Timber has gained popularity in the construction industry in recent years due to its low carbon footprint, favorable seismic performance, and esthetic appeal. However, due to the size limit and inevitable natural defects such as knots in the lumber, the axial capacity of timber columns might be insufficient. Therefore, wrapping the timber column with basalt fiber-reinforced polymers (BFRPs), which is an environmentally sustainable material, to improve the load-carrying capacity has been a promising technology. While existing research mostly focuses on defect-free specimens, this study investigates the effects of knots on the structural performance of timber columns wrapped by BFRP. Axial compressive tests were carried out on timber columns, i.e., Douglas fir (knot-free) and camphor pine (with knots), wrapped by BFRP. The results showed that the load-carrying capacity, stiffness, and ductility can be significantly enhanced by the BFRP wrapping. The failure mode of the Douglas fir specimens transitioned from timber crushing failure to shear failure, while the camphor pine specimens failed around the knot area, and the failure mode changed from overall bending to BFRP rupture when the three layers of BFRP were employed. Furthermore, compared to knot-free columns, those specimens containing knots exhibited greater variability in load capacity and recorded a higher percentage increase in strength after reinforcement by BFRP. Based on the test results, three prediction models of the compressive strength of the BFRP-wrapped Douglas fir and camphor pine columns are presented.
Various challenges face Building Information Modeling (BIM) application in construction projects. The primary goal of this research is to identify the key challenges in the form of risks that considerably impact BIM application in the construction industry. Also, this research aims to analyze and evaluate the impact of these risks on the accuracy and efficiency of BIM application. A multi-stage field survey approach was employed and two innovative risk factor indices, namely the Risk Factor Indices for both BIM Accuracy and Efficiency, were utilized to assess and rank the severity of the verified risk factors. Fifty-six risk factors that had an impact on BIM accuracy and efficiency were presented and divided into four groups, including technology issues, managerial issues, financial matters, and legal regulations. Based on a thorough discussion and analysis, it was determined that managerial issues represent the highest risk category, while the lowest risky group was linked to legal regulations. The results indicated that the "Inadequate project management and top managers experience" risk factor had the highest probability of occurrence, and also had the highest influence on BIM efficiency. On the other hand, the risk factor of "Lack of available skilled personnel, or replacement of experienced employees" risk factor had the highest influence on BIM accuracy. The planning process had the highest enhancement through implementing BIM. This study introduces a strategy for improving the comprehension of the risks that restrain BIM and sets the groundwork for future research and advancements in BIM application in constructions.
C. Savindi Ranthika Perera, Valerie Francis, Shang Gao
Purpose Recent technological advancements, also known as Industry 4.0, impact construction processes and, thus, the way people work. Previous research claims that despite extensive research, the implications for people are often overlooked, and the dynamics within an organisation when technology is introduced are widely ignored. This study/paper aimed to develop a conceptual technology acceptance and adoption framework founded on contingent authority innovation adoption theory, the technology organisation environment (TOE) framework and the technology acceptance model (TAM). Design/methodology/approach Within the Scopus database, 193 journal publications (in English) were systematically analysed. The systematic literature review was conducted in February 2024, following PRISMA guidelines. The selected articles were content analysed to identify themes, allowing for a robust conceptual framework development. Findings The analysis identified 12 factors influencing the management’s intention. Under secondary adoption, 20 factors influenced the perceived ease of use, and 17 factors affected the perceived usefulness. Originality/value The study presents insights into the acceptance and adoption of technology from an organisational perspective. It provides a comprehensive review of Industry 4.0 acceptance and adoption in the CI, leading to the development of the conceptual framework.
The construction of the water supply infrastructure in the locality of Barreiro (Setúbal) illustrates diverse aspects of the public water management model undertaken in continental Portugal from the second third of the 20th century. Sources consulted encompass local, state, and international institutional documents as well as private papers, ranging from annual reports to specialist studies, among others. The positive outcomes in terms of better public health conditions and the growth of industry were obscured by the appearance of new taxes and unequal access to water. This inequality was caused by the availability of larger volumes of water, thanks to the combined stimulus -and commercialisation- of private water prospection initiatives and the location of most of the country's industry in a relatively small area. On the one hand, a scenario arose of new economic dependence due to the compulsory payment of services by part of the population, on the other, ecosystemic factors intervened; at the dawn of the 1990s, Barreiro was among the areas of the country with greatest problems of overexploitation and contamination of water resources.
Aesthetics of cities. City planning and beautifying, Urban groups. The city. Urban sociology
The “dual carbon” goal is a two-stage carbon reduction goal proposed by China, including carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, which reflects China’s firm determination to combat climate change and realize green development. Carbon emissions from the construction industry are one of the main sources of carbon emissions growth in China, so analyzing carbon emissions from the construction industry can help to achieve China’s “double carbon” goal. In this paper, Sichuan Province is chosen to analyze its total carbon emissions from the construction industry from 2012 to 2022.Carbon Emission Factor Approach (CEFA) is mainly adopted to calculate the total carbon emissions of Sichuan Province, explore the carbon emissions of the entire industrial chain of the construction industry in Sichuan Province. The data of the carbon emission calculation results of the construction industry in Sichuan Province are preliminarily analyzed. Based on the analysis, three policy suggestions are put forward to promote the deep emission reduction of the construction industry in Sichuan Province, which lays a foundation tapping the potential of carbon emission reduction in the construction industry in Sichuan Province, which lays the foundation for exploring the potential of carbon emission reduction in the construction industry in Sichuan Province.
ObjectiveThe Nanjiang Ancient Waterway is a uniquely distinctive ancient waterway among the ancient post roads in southern Guangdong, with settlements along it flourishing in history. Although the scale and prosperity of individual settlements are not comparable to those in other parts of Lingnan, under the influence of multicultural integration, the value of the multicultural landscape characteristics presented by these settlements is prominent. Exploring the landscape characteristics of settlements along the Nanjiang Ancient Waterway and influencing factors thereof from the macro perspective of “cultural routes” can break through the limitations of the point-like research model of “studying individual villages in isolation” and help tap the multi-dimensional value of settlements.MethodsThe cultural routes focus on integrity and emphasizes the cognition of cultural phenomena through dynamic and historical functions, which provides a holistic research perspective for the research on settlement landscape along the Nanjiang Ancient Waterway. Therefore, based on the theoretical framework of “human – land – property” of cultural geography in combination with field investigation and GIS spatial analysis, 65 traditional settlements along the Nanjiang Ancient Waterway are selected as the research object by typology analysis method from the three functional dimensions of human settlement, commerce and culture of cultural routes, and the landscape characteristics of settlements along the ancient waterway and the influencing factors thereof are analyzed.Results1) As an important traffic foundation for the formation and development of settlements, ancient waterway have a significant impact on the differentiation of landscape types. The settlement landscape along Nanjiang Ancient Waterway can be divided into three categories: Human settlement landscape, commercial landscape and cultural landscape, with different spatial distribution, morphological characteristics and cultural characteristics. The settlements along the Nanjiang Ancient Waterway present characteristics of “being rich in layers, mountains and waters embracing each other”, “adapting to the terrain and following the natural flow of wind and water”, and “a crisscross network of canals with dikes and dams encircling”. 2) The commercial function of the Nanjiang Ancient Waterway and the formation of the commercial landscape of settlements have a mutually promoting relationship, forming commercial landscape characteristics of “interconnecting land and water routes, with ferries and crossings interwoven”, and “setting up fairs by the water, and forming markets along streets”. 3) During Ming and Qing dynasties, the “policy of recruiting people to settle and be registered” spurred a large number of immigrants to move in along the Nanjiang Ancient Waterway, and establish clans and set up villages there. The mutual exchange of immigrant cultures gave rise to cultural landscapes featuring “separation of residences and ancestral halls with mixed styles” and “pantheistic worship, and water-based landscape creation”. In Ming and Qing dynasties, the Ming government encouraged people to migrate there, and the policy of granting household registration prompted a large number of immigrants to move in along the Nanjiang Ancient Waterway, and establish clans and set up villages there. This led to the formation of diversified and mixed-style landscapes of residences and ancestral halls as well as religious cultural landscapes, boasting unique regional cultural characteristics of Nanjiang.Conclusion The settlements along the Nanjiang Ancient Waterway, are the spatial carriers of human settlement landscape, commerce, culture and other functions. The population base provided by the immigration policy is the starting point of settlement development. As a key factor, immigration policy provides the necessary population base for the formation of settlements along the ancient waterway, and is the starting point of settlement development. The distribution and rise of immigrant settlements along the Nanjiang Ancient Waterway, benefited from the efficient water transportation system constructed by the ancient waterway network, and the flourishing commercial development of settlements along the ancient Waterway. The mutual fostering between population mobility and trade greatly promotes the exchange and integration of immigrant culture, giving birth to Nanjiang regional cultural landscape. Revealing the landscape characteristics of settlements along the cultural routes and the influencing factors thereof from the perspective of integrity and dynamics can provide a basis for the overall protection of settlements along the Nanjiang Ancient Waterway. Under the background of rapid urbanization, the protection of settlement landscape along the Nanjiang Ancient Waterway has encountered severe challenges such as the decline of traditional features and the imbalance of development. In the reconstruction of settlement landscape, we should adhere to the principles of integrity, dynamics and sustainability of cultural route protection, integrate natural and human landscape resources, and rationally activate and utilize settlement landscape. The researches advocates to well protect the Nanjiang Ancient Waterway through the chain of beads, the implementation of zoning – subsection – grading differentiation development, the establishment of the overall spatial control system for the protection of settlements along the Nanjiang Ancient Waterway, the construction of cultural routes for the integration of ecology, culture and industry, the creation of nostalgic settlement memory scene, and the promotion of the revitalization and development of settlements.
Aesthetics of cities. City planning and beautifying, Architectural drawing and design
Abstract Histone deacetylase (HDAC) plays an essential role in plant growth, development, and maturation. Although the biological function of HDAC in model plants (such as Arabidopsis and rice) has been studied relatively thoroughly, the research on HDACs in lotus seed has not been reported yet. In this study, 14 HDACs were determined in lotus seed, including eight in the RPD3/HDA1 subfamily, one in the SIR2 subfamily, and five in the HD2 subfamily. Bioinformatics analysis showed that NnHDA3 has a high similarity with MaHDA6. Similarly, NnHDA8 and MaHDA1, NnSRT1 and AtSRT2, NnHDA8 and AtHDA15, NnHDA2 and OsHDA706, and OsHDA710 and NnHDA3 have a conservative domain structure. The mRNA expression of NnHDA6, NnHDA8, and NnHDT5 in pulp positively correlated with maturity and starch content. On the contrary, the expression of NnHDA6 and NnHDT5 negatively correlated with chlorophyll content. During prolonged storage, NnHDA3 and NnHDT4 increased first and then decreased in pulp positively related to starch content. However, the expression of NnSRT1 in peel decreased first and then increased, and it is higher in peel than in pulp. Based on the above results, we speculate that NnHDA3 may be involved in the maturation and senescence of lotus seeds. NnHDA2 and NnSRT1 are involved in the metabolism of chlorophyll and starch during lotus seed ripening. Our results provide the first insight into the histone deacetylase in lotus seed ripening.
Food processing and manufacture, Toxicology. Poisons
Robin Dörrie, Stefan Gantner, Fatemeh Salehi Amiri
et al.
The construction industry is facing a dual challenge: an increasing demand for new buildings on the one hand and the urgent need to drastically reduce emissions and waste on the other. One promising field of research to face these challenges comprises additive manufacturing (AM) technologies. Through these advanced methods, digital workflows between design and fabrication can be implemented to optimise the form and structure, unlocking new architectural freedom while ensuring sustainability and efficiency. However, to drive this transformation in construction, the new technologies must be investigated in large-scale applications. One of these fast-emerging AM techniques is Shotcrete 3D Printing (SC3DP). The present research documents the 1:1 scale manufacturing process, from digital to real, of a building section utilising SC3DP. A workflow and production steps, spanning from design over manufacturing to assembly, are introduced. The architectural design, reinforced by computational methods, was iteratively refined to adapt to manufacturing constraints. The paper also emphasises the importance of a digital twin in ensuring seamless data integration and real-time adjustments during construction. By incorporating reinforcement techniques such as short rebar insertion and robotic fibre winding, this study demonstrates the structural capabilities achievable with SC3DP. In summary, the implementation of comprehensive digital workflows utilising computational design, automated data acquisition and data flow, as well as robotic fabrication is presented to demonstrate the potential of AM methods in construction. Furthermore, this paper provides a perspective on potential future research paths and opportunities inherent in leveraging the innovative SC3DP technique.
Efficient project management in the construction industry depends on optimizing project scheduling and material ordering, two interdependent processes that significantly impact both costs and durations. Traditional approaches often address these processes separately, neglecting the trade-offs between scheduling costs and material procurement costs. Furthermore, existing studies frequently overlook real-world constraints, such as limited storage space at construction sites. To bridge these gaps, this paper investigates the project scheduling and material ordering problem with limited storage space (PSMOP-LSS) and introduces an integrated model that simultaneously optimizes storage space allocation, activity scheduling, and material ordering. A novel ordering strategy with time period (OSTP) is employed to enhance material procurement under storage constraints. To solve this NP-hard problem, a triple-layer genetic algorithm (3LGA) is proposed, comprising three layers: space allocation, project scheduling, and material ordering. Computational experiments conducted on a case study demonstrate the effectiveness of the 3LGA, achieving significant reductions in project costs and durations compared to conventional ordering strategies. The results highlight trade-offs between cost and duration, offering actionable insights for project managers. This research provides a robust decision-making framework for balancing inventory costs, ordering costs, and project durations in space-constrained environments. Managerial implications include optimizing ordering strategies based on storage capacity and cost parameters.
The construction sector today accounts for the largest volume of public procurement, bankruptcies and corporate fraud. Practice shows that the methods used to identify unscrupulous companies are not effective enough, which determines the relevance of the development of integrated risk assessment tools for financial security. In this regard, the purpose of the study was to substantiate the risk-factor approach to assessing and diagnosing financial security risks using a comprehensive analytical toolkit developed based on the concepts of industry analysis, professional auditing standards and financial reporting. The scientific novelty of the study is to integrate methods of assessment of financial security risks, the application of basic data processing technologies and flexible situation modeling with the possibility of adjusting models to a specific situation, taking into account identified industry risks. The theoretical significance of the study is represented by the concept of financial security as an aggregate result of the action of identified risk factors in the conditions of a highly turbulent economy, which served as a navigator for the development of an analytical tool that ensures consistency of the interpretation of the results at the stages of industry analysis, assessment of the likelihood of bankruptcy by logit-model and diagnosis of corporate fraud risks based on indicators of probability of distortion of financial statements. The practical value of the toolkit is the application of the international classification of financial risks, the selection of adequate, statistically significant indicators, calculated on the empirical basis of the financial statements of companies in the construction industry, downloaded from the Spark-Interfax information resource, which also proves the relevance of the results obtained and the possibility of using for the selection of organizations — potential participants in public procurement, in the audit practice, related audit services, arbitration practice, investment and banking to identify unscrupulous borrowers.
Carbon emissions present a pressing challenge to the traditional construction industry, urging a fundamental shift towards more sustainable practices and materials. Recent advances in sensors, data fusion techniques, and artificial intelligence have enabled integrated digital technologies (e.g., digital twins) as a promising trend to achieve emission reduction and net-zero. While digital twins in the construction sector have shown rapid growth in recent years, most applications focus on the improvement of productivity, safety and management. There is a lack of critical review and discussion of state-of-the-art digital twins to improve sustainability in this sector, particularly in reducing carbon emissions. This paper reviews the existing research where digital twins have been directly used to enhance sustainability throughout the entire life cycle of a building (including design, construction, operation and maintenance, renovation, and demolition). Additionally, we introduce a conceptual framework for this industry, which involves the elements of the entire digital twin implementation process, and discuss the challenges faced during deployment, along with potential research opportunities. A proof-of-concept example is also presented to demonstrate the validity of the proposed conceptual framework and potential of digital twins for enhanced sustainability. This study aims to inspire more forward-thinking research and innovation to fully exploit digital twin technologies and transform the traditional construction industry into a more sustainable sector.
Abstract As the scale of development continues to expand, carbon emissions of urban rail transit (URT) in China have gradually increased each year, posing certain pressure on the carbon emission reduction efforts in the URT industry. To evaluate the current status of low-carbon development in the URT industry, this paper first constructs an annual carbon emission accounting model for URT that considers both the construction and operation processes. Based on this model, the annual carbon emissions of URT in China from 2015 to 2023 are calculated. Furthermore, based on decoupling theory, the relationship between carbon emissions and industry development in URT is explored from both the construction and operation aspects. The results show that: (1) From 2015 to 2023, the total carbon emissions of URT in China increased significantly from 14.425 million tons to 24.7072 million tons. The proportion of carbon emissions from construction is higher during the study period, but the growth rate of carbon emissions from operation is faster. (2) The order of carbon emissions from URT in different regions from largest to smallest is: East > West > Central > Northeast. (3) During the study period, the carbon emissions from URT construction in China were weakly decoupled from the operational lines. (4) There was an expansive coupling relationship between carbon emissions from URT operation and passenger transport turnover in China. These findings can provide some guidance for the sustainable development of the URT industry.
Transportation engineering, Transportation and communications
With the deepening of the construction of the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area, the goal of building a high-level professional group in vocational colleges is to optimize the professional structure to meet industrial demands, take industrial demands as the fundamental basis for forming professional groups, and cultivate high-quality technical and skilled talents. Our school closely focuses on the construction and development plan of the Greater Bay Area, builds a high-level computer professional group, and strives to promote the integration of industry and education. In order to improve the quality of teaching and promote the high-quality development of talent cultivation in vocational colleges, we have proposed construction ideas and measures.
The application of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in infrastructure and structural projects, known as Integrated Structural and Infrastructure Modeling (ISIM), has gained attention in recent years due to its potential to revolutionize the construction industry. By providing a digital representation of the built environment, BIM allows for improved collaboration and communication between project stakeholders, leading to enhanced project outcomes. The ISIM approach is centered on the creation of a digital twin, a three-dimensional model of the infrastructure or structure, which serves as a virtual replica of the physical asset. This digital twin provides a platform for analysis, decision-making, and management throughout the project lifecycle, from design and construction to operation and maintenance. One of the key benefits of the ISIM approach is the ability to optimize the construction process, reducing costs, and improving efficiency. The digital twin allows for the identification of potential issues in the design phase, enabling them to be addressed before construction begins. The model can also be used to simulate different scenarios, providing insights into the most effective construction methods, sequencing, and scheduling. Additionally, the use of ISIM can facilitate collaboration and communication among project stakeholders, including architects, engineers, contractors, and owners. The digital twin provides a shared platform for all stakeholders to access and contribute to, allowing for real-time feedback and decision-making. This increased collaboration can lead to reduced errors, improved quality, and enhanced project outcomes. In this paper the authors propose the example of the Meier bridge in Alessandria starting from the 2D drawings to create the 3D model and link it to the external context using Autodesk Infraworks software. A virtual reality implementation has been considered as useful tool to improve the maintenance management.
Extended Abstract Abstract The purpose of this article is to design a model for monitoring the productivity of Iran's automotive industry. The research population of this research includes 11 managers and strategists of industrial companies in the field of research subject (automotive industry). In this article, an attempt has been made to identify the most effective indicators affecting the productivity of the automotive industry, and by using an interpretive structural approach, the importance of each in comparison with each other is determined and finally a model for continuous monitoring of their productivity is presented. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were confirmed through content and Holstie validity. To identify the indicators affecting the productivity of the automotive industry and to provide a practical model to achieve the desired level of it, two companies Saipa and Iran Khodro have been studied and as a result, using studies related to the productivity of those companies and using Opinions of experts working in it, sixteen indicators to increase production productivity in five dimensions were identified and reviewed. The relationships between these indicators have been determined based on an interpretive structural model and a new model has been systematically formulated and presented. The result of the article indicates the significant importance of obtaining certificates and standards related to the introduced industry and their periodic monitoring. Introduction The automotive industry is a collection of the country's industries that use the most advanced technologies in the world. The automotive industry in our country can be a driving force for various economic sectors. Because this industry has a back and forth connection with many other industries. In terms of texture and structure of production and market formation; Automotive manufacturing in Iran is completely isolated from the global market competition and is over-supported by the government, and it can be said that automotive manufacturing in the world has all these possibilities. This has led to a bilateral monopoly on buying and selling, high car prices, low quality of products, pollution and high consumption of energy carriers in the country. Currently, transnational companies have full dominance in the global car market, and the automotive industry in the world is in the hands of a large number of major automakers. These transnational companies have reached their current position with the purchase and merger of other automakers in the world, as well as the establishment of assembly or parts manufacturing units in other countries, and in this competitive environment, many important and well-known global companies have not stopped competing. So it seems difficult to separate the car from this set. The most important reason for the integration and focus of the automotive industry is the economic scale; Because no other automaker with a low production scale is able to cover the costs of design and development, marketing and sales, and other items in this industry, and this issue has been considered in recent years in a way that is considered by the Iranian automotive industry; But it is not enough. Given that the increase in productivity and efficiency of this industry can lead to an increase in industrial production as a result of economic growth; Based on what has been said, this research will help us to develop effective long-term and medium-term strategies to improve productivity and ultimately the performance of these companies. Since in previous studies, the productivity of the automotive industry from an economic and accounting point of view has been studied, so the present research has addressed this issue from a managerial point of view. Case study The research community includes 11 managers and strategists of industrial companies selected in the field of research (automotive industry). Materials and Methods The method of data collection is structured by a questionnaire. Content validity (CVR) was used to ensure the validity of the questionnaire. This index is designed by Laushe. In this study, Holsti's method was used to calculate reliability. Structural-interpretive equation method was used to analyze the data. Discussion and Results Obtaining standards and certificates including OHSAS and ISO and certificates related to quality and environmentally friendly and ... Also, monitoring these standards and certifications in the automotive industry is the most basic and most influential indicator in productivity, while according to Figure (2), this index has the highest influence and least dependence and its position is at the highest level of the chart. (1) is located. After that, the other two indicators, entitled Optimal Planning for Raw Materials Supply and Training of Personnel in this industry, are at the next level, and at its lower levels, the optimal choice of suppliers is to increase the ratio of construction projects that have been approved for the first time. May their influence gradually diminish. In the last level of ranking indicators, there are factors called customer satisfaction, reducing the amount of returned product from the customer, increasing the level of sales and increasing employee satisfaction and increasing the ability to succeed in tenders, which have been influenced by higher level indicators. These indicators in Figure (2) have a very high dependence on other indicators and are the result of achieving all indicators of levels higher than themselves. Conclusion In order to understand the relationships between levels and indicators that are extracted from the structural and interpretive modeling method, both output of the penetration power analysis chart - the dependence of the indicators and the final model should be considered. The above results do not mean that indicators or processes such as customer satisfaction and reducing the amount of returned product are less important than other indicators, but rather indicate their significant impact on other processes in the organization. Proper planning and optimal principles of supply and preparation of raw materials and goods and the use of standard production methods, which are constantly monitored and maintained, and having a trained and expert force and advanced machinery in itself cause significant customer satisfaction, Decreasing the amount of returned product from the customer, increasing the level of sales, increasing the level of employee satisfaction and ultimately increasing the success of tenders will be.
Political institutions and public administration (General)