Government Buildings Research Articles

Flood Vulnerability Assessment in Paradip Coastal Area Using Weighted Overlay Index

Paradip, a prominent coastal city on India's eastern seaboard, presents a unique combination of environmental challenges and urban pressures. It has the largest tidal range among major regional tidal gauge stations, including Vishakhapatnam and Chennai. The city experiences an annual sea level rise of 2.33 mm, with projections indicating an increase of 0.183 feet by 2047 and 0.76 feet over the next century. The city's unique environmental and urban issues are exacerbated by its placement within the Mahanadi River's deltaic deposits, floodplains, and coastal marine deposits along the Bay of Bengal. The shoreline of Paradip is topographically uniform, with ground elevations ranging from 3.6 to 5.7 meters. According to India's Wind and Cyclone Hazard Map, Paradip is in the "Very High Damage Risk Zone," indicating the presence of significant wind speeds along the coast. The paper digs into these vulnerabilities and their possible influence on the coastal community, emphasizing the city's need to strike a balance between urban growth and ecological preservation. One of the main problems is flooding. Rainwater enters government buildings and impoverished areas because of encroachments on natural drainage systems. Dryland capable of residential, agricultural, and other economic activities is submerged by overflowing water which causes loss of life, property, and infrastructure. This study evaluates flood vulnerabilities in Paradip, a coastal city, using GIS and a weighted overlay index. By integrating satellite imagery, digital elevation models (DEM), and historical data on rainfall and soil types, we developed a detailed flood vulnerability map that categorises areas into high, moderate, and low risk. ArcGIS Pro 2.7.3 software and a weighted overlay index were utilized for the collection, processing, and display of spatial and attribute data. spatial analysis was the process used to produce the flood vulnerability map. The results provide essential insights for urban planning and flood mitigation strategies, with direct implications for improving disaster preparedness and climate resilience. The flood vulnerability map was then compared to the masterplan of Paradip which was proposed for 2030, to know the actual vulnerable area and to defy some major which were proposed by Paradip development authority. The study illustrates how remote sensing and GIS techniques can be effectively utilized to generate flood vulnerability data essential for informed decision-making.

Designing Political Brand Identity Through Architecture: A Case of Malatya City Hall

Corporate level awareness and understanding of political systems are widely spreading in politics through the application of marketing concepts by parties. This study explores how party ideology, hierarchical structures, and symbolism are embedded into the design of government buildings to enhance corporate communication with stakeholders. A design strategy that links architecture with politics views specific architectural features as semiotic resources for party identity and envisions them as design patterns in the future. This paper presents the Malatya City Hall as an example, which was designed using a similar architectural style to that of the Nationalist Movement Party Headquarters in Türkiye. Employing critical discourse analysis (CDA), we unveil the political structure underlying the Headquarters, which is subsequently transposed into the design of City Hall. The Ottoman-Seljuk architectural style, in its modern interpretation, serves as a reflection of political ideology in these buildings. The corporate organizational structure is emphasized through the president’s prominent position and the restricted accessibility to his spaces, evident in the layout design. Additionally, symbolism is incorporated by aligning the building’s architectural plan with the party’s logo, creating a direct visual representation of political brand identity.

Investigation of colonial-era architecture style on modern architecture design style in Aden city

This study investigated the lasting influence of British colonial architecture (129 years) on contemporary building design in Aden, Yemen. The initial focus was on the perception of British Neo-Classical architecture as a symbol of superiority, overshadowing Aden's rich architectural history. This research explored Aden's architectural transformation from pre-colonial to colonial periods, analyzing the impact of colonial-era building facades on modern design practices. Through observation and interviews with built environment professionals, the study examined the broader social, political, and economic effects of British colonialism. The findings reveal a significant influence of British colonial architecture on the design of building facades in Aden. This influence is evident in structures like the repurposed church on Crater Mountain, which now serves as a government building. The influx of British administrators, soldiers, and workers from diverse backgrounds (Indian, Somali, Jewish) during the colonial period contributed to Aden's architectural diversity by constructing churches, temples, and government buildings. Unfortunately, the ongoing war in Yemen has damaged or destroyed many of these structures. This study also found that classical architectural elements from British colonial buildings like the Military Museum in Crater, the Heritage Museum, and the Tax Office continue to influence modern design. These elements and the miniature Big Ben clock in Al-Tawahi stand as prominent symbols of British influence in Aden. However, the Yemeni government's restoration efforts for these colonial-era buildings have been slow and largely ineffective. The research further explored the enduring influence of Neo-classical architectural ideals in Aden. The study highlights the formal guidelines, specific modules, and proportions used in designing arches and columns, particularly in residential buildings. These elements contribute to the aesthetic qualities of these structures. While the British incorporated classical elements during their rule, architectural advancements and new materials have led to the incorporation of novel elements in contemporary design.

AI and IoT for Energy Optimization

The Energy sector all over the world is faced with the challenges on how to control wastages to its minimal bearing point with a view to optimize its consumption. The generation is capital intensive and the demand by the consumers is very high and the global world cannot wait to have a carbon free zone. Hence, the need for a greener and clean energy without leakages or wastages by the consumers The research work is focusing on the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IOT) for energy optimization in Nigeria, a country where the demand for energy is far higher than its supply in both government buildings, residential buildings as well as market and business places. The emergence of Internet of Things (IOT), smart technologies and AI (artificial intelligence) has made it possible to integrate renewable energy solutions together with a view to meet up consumer’s demand and to create a carbon free environments to improve Energy generation without causing major harm to the environment as well as reducing energy wastages by both the generating company and the consumers in the Building Construction Industry (BCI) With our current nature of power supply, Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things are needed to synchronize the conventional power source and other backups sources like the fuel (diesel and PMS) generators and solar for steady power supply and by extension, steady work flow in the offices, residential buildings, business shops and market places. The Building Construction Industry in Nigeria has a market size of about USD$105.8 billion in 2023 with an annual expectancy growth projection of >3% for a population of about 225.604 million people hence, the urgent need for more energy generation and proper optimization. Finally, this paper will also look at some of the challenges with AI and IOT technologies in building structures as well as possible recommendations for a better greener carbon free environment

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SOFTWARE-DEFINED RADIO (SDR) AND SMART ACOUSTIC SENSOR PERFORMANCE FOR UAV DETECTION

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) pose significant security challenges, especially in sensitive areas such as government buildings, schools, kindergartens, and borders. Effective detection and identification of UAVs are critical to protect sensitive areas from unauthorized access or hostile use. In terms of the ability to effectively detect the activity of suspected UAVs in these critical areas, there are two frequency-based detection technologies: acoustic sensors and program-defined radio (SDR). This study presents a comparative analysis of these technologies and evaluates their effectiveness in UAV identification. By analyzing UAV acoustic signatures and radio frequency (RF) emissions, the authors attempted to evaluate the strengths, limitations, and practical applications of each system. The findings indicate that although both technologies are effective, the choice between them depends on environmental conditions, UAV characteristics, and specific use cases. The researchers also attempted to analyze their effective performance sides to combine both for reliable recognition.

PEMASANGAN LAMPU TAMAN MENGGUNAKAN SOLAR CELL SEBAGAI SUMBER ENERGI ALTERNARIF DI KELURAHAN BENDUNG KOTA SERANG

Solar cell are a technology that converts sunlight into electrical energy. Solar energy can produce up to 156.486 MW of power, a langer amount when compared to other renewable energy sources. Indonesia is a country located in the equatorial route, which receives sufficient amount of sunlight throughout the year, with an average eye-day radiation intensity of about 4.8 kWh/m2 per day throughout Indonesia. Especially in the Jakarta area, the DKI Provincial Government had released the Governor’s Instruction (InGub) Number 66 of 2019 on air quality control, one of the points of the InGub is the installation of PLTS to minimize air pollution in Jakarta. The Jakarta Provincial Government will instal solar panels in local government buildings, school buildings, sports halls and health facilities. DKI Education Agency Head Ratiyono said that there are now 100 schools that have installed solar panels. The method used is a presentation using a power point on how to apply solar panels so that the material can reach participants using attractive visuals and direct practice. By continuing the program of DKI Provincial Government, therefore, as academicians we try to provide understanding, socialization and piloting PLTS in Serang enviroment, Banten. The pilot was implemented for garden lights in Kelurahan Bendung, this was because the field in Kelurahan Bendung was large and had minimal lighting.

Sustainable Practices and Economic Impacts of Small Scale Fisheries in Coastal Communities of West Africa

Small-scale fisheries are pivotal to the socio-economic fabric of West African coastal communities, contributing significantly to food security, employment, and cultural identity. These fisheries rely on traditional knowledge and practices, forming the backbone of local economies amidst challenges such as environmental degradation and limited market access. Sustainable management practices aim to balance economic development with environmental conservation, crucial for ensuring the resilience and prosperity of these communities. Efforts include community-based approaches, improved governance, and capacity building to promote responsible fishing practices. The methodology employed in writing this review article involved a comprehensive literature review and synthesis of recent research, focusing on small-scale fisheries in West Africa, incorporating a multidisciplinary approach to examine socio-economic, environmental sustainability, and market dynamics aspects, supported by recent scholarly references. Despite economic contributions and market complexities, sustainability hinges on addressing overfishing, habitat degradation, and climate impacts. Integrated strategies integrating local and scientific knowledge are essential for achieving sustainable development and preserving cultural heritage in West African coastal ecosystems. Keywords: Small-scale fisheries, Sustainable practices, Coastal communities, Environmental sustainability, Economic Resilience

Advances, challenges, and opportunities of forest concessions in the brazilian Amazon

The Public Forest Management Law (PFML), enacted in 2006, establishes the foundation for sustainable management of these areas through forest concessions. This study aims to analyze the advances, challenges, and opportunities of forest concessions in the Brazilian Amazon after 18 years of the PFML. Using a bibliographic and documentary review, the research explored various academic databases and sources of grey literature, as well as official documents and relevant legislation. The results indicate that the total area under forest concession in Brazil is approximately 188 million hectares, mainly concentrated in the state of Pará. However, this area represents only 14% of the established goal of 13 million hectares by 2020, highlighting a slow implementation of concessions. Extensive federal and state forest areas that are not designated can be accessed through forest concessions, helping to reduce illegal activities identified in these territories. Forest concessions are an alternative for the conservation of public areas, contributing to job creation and local income generation, as well as reducing deforestation and illegal logging. However, significant challenges persist, including bureaucratic complexity, high initial costs, legal uncertainty, and unfair competition with illegal wood. To overcome these challenges and maximize the benefits of forest concessions, it is recommended to simplify bidding processes and reduce bureaucracy, ensure a stable and predictable regulatory environment, diversify forest products by adopting multiple-use management, and strengthen governance and capacity building of local communities. Finally, it is urgent to conduct an evaluation of forest concessions as public policy to gain a clear understanding of the economic, social, and environmental benefits generated by the concessions compared to the financial and operational costs involved.

PUBLIC INVESTMENT, ECONOMIC GROWTH AND EFFICIENCY

The definition of public investment is not as clear and precise as it may seem. Often, public investments are described as public expenditures that contribute to the stock of physical capital, encompassing tangible assets such as properties (excluding land), buildings and other structures (e.g., roads, airports, hospitals, schools, telecommunication structures, government buildings, bridges, etc.), machinery, transportation equipment, and intangible assets like intellectual property (OECD, 2016). Therefore, public investment is the allocation of funds that result in the growth of the aforementioned items. Public investment can be viewed as a political tool in the hands of a government, capable of altering or determining the course that a country's economy and other aspects of life will take. Governments utilize public investments to respond to a variety of challenges over time, addressing global issues such as climate change and local problems like periods of economic decline, diverse demographic trends, rapid urbanization, or adaptation to new technologies. As emphasized by the European Investment Bank, "properly functioning infrastructure networks are the backbone of flourishing economies" (European Investment Bank, 2010). Public investments are integral for economic and social prosperity, contributing to the national capital stock by allocating resources to essential basic infrastructure, education, research and development, thereby leading to increased productivity and improved living standards. The aim of this article is to analyze the role of public investments in the economy in addressing contemporary challenges.

Investigation of the Linguistic Landscape of Local People at ‘’Pantura”

Indonesia, with about 700 regional languages, is considered one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world. The imposition of a national language and the global dominance of English constitute a danger to multilingualism. This article explores the utilization and manipulation of language in Cirebon by applying social semiotics in linguistic landscape studies. We juxtapose the conventional signage seen on government buildings with that of private enterprises, such as restaurants and retail. The national/regional language policy acknowledges the existence of tensions between macro and micro language policies, which pertain to the rights of private and individual language choice. The conflicts are analyzed. The investigation uncovers a clear and discernible arrangement in the linguistic environment, where public signs prominently showcase Indonesian, Javanese, and English languages, while personal signs exhibit Indonesian, English, as well as other foreign languages such as Korean, Japanese, and Mandarin. The research indicates that language choices are not random, emphasizing that the linguistic environment is a powerful instrument for rejuvenating endangered local languages, such as Javanese.

Effect of IoT Integration in Energy Management System and Grid Responsiveness on Energy Efficiency and Cost Reduction in Jakarta Government Buildings

This study investigates the effect of IoT integration in energy management systems (EMS) and network responsiveness on energy efficiency and cost reduction in DKI Jakarta government buildings. A quantitative analysis was conducted using structural equation modeling (SEM) with Partial Least Squares (PLS) 3. Survey questionnaires were administered to building managers, energy engineers, and facility maintenance personnel, while energy consumption data were obtained from relevant authorities. The results demonstrate a significant positive impact of both IoT integration and network responsiveness on energy management outcomes. Specifically, Energy Management System (EMS) and Grid Responsiveness were found to significantly influence both Cost Reduction and Energy Efficiency within government buildings. These findings have important implications for policymakers, building managers, and stakeholders involved in energy management decision-making. By leveraging advanced energy management technologies and practices, DKI Jakarta government buildings can achieve significant cost savings, improve energy efficiency, and advance environmental sustainability.

Waste Management of Construction and Demolition Materials Towards Sustainable Growth of Nagpur City

The higher amount of buildings and infrastructures in India, number of construction and demolition (C&D) waste is increasing continuously. These wastes, if not completely recycled, will create the environmental problems. This research paper concentrates on the use of a system dynamics technique to develop a C&D waste recycling. The project is based on the recycling of the rapidly increasing construction and demolition waste. Through this process we want to take a step ahead, the idea of stopping illegal Dumping and ultimately save our mother Earth from destruction. The cost of recycled C&D solid waste resulting in reduction of overall construction cost. The demolition is the most commonly pronounced word in the construction industry. As per the new building rules building should be demolished after its service period. Now-a-days the importance is given to sustainable and environmental friendly construction; there should be effective control of the demolition waste. The demolition waste can be reused for the construction. Construction and demolition (C and D) waste is defined as the solid waste generated by the construction, renovation, repair, alteration or demolition of residential, commercial, government or institutional buildings, industrial, commercial facilities and infrastructures such as roads, bridges, dams, tunnels, railways and airports. Construction and demolition waste is considered as high volume, low risk. It is commonly understood that this waste can be considered a resource, either for reuse in its original form or for recycling or energy recovery. Because of increasing waste production and public concerns about the environment, it is desirable to recycle materials from building demolition. If suitably selected ground cleaned appropriate industrial crushing in plants, these materials can be profitably used in concrete. Despite this, most Construction and Demolition waste ends up in landfills recycled aggregate and recycled sand that can be obtained. Further with the help of the obtained recycled material we intend to make various products such as concrete, paver blocks, hollow blocks, etc which will in turn be less costly as well. These recycled materials and products made from it are economical without any considerable change in the strength and durability aspect. Not only the cost effectiveness but it will also be aesthetically pleasing. According to Metropolitan region development authority the amount of construction and demolition waste (C&D waste) must be reduced by at least 70%. 3Rs model (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) in the C&D waste management with costs savings. This paper finds a broader understanding of the socioeconomic implications of waste management over time and the positive effects of these policies in the recycled to achieve the goal of C&D waste as well as the composition of Construction and Demolition waste, the need for its recycling and options that can be implemented for its efficient use in the field of concrete technology. Key Words: C & D waste; sustainable construction systems, Recycling, Concrete.

PromptNet: Prompt Learning for Roof Photovoltaic Potential Assessment

An increasing number of works have been proposed to use remote sensing images to assess the potential for rooftop Photovoltaic (PV) energy development in buildings. However, most methods focus mainly on the remote sensing images themselves, ignoring the key prior information of building type. Thus most works with Deeplabv3+ as backbone present suboptimal performance. To overcome this challenge, we propose a novel approach PromptNet that embeds the building types as prior knowledge and feed it into prompt learning for predict roof PV energy Potential. Specifically, a pre-trained semantic segmentation network, Deeplabv3+, is first constructed to detect potential building rooftops from remote sensing images. Then, the buildings are categorized into five types based on their functions, including government buildings, public buildings, industrial and commercial factories, agricultural housing, and other building types. Finally, by using prompt learning, the prior knowledge of buildings is established and associated with the rooftops that are suitable for PV energy development. This is embedded into a deep learning network, filtering out unsuitable rooftops, and significantly improving the accuracy of rooftop PV energy development. Comprehensive experiments show that the proposed method achieves 81.18% accuracy and 76.90% IOU in predicting the potential for rooftop PV energy, a 10.97% improvement in IoU compared to the backbone without prior knowledge.

Membangun Kapasitas Tata Kelola Pengawasan Ketenagakerjaan Bidang Keselamatan dan Kesehatan Kerja (K3)

The issue of implementing national K3 labor inspection includes two main aspects, namely governance and capacity building. The two main issues relate to weak awareness of the importance of implementing OSHMS in the workplace, weak understanding of K3 as part of human rights, weak criminal sanctions related to K3, relatively low coverage of K3 supervision, overlapping technical K3 regulations between institutions, weak quality, quantity and competence of K3, as well as the lack of synergy and integration of the operational supervision system between the central and regional governments. The author analyzes empirical data and reviews previous research using a systematic flow prism framework, and juxtaposes it with the fundamental theoretical concepts of governance, capacity building and labor inspection. The results of the analysis produce a hypothetical framework for building capacity for labor inspection governance in the K3 sector. This requires strategic intervention in human resource capacity, organizations and institutions, as well as governance that needs to be jointly constructed on the basis of an agreement on the principle of joint involvement. So, during the management and implementation process, each stakeholder/actor can be adaptive, the system and implementation of supervision can be more effective and efficient, where continuity and feedback from the accumulated process can reduce the impact and influence of uncertainty and the dynamics of a dynamic workforce environment.

Damage Assessment Method for Light Steel Roof Frames: Case Study of Government Buildings

The tornado disaster in Ciamis Regency damaged 55 buildings, including the Panawangan District Office. The aim of this research was to identify the condition and level of damage to the Light Steel Roof Frame Structures that were damaged and determine the ranking or percentage of damage. By making direct observations at the location of the incident. The result is that: The roof covering element uses zincalum metal with the batten frame partially damaged on the left side of the building above the hall and the right corner of the front of the building. The battom chord, top chord and web elements are partially detached. The trim element made of GRC material is damaged. came loose, and the Gypsum ceiling elements with hollow frames fell on the outside and inside the hall. The percentage of damage obtained is 14.50% and the damage level ≤ 30% is categorized as Light Damage.

Architectural design, visual attention, and human cognition: exploring responses to federal building styles

ABSTRACT This article examines the ongoing architectural debate surrounding styles for American government buildings. It tests the results of the 2020 National Civic Art Society survey that found 72% of Americans prefer traditional federal buildings over modern designs. To gain a neuro-biological perspective on these results, eye-tracking emulation software is used to evaluate the relationship between architectural design, visual attention, and human preferences. The hypothesis that traditional buildings would capture and retain pre-attentive visual processing more than modern styles was confirmed in several experiments. The research offers valuable insights for architects, urban planners, and policymakers considering design decisions about federal buildings.

Evaluating 900 Potentially Harming Fires in Germany: Is the Prescriptive Building Code Effective? German Fire Departments Assessed Fire Safety Measures in Buildings Through On-Site Inspections

Fire statistics mirror the outcome of fire prevention. Most fire statistics in Germany deal with the loss of life, value, and fire department actions (number of interventions, nozzles used, or alarm category like a false alarm). However, these results also represent the safety level the legislator has set through the prescriptive building regulations. The current statistics cannot evaluate the level of fire safety and the fulfillment or necessity of fire safety precautions. Today, expert judgment from firefighters is necessary to fill this gap. Here, we show the first evaluation of fire prevention and hazard protection measures by evaluating 900 potentially harming fires throughout Germany. In contrast to minor fires, these fires have advanced to the extent that they could potentially violate the protection objectives outlined in building regulations. The fire department association developed a questionnaire to evaluate the fire safety level and possibly reduce unnecessary fire safety regulations. One hundred twenty-three fire departments carried out the questionnaire, which are responsible for 25% of the German population. Fire prevention officers of the fire departments went to the scene after the fire was extinguished, and the fire safety concept of the building could be evaluated. We found a high rate of injuries, smoke spread, need for rescue by firefighters, and higher than expected firefighter response times after arrival at the scene. Surprisingly, smoke spread rates correlated with building height and not with building age. It was even possible to assess the risk of multiple casualties. Overall, the questionnaire results give insight into the current level of fire safety in existing buildings. Ways and rates for smoke and fire spread prove the importance of second escape routes and the influence of human misconduct. According to these results, current building code regulations are sufficient to prevent fire spread. On the other hand, smoke spreading is a severe threat to people’s safety. For example, the data shown can be applied in Bayes nets or other risk calculations to optimize individual building designs or even governmental building codes concerning fire safety engineering. Based on our observations, science, and building codes, authorities could in the future establish a performance-based building code instead of the current prescriptive code. This paper presents the first approach in Germany to quantify the expert judgment of fire departments and use it as a source of knowledge for fire prevention.

‘Keeping their shift together’: An exploratory visual analysis of a Brazilian crowd crime

This study employs the identity shift theory to qualitatively analyse videos produced and published on social media by the invaders of the Brasilia governmental buildings on 8 January 2023. These videos were captured and shared by a Brazilian fact-checking agency (Lupa). Brazilian law classifies multitudinous crime, or crowd crime, as any crime committed by a group of people in a tumultuous situation, in which there is an identity shift from the self to the crowd. Employing nonverbal communication (NVC), including Ekman’s facial action coding system (FACS), the analysis of the videos identified ten large codes associated with emotions, which correspond to the stages of the attack. Results show that the crowd exhibited an identity shift through homogenous NVC from the beginning to the end of the process.

A value-based framework from Building Stock Model to Retrofit Model

The study has as its original database the decarbonization process initiated in Mexico by the National Commission for the Efficient Use of Energy (CONUEE) as part of its “Savings Program of Electric Power in Buildings of the Federal Public Administration” (PAEIAPF) of 1999. The primary purpose of PAEIAPF was to reduce the levels of electric power consumption in Federal Government buildings. The program has operated for 20 years; however, its scope only reaches operational carbon. Since 90% of existing buildings will be in use by 2050, the Retrofit Models will be the base to determine solutions for a more resilient living environment that fortifies and extends the grid’s capacity and meets climate change mitigation targets. Secondly, significant socioeconomic and profound environmental impacts are not calculated explicitly in existing tools and are often referred to as “secondary” or Non-Energy Benefits (NEB). “The goal is to give them a measurement value to be considered in the decision-making calculus. It is assumed that soon; such factors will enter the general climate change economy, not unlike carbon in the past decade.” In this context, the proposed research aims to develop a value-based framework that will support a Building Stock Model and subsequent Retrofit Models, documented in a web-tool platform. The framework has three main steps:A) Building Stock Model: Mapping of selected buildings of the program PAEIAPF in a GIS system. Documentation of the baseline energy consumption and embodied CO2-eq of the existing building.B) Retrofit Models: Involving a Whole Life Cycle Assessment (WLCA) and Non-Energy Benefits (resilience coefficient, health, productivity).C) Web Tool Platform: Application and toolset that allows for consistent documentation, environmental impact evaluation of existing building stock, and solution design in identifying energy reduction concepts.

The Role of the Owner's Accompanying Consultant in the Planning and Design Stage of Government Building Construction

The Role of the Owner's Accompanying Consultant in the Planning and Design Stage of Government Building Construction