A Transformed Approach for Benchmarking the Performance of ‘Sustainable’ Infrastructure
Environmental sustainability priorities for infrastructure development have traditionally focused on aspects including minimising negative impacts in areas such as water and air quality, erosion control, biodiversity and waste management, both in compliance and voluntary frameworks. Associated proje...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Resources |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/12/3/37 |
| _version_ | 1797609111202824192 |
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| author | Samantha Hayes Cheryl Desha Savindi Caldera Mark Gibbs |
| author_facet | Samantha Hayes Cheryl Desha Savindi Caldera Mark Gibbs |
| author_sort | Samantha Hayes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Environmental sustainability priorities for infrastructure development have traditionally focused on aspects including minimising negative impacts in areas such as water and air quality, erosion control, biodiversity and waste management, both in compliance and voluntary frameworks. Associated project performance priorities have focused on avoiding damage beyond ‘pre-project baselines’. In contrast, ‘best practice’ regenerative performance requires infrastructure project outcomes that not only avoid damage but contribute positively to social and ecological systems. For such best practice to become mainstream, industry frameworks, standards and rating schemes must evolve. However, there is limited knowledge regarding ‘how’ regenerative performance could be encouraged as a business-as-usual infrastructure expectation. This paper therefore explores the potential for a benchmarking methodology called Ecological Performance Standards (EPS) as a transformed approach to facilitate the mainstreaming of regenerative performance expectations. Three research workshops (Phoenix, AZ, USA; Sydney and Brisbane, Australia) were undertaken to investigate the potential for this methodology in infrastructure applications. Mapping was undertaken to align the EPS process steps with associated infrastructure lifecycle phases. Research findings include the synthesis of key opportunities for capturing EPS within infrastructure sustainability rating schemes to leverage current efforts and pivot towards regenerative performance. The authors present a comprehensive matrix mapping 18 ecosystem services against the Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) Rating Scheme credits and categories, summarising where ecosystem services are addressed within the current scheme. The authors conclude the presence of significant opportunities for a new ‘business-as-usual’ for infrastructure through the integration of regenerative performance benchmarking. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:56:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-12a41b2656034594a2f8e5bd06d62b78 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-9276 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:56:57Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Resources |
| spelling | doaj.art-12a41b2656034594a2f8e5bd06d62b782023-11-17T13:41:26ZengMDPI AGResources2079-92762023-03-011233710.3390/resources12030037A Transformed Approach for Benchmarking the Performance of ‘Sustainable’ InfrastructureSamantha Hayes0Cheryl Desha1Savindi Caldera2Mark Gibbs3Cities Research Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane 4111, AustraliaCities Research Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane 4111, AustraliaCities Research Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane 4111, AustraliaSchool of Architecture & Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4000, AustraliaEnvironmental sustainability priorities for infrastructure development have traditionally focused on aspects including minimising negative impacts in areas such as water and air quality, erosion control, biodiversity and waste management, both in compliance and voluntary frameworks. Associated project performance priorities have focused on avoiding damage beyond ‘pre-project baselines’. In contrast, ‘best practice’ regenerative performance requires infrastructure project outcomes that not only avoid damage but contribute positively to social and ecological systems. For such best practice to become mainstream, industry frameworks, standards and rating schemes must evolve. However, there is limited knowledge regarding ‘how’ regenerative performance could be encouraged as a business-as-usual infrastructure expectation. This paper therefore explores the potential for a benchmarking methodology called Ecological Performance Standards (EPS) as a transformed approach to facilitate the mainstreaming of regenerative performance expectations. Three research workshops (Phoenix, AZ, USA; Sydney and Brisbane, Australia) were undertaken to investigate the potential for this methodology in infrastructure applications. Mapping was undertaken to align the EPS process steps with associated infrastructure lifecycle phases. Research findings include the synthesis of key opportunities for capturing EPS within infrastructure sustainability rating schemes to leverage current efforts and pivot towards regenerative performance. The authors present a comprehensive matrix mapping 18 ecosystem services against the Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) Rating Scheme credits and categories, summarising where ecosystem services are addressed within the current scheme. The authors conclude the presence of significant opportunities for a new ‘business-as-usual’ for infrastructure through the integration of regenerative performance benchmarking.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/12/3/37benchmarkingsustainabilityregenerativeecosystem servicesinfrastructurebiomimicry |
| spellingShingle | Samantha Hayes Cheryl Desha Savindi Caldera Mark Gibbs A Transformed Approach for Benchmarking the Performance of ‘Sustainable’ Infrastructure Resources benchmarking sustainability regenerative ecosystem services infrastructure biomimicry |
| title | A Transformed Approach for Benchmarking the Performance of ‘Sustainable’ Infrastructure |
| title_full | A Transformed Approach for Benchmarking the Performance of ‘Sustainable’ Infrastructure |
| title_fullStr | A Transformed Approach for Benchmarking the Performance of ‘Sustainable’ Infrastructure |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Transformed Approach for Benchmarking the Performance of ‘Sustainable’ Infrastructure |
| title_short | A Transformed Approach for Benchmarking the Performance of ‘Sustainable’ Infrastructure |
| title_sort | transformed approach for benchmarking the performance of sustainable infrastructure |
| topic | benchmarking sustainability regenerative ecosystem services infrastructure biomimicry |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/12/3/37 |
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