Reyn Joseph O'Born

• Lande, Ingrid ; O'Born, Reyn Joseph & Thorstensen, Rein Terje (2024). Greenhouse Gas Emissions of UHPC Material Compositions, Ultra-High Performance Concrete and High Performance Building Materials for Sustainability Construction. Kassel University Press GmbH. ISSN 978-3-7376-1159-6. p. 101–104. doi: doi:10.17170/kobra-202402059519.
• Wilhelmsen, Marthe Elden; O'Born, Reyn Joseph; Heimdal, Anette & Ruser, Alexander (2023). UNDERSTANDING AND CHALLENGING CLIMATE SKEPTIC ATTITUDES AMONG ENGINEERING STUDENTS THROUGH INTERACTIVE PEDAGOGY. In Buck, Lyndon; Grierson, Hillary & Bohemia, Erik (Ed.), DS 123: Proceedings of the International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education (E&PDE 2023). The Design Society. ISSN 978-1-912254-19-4. doi: 10.35199/EPDE.2023.48. Show summary

  This paper investigates the prevalence of climate skepticism among 3rd year engineering students and seeks to understand how pedagogical interventions can be used to challenge climate skeptic views. This contribution follows a two-pronged approach to estimate the proportion of climate skeptic attitudes in the classroom, understand their root cause and, most importantly, develop pedagogical tools to challenge such views. The first part involved conducting two statement-based surveys to identify the prevalence of climate skepticism before and after pedagogical interventions. The second part discusses the effect of the use of interactive pedagogical methods to challenge climate skepticism and reduce potential conflict in the classroom. The goal of this research is to determine which pedagogical methods can contribute to changing attitudes towards climate skepticism among engineering students. Two surveys were given to 275 engineering students before and after several hours of lectures on sustainability theory and an interactive class exercise to challenge climate skeptical views. The results of the surveys showed that climate skepticism among our group of engineering students was higher than the Norwegian population average and that the chosen pedagogical intervention showed mixed results in changing these attitudes. The results of the study can be used to understand how engineers perceive the challenge of climate change and to what extent engineering students are skeptical of climate change science. The results will also be useful for educators in understanding how topics of climate change can be effectively taught and how climate skepticism can be dealt with in the classroom through effective pedagogical methods. 

• Wrålsen, Benedikte & O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2023). Use of life cycle assessment to evaluate circular economy business models in the case of Li-ion battery remanufacturing. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. ISSN 0948-3349. 28, p. 554–565. doi: 10.1007/s11367-023-02154-0. Show summary

  Purpose The purpose of this study is to advance and illustrate how life cycle assessment (LCA) can assess circular economy business models for lithium-ion batteries to verify potential environmental benefts compared to linear business models. Scenarios for battery repurpose are assessed to support future decision-makers regarding the choice of new versus second life batteries for stationary energy storage. A procedure to determine the substitution coefcient for repurpose and reuse of batteries is proposed. Methods Two diferent circular economy business models are assessed by applying primary data from two Norwegian companies for the development of a new life cycle inventory. With this new data, the authors compare second life battery (from frst life in electric vehicle) scenarios and avoided production potential by performing a complete consequential LCA. Building on earlier work, a procedure to identify the substitution coefcient (i.e., potential for avoided production) for battery life cycle assessments is proposed. Interviews during factory visits were performed to identify a technical and a market factor afecting the substitution coefcient. Results and discussion This study illustrates how life cycle assessment methodology can detect and thus enhance the potential environmental benefts and trade-ofs of circular economy business models. Results show that the CBMs which use second life batteries correspond to 16% (for global warming potential) of manufacturing a new battery. This means that a second life battery must avoid>16% production of a new battery to become the preferred alternative. Hence, circular economy business models with second life batteries can generate net environmental benefts while the remaining battery capacity and market price are identifed factors that can alter the potential environmental benefts. The fndings suggest that assumptions concerning the avoided production emissions are crucial for understanding the overall impacts of battery value chains. Conclusions Circular economy business models which enable second life batteries show lower environmental impacts compared to a new battery when it can partly avoid production of a new battery. Based on the identifed technical and market factor afecting this potential, a key message to industry and other organizations is that second life batteries should be chosen over new batteries. This depends on the remaining capacity being satisfactory for the new application, and the investment is not performed because of a low price compared to a new battery. Consequential LCA practitioners adopting a market approach while evaluating battery reuse and repurpose should model and account for the avoided production potential.

• Malavatu, Jayachandra; O'Born, Reyn Joseph; Peter, Kepplinger & Fässler, Bernhard (2022). Hybrid energy storage systems of energy- and power-dense batteries: a survey on modelling techniques and control methods. Procedia CIRP. ISSN 2212-8271. 105, p. 794–798. doi: 10.1016/j.procir.2022.02.193.
• Sophie, Engels & O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2022). Realizing the potential of humic acid recovery in Norway through chitosan treatment of drinking water. Procedia CIRP. ISSN 2212-8271. 105, p. 177–182. doi: 10.1016/j.procir.2022.02.031.
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph & Heimdal, Anette (2022). EXPERIENCES FROM TEACHING CIRCULAR ECONOMY CONCEPTS TO ENGINEERING STUDENTS. In Bohemia, Erik; Buck, Lyndon & Grierson, Hilary (Ed.), DS 117: Proceedings of the 24th International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education (E&PDE 2022), London South Bank University in London, UK. 8th - 9th September 2022. The Design Society. ISSN 9781912254163. doi: 10.35199/EPDE.2022.76. Show summary

  For several years, a mandatory bachelor-level course at the University of Agder (UIA) has been educating engineering students on a range of topics and ideas related to system thinking, ethics, and sustainability including circular economy. This paper investigates the learning outcomes of engineering students in this course by evaluating their knowledge of circular economy before and after attending this course to determine if current methods for teaching circular economy are effective for educating future engineers. Active learning and problem-based learning are the two primary learning techniques used in this course and students are evaluated based on their overall application of circular economy principles in group projects. The learning outcomes of the course have been evaluated based on a set of surveys given to students before and after the course to determine to what extent they have had prior knowledge of circular economy principles and how these students believe that knowledge gained in the course can be used to support regenerative and sustainable transformations in their future working life. The survey results show that engineering students have weak prior knowledge of circular economy concepts but that engineers are both enthusiastic towards sustainability issues and understand their importance. The results of this paper show that there is a need to improve circular economy education for engineers.

• Wrålsen, Benedikte; Prieto-Sandoval, Vanessa; Mejia-Villa, Andres; O'Born, Reyn Joseph; Hellström, Magnus Mikael & Fässler, Bernhard (2021). Circular business models for lithium-ion batteries - Stakeholders, barriers, and drivers. Journal of Cleaner Production. ISSN 0959-6526. 317. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.128393. Full text in Research Archive
• Liljenström, Carolina; Miliutenko, Sofiia; O'Born, Reyn Joseph; Brattebø, Helge; Birgisdottir, Harpa & Toller, Susanna [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2020). Life cycle assessment as decision-support in choice of road corridor: case study and stakeholder perspectives. International Journal of Sustainable Transportation. ISSN 1556-8318. p. 1–18. doi: 10.1080/15568318.2020.1788679.
• Vignisdottir, Hrefna Run; Ebrahimi, Babak; Booto, Gaylord Kabongo; O'Born, Reyn Joseph; Brattebø, Helge & Wallbaum, Holger [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2019). Life cycle assessment of winter road maintenance. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. ISSN 0948-3349. doi: 10.1007/s11367-019-01682-y.
• Slobodchikov, Roman; Bakke, Kjetil Lohne; Svennevig, Paul Ragnar & O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2019). Implementing climate impacts in road infrastructure in the design phase by combining BIM with LCA. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (EES). ISSN 1755-1307. 323(1). doi: 10.1088/1755-1315/323/1/012089. Full text in Research Archive
• Booto, Gaylord Kabongo; O'Born, Reyn Joseph; Ebrahimi, Babak; Vignisdottir, Hrefna Run; Brattebø, Helge & Pitera, Kelly [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2019). Road Planning and Route Alignment Selection Criteria in the Norwegian Context. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering. ISSN 1757-8981. 471(5). doi: 10.1088/1757-899X/471/6/062007. Full text in Research Archive
• Vignisdottir, Hrefna Run; Ebrahimi, Babak; Booto, Gaylord Kabongo; O'Born, Reyn Joseph; Brattebø, Helge & Wallbaum, Holger [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2019). A review of environmental impacts of winter road maintenance. Cold Regions Science and Technology. ISSN 0165-232X. 158, p. 143–153. doi: 10.1016/j.coldregions.2018.10.013.
• Wrålsen, Benedikte; O'Born, Reyn Joseph & Skaar, Christofer (2018). Life cycle assessment of an ambitious renovation of a Norwegian apartment building to nZEB standard. Energy and Buildings. ISSN 0378-7788. 177, p. 197–206. doi: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2018.07.036. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The upgrading of building infrastructure to modern standards represents a key tool for reducing global energy demand and emissions from buildings. In Norway, building upgrades have been prioritized despite the relatively low carbon intensity of the Norwegian energy mix through various incentive programs and continual improvement in building standards. Prioritizing upgrades is important as up to 90% of the existing Norwegian building stock is expected to remain standing by the year 2050. The overall impact of upgrading buildings is expected to be a net benefit to the environment but this is primarily in operation, and many studies on energy do not include the materials and resources required for upgrading. The ambitious building upgrade in the Stjernehus apartment block in Kristiansand, Norway represented an opportunity to analyse the emissions and cumulative energy demand of renovation strategies in a real-world case study. The Stjernehus apartment block, once declared the coldest apartment block in Norway, was renovated from 1960s standards to nearly passive house standard, leading to considerable improvements in operational energy demand. The renovation was evaluated in this study with respect to energy demand and overall lifetime environmental emissions using life cycle analysis over a 30-year period, and with three different scenarios for the energy supply. The results of this study show that despite the low carbon intensity of the Norwegian energy mix, there was a considerable environmental benefit to renovation. It is recommended that renovation of existing buildings continue as part of a successful climate mitigation strategy in Norway.

• O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2018). Life cycle assessment of large scale timber bridges: A case study from the world’s longest timber bridge design in Norway. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment. ISSN 1361-9209. 59, p. 301–312. doi: 10.1016/j.trd.2018.01.018.
• Larsen, Ingrid Lande; Aasbakken, Ida Granseth; O'Born, Reyn Joseph; Vertes, Katalin & Thorstensen, Rein Terje (2017). Determining the Environmental Benefits of Ultra High Performance Concrete as Bridge Construction Material. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering. ISSN 1757-8981. 245(5). doi: 10.1088/1757-899X/245/5/052096. Show summary

  Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) is a material that is attracting attention in the construction industry due to the high mechanical strength and durability, leading to structures having low maintenance requirements. The production of UHPC, however, has generally higher environmental impact than normal strength concrete due to the increased demand of cement required in the concrete mix. What is still not sufficiently investigated, is if the longer lifetime, slimmer construction and lower maintenance requirements lead to a net environmental benefit compared to standard concrete bridge design. This study utilizes life cycle assessment (LCA) to determine the lifetime impacts of two comparable highway crossing footbridges spanning 40 meters, designed respectively with UHPC and normal strength concrete. The results of the study show that UHPC is an effective material for reducing lifetime emissions from construction and maintenance of long lasting infrastructure, as the UHPC design outperforms the normal strength concrete bridge in most impact categories.

• Linjord, Torjus; O'Born, Reyn Joseph & Imenes, Anne Gerd (2017). Life cycle analysis of building integrated photovoltaic roof tile for use in Norwegian conditions. RIL. Suomen Rakennusinsinöörien Liitto. ISSN 0356-9403. p. 25–32. Show summary

  The main task in this study was to find the environmental impact of a photovoltaic (PV) roof tile for use in a Nordic climate with an interest in determining the energy payback time (EPBT) and global warming potential (GWP). A comparative life cycle assessment was conducted on two selected photovoltaic technologies used in Norway: a PV roof tile and a conventional PV panel. A total of five cases were examined in this analysis and the primary focus was on a monocrystalline PV roof tile, of which there were four different cases of the product. The fifth case in this study was an analysis on a conventional photovoltaic panel for baseline comparison purposes. Since there are no complete datasets available for the evaluation of annual performance of the PV roof tile, this was estimated for a location in Grimstad, Norway. The results of the study show that from an environmental perspective the use of conventional photovoltaics and building integrated photovoltaics are feasible solutions for the environment in Nordic climates.

• O'Born, Reyn Joseph & Vertes, Katalin (2017). Comparative life cycle assessment of concrete and timber road bridge deck designs. Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Timber Bridges. ISSN 0284-5172. Full text in Research Archive
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph; Brattebø, Helge; Iversen, Ole Magnus Kålås; Miliutenko, Sofiia & Potting, Jose (2016). Quantifying energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions of road infrastructure projects: An LCA case study of the Oslo fjord crossing in Norway. European Journal of Transport and Infrastructure Research. ISSN 1567-7133. 16(3), p. 445–466. Full text in Research Archive

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• O'Born, Reyn Joseph; Vertes, Katalin; Pytten, Gordon; Hortemo, Lars Ole & Brændhagen, Anders (2017). Life cycle assessment of an optimized network arch highway bridge utilizing timber. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-138-29595-7. 2304 p.

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• O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2024). «GoGreen» ombruk og gjenvinning i anleggsbransjen.
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2024). Sirkulær økonomi og miljøanalyse i vegbygging.
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2024). Reduksjon av utslipp i anskaffelser: Hvilke fakta legges til grunn?
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2024). Miljøaspektene rundt gjenbruk av elbilbatterier for energilagring .
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2024). GoGreen: Ombruk på byggeplass i praksis.
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2024). GoGreen: sirkulær prosesser på byggeplass i praksis.
• Simon, Brekke & O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2023). Life cycle assessment of geopolymer concrete made with tailings from ilmenite mining.
• Vetnes, Alexander Grødum & O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2023). The conceptualisation of circular road construction: A case study in Norway.
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph & Sophie, Engels (2022). Realizing the potential of humic acid recovery in Norway through chitosan treatment of drinking water.
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2022). Lørdagsuniversitetet i Flekkefjord: Sirkulær økonomi i byggebransjen.
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2022). Sustainability and the Battery Value Chain.
• Wrålsen, Benedikte & O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2022). Life cycle assessment to assess circular economy business models: case of Li-ion batteries .
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2021). Sirkulær økonomi og byggebransjen.
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2020). Forsker på veiforurensing . [Radio]. NKR P1 Sørlandet.
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2019). Agder Symbiosis and UiA.
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2019). Sustainability, life cycle thinking, and circular economy.
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2019). Implementing climate impacts in road infrastructure in the design phase by combining BIM with LCA.
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2019). Sirkulær økonomi og nye forretningmodeller .
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2019). Sirkulær økonomi og plast.
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2019). Hva er sirkulær økonomi? Hva slags muligheter kan dukke opp med sirkulær økonomi og hvordan kan vi utnytte mulighetene som ligger i den sirkulære økonomien?
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph; Booto, Gaylord Kabongo; Ebrahimi, Babak; Vignisdottir, Hrefna Run; Wallbaum, Holger & Bohne, Rolf André (2018). Sustainability review of Norwegian road construction and infrastructure. Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Sustainable Mega Infrastructures & 3rd International Conference on Sustainable Construction Materials.
• Vignisdottir, Hrefna Run; Booto, Gaylord Kabongo; Bohne, Rolf André; Ebrahimi, Babak & O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2018). Data Analysis of Winter Maintenance Operations. Proceedings of XVth International Winter Road Congress.
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2018). Simplified emissions calculations using cost-based process codes.
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2018). Corporate sustainability, LCA and green supply chain management.
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2018). Bruk av LCA i byggebransjen.
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2018). Sustainability review of Norwegian road construction and infrastructure.
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2018). Praktisk innføring av LCA i byggebransjen.
• Larsen, Ingrid Lande; Aasbakken, Ida Granseth; O'Born, Reyn Joseph; Vertes, Katalin & Thorstensen, Rein Terje (2017). Determining the Environmental Benefits of Ultra High Performance Concrete as a Bridge Construction Material. Show summary

  Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) is a material that is attracting attention in the construction industry due to the high mechanical strength and durability, leading to structures having low maintenance requirements. The production of UHPC, however, has generally higher environmental impact than normal strength concrete due to the increased demand of cement required in the concrete mix. What is still not sufficiently investigated, is if the longer lifetime, slimmer construction and lower maintenance requirements lead to a net environmental benefit compared to standard concrete bridge design. This study utilizes life cycle assessment (LCA) to determine the lifetime impacts of two comparable highway crossing footbridges spanning 40 meters, designed respectively with UHPC and normal strength concrete. The results of the study show that UHPC is an effective material for reducing lifetime emissions from construction and maintenance of long lasting infrastructure, as the UHPC design outperforms the normal strength concrete bridge in most impact categories.

• O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2017). Comparative life cycle assessment of concrete and timber road bridge deck designs.
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2017). Life cycle analysis of building integrated photovoltaic roof tile for use in Norwegian conditions.
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2017). Life cycle assessment of an optimized network arch highway bridge utilizing timber.
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2017). Bruk av LCA i byggebransjen: en introduksjon.
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2017). Modelling solutions for implementing life cycle environmental impacts in road construction in the procurement process: A case study in Norway. Show summary

  The current public road network in Norway is being upgraded with new ambitious road projects to meet today’s standards. At the same time, the Norwegian National Public Roads Administration (NPRA) has committed to reducing the life cycle GHG emissions of new built infrastructure by 40% by the year 2030. As the main road planning organization in Norway, NPRA set the conditions and manage the procurement process for new roads and ensure that they meet the current standards. Norwegian investment in road infrastructure is set to increase above current record levels therefore NPRA has an important role to play in deciding which roads will be built and who will build them. NPRA will be able to use this influence to help road builders reduce environmental impacts in the roads they construct through their newly launched “Demands for Climate Emissions in Contracts” (KRAKK) project. In Norway, roads are built per national handbooks that detail the guidelines and construction norms to be used by the road builders. The national handbooks are organized in a coding system where each code describes the process or material used in road construction presented in either physical quantities or monetary values. NPRA designs and chooses the routes for roads and then release a tender for these projects in which different contractors can bid following the process code system. This system is well organized and has the potential to be adapted into a streamlined LCA framework. This framework will be able to give detailed emissions information for NPRA in the bid process and will be easy to implement for road builders, who have knowledge of the process code system. The current tool that NPRA uses for analyzing emissions road projects, called RoadLCA, is based on process codes and utilizes relatively basic calculation parameters among 5 impact categories. If RoadLCA is to be used on a broader scale for the tender process, it must be updated and expanded with more emissions information that are relevant to Norwegian conditions. This can be done with use of both EPDs and full-scale LCA test studies to improve the accuracy of the results. Process codes that are described in monetary values are currently underrepresented in the RoadLCA model, which may also require implementing hybrid-LCA techniques if more detailed information is not available. The RoadLCA model will also need to be improved to make it easier for road builders to use, and should be designed to avoid any manipulation by road builders who use the model under the competitive tender process. This paper will present the RoadLCA model and will discuss the technical solutions used to improve the model for broader use in the procurement process. This paper will do this by testing case studies and analyzing them with the RoadLCA model and traditional LCA techniques. This paper will also discuss the challenges of developing such models with use of EPDs and by constructing LCA inventories.

• O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2017). Bruk av LCA i byggebransjen: En introduksjon.
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2016). Life cycle assessment of the world’s longest timber bridge.
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph (2015). Quantifying energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions of road infrastructure projects in early stage planning: An LCA case study of the Oslo fjord crossing in Norway.
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph; Liltved, Helge & Fredriksen, Karl Sigurd (2019). Strategies and solutions for including life cycle emissions in planning Norwegian road infrastructure. 07 Gruppen. ISSN 978-82-7117-947-2. Show summary

  In response to increasing environmental pressure due to climate change, the global community and the Norwegian government have agreed to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The government-run Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA) have been tasked with finding ways to drastically reduce their carbon dioxide emissions from road construction and maintenance by the year 2030. In response, NPRA has invested in research and begun the process of developing policy to promote the uptake of cleaner technologies, fuels, materials and processes. This thesis will discuss the solutions and strategies that NPRA can follow to reduce their emissions by presenting a series of articles that focus on the use of life cycle assessment models to calculate emissions of road infrastructure in the early planning phases and by discussing the implementation of emissions reductions policies. The results of this study have shown the use of models can be helpful for calculating emissions but that these models must be sufficiently robust and simple to use in order to be useful during road planning.

• O'Born, Reyn Joseph; Slobodchikov, Roman & Lohne Bakke, Kjetil (2018). Inkludere CO2-regnskap i 3D-modellen for veibyggingsprosjekter. Universitetet i Agder.
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph & Nordtveit, Espen (2017). Life Cycle Assessment of a Battery Passenger Ferry. Universitetet i Agder. Full text in Research Archive
• O'Born, Reyn Joseph; Skaar, Christofer & Wrålsen, Benedikte (2016). Life Cycle Assessment of an Ambitious Upgrading of an Apartment Building - An Environmental Approach on Upgrading Projects. NTNU.
• Linjord, Torjus; O'Born, Reyn Joseph & Imenes, Anne Gerd (2016). Life cycle analysis of photovoltaic roof tile. Universitetet i Agder.
• Brattebø, Helge; O'Born, Reyn Joseph; Sartori, Igor; Klinski, Michael & Nørstebø, Bjørnar (2016). Typologier for norske boligbygg - Eksempler på tiltak for energieffektivisering. EPISCOPE (prosjekt). Full text in Research Archive
• Brattebø, Helge; O'Born, Reyn Joseph; Sandberg, Nina Holck; Storvolleng, Ragni Kristin; Baltruszewics, Marta & Folstad, Marie [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2014). Fremtidig utvikling i energiforbruk og CO2-utslipp for Norges boligmasse. EPISCOPE (prosjekt). Full text in Research Archive

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