A Transformed Approach for Benchmarking the Performance of 'Sustainable' Infrastructure

Samantha Hayes; Cheryl Desha; Savindi Caldera; Mark Gibbs

doi:10.3390/resources12030037

Back

A Transformed Approach for Benchmarking the Performance of 'Sustainable' Infrastructure

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

A Transformed Approach for Benchmarking the Performance of 'Sustainable' Infrastructure

Samantha Hayes, Cheryl Desha, Savindi Caldera and Mark Gibbs

Resources, Vol.12(3), pp.1-20

2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/resources12030037

Files and links (2)

pdf

resources-12-00037-v21.40 MBDownload View

Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access

url

https://doi.org/10.3390/resources12030037View

Published Version

Abstract

benchmarking

sustainability

regenerative

ecosystem services

infrastructure

biomimicry

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.

Details

Title: A Transformed Approach for Benchmarking the Performance of 'Sustainable' Infrastructure
Authors: Samantha Hayes (Corresponding Author) - Griffith University
Cheryl Desha (Author) - Griffith University
Savindi Caldera (Author) - Griffith University
Mark Gibbs (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
Publication details: Resources, Vol.12(3), pp.1-20
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date published: 2023
DOI: 10.3390/resources12030037
ISSN: 2079-9276
Copyright note: © 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Organisation Unit: School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99724997702621
Output Type: Journal article