Architectural Engineering Research Articles

Architectural technology and labour organisation at the late Neolithic Liangzhu City, Yangtze Delta region, China

Building the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site of Liangzhu City and its hinterlands was an enormous undertaking that required an unprecedented level of architectural innovations, clever logistic planning, and sophisticated labour organisation. We draw on environmental, archaeological and experimental data on the preparation and construction of grass-wrapped clay blocks at the Liangzhu City and investigate the importance of technological innovations to understand architectural energetics and labour organisation behind the unprecedented urbanisation at Liangzhu and beyond in prehistoric Yangtze Delta region. We estimate that each clay block took only around 5 min to prepare by 2–4 workers. Considering digging and other tasks, a small group of 3–4 workers would have been the most efficient arrangement in the preparation of grass-wrapped clay blocks. We reproduced different types of clay blocks, classified their sizes, and identified the standard sized (45x15 × 15cm) clay blocks that match with archaeological finds. Our results also show that standard-sized clay blocks had a more optimal grass-earth ratio which increased the drainage efficiency of the built clay-blocked structures and their resistance to weathering in wet conditions. The different architectural technologies applied by the Liangzhu builders constituted the Liangzhu builders’ earth-building toolkit. To maximize the efficiency, labour was divided and organised according to different construction tasks. The clay-blocked structures and stone beddings were mostly built by smaller groups, who were responsible for the preparation, transportation and construction tasks. Mobilization and division of labour during these construction activities might not follow the classical top-down process. Instead, the need to apply different architectural technologies, each restrained by availability of resources, convenience of transportation, and/or intrinsic engineering properties, at construction sites in a predominantly aquatic environment, prompted a creative form of labour organisation. Our study therefore provides fresh insights into understanding labour organisation, social structure and power relations at the Liangzhu Civilisation.

A digital twin model of the axial temperature field of a DC cable for millisecond calculations

The most important features of digital twin technology for transmission and transformation equipment are symbiotic evolution and state prediction. In constructing the digital twin model for DC cables, the transient and steady-state temperature fields need to be considered comprehensively in the modeling process to consider the multi-physical field coupling, mathematical model, operational data, and environmental conditions in specific cases, which makes it difficult to satisfy the real-time requirements of the digital twin. To solve this problem, in this paper, a digital twin technology architecture for DC cables is proposed, and a neural network learning model is constructed to minimize the latency due to the complexity of the model simulation. Moreover, an efficient digital twin model that is based on the model-driven approach is developed for the fast computation of the axial temperature field of DC cables. The use of the Sequence-to-Sequence residual neural network algorithm for the reduced-order multi-physics field coupling modeling reduces the computational time and ensures as much accuracy as possible up to the finite element model simulation. The simulation results show that the use of the digital twin model reduces the simulation time from 275 s to 0.56 s, and the relative error between the accuracy of the digital twin model and the finite element model for the axial temperature field of the DC cable is 0.46 %. Finally, verification of the reasonableness and feasibility of the proposed method is carried out via an experimental platform according to the standard of CIGRE TB496. In particular, the maximum value of the DC cable temperature is verified to have a small error compared with the result of the Sequence-to-Sequence calculation under specific working conditions.

Transformative Impact of Technology in Landscape Architecture on Landscape Research: Trends, Concepts and Roles

The role of technology in landscape architecture (TLA) has significantly evolved since the 19th century, increasingly integrating with digital tools and technologies in the 21st century. Despite its growing importance, there is a notable deficiency in the scholarly literature regarding the progression of TLA trends and their interplay with the core domains and research themes within landscape research. The influence of TLA on landscape research remains ambiguous, especially concerning its ability to generate new knowledge and impact design and sustainability practices. Furthermore, there is a critical need to delineate how TLA differs from allied general digital technology tools and to identify specific specializations that are emerging within the TLA field. To explore the above gaps, this study utilized a mixed methods approach involving secondary data from peer-reviewed publications, primary data from the archival research of winning projects, and expert interviews based on the two major research types of “Research through Design (RTD)” and “Research for Design (RFD)” to explore the TLA’s contribution. This research is significant as it: (1) identified the trend of TLA; (2) conceptualized the TLA, and (3) identified its role in relation to the core domains and research themes of landscape research.

Institutional investor heterogeneity and green innovation in China: Does digital transformation matter?

This paper examines how different categories of institutional investors influence green innovation for Chinese-listed companies and investigates the impact of digital transformation on this relationship. Results show that pressure-insensitive investors significantly improve corporate green innovation, while pressure-sensitive institutions have no effect. Further evidence suggests this is due to the negative impact of long-term pressure-sensitive investors on green innovation. We further analyze whether digital transformation affects the relationship between institutional ownership heterogeneity and green innovation. Consistent with the view that digital transformation promotes timely information dissemination and alleviates information asymmetry, our findings demonstrate that both pressure-insensitive institutional investors and short-term pressure-sensitive institutional investors promote green innovation in firms with higher levels of digital transformation. Further analyses reveal that digital transformation at the city level amplifies the influence of institutional investors on green innovation, and the underlying technology architecture provides more value to the institutional ownership heterogeneity−green innovation nexus.

Synchronous Regulation of Hydrophobic Molecular Architecture and Interface Engineering for Robust WORM‐Type Memristor

AbstractIn the context of human active response to exponentially increasing data volumes, memristors have emerged as a focal point in systematic problem‐solving approaches. Particularly, organic memristors, characterized by excellent scalability, flexibility, and 3D stacking capabilities, have shown its tremendous potential in innovative electronic applications. However, the modulation of molecular assembly and interface interaction at the electrode surface poses a challenging task, despite their crucial role in determining the memristive performance. Herein, a collaborative method involving hydrophobic molecular design and interface engineering is proposed to generate high‐quality nanofilms with optimal photoelectric and electrochemical properties. By subjecting the bottom electrode to O2 plasma treatment and chemical modification using a hydrophobic ionic liquid poly(diallyldimethylammonium) bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (PTFSI), the hydrophobic compound DN demonstrates exceptional affinity and stronger intermolecular interactions with the electrode surface. Consequently, the two‐terminal device array comprising Al/DN@PTFSI/ITO exhibits robust non‐volatile write‐once‐read‐many times (WORM) memory behavior, resulting in a tripling production yield from 30% to 92% along with a lower threshold voltage of 1.5 V, higher ON/OFF current ratio of 103 and excellent stability. This study presents a versatile approach to optimize the film assembly and material/electrode interface, thereby accelerating the development of organic memristors toward future applications.

Improving non-destructive testing methods for detecting cavity damage and internal defects in stone cultural relics: A focus on ultrasonic testing and acoustic tapping technology

This study employs advanced ultrasonic tomography and Grasshopper software to investigate the internal anomalies within stone materials. We aim to enhance the non-destructive testing (NDT) methods with potential applications extending to modern architecture and stone engineering. Cavity damage and internal defects threaten the structural stability of stone cultural relics. Traditional non-destructive testing methods, while practical, have limitations in assessing these relics comprehensively. This paper proposes an enhanced ultrasonic testing method based on mathematical analysis to accurately detect cavity damage in stone cultural relics. We also investigate imaging techniques for internal defects, combining ultrasonic testing with Grasshopper software for efficient and accurate defect characterization. Additionally, we introduce an acoustic tapping method for detecting internal defects in ancient building stones. Verified through field tests and data analysis, this method is non-invasive, accurate, and fast. The process of detecting stone defects using this technology, along with data analysis methods, experimental results, and application effects, are detailed. This research contributes to the improved preservation and restoration of ancient buildings and extends to other fields, such as modern architecture and stone engineering, highlighting its significance in cultural heritage conservation.

Studying the phenomenon of self-compassion in the context of preventing academic procrastination

Introduction. Currently, the presence of procrastination causes contradictions in modern conditions of society, which places special demands on the independence, initiative, motivation and responsibility of the individual. Scientific research describes in sufficient detail the factors that cause procrastination. There is less research on the relationship between procrastination and such an aspect of personality as self-compassion. The purpose of our study is to examine the relationship between procrastination and self-compassion among university students. Materials and methods. The sample consisted of 157 students of the St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, of which 77 boys and 80 girls aged 19 to 22 years. The assumption that procrastination depends on self-compassion and self-esteem was tested using the Self-Compassion Scale by K. Neff, adapted by K.A. Chistopolskaya et al., test «Degree of severity of procrastination» (SVP) by M.A. Kiseleva, N.E. Shustova, O.V. Karina and the test «Personal Self-Esteem» by O.I. Motkova. The obtained empirical results were verified using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, Student's t-test, Pearson correlation analysis, and regression analysis. Results. It was revealed that 28% of students have a high level of self-compassion, 69% have an average level, 3% do not show self-compassion. The level of self-compassion among girls was significantly higher (79.3±10.0) than among boys (75.5±12.2). There is a negative relationship between indicators of self-compassion and indicators of procrastination: with a high level of self-compassion in a student, motivational insufficiency (r=- 0.24; p≤0.05), procrastination (r=-0.21; p≤0.05), anxiety (r=-0.31; p≤0.05). A positive relationship between self-compassion and self-esteem indicators was found. As a result of regression analysis, two components of self-compassion influencing procrastination were identified: self-isolation (B = -0.44) and excessive identification with negative emotions (B = -0.24). Conclusion. The results obtained show the need to develop self-compassion as a factor reducing personal procrastination.

High Rates of Eye Surgery Cancellation in Veterans Related to Mental Health.

Approximately 9 million veterans receive health care at the Veterans Health Administration, many of whom have psychiatric illnesses. The military continues to have higher rates of psychiatric illness compared to the civilian population. Having a diagnosis such as posttraumatic stress disorder or depression may create challenges in using health care services, such as surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate eye surgery cancellation, risk factors for cancellation, and areas for intervention within the VA. This was a single-center retrospective cohort study. The Veteran Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture were queried to identify all surgical requests at the West Los Angeles VA in 2019. Data collection included sociodemographic information and comorbid medical conditions, including psychiatric illness. Exploratory analyses using univariate logistic regression were used to evaluate factors associated with surgery cancellation. A total of 1,115 surgical requests were identified with a cancellation rate of 23.7% (n = 270). Sociodemographic factors were similar between those with completed and cancelled surgery. However, having a psychiatric diagnosis correlated with surgery cancellation. For all subspecialties, patients with schizophrenia were more likely to have cancellation (odds ratio [OR], 2.53, P = .04). For retina surgery, patients with posttraumatic stress disorder were more likely to have cancellation (OR, 4.23, P = .01). Glaucoma patients with anxiety (OR, 5.78, P = .05) and depression (OR, 4.05, P = .04) were more likely to have cancellation. There was a significant amount of eye surgery cancellations in veterans with variation by subspecialty and comorbid conditions. Having a psychiatric illness was correlated with increased rates of surgery cancellation amongst veterans. Areas to improve surgical utilization include risk stratification and increased support of vulnerable patients before surgery.

Guidelines for data collection on energy performance of higher-education buildings in Egypt: a case study

ABSTRACT Reliable energy analysis of buildings relies heavily on high-quality data leading to proper indicators. Previous studies have highlighted the importance of data quality in analyzing energy usage in residential and non-residential buildings in order to transform declarations to actions, optimise energy efficiency policies and monitor progress and failures in countries. Collected data must adhere to national and international standards for energy performance in buildings. This study aims to provide practical guidelines for effectively collecting and preparing data suitable for evaluating energy performance in Egyptian higher-education (HE) buildings. The guidelines are developed based on a comprehensive case study, considering data availability in typical educational facilities. Architectural and civil engineering drawings, construction specifications, and occupancy details are accessible. However, actual monthly electrical and natural gas consumption data for individual buildings are lacking. To address this, the study proposes the creation of detailed datasheets for each building, encompassing all energy sources and their electrical and power specifications, such as equipment, machinery, and HVAC systems. These datasheets were utilized to calculate energy consumption and energy usage indicators (EUI). The findings demonstrate that the datasheets enable adequate assessment of energy usage in various spaces within educational buildings, including staff rooms, lecture halls, and laboratories. This facilitates the identification of areas in need of targeted energy efficiency improvements. Notably, the study reveals that electricity consumption in the Faculty of Engineering building is significantly influenced by PCs, laboratories, lighting, and air conditioning.

The architecture design checklist of classrooms for children with cochlear implant in rehabilitation centers

Children with cochlear implants (CI) have unique physical, psychological, and behavioral needs compared to typically developing children, thus they go through a rehabilitation process for education and activity purposes in a rehabilitation center (RC). The provision of specialized support for children with CI reflects a nation's commitment to inclusivity and care for all segments of society. This study investigates the research gab of the needs of children with CI (aged 1–6) to identify the fundamental design requirements in order to develop an architectural design checklist for their classrooms. Through literature review and comparisons with standard preschool designs for typically developed children, the research identifies key design elements affecting these children's learning and integration. This study establishes a framework for optimizing RC's classroom design for children with CI. Following a methodological discussion addressing pertinent research considerations, a comprehensive user experience questionnaire was conducted. The questionnaire included participants from various stakeholder groups: parents, educators, medical professionals (psychiatrists and doctors), and design experts (architectural and acoustic engineers). The findings inform the identification of essential design elements encompassing layout, materials selection, ventilation strategies, lighting systems, acoustic control measures, and color palettes. Following analysis, the research concludes with a design checklist outlining optimal ranges (100 % = sub-optimum, 50 % = optimum, 0 % = over design) for each element, including furniture layout, color schemes, materials, classroom shape, lighting, and ventilation. This checklist ensures RC classrooms effectively cater to the specific needs of children with CI.

Software engineering architecture and its promising opportunities

The evolution of software architecture has witnessed the transition from monolithic to microservices, offering enhanced scalability, maintainability, and flexibility. With the rise of Microservices Architecture (MA), containerization has emerged as a pivotal technology to encapsulate microservices in isolated environments, ensuring consistent deployment. This paper delves into the intricate relationship between Microservices Architecture and containerization, focusing on the benefits, challenges, and practical implications of integrating both. Through a comprehensive experimental setup simulating an e-commerce platform, we quantitatively evaluate the performance metrics of a containerized microservices system versus a traditional monolithic setup. Our findings accentuate the performance gains achieved through MA and containerization, while also shedding light on areas that demand caution and further research. The insights presented serve as a beacon for organizations aiming to transition to or optimize their microservices and containerization practices.

Engineering of 3D architectures with yttrium on reduced-graphene oxide nanosheets for effective co-adsorption of tetracycline and phosphate

Effective removal of composite pollutants containing antibiotic and phosphorus is still facing challenges for the wastewater treatment. In this study, yttrium-hydroxide component was loaded onto the surface of reduced GO nanosheets via low-temperature hydrothermal method, to synthesize the 3D YrGO architectures. The optimized YrGO-8 hydrogels showed the maximum adsorption capacity of 226.45 mg/g for tetracycline (TC), and 33.403 mg/g for phosphate, which was higher than many other reported adsorbents. The characterization results demonstrated that the rGO nanosheets were successfully crosslinked by Y(III) to form a porous 3D structure, which was beneficial to the mass transfer and active sites exposure. The adsorption behaviors of TC or phosphate was suppressed by the co-existing phosphate ions or TC, with slower adsorption rate and lower adsorption amount. Importantly, column adsorption analyzed by Thomas model illustrated the rate basis of YrGO-8beads to capture TC/phosphate in an adsorbate diffusion rate. Moreover, the 3D YrGO-8 remained stable and high reusability in multi-uptake-release rounds via pH regulation. The mechanism study suggested that the sequence of adsorption process of TC followed the order of hydrogen bond (HB) > π – π electron donor–acceptor (EDA), n − π EDA > Y(III) bridging interactions, while the uptake of phosphate formed Y-O-P inner-sphere complexes prior to HB. This study proposes a novel insight into the development of 3D architectures for effectively simultaneous treatment of composite TC and phosphate pollution.

UTILIZATION OF BIM TECHNOLOGIES FOR ENHANCING THE EFFICIENCY OF WATER SUPPLY AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS DESIGN

Problem statement. The need for the formation and development of human resources in the construction industry of Ukraine to create a competitive sphere that complies with high standards of quality and efficiency, operating based on modern financial, economic, technical, and organizational mechanisms. One method to achieve the goals of innovative development is the modernization of architectural and construction design and engineering networks, particularly through the implementation of Building Information Modeling (BIM) technologies. These technologies enable effective decision-making at all stages of the life cycle of buildings and structures − from the initial idea to the stage of operation and even the dismantling of water supply and wastewater system engineering networks. The purpose of the article − to explore the utilization of BIM technologies to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of designing water supply and wastewater systems Conclusions. The application of BIM technologies in the design of water supply and wastewater systems significantly improves work efficiency. Creating digital models facilitates the interaction of all participants in the construction process and minimizes errors and conflicts during the design phase. The success of modernizing the construction industry became possible through active collaboration of all stakeholders. Public advocacy and participation in addressing industry issues provided a broader perspective on problem-solving. The implementation of BIM technologies allows for the development and improvement of water supply and wastewater system projects, contributing to work optimization and project planning enhancement.

Integrating machine learning in architectural engineering sustainable design: a sub-hourly approach to energy and indoor climate management in buildings

Integrating machine learning in architectural engineering sustainable design: a sub-hourly approach to energy and indoor climate management in buildings

Biological, physical and morphological factors for the programming of a novel microbial hygromorphic material

The urgency for energy efficient, responsive architectures has propelled smart material development to the forefront of scientific and architectural research. This paper explores biological, physical, and morphological factors influencing the programming of a novel microbial-based smart hybrid material which is responsive to changes in environmental humidity. Hygromorphs respond passively, without energy input, by expanding in high humidity and contracting in low humidity. Bacillus subtilis develops environmentally robust, hygromorphic spores which may be harnessed within a bilayer to generate a deflection response with potential for programmability. The bacterial spore-based hygromorph biocomposites (HBCs) were developed and aggregated to enable them to open and close apertures and demonstrate programmable responses to changes in environmental humidity. This study spans many fields including microbiology, materials science, design, fabrication and architectural technology, working at multiple scales from single cells to ‘bench-top’ prototype.Exploration of biological factors at cellular and ultracellular levels enabled optimisation of growth and sporulation conditions to biologically preprogramme optimum spore hygromorphic response and yield. Material explorations revealed physical factors influencing biomechanics, preprogramming shape and response complexity through fabrication and inert substrate interactions, to produce a palette of HBCs. Morphological aggregation was designed to harness and scale-up the HBC palette into programmable humidity responsive aperture openings. This culminated in pilot performance testing of a humidity-responsive ventilation panel fabricated with aggregated Bacillus HBCs as a bench-top prototype and suggests potential for this novel biotechnology to be further developed.

A Comprehensive Comparison of IBM Cloud and Microsoft Azure

The ever-growing demand for scalability, agility, and cost-effectiveness has fuelled cloud computing to the forefront of modern IT infrastructure. According to Precedence Research, the global cloud computing market size was valued at USD 480 billion in 2022 and is expected to hit USD 2297.37 billion by 2032 with a registered CAGR of 17% from 2023 to 2032 [1]. The growth of cloud computing is driven by various factors such as the rapid evolution of technology and the globalization of businesses. Cloud computing is already embraced in various industries like Financial Services, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Retail, Education, and Architecture Engineering & Construction (AEC), where it streamlines operations, enhances collaboration, and revolutionizes processes. Cloud computing holds immense potential, especially in sectors like healthcare, real estate, tourism, and small and medium enterprises, where it will facilitate faster and more informed decision-making processes through data collection and analysis. Additionally, cloud technology is revolutionizing government sectors by driving cost savings, enhancing efficiency, and promoting transparency and citizen engagement. With the increasing number of cloud computing service providers such as IBM, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and others, it becomes crucial to delve into their technical nuances. Understanding how each provider's offerings align with specific business requirements, technical specifications, and future scalability is paramount for organizations venturing into their cloud journey. The main purpose of this paper is to explore and evaluate the technical dimensions of IBM Cloud and Microsoft Azure and understand its future potential.

Numerical optimization of interface engineering parameters for a highly efficient HTL-free perovskite solar cell

Decarbonizing the world’s energy system has set the stage in favor of renewable energy alternatives such as the more reliable, abundant, inexhaustible, and sustainable solar energy. However, the photovoltaic technology faces significant stability, longevity, and scalability challenges. These difficulties can be overcome by judicious optimization of interfacial engineering of the solar cell architecture that will decrease the cost of fabrication and enhance the solar cell performance and durability. Herein, a comprehensive analysis of a novel high-performance hole transport layer-free (HTL-free) perovskite solar cell (PSC) of the configuration, ITO/PC61BM/CH3NH3SnI3/Pt, was investigated by device simulation while optimizing electron transport materials, metal back contacts, front contact materials, and buffer layers. The focus is on enhancing device performance by introducing various types of buffer layers, such as cadmium sulphide (CdS) in the proposed solar cell model. By fine-tuning the ETL layers and manipulating perovskite acceptor and donor densities, better device performance was achieved. Furthermore, the Mott-Schottky capacitance analysis yielded critical insights into the interface properties and dynamics of charge carriers within the solar cell structure. Optimizing back contacts also play a critical role in charge extraction and reduced recombination losses. Leveraging a sophisticated simulation platform, SCAPS-1D, the study assesses how design strategies impact photovoltaic electrical outcomes such as open-circuit voltage (Voc), power conversion efficiency (PCE), short-circuit current density (Jsc), and Fill factor (FF). The proposed HTL-free device posted remarkable results – PCE of 38.11 %, Jsc of 35.32 mAcm−2, FF of 88.67 %, and Voc of 1.2168 V. Accordingly, this work inspires the promising prospects of HTL-free PSCs in achieving robust solar harvesting capabilities while streamlining device affordability. Therefore, the proposed device architecture stimulates the journey towards affordable and high-performance scalable solar cell modules.

Modeling Architecture with the TOGAF Framework to Support the Smart Village in Indonesia

In an agricultural nation like Indonesia, where villages are one of the key regions for economic growth, Jatisura Village in the Cikedung district of Indramayu has the potential to grow into a smart village. This is because Rosalia Food MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) that have sold their products to the Asian level and reputable communities like Situ Bolang as a tourist attraction both have potential in Jatisura village. Realizing smart village development is a program that requires cooperation from all parties since it is in line with the government's priority program, which is to construct Indonesia from the periphery to minimize the inequity between cities and rural areas. Therefore, a model of architecture that aligns with information technology architecture is required to implement the construction of smart villages. This study intended to build an architecture that aligns with information technology to facilitate the implementation of smart villages based on information and communication technology in Jatisura village, Indonesia's Indramayu regency. To promote digital inclusion and more excellent employment prospects, this study focuses on smart village architecture and methods leveraging ICT initiatives. The TOGAF framework was the foundation architectural concept used. The framework generated business and organizational architecture models, information system and technological architectures, and migration, implementation, and change management architectures. All these architectural models help carry out the process of constructing a smart village, enabling it to do so in a way that effectively carries out the vision and mission of the regency.

A collaborative digital ‘treasure hunt’ to build student engagement in architectural technology

A collaborative digital ‘treasure hunt’ to build student engagement in architectural technology

Factors affecting Bologna process course registration in Architectural Engineering Department-Salahaddin University

Factors affecting Bologna process course registration in Architectural Engineering Department-Salahaddin University