coastal flood risk assessment : an approach to accurately map flooding through national registry-reported eventsErik Kralj, Peter Kumer, Cécil J. W. Meulenberg, 2023, original scientific article Keywords: sea flood prediction, flooding maps, climate change resilience, natural disaster registry, coastal inundation, flood-prone areas
Published in DiRROS: 08.12.2023; Views: 233; Downloads: 105
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4. Cost-benefit analysis of fire protection in buildings : application of a present net value approachThomas Gernay, Shuna Ni, David Unobe, Andrea Lucherini, Ranjit Kumar Chaudhary, Ruben Van Coile, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: In fire safety engineering, cost–benefit analysis provides a systematic method to assess whether the projected benefits from a fire safety measure outweigh its costs. However, there remains a wide discrepancy between methods used in the field for cost–benefit analysis, as well as a lack of quantitative data on the costs and economic impact of fire protection in buildings. In a recent research project, a reference methodology was proposed based on Present Net Value evaluation and on a combination of specialized construction database, fire statistics, and numerical modeling for estimation of the cost components. This paper presents the application of the methodology to four case studies. The case studies allow describing the methodology, the collection of data, fire statistics, and loss estimation, as well as illustrating how the methodology can support decision-making when multiple alternatives are compared. Under the assumptions adopted for the single-family house and the residential timber building case studies, it is found that for every 1\$, invested in sprinklers, \$1.06 is saved. This benefit–cost ratio increases with increasing valuation of indirect losses and statistical value of life. Sensitivity analyses are provided to explore the robustness of the investment recommendations. The results of evaluations, adapted from the presented case studies with project-specific inputs, can support decision making for policy makers, insurance companies, and individual building owners.
Keywords: fire safety, cost-benefit analysis, fire protection, fire statistics, sprinklers, compartmentation
Published in DiRROS: 29.11.2023; Views: 252; Downloads: 32
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5. Cost-benefit analysis in fire safety engineering : state-of-the-art and reference methodologyRuben Van Coile, Andrea Lucherini, Ranjit Kumar Chaudhary, Shuna Ni, David Unobe, Thomas Gernay, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Cost-effectiveness is a key consideration within fire safety engineering. Currently, different approaches are being applied in literature. These approaches differ in how cost-effectiveness is evaluated, which costs are considered, and how the preferred design solution is defined. Recognizing this issue, the Fire Protection Research Foundation enrolled an international team of researchers, supported by a broad stakeholder panel, to develop a reference methodology. In this paper, this reference methodology for cost-benefit analysis in fire safety engineering is presented following an extensive literature review. The methodology clarifies the minimum requirements for assessing cost-effectiveness, and highlights that only a present net value evaluation can be used to compare design alternatives. Commonly used cost-benefit ratios should only be used when deciding on the effectiveness of a single package of fire safety measures. An illustrative case study demonstrates the application of the meth- odology and shows how designs based on cost-benefit ratios can be sub-optimal when evaluating multiple possible fire safety measures.
Keywords: cost-benefit analysis, fire safety, investment, maintenance, loss, statistics, reliability
Published in DiRROS: 23.10.2023; Views: 327; Downloads: 70
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6. Photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide to methanol : carbonaceous materials, kinetics, industrial feasibility, and future directionsGanji Parameswaram, Ramesh Kumar Chowdari, Blaž Likozar, 2023, review article Keywords: alcohols, catalysts, oxides, photocatalysis, two dimensional materials
Published in DiRROS: 23.06.2023; Views: 313; Downloads: 151
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7. Prediction of actual from climatic precipitation with data collected from northern Poland : a statistical approachJacek Barańczuk, Martina Zeleňáková, Hany F. Abd-Elhamid, Katarzyna Barańczuk, Salem S. Gharbia, Peter Blišťan, Cécil J. W. Meulenberg, Peter Kumer, Włodzimierz Golus, Maciej Markowski, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Water is a basic element of the natural environment and the most important component in human water management. Rainfall is the main source of water. Therefore, determining the amount of precipitation reaching the ground using sensors is crucial information. Precise precipitation data are necessary for better modeling quality, as the observation data from weather stations are used as basics for weather model assessment. The authors compared precipitation from the Hellmann rain gauge (climatic precipitation, 1.0 m above the ground surface) measured throughout the year and the GGI 3000 rain gauge (actual precipitation on the ground level) measured from April to October. Measurement sequences from the years 2011–2020 were considered. The data for analysis were obtained from a weather station located in northern Poland. The authors analyzed the relationships between data from the two sensors. A comparative study showed that the measurements of actual precipitation are higher and there are strong relationships between actual and climatic rainfall (r = 0.99). Using the introduced coefficient it is possible to determine the full–year actual precipitation with high probability, taking into account the precipitation with a correction from the winter half-year and the actual precipitation from the summer half-year, which is of great importance in the calculation of the water balance.
Keywords: natural environment, climate change, precipitation, prediction, statistics, analysis, Poland
Published in DiRROS: 25.01.2023; Views: 377; Downloads: 233
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8. Understanding interdisciplinarity through Adriatic maricultures and climate change adaptation : Elektronski virCécil J. W. Meulenberg, Shé Mackenzie Hawke, Irina Moira Cavaion, Peter Kumer, Blaž Lenarčič, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: The consequences of accelerating climate change for land and sea biodiversity require innovative approaches to research. Interdisciplinary re-search serves to connect natural science, socialsciences and humanities, tech-nology, and engineering, as well as welcoming citizen scientists into the re-search environment. Interdisciplinarity is part of a developing innovative ap-proach to research that emphasizes co-evolution of traditional sciences, with citizen science and participatory engagement in the realisation of research goals and the promotion of climate change mitigation strategies. In this article, through the example of shellfish maricultures we illustrate interdisciplinarity, particularlydemonstrating how marine biology, health and well-being, social science and cultural geography come together at the interface between nature, culture, and climate change mitigation strategies.
Keywords: interdisciplinarity, maricultures, eco-linguistics, climate change, citizen science, ecosystem services
Published in DiRROS: 28.09.2022; Views: 545; Downloads: 278
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