Aspects of Sustainability in Engineering Decision Analysis

Authors

Michael H. Faber and Kazuyoshi Nishijima

Abstract

The present paper considers aspects of sustainable decision making. Two basic principles for sustainable
decision making are proposed. Thereafter the decision theoretical framework previously applied for the
purpose of life cycle optimal decision making is reviewed and reformulated such that it becomes possible
to optimize decisions in accordance with the basic rules of sustainable decision making. Examples are
given illustrating how sustainable decision making affects effective discounting in optimal design problems
and optimal decisions regarding minimum life cycle cost design of structures.

Published in/by

Proceeding 9th ASCE Specialty Conference on Probabilistic Mechanics and Structural Reliability, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, July 26-29, 2004.