Civil Engineering Research Articles

Hand-held LiDAR data capture techniques in construction phase support

As digital principles are adopted throughout the civil engineering and construction industries, the digital revolution has seen significant variability in the actual practice. In mega-projects, Joint Venture Teams consisting of Tier 1 contractors and multi-disciplinary design houses are working in a BIM environment and using Federated Models of the project, from concept through design to construction. However, in more traditional delivery models, the design and construction teams are at arm’s length, separated by time and space, and frequently with all communication through the client and/or contract administrator. The result is, predictably, a lack of effective data sharing. Communication is through formal reports, drawings, and eventually, requests for information (RFI). The design models (if shared at all) are typically not the full BIM model and shared with only a few in the construction team; typically, the surveyors and GPS enabled plant. The digital revolution has seen a significant increase in the capabilities of data capturing equipment, visualisation tools and software with a number of tools becoming widely available. As a result, there are several paths that can be taken (e.g., choosing one brand over another may result in a long-term commitment to that brand or data configuration). The general result is that companies with deep pockets and a willingness to embrace the new technologies are jumping ahead in adopting digital. However, time will tell if they choose the right path while more cautious companies, happy to continue with their traditional technology and workflows, will fall further behind. Most of the industry is somewhere between these extremes; however, the gap between them is growing. This paper considers the growing gap between traditional and digital paths with respect to data capture in the field as it applies to digital geotechnics in a construction phase support (CPS) role. While traditional workflows have their place in the future, it is important to explore the use of digital workflows to enhance the quantity and quality of the data captured, the ability to share the site observations with colleagues and stakeholders, and to have data interoperable with other software to allow further integration and analysis of the data. This paper also noted that both traditional and digital workflows have limitations which must be acknowledged, and where possible measured, to allow the proper interpretation of the data captured.

Durability of epoxy adhesives employed in civil engineering under hot/wet environments

Durability of epoxy adhesives employed in civil engineering under hot/wet environments

Manually classified dataset of leaning and standing personnel images for construction site monitoring and neural network training.

This data paper presents a manually labeled dataset of 1,214 images of personnel captured from a construction site using four static cameras. There are two classes, standing and people leaning. The classification is stored in accompanying text files and bounding box coordinates for every image. The compilation was done to support the developing and validation computer vision and AI models for construction site monitoring. This dataset addresses the challenges of finding personnel in different poses within complex construction environments. The resource will enhance construction site safety monitoring and personnel activity analysis by allowing more precise neural network training. The dataset is stored in a public repository, making it openly accessible for academic and industrial purposes regarding computer vision, civil engineering, and workplace safety.

Near-surface seismic refraction anomalies due to underground target models and the application in civil and environmental engineering

Near-surface seismic refraction anomalies due to underground target models and the application in civil and environmental engineering

Classification of additives and their influence mechanisms in improving the performance of biologically induced carbonate precipitation.

Classification of additives and their influence mechanisms in improving the performance of biologically induced carbonate precipitation.

Kalanirmata: Developing an Efficient Automatic Timetable Generator for Colleges

Kalanirmata: Developing an Efficient Automatic Timetable Generator for Colleges is a web-based application designed to simplify and optimize the process of creating timetables for educational institutions. The system allows administrators to securely log in and manage key aspects of timetable creation, including adding and updating teacher profiles, assigning subjects, and generating timetables for multiple academic departments, such as Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering. The application utilizes a genetic algorithm to automate and optimize the scheduling process by minimizing common conflicts, such as overlapping teacher schedules, room allocations, and class timings. This algorithm simulates evolutionary processes like selection, crossover, and mutation to refine the timetable over multiple generations, ensuring the most efficient and conflict-free solution. The application is developed using React for the frontend, Next.js for the backend, and MongoDB for data storage, providing a robust, responsive, and secure platform for timetable management. By automating the timetable generation process, the system reduces manual errors, increases efficiency, and provides educational institutions with a streamlined solution for managing complex scheduling needs across various departments and a large faculty.

Advanced Method for Detecting Irregularities in Concrete Beams Using IOT Data from Sensors

Abstract— The increasing reliance on state assessments in civil engineering has sparked extensive research into methods for damage detection based on structural vibrations. Modal parameters, such as natural frequencies and mode shapes, have gained significant attention due to their invariance across structures. These parameters provide a global perspective, meaning their variations can help identify damage without the need for sensor placement directly at the damaged site. This feature is a key advantage in structural health monitoring (SHM) systems. Integrating MEMS sensors into SHM frameworks holds great potential for long-term monitoring, particularly for large-scale infrastructures. This paper introduces an innovative anomaly detection technique that analyzes raw sequential data through a statistical approach to identify damage associated with tendon prestress loss. The technique leverages a distributed monitoring system consisting of six high-performance MEMS sensors. To validate the system, the first mode frequency is initially analyzed, and the method is then tested on acceleration data from a 240 cm beam under three distinct damage scenarios. The results demonstrate high accuracy in damage detection and show that the system can also localize the damage effectively. Keywords— Distributed monitoring system, structural health monitoring, MEMS sensors, frequency domain decomposition, anomaly detection.

Comparison Between Cement Concrete Road and Concrete Paver Block

Abstract: The use of proper pavement types has a great effect on expedience, sustainability, and economy of land transportations facilities. The study is aimed at comparing CC-Roads (Cement Concrete Roads) and CPB-Roads (Concrete Paver Block Roads) with respect to construction practices, constituent materials, structural performance, cost consideration, maintenance aspects, environmental issues and aesthetic appearance. Due to higher compressive strength and other properties, cement concrete roads in areas with heavy traffic loads, it is used, however, they also have longer construction period and initial cost. In contrast, roads constructed with concrete paver blocks made up of interlocking pre-cast units could be installed fast, is easier to maintain and it is more flexible to design and are more appropriate for use in urban or semi-urban areas with low to medium traffic. Furthermore, the drainage potential, recyclability and carbon footprint are taken into account providing a comprehensive comparison of both technologies. The results presented resulting useful for urban planners, civil engineers and decision -- makers to make informed choices in road construction projects, based on certain site conditions and performance parameters. In general, the cement concrete road is built beyond or within the village limit. But inside the village portion are the concrete paver blocks. It is observed that the cost of cement concrete road is very high compared to concrete paver. In the present study we are compared between cement concrete road and concrete paver blocks

A Case Study on the Effectiveness of Site Visit-Based Learning in Civil Engineering Polytechnic Education

This study explores the impact of practical site visits on the academic and professional development of Civil Engineering students in a polytechnic setting. Based on observations and student feedback over three academic years, including visits to Shahpurkandi Hydro Power Project (Pathankot), a multi-storey construction site behind Haveli, Phagwara (managed by AGI Infra Ltd.), and various highway construction sites in and around Ludhiana and Phagwara (including GT Road upgrades near Jalandhar Bypass), the paper concludes that on-site exposure greatly enhances conceptual clarity, technical vocabulary, and industry readiness.

Structural Analysis and Design of Water Treatment Plant Structures

Abstract: The increasing demand for clean and safe drinking water in urban and semi-urban areas necessitates the establishment of well-designed and efficient water treatment facilities. This thesis focuses on the hydraulic and structural design of a 14.00 million Liters per Day (MLD) conventional Water Treatment Plant (WTP), aiming to ensure structural safety, operational efficiency, and sustainability in water treatment infrastructure. The hydraulic design is based on the latest CPHEEO Manual 2024 guidelines, ensuring proper sizing and layout of essential components including intake chambers, flash mixers, flocculators, sedimentation tanks, rapid sand filters, clear water reservoirs, and pump houses. The structural analysis and design of all major components have been carried out using STAAD Pro software, which enabled precise modeling, load analysis, and efficient reinforcement detailing as per IS 456:2000 and relevant Indian Standard codes. The design process considered various load combinations, including dead load, live load, hydrostatic pressure, and seismic forces as per IS 1893 (Part 1): 2016. A case study approach was adopted for the selected site, evaluating site-specific parameters such as soil bearing capacity and seismic zone. The results demonstrate that all structural components are safe under ultimate and serviceability limit states. The integration of hydraulic functionality with structural integrity ensures long-term performance and safety of the plant. The project highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between civil and environmental engineering domains and showcases how software tools can be leveraged to enhance design accuracy, optimize material usage, and reduce construction costs. This study provides a reference for future WTP projects, especially in the context of growing urbanization and the need for sustainable water infrastructure.

Development Intervention of Students for the Civil Engineering Course in the Diploma Programme through Cantas Gagal

The complexity of the Civil Engineering Programme often challenges students, making intervention programmes essential. These programmes provide targeted support and personalized instruction to help students overcome academic obstacles and improve their performance. In addition to addressing academic difficulties, intervention programmes also tackle underlying barriers such as learning difficulties, attention issues, and personal circumstances. One of the intervention programmes is Cantas Gagal. In this study, Cantas Gagal was implemented in the hydraulic engineering course to investigate its impact on student performance. A survey was conducted among 25 students who participated in the programme; assessing their understanding of the intervention, the hydraulic engineering course, and their overall perception. The results indicated high awareness and a willingness to participate in the Cantas Gagal programme. Furthermore, the survey revealed students’ perceived difficulty levels of course topics and subtopics, providing valuable insights for lecturers to design their teaching approaches. Overall, intervention programmes play a crucial role in supporting students academic journey and enabling them to reach their full potential in civil engineering programme.

Analysis of Student Demand Trends for Internship Placement in the Civil Engineering Program

Well-structured internship programs play an important role in outcome-based education (OBE) for engineering programs. OBE emphasizes the importance of aligning educational practices with measurable outcomes that internships enhance students’ lifelong learning potential by developing critical skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, and communication. However, identifying and meeting the specific internship placement needs to address those outcomes remains a challenge, where students’ expectations for hands-on experience in the field and the availability of industry placements that disconnect with their academic background. This study focuses on the various industrial types and sectors in providing meaningful work experiences for civil engineering diploma students. The analysis was performed on graduated students’ cohort September 2019 consisting of 121 students and 51 students from cohort 2020. The findings indicated that students preferred to complete their internship in northern region (Perak, Kedah and Pulau Pinang). most students favor completing their internship process with Contractor, likely due to the abundance of opportunities and the practical nature of the work, followed by Federal Government Department/Statutory Body and Consultant. Finally, the gender disparity is shown, where male students dominating private contractor for both type and sector, while female students are giving a competitive number for Federal Government/Statutory Body.

“An Old China Hand Who Loved the Chinese People”: Herbert Chatley (1885-1955), Civil Engineer and Historian of Chinese Science and Technology

Herbert Chatley (1885‑1955) was one of the scholars on whose research and expertise Joseph Needham drew when writing Science and Civilisation in China. Chatley worked in China for three decades, first as a teacher in Tangshan 唐山, where he trained a number of Chinese engineers and scientists, then as an engineer in charge of the dredging of the Huangpu 黃浦 river in Shanghai. His scholarship spanned a wide spectrum of fields, and therefore belonged in various spaces of circulation, including not only the global community of engineering, but also that of knowledge about China pertaining to the history of science and technology, then mostly separated from academic sinology in the West.

Assessment of crumb rubber as a partial substitute with quarry dust for the production interlocking paving stone

The generation of huge amounts of waste rubber from used tires poses serious environmental challenges due to its non-degradable nature. Meanwhile, the rising cost of construction materials has significantly increased overall construction expenses. This research investigates the use of crumb rubber (CR) as a partial replacement for quarry dust in the production of interlocking paving stones. Waste tires were shredded and processed into fine crumb rubber. Sieve analysis were conducted on both materials, revealing that quarry dust was well-graded, while CR was gap-graded, with 66.5% retained at 0.425 mm and 22.6% at 0.300 mm sieve sizes. Cement, quarry dust, and CR were batched by weight with a 1:6 cement-quarry dust ratio and a 0.45 water-cement ratio. Slump tests demonstrated that the addition of crumb rubber improved workability, with slump values increasing from 2 mm (0%) to 11 mm (40%). Paving stones were cast with 0-40% CR replacements and cured for 7-28 days. Compressive strength results showed a decline from 11.5 MPa (0%) to 4.24 MPa (40%) after 7 days, with similar trends observed at 14, 21, and 28 days. Splitting tensile strength also decreased, with 0% replacement yielding 3.27 MPa at 28 days, compared to 1.62 MPa for 40% replacement. Flexural strength followed the same pattern, dropping from 8.5 MPa (0%) to 5.33 MPa (40%) at 28 days. While crumb rubber enhanced workability, its inclusion reduced compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths, compromising structural integrity. This research promotes sustainable civil engineering practices by utilizing waste materials, offering insights into optimizing crumb rubber content to balance workability and strength in construction applications for both economic and environmental benefits.

FLOATING CITIES FOR CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION: EXPLORING MOTION PERCEPTION THRESHOLDS VIA IMMERSIVE VIRTUAL REALITY

Sea level rise due to climate change is predicted to consume 1.79 million km2 of land alongside the displacement of 187 million people by the 22nd century (Bamber et al. 2019). In response, both the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) have advocated for the development of floating cities as a sustainable solution towards climate resilience and adaptation. However, large-scale floating structures for permanent human habitation have not advanced beyond architectural speculation with no guidelines to inform their design. Unlike traditional land-based buildings, no attempts have been made to investigate their habitability (i.e., human comfort) under low-frequency oscillations induced by wind and waves. This work employs immersive virtual reality (VR) to ascertain motion perception thresholds across all six degrees of freedom (DOF) for a hypothetical floating structure situated in Auckland, New Zealand. Through this process, we aim to establish VR as an invaluable tool for the exploration of immersive visual stimuli to motion perception and comfort criteria within complex floating environments.

Modelling of concrete swelling effects in dams, considering the influence of temperature, humidity, stress field, viscoelasticity and cracking

An integrated model, developed at the National Laboratory for Civil Engineering, to simulate the structural behaviour of dams affected by concrete swelling is presented. The model considers the influence of temperature, humidity, stress field, viscoelasticity and cracking. The concrete swelling model is based on concrete properties and temperature and humidity fields, and includes expansion anisotropy due to the stress state. The structural model considers the concrete viscoelastic behaviour and the cracking phenomena. The structural topology can be updated at any time to consider the construction sequence and modifications during the lifetime of the structure, while relevant actions are considered incrementally over time. The thermal and humidity fields can be modelled as diffusion processes. The simulation of dam behaviour is supported by a three-dimensional (3D) representation of the structure and its rock mass foundation, solved step-by-step by the finite-element method. Volumetric, joint and linear finite elements can be considered. A detailed 3D case study is presented, related to the analysis and interpretation of the structural behaviour of Covão do Meio arch dam in Portugal. The results from numerical analysis and continuous monitoring, including crack patterns, were in good agreement, attesting to the adequacy of the models and methods used to simulate the dam’s behaviour over time.

Enhancing Work Efficiency and Learning Effectiveness with Generative AI Chatbots in Civil Engineering

In the civil engineering and construction industry, generative AI chatbots can significantly streamline tasks such as report creation and safety activities. However, relying on AI may reduce opportunities for human learning and skill development. This paper proposes an evaluation method to balance AI-driven efficiency with human capability growth. We developed three chatbots to support reporting, safety activities, and root cause analysis, and present a framework to measure both productivity and learning outcomes through user logs and workplace performance. Our findings suggest that properly designed AI-assisted tools can enhance efficiency and simultaneously foster skill improvement.

Investigation of engineering-scale testing and bearing capacity calculation method for rotary screw special-shaped piles

This paper investigates the bearing performance of rotary drilling screw special-shaped piles, a novel foundation solution designed to enhance load-bearing capacity in geotechnical engineering. Combining engineering-scale tests with numerical simulations, the study evaluates the interaction between piles and surrounding soil, with particular focus on the effect of thread geometry.The proposed orthogonal simulation model assesses the influence of key design parameters such as thread height, pitch, and pile length on compressive bearing capacity and end resistance. The results demonstrate that the thread structure increases the interaction area between the pile and soil, improving side friction resistance and overall bearing capacity. A method for calculating the bearing capacity of screw special-shaped piles is proposed, based on Meyerhof’s theory for deep foundations, which is validated through experimental data. This research provides valuable insights for optimizing pile foundation design and offers a reliable approach for calculating bearing capacity. The findings highlight the potential of screw special-shaped piles to enhance structural stability and material efficiency in challenging geotechnical conditions, offering a solid foundation for future studies on advanced pile systems in civil engineering.

Innovation in the Use of Recycled and Heat-Treated Glass in Various Applications: Mechanical and Chemical Properties

By decreasing manufacturing costs for different civic purposes, glass recycling is an economically significant technology that also helps conserve natural resources and mitigates environmental problems. Throughout the recycling process, this study used recycled domestic glass in compliance with European guidelines for recycling of household garbage. The purpose of this research is to examine the chemical and mechanical properties of recycled and crushed glass with particle sizes varying from 0.1 mm to 2 mm as a function of various treatment temperatures. This might pave the way for novel building materials, artwork, and interior design components, among other potential uses. “Silica glass”, the most common and ancient kind of glass, which includes SiOk, NakO, CaO, and small amounts of other elements, was utilized in the investigation. Several materials can be successfully modified or altered using step heat treatment. The mechanical and chemical properties of recycled and shattered glass were assessed using microhardness, compressive, and chemical testing. These samples were then compared to mosaics from Murano, Italy, and Dynasty Smalti, China. The recycled and heat-treated glass produced microhardness values of 550.6 HV and 555.0 HV, respectively, when tested with forces of 0.981 N and 2.942 N. These values were higher than those of Murano (Italy) and were comparable to those of Dynasty Smalti mosaic (China). Furthermore, compression testing demonstrated that tempered and heat-tempered glass, which might include up to 5 g of TiO2, could endure compressive strains of up to 16 MPa. This is in sharp contrast to Dynasty Smalti, which could only withstand tensions of 6–8 MPa, and Murano, which could only withstand stresses of 3–4 MPa. Tests conducted chemically over a seven-day period using KOH at 30 g/L and 100 g/L, along with HCl at 3% and 18%, showed that the samples did not alter in any way; their surface, color, and weight were untouched. Crushing and heating recycled glass makes it a viable alternative to using new glass in civil engineering projects. This helps make material reuse more efficient, which in turn helps the environment. Sturdy and resilient in a variety of contexts, the material shares mechanical and chemical properties with standard mosaics.

Analysis of the Structural Resilience of High-Rise Buildings Against Earthquakes Using Deep Learning-Based Artificial Intelligence Technology

This study aims to analyze the resilience of multi-storey building structures to earthquakes by utilizing artificial intelligence technology based on deep learning. In the context of increasing intensity and frequency of earthquakes in different regions of the world, the need for more sophisticated modeling and evaluation systems of building structures is becoming increasingly important. This research uses a qualitative approach with the literature study method (library research) to explore various results of previous research, scientific journals, and relevant technical reports. The main focus is on the application of deep learning models, such as convolutional neural networks (CNN) and recurrent neural networks (RNNs), in detecting, predicting, and evaluating the performance of building structures to seismic stress. The results of the study show that the application of deep learning is able to improve the accuracy in predicting structural damage and accelerate the decision-making process in disaster risk management. In addition, the technology can be used in real-time sensor data processing and earthquake simulation to identify potential structural collapses early. However, challenges such as limited training data, model complexity, and high computing requirements remain obstacles to the widespread adoption of this technology. This study recommends the need for integration between conventional civil engineering approaches and artificial intelligence to create a more adaptive and efficient earthquake mitigation system