Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Net-Zero Built Environment

This open access book provides the latest fundamental and practical advances in reducing the built environment’s carbon footprint based on a collection of papers presented at the 2nd International Conference on Net-Zero Civil Infrastructures: Innovations in Materials, Structures, and Management Practices (Net-Zero Future 2025), held at Cape Town, South Africa, November 2025. This book presents research investigations and case studies spanning five interrelated domains: New materials and material preparation processes for zero (or negative) carbon footprint, Robotic construction technologies for minimum formwork and on-site activities, Novel structural designs and details for optimal performance with the least material usage, Advanced condition assessment and health monitoring methods for the longest service life, and Innovative life-cycle analysis and policy-making strategies for effective civil infrastructure management.

Prof. Dr. Hans Beushausen studied civil engineering in Germany and South Africa and completed his Ph.D. at the University of Cape Town (UCT) in 2005, working in the fields of repair and rehabilitation of concrete structures. In subsequent years, he broadened his scope of research and teaching from general fields related to structural and materials engineering into service life prediction and performance-based design of structures, steel reinforcement corrosion, and sustainable concrete technology with a focus on low carbon cementitious binders and recycled aggregate concrete. He is a director of the Concrete Materials and Structural Integrity Research Unit, and a member of several scientific and professional associations. He is the Vice-President of RILEM, the International Union of Laboratories and Experts in Construction Materials, Systems and Structures.Prof. Dr. Mahdi Kioumarsi is a Professor in the Department of Built Environment at Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet), Norway. He serves as Head of Research and Development at the Structural Engineering Laboratory (SEL) and leads the SmartMet Lab at OsloMet, focusing on smart monitoring and maintenance of infrastructure through innovative technologies. He has been actively involved in and led a wide range of regional, national, and international research projects, collaborating with both academic and industry partners. His research spans multiple scales, from material-level investigations to structural-level analysis, with a focus on concrete materials, structural behavior, numerical modeling, sustainable construction, and monitoring of infrastructure systems. He has several years of experience advancing structural engineering, particularly regarding the performance, durability, and sustainability of concrete structures. He has disseminated his research findings through numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and conference proceedings.Prof. Dr. Behrouz Shafei is an associate professor of Structural Engineering at Iowa State University with a Professional Engineering license from the State of California, where he finished his Ph.D. and Postdoctoral studies. His research efforts primarily aim to address the issues associated with the performance of various infrastructures under continuous deterioration processes and sudden extreme events. He also has extensive experience in the development of innovative materials that meet target strength and durability characteristics. He has completed multiple research projects sponsored by state and federal agencies, including various departments of transportation, transportation centers, and National Science Foundation. He has published the outcome of his research activities in various peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings.