Proceedings of the 4th International Civil Engineering and Architecture Conference

In managing the integrity of bridge structures, damage detection and safety evaluation are crucial. The most important factors that contribute to bridge deterioration are environmental and operational variability. Early monitoring is crucial to maintain and protect the bridge structure over its lifetime. This work therefore intends to use computer vision-based vibration measurement to detect and analyze the vibrations of bridges. The captured data is processed using advanced algorithms to extracted features-based displacement measurement to identify patterns and anomalies in the vibration data and finally assess the bridge condition. This approach can handle the complicated situations by increasing computational efficiency, treating uncertainties, and streamlining the decision-making process. Also, the approach provides useful insights and future trends for applying ML and vibration-based damage detection methods to bridge health monitoring.

Ensuring the resilience of contemporary society hinges upon achieving adequate reliability levels in structural systems during design and maintenance decisions. These processes are crucial for mitigating the risk of unforeseen failures, thus averting potential catastrophic damage or losses. Consequently, effective strategies for reliability assessment and optimization within the design phase of structures and other engineering systems are paramount. This paper delves into various reliability analysis methods, encompassing simulation-based, approximation, and Metamodel-based approaches, to enhance understanding of structural performance under uncertainties. The research reveals that while approximation methods may face accuracy challenges due to the nonlinearity of limit-state functions, they exhibit notable computational efficiency for designs with relatively small to medium-sized variables. Conversely, the Metamodel method may necessitate multiple design experiments for constructing accurate Kriging models, yet it demonstrates commendable computational efficiency and accuracy in structural reliability assessment. The paper further provides a comparative analysis of accuracy and efficiency through numerical examples of frame structure and grid-shell structure reliability assessment.

This paper shows the assessment process of a 100 year-old historical over-capping timber structure. Visual observation, destructive, and non-destructive tests were performed to obtain the material properties of the timber structures. Based on the visual inspection, several of the element timber structures experienced deterioration. The destructive samples were obtained to observe the mechanical properties of timber material. The samples were acquired at a location that did not disturb structure stability. The mechanical properties of timber material, such as bending stress, tension stress parallel to the grain, compression stress parallel to the grain, and compression stress perpendicular to the grain, are examined to gain the actual strength of the material based on disturbed samples. Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity and humidity tests were performed on-site as part of non-destructive tests. The structure analysis was performed based on existing material data. To obtain nominal stress, this basis design stress was multiplied with several coefficients such as wet service factor, temperature factor, beam stability factor, size factor, flat use factor, incising factor, repetitive member factor, and column stability factor. The structure analysis showed that the columns’ structure needs to be retrofitted. The proposed design for timber retrofitting is shown in this paper and has been conducted on the site.

The application of machine vision algorithms in 3D bridges imaging and bridges inspection based on the fusion of UAV vision and LiDAR has a history of several years. Nonetheless, there is still lack of system research articles about this technology, especially for deep learning models developed to solve these problems. This article first introduces a comparison between the bridges crack detection system for classic 2D by using UAV camera images collection only and 3D by fusion between imaging information of the UAV camera technique and LiDAR technique for one crack in common that is, the original information detected by these two technologies is the scattering point information of the target. Subsequently, a convolutional neural network (CNN) is used for UAV and LiDAR imaging information feature fusion, which enhances the ability to extract damage features of bridge structures, and uses data fusion application to fusion a LiDAR and UAV detection scatter points for cracks, which improves the accuracy of bridge structure damage target detection in the real-time. The author believes that this study can provide practical guidance for the development of the next generation bridges condition evaluation system.

The grout sleeve has been widely used in prefabricated concrete structures as an important rebar connection technology. However, grout defects may occur due to manual miss operation or poor control approaches for quality, and the existing research on grout defects detection methods and accuracy are still insufficient, which seriously affects the construction quality and structural safety of prefabricated concrete structures. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a detection method that can detect the overall defects of specimen without damaging specimen and has higher detection accuracy. Based on this, a non-destructive resistance detection technology based on the conductivity of the slurry was proposed. Firstly, the basic principles of this detection technology were introduced, and a slurry fullness detection equipment was provided. Practice showed that using this equipment did not cause damage to the sleeve during the detection process, and the defective sleeve could be quickly repaired after detection, the defective sleeve strength was further improved. So this equipment can be promoted. In addition, analysis and resistance theoretical calculation were performed for insulating sleeves and non-insulating sleeves. The results showed that it is feasible to use the non-destructive resistance method to detect the resistance of grouting materials. However, when applying the non-destructive resistance method for detection, the rebars and sleeves must be insulated before construction to effectively avoid the error and interference of current in order to improve the accuracy of the test results.

The research was derived from extensive literature reading and addressed the gap in strengthening existing buildings. The study aims to create a model that would correlate the concrete's compressive strength to nondestructive tests (NDTs), establish the strength of in-situ structural members of an existing building using the model, and propose retrofitting intervention strategies as mitigation measures against ground motions. The study presents the artificial neural network (ANN) as the governing model for strength predictions over multi-linear and quadratic regressions. Sensitivity analysis gives prevalent insights into which factor influences the forecast among the input variables. This prediction model has been initiated to evaluate the in-situ strength of the case study building for the analysis following nonlinear static procedures. Two retrofitting interventions were then developed to compare with the performance of the existing three-story building. Predominantly, a performance-based design employing pushover analysis was done where the idealized curves were generated, projecting the base shear and displacements concerning the behavior of the building (ductile or inelastic behavior). This research evaluates the passing criteria of the building based on the performance objectives provided by American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 41–17. The structural member checks in terms of member chord rotations, member shear forces, joint shear stress, and inter-story drifts in connection with the base shear and target displacements evaluation proposed the best retrofitting intervention. The research showed that Case II (retrofitting by shear walls) intervention provided the lowest base shear and passed the considered member checks than RC jacketed with FRP wrapping interventions.

Road crack detection and measurement is one of the most important challenges for driving safety. Although the problem has been studied for a long time, few researchers have been investigating the road crack real-world measurements. Here, we develop an intelligence approach that detects the road crack then applies image processing techniques for the segmentation and real-world measurements. Our method demonstrates to be able to detect and measure the crack real-world area. The present intelligence approach including improved architecture CNN-YOLOv5 (Convolutional Neural Network-You Only Look Once version5), YOLO-crack were proposed to improve the ability of the network to detect multiple cracks. On the one hand, YOLO-crack realizes cracks detection on images. In CNN-YOLOv5, a hybrid module is proposed, which combines CNN and YOLOv5 to extract sparse the multi-scale features expressed can avoid the loss of local information caused by dilated convolution.

Based on the finite element method (FEM), this paper considers the constitutive relationship of the early age of concrete materials to study the distribution of surface cracks in the track slab under the action of uneven temperature and humidity fields. The research results show that: (1) The temperature stress on the surface of the early-age track slab is relatively large, especially in the middle area of the slab; (2) The track slab during sprinkler curing period has the risk of cracking, and the uneven temperature field has a significant impact on the cracks around the sleeper; (3) The humidity stress of track slab is mainly concentrated on the areas connected to the sleepers; (4) During the natural curing period, the humidity stress value on the surface of the track slab is greater than the tensile strength of the concrete. Furthermore, the uneven humidity field can easily cause transverse cracks in the center area of the track slab surface.

The present investigation studies the incidence generated by the soil-structure interaction (SSI) in an existing building located in Cochabamba, Bolivia, following the implementation the proposed FEMAP-2091 models. In this sense, the structure was verified with seismic analysis methods, examining that the inelastic drifts do not comply with the value established for reinforced concrete. Next, the significance value of SSI was analyzed, indicating that the inertial effect is significant, and the SSI models can be applied. The real system was analyzed by separating the kinematic and inertial interaction. Initially, the kinematic interaction was incorporated with two variables: the reduction due to the foundation connection and the embedment effect, which reduces the design spectrum. On the part of the inertial interaction, the dynamic stiffnesses were calculated with the impedance functions of ASCE 4–17. The SSI variables were incorporated into the models proposed by FEMA P-2091; the first two models were performed by linear analysis, and the other three models were performed with nonlinear pushover analysis. The results indicate an increase in the structure's fundamental period when considering the soil's flexibility. Such a decrease generates a decrease in the seismic demand, a decrease in the drift range of 19.9–62.4%, and an increase in the period from 0.036 to 1.155% with the implementation of the SSI models.

With the rapid development of transportation construction, the density of highway, railroad and subway tunnels crossing the same mountain range is getting higher and higher. The construction of new tunnels will destroy the seepage balance of the existing tunnels in the tunnel site area, affect the water inflow and pore water pressure of the first-built tunnels, and cause changes in the stresses of the tunnel surrounding rocks and even affect the operation safety of the existing tunnels. Taking Chongqing Tongluo Mountain Range (called Nanshan in Nanan District, Chongqing) as the background, the three-dimensional finite element analysis of the construction process of new tunnels is used to study the impacts of the construction of new tunnels between the Nanshan Tunnel and the Tongluo Mountain Tunnel on the drainage of the existing tunnels, as well as the seepage characteristics of the new tunnels and the prediction of the influx of water under the conditions of the existing tunnels. This study provides a reference for analyzing the evolution of the groundwater system caused by the construction of multiple tunnels in the karst valley area and predicting the amount of water inflow from the new tunnels.

This study investigates the dynamic interaction behavior of a rigid square foundation embedded in a layered half-space under torsional vibrations. An adaptive finite-unit method is used to create simplified models with discrete elements. Fifteen basic units, comprising linear springs, linear dampers, and concentrated polar mass inertia, are assembled according to specific principles to generate nineteen candidate models. The equivalent model theory is utilized to ascertain the physical parameters of each element. Three equivalent criteria are established accordingly between an actual soil-foundation system and a simplified soil-foundation system in terms of static responses, dynamic amplification factors, and dynamic dissipated energy factors. An optimization analysis using a sequential search method has been conducted to determine the optimal model for accurately simulating the dynamic torsional response of the foundation in a layered half-space. The optimal model with frequency-independent parameters is subsequently utilized to analyze the dynamic amplification factor of the soil-foundation system. The results of this study indicate that the optimal model accurately captures the dynamic interactions occurring under torsional loading, with the dynamic amplification factor closely aligning with those obtained from a finite element program. The findings confirm the viability of the suggested method, showcasing its capability to effectively simulate soil-foundation interactions in torsional foundation vibration problems.

Rainfall seepage is a main factor leading to landslides. Based on the field test of rainfall, the model of loess slope was made base upon similarity ratio. Firstly, the model was performed with 25 mm/h medium intensity artificial rainfall. Secondly, the model of loess slope has been operated by shaking table test. 12 humidity sensors were arranged along the slope toe, slope face and slope shoulder. The results of test showed that the humidity of the slope shoulder was the largest, followed by the slope toe, and the slope surface was the smallest. Different seismic accelerations have a significant impact on moisture transfer in loess slope, which were 200, 500 and 800 gal respectively. The change of humidity at 50 mm from the slope is obviously greater than 175 mm. Moisture transfer is composed of rainfall seepage and seismic liquefaction. As loaded to 800 gal, the loess has emerged to obvious loess liquefaction. The results of test showed that the seismic acceleration have a significant influence on the moisture transfer in loess slope. The change of humidity varies greatly with different slope positions. As the slope depth increases, the change of humidity smaller. When the depth from the slope is small, the change of humidity is the most in slope toe, and when the depth from the slope is large, the change of humidity is the most in slope shoulder. Studying the law of moisture transfer in loess slope after rainfall seepage can provide a theoretical basis for the design and treatment of loess slopes.

Tunnel excavation breaks the original hydrological dynamic equilibrium in the tunnel site area, and promotes the alternation of water cycle; the groundwater system has been recovered to some extent during tunnel operation, but the extent of the recovery and the revelation on the prediction of water influx of the new tunnels in the tunnel site area still need to be studied in depth. Taking the operation tunnel of Chongqing Nanshan (NS) in the karst valley area as an example, based on the analysis of tunnel engineering geological conditions and hydrogeological conditions, the water influx of Nanshan Tunnel is predicted through the monitoring of water outflow from the mouth of the tunnel after the tunnel has been passed through, the measurement of the water influx in the tunnel operation period, and the numerical simulation analysis of tunnel inflow, and at the same time the water influx of the nearby operation tunnel of the Tongluo Mountain (TLS) Railway Transportation Tunnel is analyzed. The results show that the water influx in the right hole of NS Tunnel is more influenced by surface water, while the left hole is more influenced by groundwater and karst water. Rainfall and permeability coefficient of surrounding rock have great influence on the water influx of tunnel. It provides a reference for the study of the evolution law of groundwater system of multiple tunnel construction in karst trough valley area.

Fujii Kōji, considered the pioneer of modern Japanese housing, was the first Japanese architect to design houses based on a scientific study of climate. Conducted in the 1920s, his study is closely related to matters of taste and is part of a dual process: the pursuit of a Japanese dwelling suited to the Japanese climate and cultural tastes. Understanding Fujii Kōji's place in this process, especially when compared to the first Japanese housing theorist, Yasuoka Katsuya, sheds light on the significance of climate in the development of modern Japanese housing. This paper explores the role of climate and the environment in the emergence of eclectic Western Japanese housing, the rise of Western-style housing, and Yasuoka's quest for an ideal housing suitable for modern Japan. This analysis highlights Fujii's innovative thinking and reveals its unique characteristics. While his architectural philosophy shares many similarities with Yasuoka's, his scientific approach to climate as the foundation for architectural design was truly innovative.

Numerous researchers and policymakers have revealed daylighting as an effective potential for energy conservation. However, in an extremely hot arid climate, achieving sufficient daylighting levels without increasing solar heat gain is challenging, in which the window design plays an essential role. Nevertheless, the state of research shows significant advances in research methodologies and passive strategies for optimizing energy consumption through daylight in office buildings. The literature claims that air-conditioning and artificial lighting in office buildings account for 40% and up to 70% of total energy consumption, usually higher in hot arid climates. Therefore, an in-depth review of the role and the effectiveness of different window design parameters is needed for successful daylighting practice and for optimizing building energy consumption. This paper aims to review the status of research on three fundamental window design parameters: window-to-wall ratio, window glazing, and external shading contributing to achieving daylighting and energy conservation in a hot arid climate. This paper may serve as a systematic literature study that would provide a comprehensive understanding and reference for the effectiveness of key passive strategies in building façade design.

In the face of climate change, the field of architecture and building design has been focussing on the search for sustainable solutions for several decades. The design of contemporary architectural building elements, including façades, is subject to a wide range of requirements in terms of energy efficiency, building protection and environmental compatibility. Among the various types of façades, the double-skin façade performs particularly well in terms of energy efficiency and sound insulation. This is a special type of transparent building envelope consisting of two layers, in most cases insulating glazing and single glazing, separated by an air space. In contrast to existing examples of such façades, this paper shows in its first part the development of a timber-glass double skin façade element, where the first exception to existing façades is a structural frame made of timber instead of aluminium and the second exception is a load-bearing function of the element, which however is not discussed in detail in this paper. The study provides answers to the questions about the possible applications of such an element and, in the second part, about the advantages of the developed element in terms of environmental performance compared to existing elements on the market.

In the past few decades, with growing knowledge of space science and technology, the interest in the possibility of constructing habitats on other celestial bodies has increased. These extraterrestrial habitats, while providing places for humans to live and work and protecting them from the harsh space environment, serve as the next step in humanity's journey in space exploration. This study aims to provide an overview of the environmental conditions that structures to be built in extraterrestrial habitats have to endure, such as radiation, atmosphere, gravity, and temperature, specifically on the Moon and Mars. The study also makes an analysis of the considerations to be taken into account during the habitat design process according to these environmental factors. The study suggests that in order to establish successful extraterrestrial habitats, several key themes and challenges need to be addressed. It is suggested that the resolution of the technical, logistical, and human factors is possible through collaborative and multidisciplinary research and development.

In response to social shifts such as the evolving learning preferences of the digital generation, deepening social disparities, and the rise of new technologies, Korean educational facilities have pursued swift adaptations. Various initiatives have been advocated, including a five-year plan to enhance school facility environments, the school space innovation project, and the development of green smart future schools. A key feature of these endeavors has been the active incorporation of user-participatory design methods. By transitioning from a supplier-centric to a user-centered design approach, the intention to offer user-specific spaces within conventional school facilities has been affirmed. Consequently, this study scrutinizes the overall process of the school space improvement pre-planning program, using the Wonju Girls’ High School in Gangwon-do case as a reference point. The purpose was to identify the limitations of participants at each stage and suggest directions for improvement, thereby suggesting the direction of the school space improvement project to be continuously promoted.

The Mekong Delta, famous for its status as a multi-ethnic region featuring many unique historical, cultural, and traditional villages, faces an imminent identity threat due to the ongoing urbanization process. Among them, the focus is on a small ethnic community, the Cham Muslim village, which still maintains many distinctive elements in terms of urban and architecture. In the previous investigations, fieldwork collected nine villages in this community that covered approximately two thousand housing, with attention devoted to the documentation of 151 traditional residences, forming the database for the framework of unique structures that have existed since the eighteenth century. In this study, the authors aim to clarify the relationship between the traditional spatial configuration and the surrounding environment and illustrate a transformation strategy grounded in passive architecture principles. We obtained results by analyzing village settlement and housing typology and its transformation through the viewpoint of passive design principles that follow the cultural behaviors of Cham Muslim people. The outcomes demonstrate the potential of preserving ethnic architecture while learning insights in adapting to the local climate. Furthermore, the research provides solutions for sustainable communities and contributes to the efforts to preserve ethnic identity for future generations.

Due to limited space in vertical rental public housing, the role of corridors is vital for public space. Corridors in the context of vertical rental public housing in Indonesia (Rusunawa) have a similar role to alleys in landed housing but with limited access. People carry out diverse domestic and social activities there, including chatting, socializing, sitting, and relaxing. This shows that one setting can accommodate a wide range of activities. The method used in this research is quantitative research through a questionnaire to 114 respondents to identify the relationship between setting, activities, and time. Furthermore, qualitative research is employed through observation, photographs, and in-depth interviews to analyze the system of setting and the system of activity that happens in corridors. This research uses a single study case, Rusunawa Sombo. The results find that Rusunawa Sombo’s corridor has a diverse system of setting and system of activity, ranging from domestic to social activity. This is because it was designed with a fairly wide corridor and aimed to accommodate the community's behavioral patterns as a shared public space. The socio-economic background similarity also creates a strong kinship within the community and eliminates temporal and spatial boundaries in daily interactions. They like to enjoy private activities together and tend to facilitate communal agreements for the use of the corridor as a public space in flexible times. In this way, no one's comfort will be disturbed. Moreover, a wide corridor influences the sustainability and diversity of neighborhood activity and has an important element for domestic, social, and economic activities.

Color is one of the important decorative elements of traditional houses, and structure is an important carrier for the presentation of color. The article discusses the role of color in different spatial positions and structures of Fujian Putian houses from the perspective of decorative space and structure and then clarifies the presentation and expression of decorations on different spatial needs and feelings. The article mainly adopts the field observation method, type comparison method, and other research methods to effectively sort out the specific characteristics of color-related elements such as materials, shapes, patterns, and so on based on different decorative spatial positions, and tries to illustrate the character traits of different colors given to the decorative structure of the traditional folk houses, such as the lightness and stability of the top and bottom of the structure, the figurative guidance of the near and far sight lines, the distinction between the public and private spaces, and the creation of multi-level structural spatial feelings, and so on. In this way, the relationship between different colors of the decorative structure and the activities, use, and even gender in the space is derived, which will provide a reference for further research on the color character of traditional residential buildings as well as the protection, repair, and reuse of architectural heritage.

The present study seeks to understand the decline of wooden construction systems in Portugal, examining their history. Wood, an integral part of European and Portuguese construction methods for centuries, witnessed its decline with the rise of plate buildings and the advance of reinforced concrete. Wood played a crucial role in national construction development, standing out in the Pombaline period after the 1755 earthquake, when the scarcity of materials led to the import of wood from Brazil for the reconstruction of Lisbon. However, associated with the excessive exploitation of forests, this importance was followed by laws and royal decrees aimed at protecting the forests, essential for the reconstruction effort. The subsequent period, marked by real estate speculation and urban expansion, signals the beginning of the decline in the use of wood. In the 30 and 40s of the twentieth century, with the advent of reinforced concrete, this material became central in large state structures, relegating wood to disuse and practically eliminating it from new constructions.

Irbid city in northern Jordan is characterized by many traditional courtyard houses, which are one of the architectural styles in Jordan. The courtyard houses in Irbid have different design styles. These houses have been examined in many previous studies with different methods and are usually interpreted as a response to different cultural and social values. However, there is still a need to understand the spatial configuration of courtyard houses and to analyze the connectivity and integration between various spaces using quantitative analysis. This paper applied space syntax techniques, to reveal the topo-logical layout of courtyard houses in Irbid City using depthmap software based on the convex map model, taking Al Nabulsi House as a case to analyse the spatial configuration be-tween different spaces. The findings contributed theoretically to understanding spatial configurations in traditional courtyard houses in Irbid city, and confirm the importance of traditional architectural components.

To minimize the deviation of traditional algorithm, which is based on the single-span multistory frame model, the continuum model was employed to derive accurate internal force calculation formulas for Concrete-Filled Steel Tubular (CFST) lattice columns with flat lacing tubes. We confirmed the validity of these formulas through Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Notably, the discrepancy between the continuum method and FEA results regarding the axial force in the column limb was less than 10%. In order to quantify the relationship between the resisting moment, generated by the axial force in the column limb, and the overturning moment produced by the horizontal force at the column top, the concept of a lacing tube shear coefficient was proposed. The primary parameters influencing the lacing tube shear coefficient were found to be the diameter and spacing of both the column limb and the lacing tube. Parametric analysis reveals a wild variation in the lacing tube shear coefficient, ranging from 0.57 to 0.80, depending on these parameters. Notably, this coefficient decreases with an increase in the outer diameter, column spacing, and lacing tube spacing, but increases with a larger lacing tube diameter.

The coastal zone of Peru is exposed to a high seismic risk, and many essential constructions in the country still lack seismic protection systems. This increases the likelihood of these structures experiencing considerable damage in the event of a severe earthquake, potentially leading to collapse. The present research proposes the implementation of Taylor-type viscous fluid dampers and Bozzo-type Shear Link metallic dampers, through two different designs applied to the same case study involving a reinforced concrete structure in the pavilion of a typical school built on soft ground in Lima. For this purpose, a spectral modal dynamic analysis of the building without dampers was conducted, as well as a linear time-history dynamic analysis of the structures with dampers. The results of these analyses provided the displacements and drifts of the structures. It was observed that the conventionally designed structure does not exhibit adequate structural behavior in the face of a severe earthquake, unlike the structures with damper implementation, which showed a significant reduction in their drifts and displacements. However, it was emphasized that the structure with the implementation of metallic dampers exhibited better structural behavior compared to the structure with viscous fluid dampers.

The purpose of this study is to present a method for the simulation of vehicle loads on long span bridges based on the data recorded by the Weigh In Motion (WIM) system. Due to the strong randomness of the traffic loads on large span bridges, the traditional research methods have significant limitations in accurately analyzing the characteristics of the random traffic loads, which in turn affects the assessment of the bridge structural conditions. On the basis of the traffic information collected from a bridge's WIM system, traffic weight and speed of different vehicle types have been counted. A multi-lane random vehicle load simulation program based on MATLAB is developed based on the basic ideas of the vehicle following model and the lane-changing model to complete the simulation of random traffic flow. It is mainly composed of the following aspects: (1) Seven vehicle types were classified and the proportion of vehicle types in each lane was investigated, based on the actual collection of vehicle data from the studied bridge. The probability density distribution function of the vehicle speed and vehicle weight was obtained by fitting the data with the mixed normal distribution and the mixed log normal distribution. (2) Based on the statistical distribution model of the measured vehicle parameters, the Monte Carlo method is used to generate the important parameters such as vehicle type, vehicle weight, vehicle speed and so on by sampling, and finally to form the random vehicle load sequence under the specified flow rate. (3) By introducing the following model, the rules of acceleration and deceleration of vehicles are specified. Thus, the simulation of traffic flow can be more realistic. Besides, a lane-changing model is established considering that lane-changing behaviour occurs in real vehicles.

As a promising development for seismic resilience, this paper addresses the urgent need for earthquake-resistant construction methods, focusing on developing a new brace called the “Channel steel- I-section Buckling Brace” (CI-BB). The design combines replaceable low-yield wide flange steel for the cores with high-strength channel steel as constraining parts. Moreover, it offers insights into restraining channel steel and the complex deformation patterns in low-yield I-section steel core components during earthquakes. The primary role of the wide flange section core was to dissipate energy, while channel steel remains elastic and thus provides strength and withstand loads. This study first introduces the design concept and formulations of the low-yield I steel to estimate the yield strengths, stiffness, and axial displacement of the brace at various stages of loading. The application of this concept was proved through an example following the given formulations. Finally, a finite element analysis studied the numerical model subjected to various cyclic loading to examine the seismic performance of the proposed CI-BB. Consequently, the results show that the proposed CI-BB is stable and robust, able to withstand significant axial loads without losing stiffness.

Structural damage not only causes material losses but also human losses, especially in the case of essential buildings such as health facilities, as they must ensure the provision of medical services during and after an earthquake. On the other hand, Peru is a highly seismic country due to its location on the western edge of South America, an area where the Nazca and South American tectonic plates converge. For this reason, it is essential to reinforce these infrastructures with devices that help prevent and reduce damage caused by earthquakes and guarantee the safety of the hospital. This paper studies the seismic performance of three energy dissipators: Shear Link Bozzo (SLB), Triangular Plate Added Damping and Stiffness (TADAS) and viscous fluid; incorporated into an existing hospital in Peru. The methodology involves modeling these three devices using ETABS software and evaluating the following study cases: (i) without energy dissipators, (ii) with the three seismic devices evaluated separately. Non-linear time-history analysis is conducted, considering seven seismic records compatible with the response spectrum constructed from the parameters of the Peruvian Standard E.030. Finally, it was concluded that the viscous fluid dissipator is the best option to implement in the hospital since the maximum drifts, accelerations and shear forces on each floor were reduced by 45, 23 and 27%.

Opening in RC deep beams is often necessary to provide utilities with a passage through the beam, while the beam itself should be capable of sustaining high stress as a transfer beam. The presence of an opening in the beam will create stress concentration that eventually reduces its strength and stiffness. The conventional way to cope with this situation is to provide shear reinforcement that resists the tensile stress when the concrete cracks. One of the major drawbacks is that the concrete would have to crack first to redistribute the tensile stress from the concrete to the shear reinforcement. Another alternative proposed in this paper is to use steel fiber, which not only resists crack growth but also increases the tensile strength of concrete. The proposed solution is evaluated using an in-house finite element analysis package. The stress–strain model for the steel fiber reinforced concrete under tension was adapted from the author's previous work using the superposition method and calibrated with the laboratory test results. The crack propagation for plain reinforced concrete (RC) and steel fiber RC deep beams were compared and discussed. From the analysis, using steel fiber effectively increased the load-carrying capacity of the deep beam.

The main objective of the article is to assess the influence of using recycled aggregates on the compressive strength of concrete (f'c = 175 kg/cm2) at the age of 7 and 28 days. Specifically, the study focuses on the partial replacement of natural coarse and fine aggregates with recycled counterparts. To achieve this, recycled concrete from the demolition of columns in Villa el Salvador, Lima—Peru, was utilized as a substitute for the natural coarse aggregate. Additionally, ground glass sourced from glass shops in the Center of Lima was employed as a substitute for the natural fine aggregate. Three mixtures were designed following the ACI method: CC, representing conventional concrete; D1, denoting concrete with a 30% substitution (20% recycled concrete and 10% ground glass); and D2, indicating concrete with a 50% substitution (30% recycled concrete and 20% ground glass). Subsequent to the formulation of these mixtures, quality verification tests were conducted on the fresh concrete, and cylindrical specimens measuring 10 × 20 cm were created for sampling. After 7 days of curing, the specimens underwent compression tests, revealing strengths exceeding 65% of the design strength and after 28 days, strengths greater than 100% of the design strength.

Developing robust and stable infrastructure in areas with weak and expansive soils requires creative approaches to improving the subgrade layer. This study aims to determine whether using rice husk ash (RHA) as an environmentally friendly soil stabilizer is feasible. RHA has been shown to have ground improvement potential in recent investigations. An experimental investigation was carried out to support this novel building material's soil stability and geotechnical qualities. To comprehend the impacts of RHA on the geotechnical parameters of subgrade layers, considering different curing periods, sixteen specimen combinations of weak expansive soils with clearly defined subgrade layers of soil-RHA-cement were examined. Each subgrade's admixtures were made by combining soil with 2, 4, 6% RHA, 2, 4, and 6% cement. Three subgrade layers were used: upper, bottom, and subgrade double layers. Our work presents a novel method considering upper, bottom, and double subgrade layers with low cement dosage. We performed SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) and EDS (Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy) investigations and mechanical testing to fully comprehend the stabilized soils’ microstructural and elemental composition characteristics. The link between shear stress, shear displacement, cohesiveness, and internal friction angle was thoroughly examined. The test results showed significant shear strength development for every subgrade layer. The present study adds to the current investigation of sustainable ground improvement techniques by highlighting the possible benefits of RHA-infused subgrade.

The article presents the usefulness of implementing the use of recycled glass powder, after having carried out the permeability test, evaluated at the age of 28 days. This with the purpose of seeking a sustainable and low-cost alternative to improve the durability of concrete exposed to humid climates compared to conventional concrete. The influence of pulverized glass shows a positive impact on the mechanical properties of the concrete at the age of 28 days, through the permeability test. In a comparative study it is shown that adding glass powder produces workable samples obtained according to the slump test. On the one hand, being in a humid climate, water infiltration was measured due to the humidity of the concrete. For this purpose, the permeability test was carried out following what is described in the American standard ASTM C107. On the other hand, it was analyzed that powdered glass can improve the properties of concrete, since it has a positive contribution to the properties analyzed and achieving a waterproof concrete with a dosage of VP05. This brings benefits in the construction sector not only in improving the properties of concrete, but also in making more sustainable concretes.

The study investigates the impact of low-cycle static loads on the strength and deformation properties of concrete through experimental analysis. Emulating conditions akin to operational loads, various low-cycle loading modes were employed to discern their distinct effects on prismatic strength (Rb), initial modulus of elasticity (Eb), and overall deformations of concrete. Results indicate a discernible reduction in prismatic strength, averaging between 6 and 9%, and a corresponding decrease of 11–15% in the modulus of elasticity relative to the initial loading cycle. Concurrently, both total and permanent deformations of concrete exhibit an increase ranging from 1.24 to 1.29 times. The study introduces pertinent dependencies that elucidate the influence of loading characteristics (η) on the reduction of prismatic strength (Rb) and the initial modulus of elasticity (Eb). These findings offer valuable insights into the material behavior of concrete under low-cycle static loads, with implications for the structural performance and longevity of concrete elements subjected to similar loading conditions.

Debonding stands as the most severe form of deterioration in facade cladding systems. Accurately understanding its evolution path is paramount for effective maintenance strategies. This study examines the debonding evolution of mortar-concrete adhesion systems under thermal loading, combining periodic bond strength tests and continuous strain monitoring. Results reveal an “S-shaped” decay in degradation paths, delineated into stages of degradation, stagnation, and further degradation. Debonding progression is characterized by instability, with damage accumulating before a threshold, followed by propagating rapidly. Monitoring strain behavior captures the transition of adhesion from healthy to damage stages, with adhesion failure evident in the loss of movement followability.

Building envelopes—especially roofs and facades—have been found to be the primary elements influencing a building's energy efficiency and thermal performance. Since it increases the façade's shaded area, using surface geometry as a design variable could be crucial to the structure's thermal specifications. This would increase the shaded areas by, accordingly, reducing the amount of heat that is stored and transferred into interior spaces. Six geometrical patterns were created using an experimental method based on a review of the literature in order to test the viability of the surface geometry. It found that the presence of alcove spaces deeper and against flow obstructions caused the most water holding for their deepest grooves and greater obstruction to the linear flow channel than other panels. The best thermally performed patterns among the six patterned samples, have been intensely measured thermally by measuring the thermal conductivity and taking thermal images in various weather conditions after adding bio-based layer to their outer surface. The study found that adding a bio-based layer could also lower the average surface temperature of the panel by 4°. This would be checked by the thermal performance evaluation in terms of keeping moisture in the samples and lowering the amount of heat that was stored and transferred.

Peat is organic soil composed of fragmented and decomposed plant materials. This soil has a short period of primary compression and followed by significant secondary compression. However, a comprehensive study about the long-term compression behavior of peat is still limited, especially for tropical fibrous peat. Tropical fibrous peat generally consists of stems, roots, and leaves from woody plants. Stem has a high contained of lignin, hence more difficult to decompose and stiffer than other parts of woody plants. Thus, pieces of the stem are often found as the main component of coarse fiber on tropical fibrous peat. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of coarse fiber content increment on the long-term compression behavior of tropical fibrous peat in Indonesia. Peat samples were taken from Palangkaraya (Central Kalimantan), Kampar (Riau), and Serdang Bedagai (North Sumatra). A one-dimensional consolidation test was conducted by using the increment loading method. The result shows that Central Kalimantan, Riau, and North Sumatra peat studied has coarse fiber content of 17.35%, 7.11%, and 54.40%, respectively. The long-term compression curve of Central Kalimantan peat exhibits an S-shape (typical of clay). While the shape tends to deviate to be straight line for peat from Riau and North Sumatra. The amount of coarse fiber influences the rate of secondary compression value significantly in the last load increment (100–200 kPa).

It is acknowledged that chemically-activated binder (CAB) concrete is a revolutionary, environmentally friendly alternative to Portland cement concrete that exhibits superior mechanical and thermal properties. Chemically activated binder concrete is a promising sustainable construction material to replace Portland cement concrete. The CAB binder is composed of 85% ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) and 15% chemical activator. The GGBFS is non-metallic by-product produced during metal extraction process of iron industries. In this paper, mix design for different grades of standard strength concrete viz. M30, M35, M40, M45, M50 have been done using 20% Alccofine and 80% CAB. Concrete specimens of different types like cube, cylinder and prism have been cast at different age of maturity. In this paper CAB concrete is exposed at different temperatures viz. ambient temperature (27 °C), 200 °C, 400 °C, 600 °C, 800 °C and then residual strength properties of the CAB concrete are evaluated.

This paper delves into the intricate relationship between the history of epidemics and urban development, exploring their profound influence on economic, social, medical, demographic, and architectural aspects of cities. Focusing on post-1666 London, devastated by a major fire followed by a meticulous reconstruction, this study investigates the consequential morphological changes in the city. Specifically, we aim to comprehend the role of this urban transformation in mitigating the bubonic plague epidemics prevalent during that era. By examining historical records and architectural adaptations, the article seeks to elucidate how the reconstructed city contributed to the reduction of disease transmission and to enhance it resilience. Furthermore, the analysis explores the lasting impact of this reconstruction on epidemic patterns. This research provides valuable insights into the symbiotic relationship between urban planning and public health, offering a historical perspective that contributes to contemporary discussions on resilient city development in the face of health challenges.

Transferring commuters on Atocongo (Lima, Perú), between Linea Amarilla (buses) and Line 1 of the Lima Metro (subway) shows various challenges. Commuters have to board the buses on the street, after crossing crowded roads, there are also interruptions like street vendors, crowded sidewalks, and lack of traffic signals at crosswalks. The transfer time is not optimized and the actios is not safe for commuters. This research proposes a multimodal interconnection that reduces transfer time and leads users directly between both transportation systems, on both routes: From Santiago de Surco (SS) and San Juan de Miraflores (SJM). The transfer time was obtained (current situation) and a model was developed with the interconnection infrastructure of both transport systems (proposed situation). From the comparison of both situations, it was obtained that the times were reduced, for the route from SS 49.87% and for the route from SJM 28.87%. It is concluded that the proposed model manages to reduce the user's transfering time.

With the continuous improvement of urban development in China, there is an urgent need to explore a new model for urban management. Big data reveals that in the current era of urban densification, the availability of land resources for green construction is extremely limited. Achieving sustainable development of green spaces and ecological areas in high-density cities, while addressing the scarcity of land and residents’ demand for green spaces, has become a crucial challenge in contemporary urban development. This study focuses on the Macau Peninsula as a representative high-density urban area and systematically examines patterns for creating urban green spaces. It identifies desirable characteristics and proposes viable strategies for green space creation, taking into account the current construction status and development vision of the Macau Peninsula. These strategies include regional connectivity, comprehensive service coverage, seamless integration, micro-green expansion, and three-dimensional greening.

Urban villages are typical informal settlements in Chinese cities. In the urban development process, some old urban areas have been preserved, and some adjacent rural areas have become a part of the city, thus eventually forming China's unique urban village landscape. The high density and relatively poor environment in these areas have also brought about some problems of public security and regional vitality. These problems will become more difficult as the network becomes more developed in the post-epidemic era. This article takes Jinan as a representative and an urban village in Lixia District as the site. By investigating the characteristics and problems of this urban village, it attempts to propose a possible architectural design plan to improve the landscape of the urban village and enhance the vitality of community.

Transportation is critical, especially in rural areas as it provides the mobility to people to access different activities satisfying their daily needs. The purpose of this research is to create an artificial neural network (ANN) trip generation model (TGM). 500 households (HH) were surveyed to obtain the independent variables used in the modeling process including the HH size (HHS), number of children in the HH below 7 years old (NCHHBS), number of HH member from 7 to 59 years old (NHHMSF), number of HH member above 59 years old (NHHAF), number of working member of the HH (NWMHH), number of school children in the HH (NSCHH), number of helpers in the HH (NHHH), number of motorize vehicles in the HH (NMVHH), HH income (HHI), highest educational attainment (HEA), head of HH age (HHHA), and number of driver’s license holder in the HH (NDLHHH). Using the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm (LMA) as the training algorithm (TA) and hyperbolic tangent sigmoid (HTS) function as the activation function (AF), the governing TGM was observed in the 12–25-1 network structure with the highest R value = 0.98476 and least Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) of 9.04%. Moreover, the governing network structure achieved the minimized Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) value at 25 hidden neurons (HN) indicating that the network has already been generalized and was the best model among those observed in this study. The outcomes of the research showed the efficacy of artificial neural networks in developing trip generation prediction models (PM).

From the adoption of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals in 2000 to the formulation of the 2022 Sustainable Development Goals, global sustainable development has been continuously improved and improved. In the context of China's proposed double carbon target, the issue of sustainable urban development has attracted many scholars to conduct research. This paper takes the traffic problem in urban sustainable development as the research object, takes Wuhan As an example to conduct an OD survey of daily travel in its seven central urban areas, and then analyzes the data based on Origin and ArcGIS, and incorporates the travel mode, travel location, travel distance and income level of Wuhan residents into the research system, and finally explores the sustainable development of Wuhan in the field of urban transportation based on the research results and proposes solutions. At the same time, it also provides a thinking direction for the research on the sustainable development of urban transportation in China.

Leakage is one of the biggest problems in water distribution networks (WDNs), even for the developed countries, as it has substantial technical and financial impacts. It is difficult to avoid the leakage in WDNs, but it must somehow be minimized. This paper presents a case study, in which a detailed field survey was conducted for the selected part of the network of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates to evaluate the amount of leakage in WDN. Two distinct field surveys were conducted during both day and nighttime to assess the leakage, as the amount of leakage varies between these two periods. Mass conservation approach (water balance approach) was adopted for the selected small network to analyze the field data. The results showed that the leakage percentages were found to be of about 14.9 in the day and 28.6% in the nighttime.

Highway construction site project involves a complex interplay of various construction processes and a dynamic construction environment, which is dangerous for workers. The occurrence of highway construction safety accidents will lead to significant losses on society and enterprises. Therefore, it is of great significance to analyze the causes and prevention methods of highway construction safety accidents in China. This study collected 123 accident cases of highway construction and established the framework of highway construction accident cause based on the 4 M model. Then, Statistical analysis is conducted to reveal the general rules of accident occurrence. It is observed that management factors are the main causes of accidents and “Inadequate training” occurs most frequently in management factors, which can provide reference suggestions for relevant enterprises and government departments.

Mapping educational facilities is an important factor in achieving social equity. However, many countries have experienced problems with the distribution of educational facilities. This study explores the spatial distribution of public primary schools in Erbil using advanced GIS tools and statistical analyses. It employs methods such as the Lorenz Curve, Moran's Index, Ripley's K function, hotspot analysis, and geostatistical techniques, including IDW and Kriging. The research reveals significant inequities in the allocation of educational facilities, with densely populated central areas having a higher concentration of schools compared to the sparsely populated outskirts. Additionally, the results revealed that the observed Ripley's K value was approximately 7000 m greater than the expected K value, and the Moran's index was 0.0895. This indicates that the distribution of schools has clustering patterns. Moreover, the values of IDW and Kriging, 8 and 3, respectively, suggest that primary schools tend to concentrate in the older, more populated neighborhoods of the city. These findings highlight the pressing need for balanced urban development and educational infrastructure, especially in rapidly urbanizing contexts. This paper provides essential insights for policymakers and urban planners, underscoring the importance of equitable resource distribution in urban settings. While the study's approach is focused primarily on geographical factors, it opens avenues for further research incorporating socio-economic variables. Overall, it contributes significantly to understanding urban planning challenges in the realm of educational equity.

Intelligent sports fits the background of the era of scientific and technological development and the gradual improvement of health demand, and has more advantages in the integration field of promoting public health. Urban park is an important spatial carrier for realizing a healthy city, and in recent years, a number of policy documents have put forward the intelligent orientation of outdoor sports, indicating that the integration of intelligent sports with urban parks has practical significance and application value. Based on this, this study introduces the application types and distribution of intelligent sports in urban parks, facility support and platforms, proposes 3 issues that the application of intelligent sports in urban parks may face, namely management and maintenance, technical guarantee and revenue, and provides 4 strategies with a view to providing a basis for subsequent practical promotion and theoretical research.

The current approach to evaluating indoor room comfort often focuses solely on thermal parameters, with temperature being the primary indicator. Thereby, temperature is used as a synonym for indoor climate comfort. In the context of the ‘comfortcube’ research project, we introduce a novel measuring and display instrument prototype. Departing from conventional methods, this instrument integrates existing sensors to capture and assess a more comprehensive array of room comfort climate parameters, extending beyond mere thermal considerations. Diverging from traditional comfort measurement devices, the ‘comfortcube’ facilitates the integral recording and evaluation of multiple room comfort climate parameters simultaneously. This inclusive approach encompasses variables such as illuminance and air quality, providing a holistic perspective on indoor comfort. By allowing users to directly evaluate these parameters, we aim to predict the percentage of dissatisfied individuals based on prevailing structural and human conditions. An associated application linked to the measuring instrument empowers individual users to actively participate in optimizing the building environment in a controlled manner. The overarching goal is to guide users and mitigate potential incorrect or counterproductive behaviors associated with comfort. Ultimately, the research project aspires to furnish predictive recommendations for action, drawing from real-time measurements, historical data, and a diverse set of internal and external sources.

The indoor luminous environment of buildings is composed of daylighting and artificial lighting. Through visual effects, non-visual effects and perception, it has a wide impact on people's vision health, emotional cognition, metabolism and immune biorhythms. This study is based on on-site research, investigating three educational buildings and distributing 1154 valid questionnaires. The daylighting environmental score of educational buildings is significantly higher than the artificial lighting environmental score, and key indicators at different time periods include illuminance, correlated color temperature, and color rendering index. In order to improve the classroom luminous environment satisfaction from “neutral” to “satisfactory”, the horizontal illuminance of the desktop should be greater than 500 lx, the color temperature must be greater than 5000 K, and the color rendering index must be greater than 85.

The escalating global energy consumption of the building sector highlights the imperative for architects and designers to efficiently configure indoor spaces due to their profound role in energy utilization globally. However, in the prevailing reliance on mechanical air conditioning systems, the influence of passive architectural elements, specifically ceiling height, on energy consumption and indoor thermal comfort has been regrettably overlooked in recent years. This paper investigates the impact of ceiling height on the building energy performance in nine cities across Afghanistan characterized by a lack of standardized building regulations. Employing the BEopt™ software, comprehensive energy simulations were conducted, considering varying floor-to-ceiling heights ranging from 8 to 15 feet. The study reveals Precise effects, indicating that elevated ceilings have minimal impact on cooling loads but significantly increases heating energy demand. Therefore, lower ceilings are recommended in regions with predominant heating loads (e.g. Bamiyan, Chaghcharan, Ghazni, Kabul), while in cooling-dominated areas (e.g. Farah, Kandahar, Jalalabad), higher ceilings enhance energy efficiency. The findings indicate that a 1-foot increase in ceiling height corresponds to an energy demand increase ranging from 3.7% in warmer regions to 11.3% in colder areas. The findings provide insights into the relationship between ceiling height and energy efficiency, contributing to the development of standardized building regulations in Afghanistan.

The significance of relative humidity in Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) cannot be overstated, as an excess of moisture poses the risk of mold growth, threatening both the structural integrity of buildings and human health. This study undertakes the evaluation of humidity levels and mold condensation in inadequately ventilated residential buildings, concentrating on Dhaka city. Its primary objective is to scrutinize how these factors impact the structural integrity and maintenance of residential buildings, adopting a comprehensive quantitative research approach. The study incorporates a synthesis of experimental field surveys, analysis, and simulation methods, drawing insights from reputable publications that quantify the impact of indoor air humidity and performance. In order to concurrently optimize these criteria, the study employs multi-objective Optimization techniques, adjusting parameters like relative humidity (RH) and temperature based on indoor environmental conditions (such as open and closed windows, air conditioner usage, heating, and fan operation). The specific aim of the research is to evaluate how RH and mold condensation influence the structural integrity and maintenance of residential buildings in Dhaka. The outcomes of the study provide a basis for recommendations in designing residential buildings in Dhaka, emphasizing the need for effective ventilation systems, moisture control measures, and durable building materials. Additionally, the research underscores the necessity for clear guidelines and policies to tackle indoor air quality issues in the city. The findings contribute valuable insights for architects and designers in creating healthier and more enduring living spaces, aligning with the broader objective of enhancing indoor air quality.

The research paper provides an in-depth analysis of energy-efficient building practices in Erbil City, specifically for residential houses. It delves into current energy use patterns and introduces green building techniques such as improved wall insulation, the installation of shading devices, the use of green roofs, the adoption of LED lighting, and the integration of photovoltaic panels. The study employs advanced simulation tools, DesignBuilder and EnergyPlus, to evaluate the impact of these green strategies on reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions while also improving the living comfort of inhabitants. The results demonstrate a substantial decrease in energy usage and CO2 emissions, offering a detailed comparison of the effectiveness of various green building techniques in a hot, semi-arid climate. The paper concludes with practical recommendations for the application of these strategies in similar climatic conditions, highlighting their importance in addressing energy scarcity and environmental sustainability issues.

This study explores the interconnection between environmental stress and the discordant psychological well-being of the population through a specific focus on permeability and enclosure. In Sidoarjo, where only 21.6% of open space is allocated—well below the required minimum of 30%—and characterized by poor quality, noticeable changes in behavioral patterns occur, resulting in a disruption of psychological well-being. The research argues that optimizing the design of enclosures within public spaces, considering the permeability factor, holds promise for alleviating environmental stress in Sidoarjo Regency. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, incorporating both descriptive qualitative and quantitative methodologies, the study employs mean score analysis and continues with Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA). The findings reveal that spaces with a strong level of enclosure (D/H < 1) and high permeability significantly influence positive psychological well-being. Conversely, spaces with a moderate level of enclosure (1 < D/H < 2) exhibit an indeterminate effect, suggesting adaptability to specific spatial functions, while those with low levels of enclosure (D/H > 2) and lower permeability imply a diminished impact on psychological well-being. These insights, incorporating permeability and enclosure as key factors, contribute to the understanding of the interplay between design elements, environmental stress, and psychological well-being, potentially influencing urban planning and public space optimization in Sidoarjo Regency within the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

As a developing country, Peru has great limitations in the application of new and innovative technologies in the construction sector. Construction projects consist of several stages in their development, one of the most important is the planning stage, which is essential to achieve efficient execution and meet established deadlines. However, this stage is usually tedious and complicated to carry out since there are multiple factors that can affect the estimates obtained from the planning process. However, the deadlines for the execution of construction projects are tight and failure to comply generates large losses of money. That is why this article seeks to implement the Lines of Balance (LOB), Last Planner System (LPS) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) methodologies to the traditional procedure. First, surveys were conducted on three different construction projects to determine the traditional planning process. Secondly, a procedure is developed to integrate the 3 aforementioned methodologies. Finally, the process was applied in a building project. A comparative analysis was carried out between the current state of the project and the state after using the aforementioned procedure. As a result, execution speeds increased for the items that maintained the same amount of work, the amount of m3 of slab emptying increased by 33.33%. It was observed that in the planning and work execution phase, the procedure improves the speed of execution of the items.

The cause of an object’s damage can influence the public's willingness to pay (donations) for restoration. There is a disagreement about whether the willingness to pay (WTP) increases when the damage is attributed to humans (outrage effect) or nature (moral responsibility effect). Other factors also influence WTP for restoration. This study used a particular post office as an example, conducted a questionnaire survey, and applied a random parameter logit model (one of the logit models that allows the parameters of each individual to vary, allowing us to consider heterogeneity among individuals) to examine how the cause of damage (nature, owner, and local people) influenced people's WTP. The effect of the percentage of cost covered by the owner for restoration (25, 50, and 75%) and different donation locations/methods (middle of town, on-site, and online) on the WTP were also studied. The results support the idea that natural damage leads to a greater WTP because the reason for the deterioration of the said post office is clear, and participants can recognize who is responsible for the damage. In human-related cases, the WTP was higher for an owner than for local people if the payment place was a town, but vice versa if the payment place was a site. It follows that the WTP was lower if participants were assumed to visit a place related to the owner or local people. The results also showed that the WTP was the highest when the percentage of owner’s payments was moderate (50%).

The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of 360° video technology to monitor the unsafe behaviour of workers in the construction industry. To achieve this, a survey questionnaire was designed and distributed to participants working in the South African construction industry. The study's findings outline how an integrated video processing system and safety hazard factors will improve the monitoring of unsafe behaviour among construction workers. Additionally, the results showed that using 360° video technology could facilitate monitoring possible safety hazard factors, including failure to wear personal protective equipment (PPE), entering a risky area, and disobeying safety procedures. Therefore, in real-time monitoring, 360° technology would mitigate safety hazards. Reducing the safety hazards in real-time monitoring would assist in decreasing the unsafe behaviour of workers, which commonly results in accidents on construction sites. It is recommended that more research should be conducted to discover how video-processing technologies could be used to monitor workers’ unsafe behaviour on actual construction sites.

A crucial component of growth in infrastructure is estimating construction costs (CC) for pipelaying projects (PP) related to water distribution networks, which guarantees the effective and long-term provision of safe drinking water to communities. In this paper, an artificial neural network (ANN) and multiple linear regression (MLR) model was developed for predicting construction cost for pipelaying projects. The governing model (GM) has a model structure of 9-20-1 (input-hidden-output) with an R = 0.99992. The findings revealed that the ANN-based network was 13.127 times better than the MLR model, based on its MAPE of 3.214 and 42.194%, for ANN and MLR, respectively. The best network also has the lowest Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) among the simulated network structures indicating that it is the best network. The relative importance (RI) of the independent variables including the length, diameter, material type, hydrotesting works, disinfection works, demolition works, restoration works, duration delay, and liquidated damages were calculated utilizing the Garson’s algorithm (GA). It was seen using GA to compute the relative importance of each parameter that the order of influence is seen as restoration works (RW) > length > demolition works (DeW) > material type (MT) > diameter > disinfection works (DiW) > hydrotesting works (HW) > duration delay (D%) > liquidated damages (LD) wherein the restoration works is the most influential parameter. The findings of the study could be used as a reference for better planning and managing pipelaying project activities.