Demand For Construction Research Articles

Evolution of the Planning Paradigm and Urban Design of Housing Complexes in the Context of Changing Challenges in Ukraine: Case of Lviv

The study provides a retrospective of the housing development in Lviv and the factors that affected it. Using the general process of housing evolution, the study focuses on the impact of the war as a catalyst that influenced the demand and volume of housing construction over the last decade. Moreover, it reflects the unprecedented demographic shift driven by the number of IDPs in Ukraine since the beginning of 2022. The study demonstrates that, due to the increased demand for housing, the approaches to the design of housing have changed in recent years, defining a new type of urban unit called a housing complex. The study aims to identify and examine the genesis and characteristics of the modern planning paradigm and urban design of residential architecture in Lviv in the context of shifting conditions. Spatial and urban characteristics, social indicators, resident focus, and urban influence evaluate the studied objects. The study results demonstrate key differences in planning philosophies and approaches to designing and constructing new housing, identifying qualitative differences between housing of the previous and current paradigms. A detailed examination and comparison of the studied complexes in Lviv reveals changes in the approach to their planning, reflecting the evolution from the inherited modernist approach to housing to the creation of sustainable planning. It also aims to determine the quality of Lviv's modern housing environment and the vector of its development.

Evolution of the Planning Paradigm and Urban Design of Housing Complexes in the Context of Changing Challenges in Ukraine: Case of Lviv

The study provides a retrospective of the housing development in Lviv and the factors that affected it. Using the general process of housing evolution, the study focuses on the impact of the war as a catalyst that influenced the demand and volume of housing construction over the last decade. Moreover, it reflects the unprecedented demographic shift driven by the number of IDPs in Ukraine since the beginning of 2022. The study demonstrates that, due to the increased demand for housing, the approaches to the design of housing have changed in recent years, defining a new type of urban unit called a housing complex. The study aims to identify and examine the genesis and characteristics of the modern planning paradigm and urban design of residential architecture in Lviv in the context of shifting conditions. Spatial and urban characteristics, social indicators, resident focus, and urban influence evaluate the studied objects. The study results demonstrate key differences in planning philosophies and approaches to designing and constructing new housing, identifying qualitative differences between housing of the previous and current paradigms. A detailed examination and comparison of the studied complexes in Lviv reveals changes in the approach to their planning, reflecting the evolution from the inherited modernist approach to housing to the creation of sustainable planning. It also aims to determine the quality of Lviv's modern housing environment and the vector of its development.

Evaluation and Improvement of Construction Safety for Prefabricated Buildings Under the Concept of Resilience

In the construction of prefabricated buildings, safety issues occur frequently, posing challenges to project progress and personnel safety. As a new trend in the construction industry, the complexity of the environment in prefabricated construction demands an update to traditional safety management concepts. This study introduces the concept of resilience to analyze safety issues in prefabricated construction and develops a WSR-4Rs framework for a systematic evaluation of construction safety. The study first combines the WSR (Wuli-Shili-Renli) systematic methodology with the 4R resilience theory to construct an evaluation index system for construction safety. Then, it uses the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the entropy weight method to determine the combined weights of each index, establishing a balanced and objective weighting scheme. A fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model is then applied to assess actual project cases. Finally, an obstacle degree model is introduced to identify key indicator factors that significantly impact construction safety, and specific improvement measures are proposed based on these findings. The aim is to provide practical references and guidance for enhancing the safety management level in prefabricated construction.

Factors Affecting Demands for Development Housing Area in Regency West Lombok

This research aims to analyze the influence of price, income, distance, facilities, and family size in a way that is both damn and simultaneous to request development housing in West Lombok Regency, Labuapi District. The type of research used in this research is an associative quantitative method. Testing was carried out on 43 respondents spread across four housing complexes, namely Grand Muslim Housing, Lingkar Muslim Housing, Lingkar Asri Housing, and Griya Taman Sari Housing. Data was obtained by distributing questionnaires and taking research samples using the purposive sampling method. Results analysis show that, in a way, from the five variables used in this research, there are three variables that have a positive effect and are significant, namely prices with a significant value of 0.001 < 0.05, income with a significant value of 0.000 < 0.05, and facilities with a facility value of 0.038 < 0.05. Meanwhile, the distance variable with a significant value of 0.532 > 0.05 and the number of families with a significant value of 0.668 > 0.05 have an insignificant effect on the demand for housing construction in West Lombok Regency, Labuapi District.

Post-disaster housing recovery estimation: Data and lessons learned from the 2017 Tubbs and 2018 Camp Fires

Post-wildfire housing recovery is a complex process for which systematically collected data remains scarce. Consequently, our ability to anticipate obstacles and plan for housing recovery from future events is limited. This study leverages housing permit datasets collected in Santa Rosa and Unincorporated Sonoma County, impacted by the 2017 Tubbs Fire, and Paradise, impacted by the 2018 Camp Fire. Permit and tax assessor data are combined to gain insights into the recovery processes for these communities. Although the percentage of rebuilt destroyed homes varies significantly between regions, the peak construction demand occurs around 1.5 years after each wildfire, with a substantial decline in the reconstruction rate after 2.5 years. Moreover, the pace of transition from permit application to reconstruction completion is similar across all three regions. Using this finding, we propose a methodology to forecast the number of parcels rebuilt per unit of time based on observations from prior events. A proof-of-concept application of the proposed methodology indicates that it estimates long-term housing recovery patterns based on permit application data collected within one year of the event. These findings indicate that a longitudinal housing recovery data database would help forecast housing recovery from future disasters by providing a source for early empirical validation of predictive models.

Robust localization of shear connectors in accelerated bridge construction with neural radiance field

Accelerated bridge construction (ABC) demands precise alignment of prefabricated members to prevent assembly failure. Conventional methods struggle to localize shear connectors from point cloud data (PCD) generated by structure-from-motion due to its sparsity. This paper introduces a robust method for shear connector localization using PCD generated by a neural radiance field and a three-step narrowing-down algorithm. The PCD exhibits densely populated points for small connectors, allowing the algorithm to pinpoint their locations accurately. The method successfully identified all 72 shear connectors in a mock-up prefabricated girder, with an average error of 10 mm, demonstrating its potential for assessing constructability in ABC projects. Future research may integrate deep learning-based segmentation techniques to enhance efficiency and adaptability in complex geometries and non-standard bridge designs.

The livelihood impacts of eucalypt plantations on rural farm households in Western Gurage Watersheds, Central-south Ethiopia

BackgroundRural landscapes, particularly those close to human settlements and main roads throughout the highlands of Ethiopia, appear greener than the outfields because of eucalypt plantations. The most common factors for eucalypt plantations are two: fuel and construction demands and to generate income. ObjectiveThis study tried to investigate the socioeconomic impacts of eucalypt plantations in Western Gurage Watersheds located in Central-south Ethiopia. The specific objectives are: to evaluate the socioeconomic importance of eucalypt plantations on the livelihood of farm households, and to assess perceptions on impacts of eucalypt plantation and copping strategies. MethodsSystematic and purposive sampling method was employed by selecting households with eucalypt woodlots from the list of each Woreda's Kebeles. Close- and open- ended questionnaires were distributed to every fifth households that possessed eucalypt plantations. Three hundred eighty three questionnaires were distributed and collected from households found in three Woredas (districts) namely Cheha, Enemorna Ener, and Eza located in the Watersheds. To supplement the information critical observations, discussions with focus groups and interviews with key informant were employed. The survey data were analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative techniques. To describe data acquired from critical observations, focus group discussions and key informant interviews; critical and logical qualitative data analysis technique were used. Descriptive and dispersive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, variance, standard deviation, p- value and correlation were employed using SPSS Version 20. ResultsThe result showed that eucalypt plantation dominated fuel wood and construction consumption and substituted further encroachment to natural forests. From multiple responses given, households prefer planting eucalypts to indigenous trees because it is fast growing (100 %), profitable (100 %), needs lesser labor (100 %), needs lower capital (100 %), can be used for multipurpose (100 %), and coppice itself fatly (93 %). They rated income gained from eucalypt as 2nd next to enset. ConclusionsHouseholds may continue planting the species particularly for fuel wood and construction need since substituting it by other alternative seems not feasible and challenging. To sustain the livelihood and environment; appropriate management like site selection and substitutions by horticultural and cash crops using micro irrigation schemes for market needs are recommended. Conducting in-depth participatory research and specific policy ratification and promulgation on eucalypt plantations will sustain its utilization and curb the drawbacks.

Smart Building, Nuisance Electrical Failure, Remote Monitoring and Fault Recovery System

Smart Buildings are the fastest growing buildings compared to conventional buildings and are expected to grow at a rate of 8.3% for the next decay. The global commercial building automation market was valued at US$32.96 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach US76.49 billion by the year 2031. The implementation of technological advancement, demand for energy-efficient construction, low operational cost, and occupant comfortability have helped Smart Building to grow. However, Smart Buildings are still facing issues, from various sensor network diversity, clear definitions of Smart Buildings, and continuous smartness during full or partial electrical internal fault occurrence. This indicates the building is smart as long as a continuous power supply is present. Thus, this research study investigated Smart Building's drawbacks and designed a circuit to be a solution to one of the drawbacks to rectify the issues. The design provides full monitoring for real and nuisance failures and enables the performance of fault recovery procedures remotely. The circuit interfaces with the safety Residual Current Devices (RCD) and the wireless smart Wi-Fi-controlled socket outlets. Food industries, hotels, and restaurants could be the beneficiaries of this circuit. This is due to cold stores and fridges, which can lead to significant production loss/reduction when failure time increases.

Evaluation of Cretaceous-Tertiary Limestones and Clay for Portland Cement in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Due to the high demand for construction in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, it is economically natural resources used to minimize importing from other countries, and to increase working hands. Since, limestone is one of the basic raw materials in the cement industry, for this purpose, in the Harir anticline limestone of the Shiranish Formation was mixed with clay of Fatha Formation, in the Shakrok anticline limestone of the Shiranish Formation mixed with clay of Injana Formation, and in the Binabawi anticline limestone of the Shiranish Formation in mixed with clay of the Mukdadiya Formation, dependent on their suitable nearby site locations for factories from each other. The chemical analysis observed by XRF for specifying the major oxides content of CaO, MgO, SiO2, Al2O3, and Fe2O3. three theoretical mixtures of the cement raw materials showed that they have lower liquid content and higher minimum burning temperature in the burning zone, this problem was solved by adding 0.5% iron ore. The Scanning Electron Microscope and Energy-Dispersive by X-Ray spectroscopy carried out for better observation of clinker phase formation showed that the major phases are alite and belite, which indicates suitable burning conditions. Presence of free lime after burning as shown in SEM is due to high CaO content in the limestone raw material.

3D printed concrete incorporating waste rubber: Anisotropic properties and environmental impact analysis

The recycling and reuse of solid wastes mark the construction industry's development towards sustainable and green technologies. 3D printing technology using recycled solid materials is in great demand for intelligent and low-carbon construction. This paper incorporates crumb rubber (0–1 mm) into the printing ink and analyses the fresh and hardened properties. The results showed that the flowability was positively correlated with rubber ratio but negatively with fiber content. R40F15 (40% rubber and 1.5% fiber) obtained the optimal flowability for 3D printing, which remained above 15 mm for 30min. The compressive strength peaked when incorporating 1.5% fiber, while the flexural strength reached the bottom. X direction generated the highest compressive strength in the whole anisotropic tests, followed by the Y and Z directions. The highest strengths of 1.5% and 2.0% fiber content were 69.45 MPa and 64.5 MPa, incorporating 20% rubber. Thus, surfaces anticipated to bear higher loads in compression should be aligned with the X-axis or, at a minimum, avoid alignment with the Z-axis for optimal structural performance. Y direction obtained the highest flexural strength in all anisotropic tests when incorporating 1.5% fiber. Results from digital image correlation test supported that fiber tended to agglomerate in the Y direction. Besides, the environmental analysis was conducted in this paper to quantitively calculate the impacts of all raw materials to the environment.

Design and Fabrication of Motorized Paint Spatula Scraper

In light of the increasing demand for construction globally, this study emphasizes the importance of painters' well-being in achieving structural aesthetics. The goal of the study is to enhance the ergonomic design of the widely used Paint Spatula Scraper, promoting comfort and productivity for painters. Currently, painters still rely on manually operated tools, which can cause strain on their hands and neck from constant use. Recognizing this challenge, we aim to improve the painter's experience by replacing the conventional paint spatula scraper with a state-of-the-art Slider Crank Mechanism integrated into a DC motor. The basic idea of this innovative design is to use a DC motor, which guarantees longevity, low maintenance, and efficiency. The paint spatula scraper's functionality is improved by the sophisticated mechanism known as the Slider Crank Mechanism, which is integrated with this motor and scraper is made of premium stainless steel, its durability and corrosion resistance are guaranteed. The blade, with dimensions of 200 mm in width and 0.5mm in thickness, guarantees excellent performance while maintaining a lightweight profile for ease of use. This cutting-edge instrument promises painters a future where their work becomes more enjoyable, sustainable.

Development sustainable concrete with high-volume wastes tile ceramic: Role of silica nanoparticles amalgamation

As the global concrete industry shifts towards sustainable practices, there is an increasing focus on mitigating the environmental impacts of ordinary Portland cement (OPC)-based concrete, which is notorious for its significant greenhouse gas emissions, high energy consumption, and substantial demand for natural resources. This urgency is compounded by the growing production of waste tile ceramic materials due to rapid urban development, leading to enhanced research into their recyclability within concrete for improved durability and sustainability. This study explores the development of high-strength concrete utilizing waste tile ceramic aggregates (WTCAs) and waste tile ceramic powder (WTCP) as replacements for natural aggregate and OPC, respectively. To further enhance the concrete's mechanical properties and microstructure, silica nanoparticles derived from waste bottle glass (WBGNPs) were integrated in varying proportions ranging from 2 % to 10 % of the binder content. Optimal results were achieved with a full replacement of natural aggregate by WTCAs, 60 % substitution of OPC by WTCP, and the inclusion of 4 % WBGNPs, which collectively exhibited superior compressive, splitting tensile, and flexural strengths. Microstructural analyses revealed that the addition of WBGNPs improved the hydration process, increased gel density, and reduced porosity. From the obtained numerical results, the coefficient of determination value of 0.92 further confirms the model's predictive strength, demonstrating that the Random Forest algorithm can reliably estimate the compressive strength. The findings indicate that the concrete formulated with WTCP and WBGNPs not only meets diverse construction demands but also significantly contributes to environmental sustainability by reducing impacts on global warming and minimizing landfill usage. This study advocates for the strategic incorporation of WTCP and WBGNPs in concrete applications to promote environmentally sustainable construction practices. It is highly recommended that WTCP be utilized in sustainable binders as a replacement for OPC and natural aggregates to enhance it strength and durable properties, reduce the environmental issues, costs, and the depletion of natural resources.

An Experimental Study on Sulphur Concrete

Sulfur concrete, a composite material derived from elemental sulfur, aggregates, and additives, presents a promising avenue for sustainable construction practices. This project report investigates the properties, feasibility, and potential applications of sulfur concrete as a viable alternative to traditional cement-based concrete. Through a comprehensive literature review and experimental analysis, this study elucidates the unique mechanical, chemical, and environmental characteristics of sulfur concrete. The implications of adopting sulfur concrete extend beyond construction efficiency to environmental sustainability, resource conservation, and cost-effectiveness. Challenges such as odor emissions during production and limited availability of sulfur are also addressed, along with potential solutions. Overall, this report advocates for further research and widespread adoption of sulfur concrete as a viable solution to meet the demands of modern construction while mitigating environmental impact.

Research on the Interactive Impact of Transportation Systems on Socio-Economic Development

This paper aims to explore the interactive impact between transportation systems and socio-economic development, employing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze data from 31 provincial-level administrative regions in China from 2013 to 2022. It comprehensively considers key indicators from the economic, social, and transportation sectors. The paper constructs a model encompassing 5 latent variables and 15 observed variables. Through in-depth analysis, it reveals the promoting role of transportation systems on economic growth and social development, as well as the demand for transportation system construction and optimization driven by socio-economic development levels. The results indicate that an efficient transportation system can not only directly drive economic growth but also indirectly promote social development by improving social welfare and enhancing quality of life. This paper provides new insights into understanding the complex relationship between transportation systems and socio-economic development and holds significant implications for policymakers in optimizing transportation infrastructure to foster economic and social development.

Hybrid Intelligent Model for Estimating the Cost of Huizhou Replica Traditional Vernacular Dwellings

Amidst the backdrop of rural revitalization and cultural renaissance, there is a surge in the construction demand for replica traditional vernacular dwellings. Traditional cost estimation methods struggle to meet the need for rapid and precise estimation due to the complexity inherent in their construction. To address this challenge, this study aims to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of cost estimation by innovatively developing an Adaptive Self-Explanatory Convolutional Neural Network (ASCNN) model, tailored to meet the specific cost estimation needs of replica traditional vernacular dwellings in the Huizhou region. The ASCNN model employs a Random Forest model to filter key features, inputs these into the CNN for cost estimation, and utilizes Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to optimize parameters, thereby improving predictive accuracy. The decision-making process of the model is thoroughly interpreted through SHAP value analysis, ensuring credibility and transparency. During the construction of the ASCNN model, this study collected and analyzed bidding control price data from 98 replica traditional vernacular dwellings. The empirical results demonstrate that the ASCNN model exhibits outstanding predictive performance on the test set, with a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 9828.06 yuan, a Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) of 0.6%, and a Coefficient of Determination (R2) as high as 0.989, confirming the model’s high predictive accuracy and strong generalization capability. Through SHAP value analysis, this study further identifies key factors such as floor plan layout, roof area, and column material coefficient that are central to cost prediction. The ASCNN model proposed in this study not only significantly improves the accuracy of cost estimation for Huizhou replica traditional vernacular dwellings, but also enhances its transparency and credibility through model interpretation methods, providing a reliable basis for related investment decisions. The findings of this study also offer valuable references and insights for rapid and precise cost estimation of replica buildings in other regions worldwide.

Performance of profile steel CFDSP composite walls under compression and bending loads

To satisfy the demands for high load-carrying capacity, rapid construction, and economic feasibility in high-rise residential apartments, the authors developed a novel profile steel concrete-filled double-steel-plate (CFDSP) composite wall. Experimental investigations were conducted to evaluate the load-carrying capacities and failure modes of composite walls subjected to compression and bending loads. Refined finite element (FE) models for the walls were established and validated by comparing with experimental results. The effects of critical parameters such as axial compression ratio, concrete strength, shear span ratio, steel plate thickness, and strength on the load-carrying capacities and failure modes were analyzed. Results indicate effective collaboration between concrete and steel, with the internal concrete being fully constrained by steel plates and profiled steels. The load-carrying capacity and stiffness of profile steel CFDSP composite walls increase initially and then stabilize with the increase in axial compression ratio, while the deformation capacity decreases with the increase in axial compression ratio. An increase in shear span ratio accelerates the degradation of load-carrying capacity and stiffness, while also resulting in a decrease in ductility. Additionally, an increase in concrete strength, steel plate strength, and thickness can enhance the load-carrying capacity and stiffness, with a relatively minor impact on deformation capacity. Simplified prediction formulas for determining the resistance of composite walls under compression and bending loads are developed. The evaluation results closely align with experimental data, showing less than a 5 % error, thereby providing valuable guidance for the performance-oriented design of profile steel CFDSP composite walls.

Global carbon neutrality and China's contribution: The impact of international carbon market policies on China's photovoltaic product exports

China's photovoltaic (PV) product exports satisfy the renewable energy demand for international carbon market construction, contributing to the global carbon neutralization process with China's power. Based on the panel data of PV trade from 2000 to 2020, this paper empirically investigates the impact of global carbon market policies on China's PV product exports and its potential impact mechanism using a multi-period DID model. The study results show that (1) International carbon market policies significantly promote the export of Chinese PV products. (2) Mechanism analysis shows that two essential transmission channels are increased demand for renewable energy and reduced consumption of traditional fossil energy in carbon market countries. (3) Carbon market maturity strengthens the positive effect of the international carbon market on China's PV product exports. (4) Further research finds that international carbon market policies affect China's PV exports more pronounced in high-income, trade-friendly, and high-technology countries. The results of this paper reveal the vital contribution of China's PV industry in promoting global climate governance and environmental protection and provide some insights into how to promote and improve the shared prosperity and sharing of the renewable energy industry in the context of global carbon neutrality.

Transforming construction with innovation in logistics

Marked by rapid urbanization and intense competition, the construction industry faces crucial challenges in addressing urban sustainability. Despite the crucial role of innovations, the construction sector has historically grappled with significant limitations in terms of innovation and productivity, remaining less digitized compared to other industries. The urgent need to accelerate innovation and reduce costs is highlighted by the association between globalization and technological development, underscoring the importance of solutions like Construfrete. With a projected notable growth of 85% in the international construction market by 2030, driven by artificial intelligence and digitization, the urgency of technological adoption in the sector is evident. Construfrete, specifically designed to meet the needs of the Bahia market, aims to optimize the transportation of materials and equipment, enhancing connections between drivers and construction entities. This methodology ensures the app is competitive and responsive, facilitating more efficient and environmentally conscious logistics. Ultimately, Construfrete not only addresses the logistical demands of construction but also boosts efficiency, benefiting drivers, customers, and the local economy in Bahia.

Statistical analysis and prediction of the construction demand of smart elderly care

Statistical analysis and prediction of the construction demand of smart elderly care

STUDY ON ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF SOIL USING STONE DUST AND BAGASSE ASH

In the discipline of civil engineering, soil stabilization is the process of enhancing and improving the engineering qualities of soil so that it can support large loads without failing. The safe and efficient disposal of waste material without causing harm to society is a significant concern in a well-managed ecosystem. Utilizing solid waste products to stabilize soil has become more popular recently as a successful way to manage trash from many sectors. This paper reviews the usage of various solid waste items that have been applied to stabilize soft soils. However, there are numerous approaches and strategies for stabilizing this soil. This research offers a method for stabilizing soft soil using waste products. An investigation into the stabilizing potential of bagasse ash and sisal fiber for highly compressible clayey soil has been prompted by the rising expense of building traditional stabilizers and the necessity of inexpensively consuming industrial and agricultural wastes for value trade. There is a growing demand for sustainable construction, which is why recent research has concentrated on sustainable resource consumption trends. We can employ natural and biodegradable resources, as well as waste products, to obtain. This study was a large-scale laboratory experiment to explore the use of natural fibers, industrial waste, and agricultural waste to improve the engineering qualities of moderately compressible clay. The purpose of this study was to determine whether Stone Dust and Bagasse Ash were suitable for stabilizing clayey soil. The results of testing for consistency limits, maximum dry density, optimal moisture content, UCS, and (soaked) CBR were obtained using percentages of 10%, 15%, and 20% by weight of dry soil for Bagasse Ash and 6%, 8%, and 10% for Stone Dust. In this work, expansive soil was stabilized using Stone Dust and Bagasse Ash. Bagasse Ash was fixed at 15%, after that Stone Dust was changed to 3%, 6%, and 9%. Key Words: Compaction test, CBR, UCS, Stone Dust, Bagasse Ash