Minimising Cement in Construction (MICON)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Engineering
Abstract
If cement production were a country, it would be the 3rd largest CO2 emitter in the world. In just two hundred years it has become the second most consumed material on the planet after water. Cement is vital as a component in concrete, with which we build the cities and infrastructure that support economic development. Yet we now also know that we design extremely inefficient structures, using much more concrete than is needed to satisfy our building design codes. This travel grant will address demand reduction, as a key component of reducing the climate impact of concrete. Through better design practice, cultural change, and learning from leading international research and industry partners working in this field, the grant aims to develop a global network of funding proposals wherein we can collectively tackle our need to use less concrete.
People |
ORCID iD |
| John Orr (Principal Investigator) |
| Description | The award has uncovered global differences in approaches and readiness with respect to construction related embodied carbon. The findings show the challenges are largely the same, but the methods of dealing with them differ. We aim to uncover commonalities between countries, to help understand the quickest and most cost effective ways to reduce embodied carbon. The grant covered both developed and developing countries, and looks at the different challenges that each faces. |
| Exploitation Route | one aim of the grant was to develop international collaborations, this has been achieved. the next step is to realise these in funding applications that link up centres of excellence around the world. |
| Sectors | Construction |
| Description | MICON included presentations of work completed in ACORN, MEICON, and other work by Dr Orr. These presentations are helping shape local practice with respect to embodied carbon. The MICON grant will also produce a report to be circulated internationally on the various workshops and presentations held, which we hope will be used by local academics and practitioners to form their own research grants and identify key areas to work on specifically related to embodied carbon in construction materials. The findings will also inform Dr Orr's future grant submissions, from which he now has a wide base of international collaborators to include. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
| Sector | Construction |
| Impact Types | Economic Policy & public services |
| Description | Korean Version of embodied carbon guide |
| Geographic Reach | Asia |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Reducing embodied carbon |
| Description | MICON research meetings |
| Organisation | Arup Group |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | I have listed this under "Arup Group" for ease - the list of partners is too long to actually enter in the ResearchFish system, so I provide these below. As part of the MICON project, research meetings / collaborative visits were undertaken around the world: Ben Mohsen, Heidelberg Cement, Germany Billy Boshoff, University of Pretoria, South Africa Bryan Perry, Afrisam, South Africa Peramas Wajananawat - SCG Cement, Thailand Kien Hoang, Arup Vietnam Taiheiyo Cement, Tokyo, Japan Evan Bentz, University of Toronto, Canada Abdu Lotfy, Holcim (Toronto), Canada Matt Humphries, Arup Toronto Mark West, Canada John Oschendorf, MIT, USA Bill Baker, Chicago, USA WONG, WAI FANG, TARUC, Malaysia Arup, Seoul, South Korea. Arup, Tokyo, Japan WSP, Melbourne, Australia Laing O'Rourke, Sydney, Australia Alvaro Lorenz, VCimentos, Mexico Each visit was to identify key novel techniques being developed, key collaborative themes, and funding routes for a proposal that would unite work in the UK with that being undertaken overseas, with the primary goal of tackling climate emergency. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The purpose of each meeting was to: 1) work with local cement and structural engineering communities to learn theoretical developments in the latest techniques relating to demand reduction strategies. This will allow discussion on themes of common interests and perspectives on the future of cement. 2) draw on connections made during each visit, and bring together key research institutes, along with industrial partners, to develop ideas for possible research projects that are locally relevant and have a climate emergency focus. Output: statement of intent outlining high level research ambition and possible funding routes |
| Impact | N/A |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Global series of presentations |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Workshop/Presentation on MICON project: 10 January 2023 Heidelberg Materials, Germany Design for Zero 17 January 2023 IStructE Cape Town Minimising Energy in Construction 25 January 2023 IStructE Johannesburg Minimising Energy in Construction 13 April 2023 Arup Vietnam Design for Zero 18 April 2023 TARUC Kuala Lumpur Design for Zero 2 May 2023 Arup Seoul Design for Zero 17 May 2023 Arup Tokyo Design for Zero 22 May 2023 Taiheiyo Cement, Tokyo Design for Zero 23 May 2023 Taisei Tokyo Design for Zero 26 June 2023 Holcim, Lyon Net zero construction 13 July 2023 WSP Melbourne Design for Zero 18 July 2023 Laing O'Rourke, Sydney Design for Zero 4 August 2023 Amsterdam Design for Zero 8 August 2023 University of Toronto Design for Zero 9 August 2023 LafargeHolcim Toronto Design for Zero 10 August 2023 Arup Toronto Design for Zero 17 August 2023 SOM Chicago Design for Zero 29 September 2023 Neville Centre, UK Concrete Zero |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |