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Frontiers in Built Environment
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This is an Open Access Journal

Open Access journal
ISSN (Print) 2297-3362
Published by Frontiers Media

[96 journals]

Architecture Typology of Rural Plain Houses Based on Formal Features, Case
Study: (Talesh, Iran)
- Authors: Sousan Ghanbari, Mansour Yeganeh, Mohammad Reza bemanian
  Abstract: Housing is the most essential human need that in the past, rural houses have met this need well. Indigenous rural homes have undergone changes over time, some of which have been based on internal needs and needs, and some have been due to development and exogenous changes. One of the most critical steps to identify this type of change is the typology of indigenous homes; In this way, an essential step in the path of cognition, understanding and more coverage of this phenomenon is taken. Based on this, the present study intends to study and analyze the architectural types of houses in Talesh village, which originate from human nature, natural space and the bed in which they are formed. Therefore, to estimate the proportions and classification of the architectural plans of its houses, it is necessary to use a quantitative-qualitative research method. Mathematics is used in the Python programming language in data analysis. For this purpose, by selecting 150 samples of rural houses in the form of purposeful clusters and converting the created matrix from the dimensions and size of the plans to zero and one code, their similarity has been calculated. They are in close categories. Findings obtained by simulating the plans show that sloping roofs, building elevation, east-west orientation, porch, open plan and natural ventilation are common features in all indigenous houses. It is found in this area. Therefore, in general, the two architectural patterns in this area are one-story houses and Telar houses, in which high chair houses are a frequent type.
  PubDate: 2022-05-18T00:00:00Z
Development of a Cognitive Digital Twin for Building Management and
Operations
- Authors: Karim El Mokhtari, Ivan Panushev, J. J. McArthur
  Abstract: Cognitive Digital Twins (CDTs) are defined as capable of achieving some elements of cognition, notably memory (encoding and retrieval), perception (creating useful data representations), and reasoning (outlier and event detection). This paper presents the development of a CDT, populated by construction information, facility management data, and data streamed from the Building Automation System (BAS). Advanced machine learning was enabled by access to both real-time and historical data coupled with scalable cloud-based computational resources. Streaming data to the cloud has been implemented in existing architectures; to address security concerns from exposing building equipment to undesirable access, a secure streaming architecture from BACnet equipment to our research cloud is presented. Real-time data is uploaded to a high-performance scalable time-series database, while the ontology is stored on a relational database. Both data sources are integrated with Building Information Models (BIM) to aggregate, explore, and visualize information on demand. This paper presents a case study of a Digital Twin (DT) of an academic building where various capabilities of CDTs are demonstrated through a series of proof-of-concept examples. Drawing from our experience enhancing this implementation with elements of cognition, we present a development framework and reference architecture to guide future whole-building CDT research.
  PubDate: 2022-05-16T00:00:00Z
Leveraging Informal Learning Pedagogies to Empower Coastal Communities for
Disaster Preparedness
- Authors: Piyush Pradhananga, Amal Elawady, Mohamed ElZomor
  Abstract: With the increasing frequency and intensity of hurricanes, people and communities within hurricane-prone zones are often overwhelmed and lack effective preparedness in terms of social connectivity critical for making proactive decisions to survive anticipated disasters. Disaster management agencies traditionally share preparedness guidelines through formal educational and other public media channels (such as academic institutions, articles, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, etc.) only. However, such formal modalities seldom consider the socio-economic status, cultural background, diversity, and education level of communities. Consequently, vulnerable communities are challenged by poor inclusive accessibility, lack of receptiveness, and responsiveness. An Informal Learning Pedagogy (ILP) for hurricane preparedness can be a practical solution to disseminate knowledge on preparedness and hurricane impacts at the community level through nurturing enthusiasm to learn from one another within the community setting, which causes ripple effects that are more profound within a diverse community. This approach would effectively support educating more people about hurricane preparedness. The main objectives of this study are: 1) to assess the hurricane preparedness awareness of people living in a hurricane-prone coastal community in South Florida, United States; 2) to investigate the applicability of adopting novel ILP mechanisms for a disaster-prone community and; 3) analyze and plan for the development of online community-centered hurricane preparedness training with a primary focus on preparedness, warning, evacuation, and early recovery. Developing training modules focused on disaster preparedness through informal learning environments depends on incorporating actual community requirements, which reflect audience-centered needs as part of enhancing the resilience capacity of coastal communities. As such, in this study, an online questionnaire survey focusing on the validation of the research hypothesis was designed and conducted among South Florida residents. The survey data results indicated that participation in disaster-preparedness training through informal modalities highly depends on the length of an individual’s stay in a disaster-prone zone, anticipated benefits of disaster education, and the availability of online training. This research study contributes to the disaster preparedness and response bodies of knowledge by identifying informal ways of communicating hazard preparedness knowledge to advance the resilience capacities in disaster-prone communities.
  PubDate: 2022-05-13T00:00:00Z
Coastal Natural and Nature-Based Features: International Guidelines for
Flood Risk Management
- Authors: Todd S. Bridges, Jane McKee Smith, Jeffrey K. King, Jonathan D. Simm, Maria Dillard, Jurre deVries, Denise Reed, Candice D. Piercy, Boris van Zanten, Katie Arkema, Todd Swannack, Harry de Looff, Quirijn Lodder, Claire Jeuken, Nigel Ponte, Joseph Z. Gailani, Paula Whitfield, Enda Murphy, Ryan J. Lowe, Elizabeth McLeod, Safra Altman, Colette Cairns, Burton C. Suedel, Larissa A. Naylor
  Abstract: Natural and nature-based features (NNBF) have been used for more than 100 years as coastal protection infrastructure (e.g., beach nourishment projects). The application of NNBF has grown steadily in recent years with the goal of realizing both coastal engineering and environment and social co-benefits through projects that have the potential to adapt to the changing climate. Technical advancements in support of NNBF are increasingly the subject of peer-reviewed literature, and guidance has been published by numerous organizations to inform technical practice for specific types of nature-based solutions. The International Guidelines on Natural and Nature-Based Features for Flood Risk Management was recently published to provide a comprehensive guide that draws directly on the growing body of knowledge and practitioner experience from around the world to inform the process of conceptualizing, planning, designing, engineering, and operating NNBF. These Guidelines focus on the role of nature-based solutions and natural infrastructure (beaches, dunes, wetlands and plant systems, islands, reefs) as a part of coastal and riverine flood risk management. In addition to describing each of the NNBF types, their use, design, implementation, and maintenance, the guidelines describe general principles for employing NNBF, stakeholder engagement, monitoring, costs and benefits, and adaptive management. An overall systems approach is taken to planning and implementation of NNBF. The guidelines were developed to support decision-makers, project managers, and practitioners in conceptualizing, planning, designing, engineering, implementing, and maintaining sustainable systems for nature-based flood risk management. This paper summarizes key concepts and highlights challenges and areas of future research.
  PubDate: 2022-05-11T00:00:00Z
Responses to Heat Stress Within an Unplanned Settlement in Dar Es Salaam,
Tanzania
- Authors: Olumuyiwa Bayode Adegun, Elinorata Celestine Mbuya, Emmanuel Njavike
  Abstract: Addressing the fallouts of a +1.5°C world is one of the key challenges for urban management in African cities. This article reports a work dealing with climate adaptation in informal urban settlements, with focus on responses to heat stress among the urban poor. The study involved a survey of 405 residents in Keko Machungwa —an unplanned neighborhood in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. We found that the most popular behavioral responses are taking a shower, wearing light clothing,. drinking cold drinks, and opening doors and windows. The rarest forms of responses are swimming and contributing to savings group. Heat-related health problems experienced by the residents were also identified. Enhancing human responses to heat stress will involve improvement in basic services and infrastructure, awareness, and education among the residents.
  PubDate: 2022-05-04T00:00:00Z
The Information Gap in Occupant-Centric Building Operations: Lessons
Learned from Interviews with Building Operators in Germany
- Authors: Jakob Hahn, Sarah Heiler, Michael B. Kane, Sumee Park, Werner Jensch
  Abstract: Differences in building operator strategies can significantly affect building energy use and occupant comfort. However, it seems that the daily work of building operators and facility managers is still largely based on heuristics and individual experiences. In this work, we have investigated the current data collection methods during the operation and its daily use in buildings as well as the handling of occupant behavior, comfort, and user complaints based on interviews with ten building operators in Germany. These interviews were conducted as part of an international study of building operator OCC (Occupant-Centric Control) strategies, under the auspices of the IEA EBC Annex 79. The results of the interviews clearly reflect, that until now, communication between building operators and building occupants plays a more important role in optimizing or adjusting building operations to meet occupant needs than the data collected by BAS, which is mainly used to detect faults and check the system status of key HVAC components when faults occur. In some cases, the real-time data are applied for the adjustment of set points and schedules depending on measured conditions; however, customization of set points considering the user’s preferred temperature or ventilation rate or building operation based on occupancy detection has not yet been implemented in the considered buildings. The overall objective of this contribution to building operation research is to highlight best practices and identify white spaces that fulfill occupant requirements and achieve a high level of energy-efficiency. The presented findings identify current gaps between science and practice in the field of sustainable optimization of building operation, but also point out real-world starting points for future research and development.
  PubDate: 2022-05-02T00:00:00Z
Impacts of Determining Economic Life of Large-Scale Infrastructure
Projects on Their Economic Effectiveness
- Authors: Jana Korytárová, Vít Hromádka, Jakub Federla
  Abstract: The paper deals with the refinement of the Cost-Benefit Analysis methodological procedure for the assessment of the economic effectiveness of large-scale transport infrastructure projects. The basic input is economic Cash Flow which consists of investment costs, operating income, operating expenses, societal benefits, and harms as well as the investment residual value. According to the methodological guidelines, the currently evaluated project period is considered to be 30 years including the investment phase starting in the first year of the construction, the relevant part of the operational phase, and the residual value of the project in the last year of the assessed period. The evaluation of the economic effectiveness of projects is largely influenced by the determination of the construction economic life. A procedure for calculating the residual value of the project while respecting the gradual implementation of partial constructions was established as part of the research. A case study based on the research sample of several investment construction projects of the highway sections in the Czech Republic demonstrates how this methodological procedure affects the economic effectiveness of the project.
  PubDate: 2022-05-02T00:00:00Z
Corrigendum: Prospective Life Cycle Assessment at Early Stage of Product
Development: Application to Nickel Slag Valorization Into Cement for the
Construction Sector
- Authors: Eva Quéheille, Michel Dauvergne, Anne Ventura
  PubDate: 2022-04-29T00:00:00Z
Lessons for Remote Post-earthquake Reconnaissance from the 14 August 2021
Haiti Earthquake
- Authors: Michael R. Z. Whitworth, Giorgia Giardina, Camilla Penney, Luigi Di Sarno, Keith Adams, Tracy Kijewski-Correa, Jacob Black, Fatemeh Foroughnia, Valentina Macchiarulo, Pietro Milillo, Mobin Ojaghi, Alessandra Orfeo, Francesco Pugliese, Kökcan Dönmez, Yasemin D. Aktas, Josh Macabuag
  Abstract: On 14th August 2021, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck the Tiburon Peninsula in the Caribbean nation of Haiti, approximately 150 km west of the capital Port-au-Prince. Aftershocks up to moment magnitude 5.7 followed and over 1,000 landslides were triggered. These events led to over 2,000 fatalities, 15,000 injuries and more than 137,000 structural failures. The economic impact is of the order of US$1.6 billion. The on-going Covid pandemic and a complex political and security situation in Haiti meant that deploying earthquake engineers from the UK to assess structural damage and identify lessons for future building construction was impractical. Instead, the Earthquake Engineering Field Investigation Team (EEFIT) carried out a hybrid mission, modelled on the previous EEFIT Aegean Mission of 2020. The objectives were: to use open-source information, particularly remote sensing data such as InSAR and Optical/Multispectral imagery, to characterise the earthquake and associated hazards; to understand the observed strong ground motions and compare these to existing seismic codes; to undertake remote structural damage assessments, and to evaluate the applicability of the techniques used for future post-disaster assessments. Remote structural damage assessments were conducted in collaboration with the Structural Extreme Events Reconnaissance (StEER) team, who mobilised a group of local non-experts to rapidly record building damage. The EEFIT team undertook damage assessment for over 2,000 buildings comprising schools, hospitals, churches and housing to investigate the impact of the earthquake on building typologies in Haiti. This paper summarises the mission setup and findings, and discusses the benefits, and difficulties, encountered during this hybrid reconnaissance mission.
  PubDate: 2022-04-29T00:00:00Z
Differences Between Supplier and Customer Experiences of Marketing Mix in
the Construction Industry
- Authors: Ahmad Al-Fadly
  Abstract: Suppliers often contend they “know” best when it comes to what the customer wants. Yet, despite using advanced models, such as the 7P (product, place, price, promotion, people, process, and physical evidence) marketing mix, companies can fail to meet their service objectives because customers perceive services from their own perspective. This difference in perspective presents a knowledge gap that requires it to be filled in an objective way. This research study elucidates how differences between supplier perception and customer perception of delivery are objectively identified. In this study, the target population consisted of the managers of the construction companies in Kuwait and their customers as individual property owners of residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. Discrete questionnaires consisting of the 7P marketing mix constructs were created specifically for the supplier and customer. Using a five-point Likert scale, data from 210 supplier staff and 210 customers were collected from the construction industry. The structural equation modeling (SEM) established the beta coefficients of latent variables reflecting the perceptions of both the supplier and customer. Both models were tested for internal consistency reliability using Cronbach’s alpha, and convergent validity was established based on the standardized factor loading and average variance extracted (AVE). In addition, discriminant validity was established using AVE and correlations. The differences between the standardized coefficients of supplier and customer coefficients were then tested against their pooled variance. The results show that suppliers tend to have a higher perception of their delivery on some constructs, while customers maintained a higher perspective on other constructs, that is, suppliers perceived that their product, place, price, and process were adequate, while customer data indicated otherwise. However, it was promising that the constructs of promotion, physical evidence, and people were more favorable among customer perceptions than supplier expectations. Interestingly, customers perceived that the people factor behind the construction industry was excellent. The findings recommend that suppliers scale their perceptions to be closer to the reality perceived by the customers. The study concludes that this approach of evaluating supplier–customer perceptions is highly beneficial to the supplier.
  PubDate: 2022-04-27T00:00:00Z
Innovations in Coastline Management With Natural and Nature-Based Features
(NNBF): Lessons Learned From Three Case Studies
- Authors: Cindy M. Palinkas, Philip Orton, Michelle A. Hummel, William Nardin, Ariana E. Sutton-Grier, Lora Harris, Matthew Gray, Ming Li, Donna Ball, Kelly Burks-Copes, Meri Davlasheridze, Matthieu De Schipper, Douglas A. George, Dave Halsing, Coraggio Maglio, Joseph Marrone, S. Kyle McKay, Heidi Nutters, Katherine Orff, Marcel Taal, Alexander P. E. Van Oudenhoven, William Veatch, Tony Williams
  Abstract: Coastal communities around the world are facing increased coastal flooding and shoreline erosion from factors such as sea-level rise and unsustainable development practices. Coastal engineers and managers often rely on gray infrastructure such as seawalls, levees and breakwaters, but are increasingly seeking to incorporate more sustainable natural and nature-based features (NNBF). While coastal restoration projects have been happening for decades, NNBF projects go above and beyond coastal restoration. They seek to provide communities with coastal protection from storms, erosion, and/or flooding while also providing some of the other natural benefits that restored habitats provide. Yet there remain many unknowns about how to design and implement these projects. This study examines three innovative coastal resilience projects that use NNBF approaches to improve coastal community resilience to flooding while providing a host of other benefits: 1) Living Breakwaters in New York Harbor; 2) the Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Study; and 3) the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project in San Francisco Bay. We synthesize findings from these case studies to report areas of progress and illustrate remaining challenges. All three case studies began with innovative project funding and framing that enabled expansion beyond a sole focus on flood risk reduction to include multiple functions and benefits. Each project involved stakeholder engagement and incorporated feedback into the design process. In the Texas case study this dramatically shifted one part of the project design from a more traditional, gray approach to a more natural hybrid solution. We also identified common challenges related to permitting and funding, which often arise as a consequence of uncertainties in performance and long-term sustainability for diverse NNBF approaches. The Living Breakwaters project is helping to address these uncertainties by using detailed computational and physical modeling and a variety of experimental morphologies to help facilitate learning while monitoring future performance. This paper informs and improves future sustainable coastal resilience projects by learning from these past innovations, highlighting the need for integrated and robust monitoring plans for projects after implementation, and emphasizing the critical role of stakeholder engagement.
  PubDate: 2022-04-27T00:00:00Z
Jet-Grouting Technology for Reinforcement Strata Disturbance After Sand
Mining
- Authors: Tao Fu, Kai Wang, Xiaoqian Ren, Zhixin Zhu, Liang Wang
  Abstract: During the construction of a bridge, due to the deep sand mining in the riverbed at the bridge site, a sand mining disturbance stratum is formed at the bridge site, and it has an impact on the construction quality of the pile group foundation. In this paper, in view of the special geological conditions caused by sand mining, the high-pressure jet grouting method was used to reinforce the disturbed stratum at the bridge site, and a scheme and key construction technology high-pressure rotary jet pile grouting to reinforce the disturbed stratum caused by sand mining is proposed. A three-dimensional finite element model of the pile group before and after reinforcement of the disturbed stratum by high-pressure jet grouting method is established. The distribution characteristics of the lateral displacement of the borehole wall in the disturbed stratum before and after reinforcement are compared and analysed. Application on an actual bridge proves that the high-pressure jet grouting method has a good reinforcement effect on the disturbed stratum, which effectively solves the phenomenon of hole expansion and pile casing falling in the construction process of the pile foundation caused by sand mining disturbance and improves the working performance and construction quality of the pile group foundation. The high-pressure jet grouting technique for reinforcement of disturbed stratum is proved to be effective in practice.
  PubDate: 2022-04-27T00:00:00Z
Impacts of Coastal Infrastructure on Shoreline Response to Major
Hurricanes in Southwest Louisiana
- Authors: Jack A. Cadigan, Jasmine H. Bekkaye, Navid H. Jafari, Ling Zhu, Ashley R. Booth, Qin Chen, Britt Raubenheimer, Brian D. Harris, Chris O’Connor, Robert Lane, G. Paul Kemp, Jason N. Day, John W. Day, Hanssel Omar Ulloa
  Abstract: The Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, located along the Chenier Plain in Southwest Louisiana, was the location of the sequential landfall of two major hurricanes in the 2020 hurricane season. To protect the rapidly retreating coastline along the Refuge, a system of breakwaters was constructed, which was partially completed by the 2020 hurricane season. Multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary rapid response deployments of wave gauges, piezometers, geotechnical measurements, vegetation sampling, and drone surveys were conducted before and after Hurricanes Laura and Delta along two transects in the Refuge; one protected by a breakwater system and one which was the natural, unprotected shoreline. Geomorphological changes were similar on both transects after Hurricane Laura, while after Delta there was higher inland sediment deposition on the natural shoreline. Floodwaters drained from the transect with breakwater protection more slowly than the natural shoreline, though topography profiles are similar, indicating a potential dampening or complex hydrodynamic interactions between the sediment—wetland—breakwater system. In addition, observations of a fluidized mud deposit in Rollover Bayou in the Refuge are presented and discussed in context of the maintenance of wetland elevation and stability in the sediment starved Chenier Plain.
  PubDate: 2022-04-27T00:00:00Z
Sustainable Green University: Waste Auditing, German Jordanian University
as a Case Study
- Authors: Muna Hindiyeh, Mustafa Jaradat, Aiman Albatayneh, Batool Alabdellat, Yazan Al-Mitwali, Bashar Hammad
  Abstract: In order to get on the path of sustainable development as a society as a whole, a great transformation is required. Universities are embedded in society and networked with it through various forms of interaction; they influence social discourses and often have a decisive influence on them. As educational institutions, universities have to take a critical stance on the state of our earth and actively fulfill their responsibility. The German Jordanian University (GJU), like any other university, produces solid and hazardous waste. A waste audit was done to identify the waste streams and the opportunities for reinforcing waste reduction, recycling, and composition while enhancing the comprehensive sustainability of a waste management program. The results showed that an average of 2,500 kg of waste was produced per week. The composition of the waste generated at the GJU main campus was 1,051 kg (41%) for paper and cardboard, 875 kg (35%) for plastics, 325 kg (13%) for biowaste, and 275 kg for other wastes. The performed UI GreenMetric showed high potential in the programs to reduce the use of paper and plastic on campus and the treatment of toxic waste with a score of 75 points. The results of this study indicate high potential in the recycling program for university waste, organic and inorganic waste treatment, and sewage disposal. The results for these indicators were moderate, a score of 75 points out of 300 points. Thus, more focus and actions should be placed on these indicators to enhance a sustainable green campus.
  PubDate: 2022-04-26T00:00:00Z
Digital Twin Framework for Enabling Serial Construction
- Authors: Simon Kosse, Oliver Vogt, Mario Wolf, Markus König, Detlef Gerhard
  Abstract: Modularized construction with precast concrete elements has many advantages, such as shorter construction times, higher quality, flexibility, and lower costs. These advantages are mainly due to its potential for prefabrication and series production. However, the production processes are still craftsmanship, and automation rarely occurs. Fundamental to the automation of production is digitization. In recent years, the manufacturing industry made significant progress through the intelligent networking of components, machines, and processes in the introduction of Industry 4.0. A key concept of Industry 4.0 is the digital twin, which represents both components and machines, thus creating a dynamic network in which the participants can communicate with each other. So far, BIM and digital twins in construction have focused mainly on the structure as a whole and do not consider feedback loops from production at the component level. This paper proposes a framework for a digital twin for the industrialized production of precast concrete elements in series production based on the asset administration shell (AAS) from the context of Industry 4.0. For this purpose, relevant production processes are identified, and their information requirements are derived. Data models and corresponding AAS for precast concrete parts will be created for the identified processes. The functionalities of the presented digital twin are demonstrated using the use case of quality control for a precast concrete wall element. The result shows how data can be exchanged with the digital twin and used for decision-making.
  PubDate: 2022-04-25T00:00:00Z
Corrigendum: Integrating Artificial Urban Wetlands Into Communities: A
Pathway to Carbon Zero'
- Authors: Robert J. Rogerson, Donagh Horgan, Jennifer J. Roberts
  PubDate: 2022-04-21T00:00:00Z
Using Machine Learning Models to Forecast Severity Level of Traffic
Crashes by R Studio and ArcGIS
- Authors: Bara’ W. Al-Mistarehi, Ahmad H. Alomari, Rana Imam, Mohammad Mashaqba
  Abstract: This study describes crash causes, conditions, and distribution of accident hot spots along with an analysis of the risk factors that significantly affect severity levels of crashes and their effects on pedestrian safety using machine learning (ML) techniques. Supervised ML algorithm–random forest and decision tree–based algorithm-AdaBoost algorithms are applied and compared to predict the severity level and future crashes based on road crash elements. Association rule, an unsupervised learning algorithm, is utilized to understand the association between driver characteristics, geometric elements of the highway, the environment, time, weather, and speed. Slight, medium, and severe injuries and fatalities in crashes are also considered to understand the behavior of road drivers, who are most likely to cause crashes. Fatalities and injuries are studied with spatial statistics analysis. The variables most affecting the severity of the crash are determined and discussed in detail. The results are checked for accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, recall, precision, and F1 score performance. The impact of drivers, vehicles, and road characteristics is investigated in traffic crashes. The random forest model was found to be the most suitable algorithm to predict crash severity levels.
  PubDate: 2022-04-20T00:00:00Z
Perceived Benefits of Automation and Artificial Intelligence in the AEC
Sector: An Interpretive Structural Modeling Approach
- Authors: Adetayo Olugbenga Onososen, Innocent Musonda
  Abstract: Increasing demand for infrastructure amidst the surge in the urbanization of cities and newly emerging commercial nerves has spurred the need to reinvent and rethink traditional approaches for delivering infrastructure. This has been identified as even more critical given the global drive and discourse on the sustainability of the construction sector and its health and safety performance. Given the potential gains of adopting construction automation and AI in infrastructure delivery, stakeholders’ convincing appreciation of its benefit is vital to its widespread adoption in the AEC sector. This explored and evaluated the critical benefits of integrating automation in construction processes in the architectural, engineering, and construction sector and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in driving its systems and workflows. The study adopts an interpretive structural modeling approach based on interviews of construction stakeholders in diverse countries to develop a hierarchical model of the interrelationships of the benefits. Furthermore, the Matrice d’Impacts croises-multiplication applique a classement analysis (MICMAC) was used to categorize the benefits. Highlighted perceived benefits such as improved project quality, simplification of construction tasks, workflow improvements, and safety performance, amongst others, were fractionalized into levels. The study’s findings are critical in satisfying a cost-benefit index of adopting automation and AI in the AEC sector. The results provide recommendations on effective approaches pivotal to driving automation and AI for practice and research. This is of further importance to construction stakeholders, policymakers, and local authorities in building strategies and roadmaps for proper integration of these systems and widespread adoption.
  PubDate: 2022-04-20T00:00:00Z
Optimized Strengthening Based on Concrete Jacketing for Minimum
Eccentricity
- Authors: Chara Ch. Mitropoulou, Iordanis A. Naziris, Nikos Ath. Kallioras, Nikos D. Lagaros
  Abstract: The coupled lateral-torsional response is observed in building structures subjected to dynamic excitation due to lack of symmetry in terms of mass/stiffness in any of the stories’ plan views; such structural systems are called eccentric. Much damage and even collapse are concerned with building structures with asymmetric plan views. Combined torsional-translational vibration of their structural system results in higher ductility demands, especially to vertical structural elements located at the perimeter of the plan view. This study examines the minimization problem of the torsional response of an eccentric, multi-story reinforced concrete (RC) building by strengthening its vertical structural elements with RC jackets. The problem of minimizing the eccentricity between mass and rigidity centers for all story layouts and the corresponding minimization problem of the eccentricity between mass and strength centers for all stories are considered two separate formulations for the reduction of the torsional response optimization problem. Based on recent studies, the center of strength is preferable for assessing the torsional response of buildings in case of inelastic response. The imperialist competitive algorithm (ICA), a member of the family of evolutionary search algorithms, is used to solve the two optimization problems. The optimization problems are formulated for the case study building considered after assessing its structural behavior and capacity through nonlinear static analyses before and after strengthening. The later process was implemented to meet code requirements and examine the improvements achieved through optimization.
  PubDate: 2022-04-14T00:00:00Z
A Nature-Based Solution for Coastal Protection: Wind Tunnel Investigations
on the Influence of Sand-Trapping Fences on Sediment Accretion
- Authors: Christiane Eichmanns, Holger Schüttrumpf
  Abstract: Sand-trapping fences are a frequently used nature-based solution in coastal protection for initiating and facilitating coastal dune toe growth. However, only a few researchers have evaluated the trap efficiency of sand-trapping fences based on their porosity and height. Subsequently, the design of their properties has only been based on empirical knowledge, to date. However, for restoring and maintaining coastal beach–dune systems, exact knowledge of sand-trapping fence’s optimal properties is essential. Thus, we conducted physical model tests focusing on the most crucial parameters: fence height (h = 40, 80, 120 mm) and fence porosity (ε = 22.6, 41.6, and 56.5%). These tests were conducted in an indoor subsonic, blowing-sand wind tunnel equipped with a moveable sediment bed (d50 ∼ 212 µm). The experimental mean wind velocities were u1 = 6.1 m/s, u2 = 7.4 m/s, and u3 = 9.3 m/s. We used a hot-wire anemometer to measure the flow fields, a vertical mesh sand trap to determine the sediment fluxes, and a 2D laser scanner to record the sediment accretion around the sand-trapping fences over time. The study results provide substantial theoretical and practical support for the installation and configuration of trapping fences and improving their design. The fence porosity, for example, should be chosen depending on the installation purpose. While denser fence porosities (ε1 = 22.6% and ε2 = 41.6%) can be used for initiating and facilitating the dune toe growth, fences with higher porosity (ε3 = 56.5%) are more suitable to favor the sediment accretion between foredunes and white dunes as they allow further dune growth downwind.
  PubDate: 2022-04-14T00:00:00Z