Research – Zofnass Program

The Zofnass Program for Sustainable Infrastructure was founded at Harvard in Fall 2007. The objective of the Program was to develop a rating system for the sustainability of infrastructure projects. At that time, such a rating system was unavailable, although large AEC companies had developed proprietary systems.

The Zofnass Program based part of its research on primary sources, taking advantage of its relationship with the AEC industry and the public sector. Projects and programs that constituted advancements in the current state of practice were documented as case studies to enhance teaching and further research. In most cases, the case studies were initiated by invited speakers in the regularly scheduled workshops and followed up by the Program’s researchers.

Integrated Climate-Biodiversity Action at The Project Level

The 2021-22 ZHP Research on assessing infrastructure projects’ integrated climate-biodiversity action is continuation of the 2020-21 research on climate action. It expands the boundary of research to capture two additional research areas (a) the risk of climate change on biodiversity and (b) biodiversity’s role in climate action.

Climate Action at The Project Level

This research aimed to assist the Envision framework in adapting and contributing to the ongoing global discourse and research on climate change and the urgency of channeling investments in climate action projects.

Aligned Indicators for Sustainable Infrastructure (AISI) against Established ESG Systems

The Aligned Indicators for Sustainable Infrastructure (AISI) is the product of a research project of ISCA, ISI Envision, GBI, and GRESB, under the leadership of GIB, sponsored by the Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF).

Lifecycle Sustainability Tool

This research proposes a Sustainability Lifecycle Tool for integrating infrastructure sustainability assessment with the lifecycle assessment for transportation projects. The tool development is based on research review of Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) of infrastructure…

Business Case for Planning Sustainable Infrastructure: It Pays!

Investment in infrastructure has traditionally been identified as a driver of growth and development. A central piece in the new 2030 global agenda, sustainable infrastructure helps to meet the targets defined in the Paris Agreement as well as the provision of basic services defined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Next Generation Infrastructure for Sustainable Environments

Next Generation Infrastructure for Sustainable Environments is funded by the SURDNA Foundation. The purpose of the Next Generation Infrastructure for Sustainable Environments project is to perform applied research for the Urban Water Management infrastructure category and its synergies for existing and expanding urban settlements in US context.

Zofnass Planning Guidelines for Sustainable Cities

Having completed the rating system for infrastructure projects, the next research effort was the Zofnass Research on the City Scale Sustainability. Zofnass sees a city as a system whose sustainability is based not only on the sustainability of individual projects (and buildings) but also on the overall planning of the entire infrastructure systems that serve the city and their own sustainability.

IDB Infrastructure 360°

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) – Zofnass Program collaboration began in mid-2013 with two pilot case studies from their private sector finance department, expansion of the airport Juan Santamaria in Costa Rica and a wind-farm Peralta in Uruguay.

Economic Process Tool

The Zofnass Economic Process Tool is a platform that offers a fast and easy way to achieve preliminary quantification and monetization of sustainability externalities in infrastructure projects based on the Envision™ rating system. The tool uses user input values to achieve this quantification in a clear and transparent manner.

Gulf Sustainable Urbanism

Gulf Sustainable Urbanism (GSU) is a holistic, cross-disciplinary, cross-border study by Harvard University focusing on sustainable urbanism in the Gulf Region. It is sponsored by Msheireb Properties, a subsidiary of Qatar Foundation, Qatar.

Z-rating System for the Sustainability of Infrastructure Projects

The Zofnass Program’s first research project resulted in the Z-rating System. A toolkit for the various stages of an infrastructure project. The intention has always been the selection of the best and most suitable type of project solving the problem at hand.