Damage to reinforced concrete bridges due to carbonation and chloride induced corrosion is widespread in South Africa and prone in environments where carbon dioxide is at high levels as well as in marine environments where chlorides are present. Performance specifications are therefore essential in order that structural concrete can be designed and constructed to the required standards ensuring that the long term durability can be maintained. This dissertation includes a review of SANRAL‘s current durability specifications. The specifications are critiqued in terms of the testing methodology followed as well as strength and environmental exposure considerations, and recommendations are made for improving the specifications. The literature review, outlines the background to both carbonation and chloride induced corrosion to reinforced concrete bridges , considering the fundamental causes of deterioration of concrete caused by carbonation and chloride ingress and repair costs during their service life. The South African Durability Index tests are presented and reviewed, in particular the laboratory testing apparatus and procedures. In addition, the index tests are compared with durability test methods currently being used internationally. The background and previous durability specifications used in South Africa on road bridges as well as details of research into specifications to ensure durable concrete with specific emphasis on curing of concrete is summarised. The indications are that performance based specifications for concrete on bridge structures internationally follow similar criteria to the specifications currently being adopted by SANRAL. Both performance and prescriptive specifications used usually depend on the risk that a constructor needs to carry. Importantly both cement extenders to ensure long term durability and penalties are applied in performance based durability. SANRAL‘s current durability specifications are reviewed and both the negatives and positives are presented for the various sections. Amendments to the Committee of Land Transport Officials (COLTO) standard specifications are recommended address shortcomings. The latest project specifications used on SANRAL contracts incorporating target requirements for cover and oxygen permeability are evaluated. These impose penalties if targets are not achieved, while limits are placed on chloride conductivity values for various blended binders. Data is also included for the sorptivity index values on the five projects which may analysed and target values can be set and implemented in future. Descriptions of the five projects with regard to durability specifications, their environmental exposure condition and concrete mix designs are presented. Five projects in KwaZulu-Natal, are used as case studies for durability tests and specifications. The only distinct difference in the specifications is that the three projects commencing in 2006 and early in 2007 had the target values for water sorptivity whereas for the project, sorptivity values are only reported on. Durability index testing results at each of the sites from the trial panels, additional test cubes (cast for coring and testing of durability indexes) as well as coring and testing from the bridge structures are presented. A major change is coring and testing of samples from trial panels and additional test cubes on the site instead of coring of the structure. The information is drawn together and relationships are determined between the various durability indexes as well as to strength. It is evident that the quality of concrete as constructed in the structure which is reflected by the durability index results is different to that produced in the test cubes and trial panels. It is deduced that while more care is being taken to produce quality concrete on the sites, certain aspects of the specifications need revision in order to remove confusion as well as to ensure that the concrete in the structure meets the target requirements. Finally it is noted that climate change is having an impact on design of bridge infrastructure, and while the surveys undertaken at Ethekwini and Msunduzi Municipalities shows that carbon dioxide levels being recorded are still average levels, worldwide there has been an increase in CO2 levels and further modifications to specifications in future may be required. / Thesis (M.Sc.Eng.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.

The service life and electrocatalytic activity of tantalum oxide/iridium oxide coated titanium plate and mesh anodes used in the electrolytic production of chromic acid were investigated by performing accelerated life tests, voltammetric and chronoamperometric measurements in chrome (VI) solutions. Experimental results showed that the service life for the coated mesh anode was 1059 hours, compared to 828 hours for the plate anode at a current density of 1.2 A cm-2. In addition, the coating failed earlier in higher chromic acid concentration. Physical analysis by SEM and EDS before and after accelerated life test confirmed that the deactivation was a result of corrosion of IrO2 followed by titanium substrate passivation. A simple and rapid method for assessing the electrocatalytic activity of iridium–tantalum oxide coating based on a chronoamperometric technique was developed.

Atualmente, sabe-se que nenhum material estrutural é eternamente durável devido à ação dos agentes ambientais sobre seus componentes. No caso das estruturas de concreto armado, iniciou-se, a partir da década de 70, uma crescente preocupação com a sua deterioração e durabilidade. As soluções mais estudadas geralmente seguem a linha de melhorar as propriedades do concreto para o aumento da durabilidade da estrutura, que se trata, sem dúvida, de uma das possíveis soluções para o problema. Contudo, este trabalho aborda o aumento da durabilidade de outra forma, ou seja, tratando a superfície do concreto com o objetivo de impedir ou desacelerar o processo de corrosão. A forma de ação, neste caso, é a restrição da penetração de agentes agressivos, água e/ou oxigênio através da rede de poros capilares do concreto, componentes imprescindíveis para o desenvolvimento da corrosão. Este tipo de sistema de proteção consiste em uma barreira que funciona como um cobrimento de concreto de alta qualidade, fundamental para a proteção do aço embebido no concreto. Este trabalho apresenta uma metodologia de estudo da eficiência de produtos destinados à proteção superficial para estruturas de concreto armado submetidas ao ataque por cloretos. Além disso, no trabalho é apresentada uma comparação entre três categorias de produtos de proteção superficial: hidrofugantes de superfície, formadores de película e bloqueadores de poros. Outra contribuição é a comprovação da eficácia da aplicação de proteção de superfície sobre estruturas já contaminadas por cloretos. / Currently, it is known that no structural material is ever-lasting due to environment action on its components. In the 1970s, there was an increasing concern with deterioration and durability of reinforced concrete structures. The solutions studied generally aim to improve the concrete properties to increase the durability of the structure. Undoubtedly, this is one of the possible solutions for the problem. However, this work approaches the increase in the durability in another way, treating the surface of the concrete with the aim of inhibiting or decelerating the corrosion process. The action form, in this case, is to restrict the penetration of aggressive agents, water and/or oxygen (essential components for the development of corrosion process) through the pores of the concrete. This type of protection system consists of a barrier that functions as a concrete cover of high quality, important for the protection of the steel reinforcement inside the concrete. This work presents a methodology to study the efficiency of surface treatment used to protect reinforced concrete structures exposed to marine environment. Moreover, in this work, the efficacy of three groups of surface treatments were compared. These groups are: coatings and sealers (physical barrier); pore liners (water repellent) and pore blockers. Another contribution of this work is the evidence of the effectiveness of surface protection applied on structures contaminated with chlorides.

É crescente a preocupação mundial com a durabilidade e o atendimento da vida útil de projeto estabelecida pelas normativas para estruturas de concreto armado. Desta maneira, torna-se fundamental a utilização de modelos representativos dos processos de degradação para uma correta previsão da vida útil deste tipo de estrutura. Isto posto, esta pesquisa teve como objetivo a validação, com base em dados de exposição natural, do modelo para a previsão da vida útil de estruturas de concreto armado proposto por Andrade (2001). Para esta validação foram coletados dados na literatura referentes à penetração de cloretos em estruturas de concreto e foram obtidos dados experimentais da concentração de cloretos em prismas de concreto e argamassa moldados com cimento CP II – F, CP III, CP IV e CP V – ARI, com relações a/c de 0,45, 0,55 e 0,65, expostos por um período de 3, 2 e 1 ano, respectivamente, em ambiente protegido e desprotegido da chuva em zona de atmosfera marinha, na cidade de Vitória. Também foram avaliados os perfis de cloretos de blocos de concreto moldados com cimento CP IV, CP V, CP V + 5% SA e CP V + 10% SA e relações a/c de 0,45, 0,55 e 0,65, que permaneceram expostos por 9 anos na cidade de Tramandaí. Paralelamente, foram avaliadas a influência do tipo de cimento, da relação a/c, da condição de exposição (protegido e desprotegido da chuva) e da adição de sílica ativa na penetração de cloretos em matrizes cimentícias, bem como a diferença desta penetração em concretos e argamassas moldados com os mesmos materiais e relações a/c. Para isto foram retiradas, dos prismas e blocos de concreto e argamassa, amostras sob a forma pulverulenta, para posterior determinação da concentração de cloretos utilizando o equipamento CL - 2000 da NDT James Instruments. Os resultados obtidos indicaram que o tipo de cimento que determinou maiores concentrações de cloretos foi o CP III; que prismas de concreto tendem a apresentar concentrações superiores aos de argamassa, em função da existência da zona de transição entre a pasta e o agregado graúdo. No tocante à corrosão de armaduras desencadeada por cloretos, o ambiente desprotegido mostrou-se mais danoso; a utilização de teores de sílica ativa em percentuais de 5 e 10% é eficiente na redução do ingresso de cloretos; baixas relações a/c apresentaram concentrações superficiais mais elevadas, em contrapartida, a medida que a profundidade em relação à superfície do concreto aumenta, há uma redução nestes teores. Por fim, em relação à validação do modelo de Andrade (2001) constatou-se que, para os dados com pequenos tempos de exposição, o modelo apresentou níveis de resposta similares à penetração de cloretos in situ, com bons resultados dentro de um faixa de variação de 35%, associados a diferenças máximas de apenas 4,6 mm entre os valores observados e calculados. Para os dados com tempos de exposição superiores, as diferenças foram expressivas, indicando a necessidade de um ajuste no sentido de melhor descrever o crescimento da concentração superficial ao longo do tempo. / International concern about durability and service life design established by regulations is growing. Therefore, the use of representative models of degradation processes for a correct prediction of service life of reinforced concrete structures become fundamental. Moreover, this research aimed to validate, based on natural exposure data, the model for the prediction of service life of reinforced concrete structures proposed by Andrade (2001). For this validation, data were collected in the literature regarding the chloride penetration in concrete structures and experimental data were obtained in concrete and mortar prisms molded with cement CP II – F, CP III, CP IV and CP V, with w/b ratios of 0,45, 0,55 and 0,65, exposed for a period of 3, 2 and 1 year, respectively, in a rainfall protected and unprotected environment in a marine atmosphere zone, in the city of Vitória. The profiles of concrete blocks molded with cement CP IV, CP V, CP V + 5% SA and CP V + 10% SA, and w/b ratios of 0,45, 0,55 and 0,65, who remained exposed for 9 years in the city of Tramandaí, were also evaluated. At the same time, were evaluated the influence: of the cement type, the w/b ratio, the exposure condition (protected and unprotected from rainfall) and the addition of silica fume in chloride penetration in cementitious matrixes, as well as the difference of this penetration in concretes and mortars molded with the same materials and w/b ratios. For this purpose, pulverulent samples were removed from the prisms and blocks of concrete and mortar for further determination of chloride concentration using the CL – 2000 equipment of the NDT James Instruments. The results indicated the type of cement with highest chloride concentrations was CP III; that concrete prisms tend to have higher concentration than mortar, due to the exist of the transition zone between the past and the coarse aggregate; with regard to corrosion triggered by chlorides the unprotected environment is more damaging; the use of silica fume in percentages of 5 and 10% is efficient to reduce the chloride ingress; low w/b ratios showed higher surface concentration, in contrast, as the depth in relation to the concrete surface increases, there is a reduction in theses contents. Finally, in relation to the validation of Andrade´s model (2001), it was found that, for data with small exposure times, the model showed similar response levels to chloride penetration in situ, with good results within a range of variation of 35%, associated with maximum differences of only 4,6 mm between the observed and calculated values. For the data with longer exposure times, the differences were expressive, indicating the need for an adjustment in order to best describe the growth of the surface concentration over time.

In recent decades, much research has investigated the efficiency of Phase Change Materials (PCMs) in improving the thermal performance of buildings and pavements. In buildings, increasing the thermal inertia of structural elements by incorporating PCMs decreases the energy required to keep the inside temperature in the comfort range. In concrete pavements, using PCMs decreases the number of freeze/thaw cycles experienced by the pavement and thus increases service life. However, PCMs cannot be added to cementitious binders directly, because they interfere with the hydration reactions between cement and water that produce strength-bearing phases. Therefore different carriers have been proposed to indirectly incorporate PCMs in cementitious materials. Lightweight Aggregate (LWA) is one of the materials that has been proposed as PCM carrier agent. However, it was not studied in depth before. Various experiments were conducted to investigate the problems associated with incorporating LWA presoaked in PCM in cementitious media. The results show that a portion of PCM leaks out of the LWA’s structure and subsequently affects different chemical, physical, and mechanical properties of the binder. In addition, the applicability of Rice Husk Ash (RHA), a common material never before used to encapsulate PCM, as a PCM carrier agent was investigated. The results show that RHA can absorb and contain liquids in its porous structure; and regarding its compatibility with the cementitious media, it can be used as PCM carrier. Different computational simulations using Typical Meteorological Year data were conducted to evaluate the efficiency of PCMs in improving the thermal performance of buildings. Utilizing PCM-incorporated gypsum boards was shown to be a promising strategy to achieve the governmental plans of “Zero Net Energy� buildings. The results show that using a PCM with a melting point near the occupant comfort zone delays and reduces the inside peak temperature, increases the duration of time during which the inside temperature stays in the comfort zone, and decreases the cost and energy required by HVAC system to keep the inside temperature in this range. However, PCMs’ efficiency is completely dependent on the input temperature profile.

Atualmente, sabe-se que nenhum material estrutural é eternamente durável devido à ação dos agentes ambientais sobre seus componentes. No caso das estruturas de concreto armado, iniciou-se, a partir da década de 70, uma crescente preocupação com a sua deterioração e durabilidade. As soluções mais estudadas geralmente seguem a linha de melhorar as propriedades do concreto para o aumento da durabilidade da estrutura, que se trata, sem dúvida, de uma das possíveis soluções para o problema. Contudo, este trabalho aborda o aumento da durabilidade de outra forma, ou seja, tratando a superfície do concreto com o objetivo de impedir ou desacelerar o processo de corrosão. A forma de ação, neste caso, é a restrição da penetração de agentes agressivos, água e/ou oxigênio através da rede de poros capilares do concreto, componentes imprescindíveis para o desenvolvimento da corrosão. Este tipo de sistema de proteção consiste em uma barreira que funciona como um cobrimento de concreto de alta qualidade, fundamental para a proteção do aço embebido no concreto. Este trabalho apresenta uma metodologia de estudo da eficiência de produtos destinados à proteção superficial para estruturas de concreto armado submetidas ao ataque por cloretos. Além disso, no trabalho é apresentada uma comparação entre três categorias de produtos de proteção superficial: hidrofugantes de superfície, formadores de película e bloqueadores de poros. Outra contribuição é a comprovação da eficácia da aplicação de proteção de superfície sobre estruturas já contaminadas por cloretos. / Currently, it is known that no structural material is ever-lasting due to environment action on its components. In the 1970s, there was an increasing concern with deterioration and durability of reinforced concrete structures. The solutions studied generally aim to improve the concrete properties to increase the durability of the structure. Undoubtedly, this is one of the possible solutions for the problem. However, this work approaches the increase in the durability in another way, treating the surface of the concrete with the aim of inhibiting or decelerating the corrosion process. The action form, in this case, is to restrict the penetration of aggressive agents, water and/or oxygen (essential components for the development of corrosion process) through the pores of the concrete. This type of protection system consists of a barrier that functions as a concrete cover of high quality, important for the protection of the steel reinforcement inside the concrete. This work presents a methodology to study the efficiency of surface treatment used to protect reinforced concrete structures exposed to marine environment. Moreover, in this work, the efficacy of three groups of surface treatments were compared. These groups are: coatings and sealers (physical barrier); pore liners (water repellent) and pore blockers. Another contribution of this work is the evidence of the effectiveness of surface protection applied on structures contaminated with chlorides.

Abstract not available

Maintenance is constantly challenged with increasing productivity by maximizing up-time and reliability while at the same time reducing expenditure and investment. In the last few years it has become evident through the development of maintenance concepts that maintenance is more than just a non-productive support function, it is a profit- generating function. In the past decades, hundreds of models that address maintenance strategy have been presented. The vast majority of those models rely purely on mathematical modeling to describe the maintenance function. Due to the complex nature of the maintenance function, and its complex interaction with other functions, it is almost impossible to accurately model maintenance using mathematical modeling without sacrificing accuracy and validity with unfeasible simplifications and assumptions. Analysis presented as part of this thesis shows that stochastic simulation offers a viable alternative and a powerful technique for tackling maintenance problems. Stochastic simulation is a method of modeling a system or process (on a computer) based on random events generated by the software so that system performance can be evaluated without experimenting or interfering with the actual system. The methodology developed as part of this thesis addresses most of the shortcomings found in literature, specifically by allowing the modeling of most of the complexities of an advanced maintenance system, such as one that is employed in the airline industry. This technique also allows sensitivity analysis to be carried out resulting in an understanding of how critical variables may affect the maintenance and asset management decision-making process. In many heavy industries (e.g. airline maintenance) where high utilization is essential for the success of the organization, subsystems are often of a rotable nature, i.e. they rotate among different systems throughout their life-cycle. This causes a system to be composed of a number of subsystems of different ages, and therefore different reliability characteristics. This makes it difficult for analysts to estimate its reliability behavior, and therefore may result in a less-than-optimal maintenance plan. Traditional reliability models are based on detailed statistical analysis of individual component failures. For complex machinery, especially involving many rotable parts, such analyses are difficult and time consuming. In this work, a model is proposed that combines the well-established Weibull method with discrete simulation to estimate the reliability of complex machinery with rotable subsystems or modules. Each module is characterized by an empirically derived failure distribution. The simulation model consists of a number of stages including operational up-time, maintenance down-time and a user-interface allowing decisions on maintenance and replacement strategies as well as inventory levels and logistics. This enables the optimization of a maintenance plan by comparing different maintenance and removal policies using the Cost per Unit Time (CPUT) measure as the decision variable. Five different removal strategies were tested. These include: On-failure replacements, block replacements, time-based replacements, condition-based replacements and a combination of time-based and condition-based strategies. Initial analyses performed on aircraft gas-turbine data yielded an optimal combination of modules out of a pool of multiple spares, resulting in an increased machine up-time of 16%. In addition, it was shown that condition-based replacement is a cost-effective strategy; however, it was noted that the combination of time and condition-based strategy can produce slightly better results. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was performed to optimize decision variables (module soft-time), and to provide an insight to the level of accuracy with which it has to be estimated. It is imperative as part of the overall reliability and life-cycle cost program to focus not only on reducing levels of unplanned (i.e. breakdown) maintenance through preventive and predictive maintenance tasks, but also optimizing inventory of spare parts management, sometimes called float hardware. It is well known that the unavailability of a spare part may result in loss of revenue, which is associated with an increase in system downtime. On the other hand increasing the number of spares will lead to an increase in capital investment and holding cost. The results obtained from the simulation model were used in a discounted NPV (Net Present Value) analysis to determine the optimal number of spare engines. The benefits of this methodology are that it is capable of providing reliability trends and forecasts in a short time frame and based on available data. In addition, it takes into account the rotable nature of many components by tracking the life and service history of individual parts and allowing the user to simulate different combinations of rotables, operating scenarios, and replacement strategies. It is also capable of optimizing stock and spares levels as well as other related key parameters like the average waiting time, unavailability cost, and the number of maintenance events that result in extensive durations due to the unavailability of spare parts. Importantly, as more data becomes available or as greater accuracy is demanded, the model or database can be updated or expanded, thereby approaching the results obtainable by pure statistical reliability analysis.

<p>The focus in environmental management has during the last decades in many cases shifted to include all the phases in a product’s (or a service’s) life – the life-cycle perspective. The transport system has a large environmental pressure on the environment. Train traffic is habitually regarded as an environmentally preferable mean of transport, mainly depending on that trains often are driven by electricity. This view is also true when the operation phase alone is considered; at least if the electricity derives from renewable sources. In a life-cycle perspective the advantages of this mean of transport get less apparent. The extraction of the raw materials requires plenty of energy, energy which often is produced by fossil fuels. A dominating part of the material-related energy requirements in the railway infrastructure can be referred to a few materials. The main part of these materials can be found in a few products; rails, railway ties, ballast materials, cables and the contact wire system. It is here that the effort to reduce the environmental impact of the railway infrastructure should lie to become most efficient. The aim of the thesis is to investigate how the environmental pressure is affected by the service lives, i.e. the technical durability as well as the durability in practise, of the most energy-intense railway products, as well as reuse of them. The objective is to map estimated service lives and reuse in order to create scenarios representing the present state of how the products are used and reused in Sweden. The scenarios are used in order to analyse the importance of focusing on service lives and reuse when reducing environmental pressure. The objective is also to find out which possibilities and hindrances there are to increase the service lives and the reuse of the products.</p><p>To investigate the environmental pressure of the railway infrastructure, embodied energy is used as indicator. Embodied energy represents the energy needed to produce a product, from extracting the materials to the production phase. The present state concerning service lives and reuse of the studied products are mapped through interviews with employees at Banverket and at VTI. The empirical material is analysed and scenarios are created in order to evaluate the environmental importance of service lives and reuse. Organizational issues concerning service lives and reuse are also investigated.</p><p>The present state service lives varies between 25 and 100 years for the realistic scenarios for all the products. The estimated service lives varies between 25 and 100 years for the new technology scenarios. When it comes to the best-case scenarios the estimated service lives varies between 60 and 120 years, depending on railway product. The only products reused today are rails and railway ties. There are considerable improvements to be made by increasing service lives, and this pertains to all the studied products. The reductions in embodied energy per year go up to 75 % if the New-Technology Scenario is applied and to 33 % if the Realistic Scenarios are applied. If the Low Realistic Scenarios are applied the reductions goes up to 50 %. A great improvement potential exist for all the products if the New-Technology Scenarios are applied. The products where the main improvement potential when it comes to the Realistic and the Low Realistic Scenarios exist are the macadam-ballast, the cables, the rails and the railway ties. If the New-Technology Scenarios are applied for all the products the total improvement span is as much as 69 % altogether. If the Low Realistic Scenario instead is applied, the improvement span is calculated to 38-39 % (depending on the exchange level of macadam-ballast). If the Realistic Scenario is applied, the improvement span is calculated to 23 % and if the Best-Case Scenario is applied the span is calculated to 7 %, depending on that the most energy efficient strategy is to reuse the products possible to reuse. The main part of this improvement potential derives from the rails and the railway ties.</p><p>In reducing the environmental pressure it is important to make use of the products as much as possible, i.e. to reuse them and use them as long as possible. If rails and railway ties are reused and made use of during their entire service life, all energy invested in the products is made use of. The most environmental sound alternative is to reuse the products which are reusable and to use these products as long as they last. This gives a need for embodied energy of 16 GJ/yr and km for the railway ties and 38 GJ/yr for the rails on the mainline track. The energy allocated to the tracks where the products are reused is calculated to 3 GJ/yr and km for the railway ties and to 7 GJ/yr and km for the rails. Actions of maintenance prolong the durability of the products, e.g. by increasing the stability in the embankment and hence reduce the wearing. The administration of the used material is the main problem in order to create a well-functioning reuse of railway articles. This includes transports, storage and documentation of products. Tradition and routines also stand in the way of creating a sustainable reuse of these products.</p>

The Life Cycle Management System (LMS) aims at supporting decision-makers and engineers in their efforts to achieve a more optimised proactive life cycle design and maintenance management strategy. LMS is an open and integrative system, which has to be adapted and developed in order to meet the needs and requirements of users. This process should be geared to and governed by the clients. The Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Facility Management (AEC/FM) sector includes all varieties of clients and stakeholders, all of them having different qualifications, possibilities and requirements for implementing, or increasing the feature of predictive maintenance management and optimised proactive strategies. The possibilities of adopting predictive maintenance management are dependent on the availability of performance-over-time and service life forecasting models and methods. The relevance of these models and methods depends on the required level of detailing. Furthermore, the use of the models and methods depends on the availability of reliable input data, such as material data and environmental exposure/in-use condition data. The thesis aims at analysing the possibilities of implementing predictivity in different fields of applications and at evaluating relevant tools facilitating management of information associated with predictive maintenance management systems. The thesis includes studies of three different clients and fields of application; Swedish Road Administration – management of bridges, Locum AB – management of hospital buildings, and Gävle Energi AB – management of district heating distribution systems. While the Swedish Road Administration is responsible to ensure an economically efficient, sustainable transport system for the society throughout the country, Locum AB and Gävle Energi AB compete on an "open" market. The Swedish Road Administration have gathered information about their bridges since 1944, for what reason their bridge management system includes a large amount of valuable data for performance-over- time analyses and service life forecasting. Locum AB has recently begun to systematically gather condition data, why the amount of data is limited. However, since the performance of buildings generally is well known, it is assumed that possibilities of implementing predictive maintenance management tools are rather good. Since district heating pipes are buried into the ground, it is difficult to assess the condition. Therefore, data for service life estimation rely mainly on damage reports. Environmental exposure data on macro or meso level can be obtained from meteorological and environmental institutes, thus making it possible to apply available dose-response and damage functions. Environmental exposure data on a micro level are lacking. Guidelines, methods and tools for environmental measuring and modelling on a micro level are therefore strongly needed. Efficient management of information plays an important role in predictive life cycle management systems. The ongoing development and implementation of open Building Information Model (BIM) tools in the AEC/FM sector is a promising progress of making the information management more cost effective and valuable, especially when open BIM solutions being fully integrated into the AEC/FM business. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are tools for efficient handling of spatial positioned information. GIS provide possibilities of processing and presenting, e.g., environmental exposure data and environmental risk factors. / QC 20100716