| Environmental Laws are increasing and changing faster than we can design and construct. Other industries are coping with the problem related to impacts of environmental laws by integrating the concept of design for environment into their management strategy, on a life cycle basis. The construction industry, also need to address the problem by improving their project management, planning and implementation strategies. The research took into consideration public needs, construction processes, and regulatory governmental functions. A framework was developed, through this research, which could be used by the construction industry, for analyzing construction alternatives with respect to environmental laws and regulations. The framework developed is holistic, multidimensional, and flexible. The framework is also capable of addressing life cycle environmental issues pertaining to compliance, conservation, pollution prevention, and is expected to minimize remediation in new projects.;Development of the framework was done by bridging the gap between environmental laws and construction issues encountered during different life cycle phases of a constructed project. The framework was developed through organization of research in the following distinct domains: (1) Development of classification systems for identifying construction issues; (2) Organization of a work breakdown structure for environmental laws & regulations; (3) Establishing criteria for linking construction issues & environmental regulations; (4) Validation of the framework by applying noise laws during construction phase.;The framework uses criteria for linking construction and environmental issues and is universally applicable. The conventional decision-making criteria based on cost, schedule, and performance requirements has been improved and extended to include compliance of environmental laws. The application of extended criteria would facilitate selection of a construction alternative which is also in conformance with the environmental laws and regulations. The components of the general criteria developed are dynamic and, therefore, respond to changes in geographic location, country/state laws, and institutional arrangements for enforcement of these laws.;This research can be used to develop a new planning tool for the Construction Industry. Application of this framework will empower the industry with the means to make decisions on selection of construction alternatives that are also in compliance with the environmental laws and regulations. |
