The construction industry is a significant source of global carbon emissions and generates massive amounts of construction and demolition waste (CDW), making its resource utilization crucial for a low-carbon transition. While Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has been applied, the dynamic threshold effect of transportation distance on carbon reduction benefits remains poorly quantified, often overlooking spatial distribution factors. This study conducts a comprehensive LCA of a CDW resource utilization center in China, comparing the carbon emissions of resource utilization against direct landfilling. Monte Carlo simulation and global sensitivity analysis were employed to address parameter uncertainties and to identify key influencing factors. Furthermore, a novel three-dimensional spatial optimization model was developed to identify critical transportation distance thresholds. The results demonstrate that although the carbon intensity of resource utilization (6.85 kg CO2e/t) is higher than that of direct landfilling (4.27 kg CO2e/t), leveraging the transportation advantage of recycled aggregates (Δd = 80 km) yields a net reduction of 5.08 kg CO2e/t. The resource utilization rate (α) is identified as the most sensitive parameter. Spatial optimization reveals that to ensure carbon benefits, the sum of the distances from the CDW source to the resource utilization center (d1) and from the center to the end-users (d4) must be dynamically adjusted based on the landfill distance (d3). For instance, when the landfill is near urban areas (d3 < 20 km), d1 + d4 must be ≤ 80 km. This study provides a scientific basis and a practical decision-support tool for CDW management and logistics planning, advocating for a ''distributed resource utilization centers coupled with regional landfills'' strategy to maximize carbon reduction.
Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials
Hadi Sarvari, David J. Edwards, Iain Rillie
et al.
The construction industry has endured high incident rates for many decades. Although multiple safety measures in the form of Safety I- and II-enabled safe systems of working (SSoWs) have been implemented, statistics reveal that a significant prevalence of incidents prevails worldwide. However, there is limited information available about the actual factors that are impeding these SSoWs. This study investigates and evaluates the barriers, bottlenecks and challenges (BB&Cs) that hinder the implementation of Safety I- and II-enabled SSoWs in the construction industry. Using a scoping review methodology, a thorough search of articles documenting the BB&Cs of implementing Safety I- and II-enabled SSoWs was carried out using Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. An initiative model was employed for categorising BB&C to implement Safety I and II, which includes micro- (site), meso- (organisation), and macro (environment)-thematic groupings, as a guiding framework for the mapping and analysis of results. The search yielded 98 articles that discussed the implementation of Safety I and II, with 54 of them specifically related to BB&Cs. Emergent results emphasised how there is scant literature on the BB&Cs of implementation Safety I- and II-enabled SSoWs across site, organisation and environment levels. Extensive global research is necessary to comprehensively understand the obstacles to implementing Safety I and II in practice as a first step towards reducing incidents and accidents on site. Cumulatively, the findings suggest that implementing Safety I- and II-enabled SSoWs should be based on removing BB&Cs and evaluating how they affect safety performance.
As construction projects adopt increasingly interconnected digital technologies, their cyber-attack surface expands, making comprehensive cyber risk management essential to prevent incidents, mitigate risks, and minimize potential losses resulting from such attacks. However, the necessary risk factors for this purpose are lacking. Therefore, the study aims to develop a comprehensive set of project-level cyber risk factors tailored to the complexities of construction projects, identified through a systematic and flexible seven-step methodological framework: (1) a literature review of construction and cybersecurity sources to identify initial factors; (2) initial definition of risk categories; (3) internal evaluation and expert input to refine these factors; (4) distribution of a detailed expert questionnaire for rating; (5) expert evaluations through meetings and feedback sessions to enhance validity; (6) elimination of lower-scoring factors; and (7) establishment of quantitative scales for precise risk assessment. The findings include the 32 identified risk factors into five groups: project information, project structure, information technology (IT), operational technology (OT), and management and human aspects. The contributions include providing a set of risk factors that serve as cybersecurity management references and inputs for future quantitative risk assessments, offering a checklist used for proactive risk management, and introducing a framework adaptable for identifying factors of other risks.
[Objective] In order to promote the digital empowerment of the urban rail transit industry, it is necessary to construct a Smart Fire Protection IoT (Internet of Things) System for Shanghai Rail Transit, aiming to strengthen the perception and awareness of the operation status and intelligent analysis of fire safety, while enhancing the capability of risk identification, forecasting and early warning. [Method] By collecting information such as the operation indicators of important equipment in the fire protection-related systems, incident alerts, and business data, a Smart Fire Protection IoT System for Shanghai Rail Transit is designed, in which, the IoT technology is used to collect and transmit various data of fire protection business; the big data technology is utilized to build a unified technical architecture for storing, analyzing, and managing the collected data; and the digital twin technology is applied to transform the processed data into practical applications, achieving a visual presentation of fire protection management as the result. [Result & Conclusion] Through the construction of the Smart Fire Protection IoT System for Shanghai Rail Transit, the businesses and data of various lines and stations in the metro network are integrated on one platform, and the workflows for daily fire safety management is thereby streamlined, digitized, and standardized. By using technologies such as cloud computing and big data, a deep integration of informatization and fire protection is achieved, significantly improving the fire protection management level of Shanghai Rail Transit.
One of the most important structures are pipe racks, which are usually made from concrete, steel, or a combination of the two materials that are used to maintain pipes and other equipment at the required levels. Seismic isolation is one of the most powerful earthquake engineering tools in the field of passive control. This method can effectively protect building and non-building structures against a devastating earthquake. In other words, seismic isolation can be used to increase the performance level of pipe racks. In this article, the performance of seismic isolators in a pipe rack that consists of 4 parts, by two types of lead-rubber isolators and friction pendulum, under the effect of near and far-field earthquakes, has been studied. The results show that the use of seismic isolators in pipe racks reduces the damage to the structure and pipes after an earthquake and has a very good performance. The seismic isolator was used in three ways in this research, firstly, the isolator was used under the structures, and in the next step, the floor of the floors was isolated, and at the end, the isolators were placed under the pipes. The behavior of this type of isolators is almost the same, and according to the project conditions, it is possible to decide which part of the structure the isolators should be placed in.
Construction industry, Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
ObjectiveThis study aims to analyze the spatial distribution and dynamic evolution of older adult service supply in Zhejiang Province from 2010 to 2019. Additionally, this research seeks to propose an optimized resource allocation strategy for older adult care services, promoting regional fairness and coordinated development.MethodsTo evaluate the older adult service supply capacity, this research first constructed an evaluation index system based on the Chinese modernization development pattern. Then, an empirical analysis was carried out using a combination of the entropy-TOPSIS method, kernel density estimation, Markov chain analysis, Dagum Gini coefficient, and panel regression model.ResultsThe results show an overall upward trend in the supply and service capacity of older adult care in the whole province. However, the spatial distribution of older adult service supply capacity in Zhejiang Province still exhibits a gradient effect, even in the most recent year of 2019. Furthermore, the supply capacity of older adult services shifted to a higher level in the whole province, and regions with high supply capacity had a positive spillover effect on adjacent regions. The overall difference in the older adult service supply capacity of the province showed a decreasing trend. The level of economic development, urbanization rate, transportation capacity, the level of opening up, and the proportion of employees in the tertiary industry had a significant impact on the supply capacity and spatial difference of older adult services.ConclusionFrom the findings, this study puts forth countermeasures and suggestions to optimize the spatial distribution of older adult care services. This includes giving full play to the regional spatial linkage effect, promoting new-type urbanization construction, upgrading the transportation network, and expanding the opening up of the industrial structure. By implementing these measures, a more equitable and coordinated older adult services system can be developed in Zhejiang Province.
In light of advancements in big data analysis and artificial intelligence (AI), there are emerging opportunities to harness these technologies to address perceptive biases. This study examines the potential perceptive biases that may arise when construction mediation is quasi-imposed on the disputing parties. This can happen when mediation attempts are stipulated in the construction contract or court-directed. It is argued that, under such circumstances, a negative perception might arise over whether a bona fide mediation can be realised. Concerns include the fairness and timeliness of the process, as well as the practice of opportunistic mediating behaviours. With data collected from practising construction mediation practitioners in Hong Kong, the constructs of Perceptions of Bona Fide Mediation, Quasi-Imposition, and Positive Mediation Outcomes were first developed. Applying partial least square structural equation modelling to the relationship frameworks of the constructs, it was found that quasi-imposition is not as damaging as envisaged as far as having a bona fide mediation and attaining positive mediation outcomes are concerned. Moreover, a negative perception of the fairness and timeliness of the quasi-imposed mediation would jeopardise the integrity of a bona fide mediation. In this regard, utilizing NLP and machine learning algorithms offers a pioneering AI-driven approach to informing mediating parties, as well as reminding mediators to uphold the fairness and timeliness of the process for the purposes of reaching positive mediation outcomes.
The author describes the results of the industrial development of the industry of the republics of the Volga-Vyatka region (Mari, Mordovian and Chuvash Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic) during the implementation of the Sovnarkhoz reform (1957-1965), when instead of the sectoral principle of industrial and construction management, a model of territorial administration represented by the councils of the national economy operated. It is shown that the reform carried out contributed to the intensification of industrial construction in the republics of the Volga-Vyatka region: the existing industrial enterprises expanded and modernized, new factories and factories were put into operation, the structure of industry changed in favor of more knowledge-intensive industries, rationalization developed, labor productivity increased. The growth rate of industry in the Mari, Mordovian and Chuvash Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic during the seven-year period exceeded the average Russian indicators. One of the factors that contributed to the rapid industrial development of the republics at the turn of the 1950s - 1960s was the course of the Soviet government to equalize the socio-economic conditions of various national regions of the country by modernizing their industrial potential. It was concluded that the reform of territorial administration became a powerful impulse to accelerate the development of the republics of the Volga-Vyatka region. By the beginning of the administrative reform, all three republics were territories with the predominant development of agriculture, but in the 1960s they turned into industrial-agrarian republics. The increase in the level of industrial development of the republics of the Volga-Vyatka region was accompanied by an increase in the level of urbanization, the creation of new educational and scientific institutions, and an increase in the scale of housing construction.
History of Russia. Soviet Union. Former Soviet Republics
Naraindas Bheel, Omrane Benjeddou, Hamad R. Almujibah
et al.
In the last decade, there has been an increase in research on ecologically benign, cost-effective, and socially useful cement alternative materials for concrete. Alternatives involve industrial and agriculture waste, the potential advantages of which may be recognized by recycling, repurposing, and recreating techniques. Important energy reserves and a decrease in Portland cement (PC) consumption may be attained by using these wastes as supplementary and substitute ingredients, contributing to a reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) production. Consequently, the incorporation of marble dust powder (MDP) and calcined clay (CC) as supplementary cementitious material (SCM) in high strength concrete may lower the environmental effect and reduce the amount of PC in mixes. This study is conducted on concrete containing 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% of MDP and CC as cementitious materials alone and in combination. The main objectives of this investigations are to examine the effect of MDP and CC as cementitious materials on the flowability and mechanical characteristics of high strength concrete. In order to examine the ecological effect of CC and MDP, the eco-strength efficiency and embodied carbon were considered. In this context, there are so many trial mixes were performed on cubical specimens for achieving targeted compressive strength about 60 MPa after 28 days. After getting it, a total of 273 concrete specimens (cubes, cylinders, and prisms) were used to test the compressive, splitting tensile, and flexural strength of high strength concrete correspondingly. Moreover, when the amount of MDP and CC as SCM in the mixture grows, the workability of green concrete decreases. In addition, the compressive strength, flexural strength, and splitting tensile strength are increased by 6.38 MPa, 67.66 MPa, and 4.88 MPa, respectively, at 10% SCM (5% MDP and 5% CC) over a period of 28 days. In addition, using ANOVA, response prediction models were generated and confirmed at a 95% level of significance. The R2 values of the models varied from 96 to 99%. Furthermore, increasing the amount of CC and MDP as SCM in concrete also reduces the amount of carbon embedded in the material. It is recommended that the utilization of 10% SCM (5% MDP and 5% CC) in high strength concrete is providing optimum outcomes for construction industry in the field of Civil Engineering.
Big data technology plays an important role in the prevention and control of public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Current studies on model construction, such as SIR infectious disease model, 4R crisis management model, etc., have put forward decision-making suggestions from different perspectives, which also provide a reference basis for the research in this paper. This paper conducts an exploratory study on the construction of a big data prevention and control model for public health emergencies by using the grounded theory, a qualitative research method, with literature, policies, and regulations as research samples, and makes a grounded analysis through three-level coding and saturation test. Main results are as follows: (1) The three elements of data layer, subject layer, and application layer play a prominent role in the digital prevention and control practice of epidemic in China and constitute the basic framework of the “DSA” model. (2) The “DSA” model integrates cross-industry, cross-region, and cross-domain epidemic data into one system framework, effectively solving the disadvantages of fragmentation caused by “information island”. (3) The “DSA” model analyzes the differences in information needs of different subjects during an outbreak and summarizes several collaborative approaches to promote resource sharing and cooperative governance. (4) The “DSA” model analyzes the specific application scenarios of big data technology in different stages of epidemic development, effectively responding to the disconnection between current technological development and realistic needs.
The construction industry is a sector of the economy that is characterized by a large variety of building structures, as well as a large variability in the conditions of their implementation [...]
This article discusses the altering image of American Jews in Hollywood movies. Coming to America during the great migration, mostly from Eastern Europe, this Azkenazic Jews then contributed to the building and transformation of the Hollywood movies as a world icon. Though quite dominant, Jews are quite careful in this industry. Anti-Semitism, the World War and the Great Depression are some of the things that make Jews uncomfortable about being in the spotlight or talking about their identity among the Christian audience of the movies. However, the condition changed after the Second World War and the civil rights movement in the 1960s. Jews and Judaism later appeared in various representations, which does not only change their image in Hollywood, but also the acceptance of American society broadly. Focusing on the movie, Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1959) as the object of research, the study explores how Jewish people represent themselves through films produced, including the negotiations and changes made as part of the American Jews. Using the theory of Stuart Hall’s Politics of Representation and Critical Discourse Analysis from Fairclough and Leuween as an approach, this work focuses on the analysis of text and images as a sign that represents the Jews and Judaism in the movie. Related to movie as a media construction, the filmmakers are able to reconstruct Jews in different image. Through the movie, the represented Jews are found to have conveyed various messages to the audience about their cultural and religious identity.
Swine DNA viruses have developed unique mechanisms for evasion of the host immune system, infection and DNA replication, and finally, construction and release of new viral particles. This article reviews four classes of DNA viruses affecting swine: porcine circoviruses, African swine fever virus, porcine parvoviruses, and pseudorabies virus. Porcine circoviruses belonging to the Circoviridae family are small single-stranded DNA viruses causing different diseases in swine including poly-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome, porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome, and porcine respiratory disease complex. African swine fever virus, the only member of the Asfivirus genus in the Asfarviridae family, is a large double-stranded DNA virus and for its propensity to cause high mortality, it is currently considered the most dangerous virus in the pig industry. Porcine parvoviruses are small single-stranded DNA viruses belonging to the Parvoviridae family that cause reproductive failure in pregnant gilts. Pseudorabies virus, or suid herpesvirus 1, is a large double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Herpesviridae family and Alphaherpesvirinae subfamily. Recent findings including general as well as genetic classification, virus structure, clinical syndromes and the host immune system responses and vaccine protection are described for all four swine DNA virus classes.
Abstract This study analyzes the development of the urban rail transit industry in China from an overall and macroscopic perspective. Multiple factors were considered, such as the degree of urbanization, non-public vehicle ownership, road capacity, and modal share of public transport in international metropolises, as well as planning and construction of urban rail transit systems in China’s large and extra-large cities. Through extensive investigations and research, this paper presents a comprehensive, systematic, and in-depth analysis and explanation of the domestic social demands and environmental background for the development of urban rail transit in China. Based on national development policies and strategic plans, information on current cutting-edge technologies, the adaptability of various urban rail transit modes, industrial technologies, local finances as well as investment and financing models, this study analyzes the opportunities and challenges that the development of urban rail transit in China faces over the 2016–2020 period aligned with China’s 13th Five-Year Plan. This paper aims to provide a forecast and outlook on the period’s ten major trends. The predicted trends include expanded scale, differentiated development, networked structure, multimodal transit systems, industrial standardization, intelligent systems, self-developed technology, diversified funding, international markets, and strategic planning. This article presents a comprehensive analysis of the current situation, development prospects, and future trends of urban rail transit in China and proposes corresponding measures and strategies. The findings can serve as an important and valuable reference for the development of urban rail transit in China and other countries.
Transportation engineering, Transportation and communications
On the basis of the Volume Correlation Model (VCM) as well as data on steel consumption and scrap collection per industry sector (construction, automotive, industrial goods, and consumer goods), it was possible to estimate service lifetimes of steel in the United States between 1900 and 2016. Input data on scrap collection per industry sector was based on a scrap survey conducted by the World Steel Association for a static year in 2014 in the United States. The lifetimes of steel calculated with the VCM method were within the range of previously reported measured lifetimes of products and applications for all industry sectors. Scrapped (and apparent) lifetimes of steel compared with measured lifetimes were calculated to be as follows: a scrapped lifetime of 29 years for the construction sector (apparent lifetime: 52 years) compared with 44 years measured in 2014. Industrial goods: 16 (27) years compared with 19 years measured in 2010. Consumer goods: 12 (14) years compared with 13 years measured in 2014. Automotive sector: 14 (19) years compared with 17 years measured in 2011. Results show that the VCM can estimate reasonable values of scrap collection and availability per industry sector over time.
In order to solve the problems of high energy consumption, low efficiency and serious pollution in petrochemical industry, based on the theory of circular economy, the operation system of circular economy model in petrochemical industry is analysed. Then, the material flow analysis method is introduced, and its meaning and basic framework are explained. Finally, combining with the material flow characteristics of petrochemical industry, the basic framework and specific index content of the circular economy evaluation index system of petrochemical industry are established. It is suggested that petroleum chemical industry should strengthen the development of circular economy. The results show that the evaluation index system of circular economy not only embodies the quantitative index, but also takes into account the efficiency index. Therefore, it is in line with the concept of circular economy.
Chemical engineering, Computer engineering. Computer hardware
Sustainability ill-practices in the construction industry can have major drawbacks on meeting governmental targets on carbon and energy reduction. Using a mixed-method approach drawn from three studies to explore the level of engagement of construction stakeholders in adopting government sustainability agendas, the research identifies a wide range of perceived barriers, which operate broadly at ‘individual’ and ‘organisational’ levels. Sustainability knowledge in construction is fragmented, diverse, embedded in various documents, and developed in a non-concerted and integrated way across stakeholders, localities, regions, and countries. There is an emergent need for a socio-technical ‘knowledge solution’ to create circles of impacts that bind building professionals, energy administrations, and citizens in a shared sustainability experience to address a number of issues.