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Scientific Article details

Title Environmental impacts of repurposing phone booths as COVID-19 sampling stations
ID_Doc 29615
Authors Schoch, M; Lawanyawatna, S; Gheewala, SH
Title Environmental impacts of repurposing phone booths as COVID-19 sampling stations
Year 2023
Published International Journal Of Sustainable Engineering, 16.0, 1
DOI 10.1080/19397038.2023.2220361
Abstract The presented research examines the repurposing of decommissioned phonebooth units to COVID-19 sampling stations as a meaningful attempt to promote environmentally sustainable and socially resilient cities by contributing to a circular economy transition. The repurposing approach is compared to an adequate new build design using a life cycle assessment to evaluate the environmental implications and a time-cost comparison for their implementation. The results indicate that the remodelling of the phone booth improves environmental performance. The expanded need for refurbishment is offset by the need to use virgin material for the new stations. The benefit of finding reuse for the phone booths and extending their lifetime further supports this understanding, demonstrating the adaptive approach as a viable strategy for utilising an otherwise disused urban infrastructure with uncertain end-of-life. Cost-time results show that repurposing is less expensive due to the donated phone booths and low production numbers. On the other hand, new sampling stations take less time to produce. Future studies investigate user experiences and social benefits of the realised sampling station based on phone booth repurposing.
Author Keywords COVID-19 sampling station; adaptive reuse; life cycle assessment; time-cost analysis; societal resilience
Index Keywords Index Keywords
Document Type Other
Open Access Open Access
Source Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI)
EID WOS:001002793500001
WoS Category Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Research Area Science & Technology - Other Topics
PDF https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/19397038.2023.2220361?needAccess=true&role=button
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