Innovation

Present and Future Trends in Biodegradable Polymers Image: Digitalstock/Adobe Stock Environmental concerns are raising the profile of biodegradable plastic, which is forecast to grow to more than $6 billion in market size by 2023. As researchers continue to develop new materials and improve properties, biodegradable polymers are poised to revolutionize everything from food packaging to medical devices. Dr. Raj Shah, Mr. Rui Chen, Ms.Hillary Wong | Nov 17, 2020 Demand for biodegradable polymers has been rising as a result of environmental concerns regarding the use of nonrenewable materials. Styrofoam and other plastics are among the most produced materials used for...

Companies need to begin digital transformation now to survive in the new world, says GlobalData Amid the slow recovery of COVID-19, it may be tempting for companies to stick with what is comfortable and delay ambitious digital transformation projects until more stable times. However, leading data and analytics company GlobalData notes that this would be a mistake. History shows that companies that tech-enable their businesses during a recession tend to become more resilient to future shocks. GlobalData’s latest report, Tech, Media, & Telecom Themes 2021, states that enterprises have taken a conservative approach towards IT spending in 2020, with larger...

Analyzing biological and chemical damage on 20th-century construction materials by University of the Basque Country Dr Iratxe Ibarrondo using portable high-resolution spectroscopic techniques to analyze the impact on 20th-century construction materials of the environment and biological conditions in the surrounding area. Credit: Iratxe Ibarrondo/UPV/EHU. It is customary for the research conducted in the IBeA research group in the UPV/EHU's department of Analytical Chemistry to be approached from a multidisciplinary perspective. One of the group's lines of work is the diagnosis and restoration of historical and cultural heritage for which spectroscopic analytical techniques are used. Although the group's research has until...

A software application to ease the reuse of construction materials by Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne Jan Brütting’s original contributions on reuse are very well received by practitioners and researchers. Credit: 2020 Alain Herzog New software developed at EPFL can help architects to design building structures that incorporate both new and reused components, thereby lowering their environmental impact. The construction industry is among the world's most polluting sectors: in developed countries it accounts for some 40% of CO2 emissions. It consumes up to half of all resources and generates about a third of all waste. As a result, in order...

Construction industry’s ‘next normal’ to emerge at The Big 5 Digital Festival On 23-26 November, 120+ expert speakers, 500+ global brands, and thousands of industry professionals to take decisive actions for the future of the world economy’s largest ecosystem. As the world is preparing for the next normal, so does construction. Today, construction leaders are tasked with not only navigating through an ongoing crisis, but also to accelerating an impending disruption, which will be crucial for the recovery of an industry accounting for 13% of the world’s GDP. From 23 to 26 November, industry leaders from around the globe will...