Government Buildings Research Articles

Infested empire: architecture and entomology in colonial Japan

As Japan’s colonial empire pushed westward in the early twentieth century, insects pushed back. Colonists in Taiwan were besieged by the Formosan termite, a voracious but then relatively mysterious species that ate everything from government buildings to Shinto shrines. The Japanese government dispatched termite specialists to the island in response to document the damage and develop a solution. The problem was not only that termites could eat away at architecture in Taiwan; more dire was the possibility that they could travel throughout the empire and back to the mainland. Such an existential threat prompted entomologists to collaborate with architects and engineers and develop novel methods of study. Looking at entomological reports, architectural histories, and buildings that were both destroyed by termites and dedicated to displaying them, I show how termite-pocked buildings were mediated to map the Japanese colonial empire and physicalise its potentially dangerous interdependence. By approaching the special issue’s theme of ‘unmaking’ as an act of insect-led destruction, I argue that vulnerable wooden architecture served as a medium of connection between human and insect actors as both came to terms with empire.

The Impact of Cyber Attack on Emergency Energy System

An emergency energy system is a backup power system used in critical situations with the aim of protecting lives and property from the consequences of energy loss, as is the case in hospitals (heart monitors, Ventilator,…etc), and also in sensitive facilities (military industries and government buildings). The emergency power system can contain batteries of all kinds, in addition to solar and wind energy equipment and other cheap types of energy. The concept of cyber security arose several decades after the invention of the computer. At first, there was no need for cyber security, as it was difficult for electronic attacks to occur, because access to computers was limited to specific numbers of users, as the devices were giant confined to a room with certain specifications and were not Linked to networks at the time, Energy sectors expose themselves to a range of cyber threats that can damage control systems. So management, engineering, and IT must adhere to a comprehensive approach that includes threat prevention, detection, and elimination. In this research we will try to mitigate the effects of the cyber attack on these systems by applying some algorithms in order to detect, identify and prevent such attacks, and we will see through the results we obtained that we have made remarkable progress in this field.

Exploring the restrictive factors for the development of the construction waste recycling industry in a second-tier Chinese city: a case study from Jinan.

Recycling construction waste in urban cities has attracted wide attention in the government department and building industry worldwide owing to numerous benefits in economics, the environment, and society for sustainable development. Most of the research was focused on the scope of first-tier/new first-tier cities. At the same time, less attention has been paid to second-tier cities, which should be further considered because of their significant potential for increasing construction waste. Jinan is one of the pilot cities for construction waste treatment in China. This city has been chosen as the case in this study to explore critical restrictive factors for developing the construction waste recycling industry (CWRI) in second-tier cities with the adoption of combined methods of the DEMATEL-ISM-EWM. It was revealed by the results that (1) the government is the main stakeholder. In addition, the legislation, management system, incentive/support for stakeholders, and technical standards were closely associated with CWRI development in Jinan. Low landfill fees and natural ore tax rates are unique and vital restrictive factors that should receive more attention. (2) Other key restrictive factors that should be given priority were (i) the lack of green design for designers, (ii) poor classification and management of construction waste for constructors on site, (iii) tight operating funds and insufficient publicity for recycling enterprises, and (iv) insufficient research funds for research institutions. Finally, a comparison of the similarities and differences of the restrictive factors on CWRI development between second-tier and first-tier/new first-tier cities was conducted, and a series of reasonable suggestions were provided, considering the perspective of stakeholders. The research will offer a valuable reference for industry practitioners and academics interested in CWRI.

Optimal design of PV and hybrid storage based microgrids for healthcare and government facilities connected to highly intermittent utility grids

This paper proposes an improved methodology for the optimal sizing of small-scale microgrids conformed by photovoltaic (PV) generation systems and hybrid energy storage systems (batteries + supercapacitors). The methodology is based on a Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) formulation and includes a new way to take advantage of the aging model of the batteries to determine when these storage assets should be replaced. Moreover, the proposed sizing tool offers the possibility of including supercapacitors (SCs) in a microgrid’s design to reduce battery degradation. The tool was put to test by sizing the microgrids for a hospital and a government building in Puerto Carreño, a non-interconnected area in Colombia. A comparison between the proposed methodology and another without considering battery degradation, along with a sensitivity analysis of the storage-acquisition cost parameter in this tool, revealed its usefulness for this kind of microgrid design.

Research on multi-stage strategy of low carbon building material’s production by small and medium-sized manufacturers: A three-party evolutionary game analysis

Using green technology by building materials manufacturers to produce low-carbon building materials is an effective way to control carbon emissions and promote traditional industries’ green and low-carbon development. Based on the government, small and medium-sized building materials manufacturers, and scientific research institutes, this paper sets 15 variables that affect the strategy selection of game participants, establishes an evolutionary game model under the constraint of the carbon tax, explores the behavioral strategies of the three parties in the industry life cycle to produce low-carbon building materials, and analyzes the sensitivity of critical factors. Results: The government plays a leading role in the initial stage, which is gradually replaced by the market-leading mechanism as the low-carbon building materials industry develops to maturity. The government’s decision-making behavior is almost unaffected by the two, and appropriate subsidies and carbon tax penalties at each stage of the industry life cycle can help improve the enthusiasm of the other two parties to participate in low-carbon behavior. Establishing a reasonable income distribution coefficient between small and medium-sized building materials manufacturers and scientific research institutes is more conducive to speeding up the stable state than transferring and selling technology.

Decrease in Secondhand Smoke Exposure in Work and Public Places among Adults in the Philippines: An Analysis of the Global Adult Tobacco Survey, 2009 and 2015.

The implementation of several tobacco control policies in the Philippines may have contributed to a decrease in secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure. We examined changes in SHS exposure at work and in public places between 2009 and 2015 among adults aged ≥15 years and interpreted these results within the tobacco policy landscape in the Philippines. We analyzed the Philippines Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2009 and 2015 data. We examined marginal effects in logistic regression to get the adjusted prevalence of SHS exposure at five work and public places, controlling for selected characteristics. We calculated adjusted prevalence ratios and adjusted prevalence differences between 2009 and 2015. Adjusted prevalence of SHS exposure decreased from 2009 to 2015 by 19% (5.7 percentage points) at work, 45% (11.2 percentage points) in government buildings, 48% (3.2 percentage points) in healthcare facilities, 29% (8.2 percentage points) in restaurants, and 33% (19.9 percentage points) on public transportation. Although the prevalence of SHS exposure at work and in public places decreased significantly between 2009 and 2015, a substantial proportion of adults remain exposed to SHS. This study highlights the importance of continued implementation, enforcement, monitoring, and evaluation of tobacco control and prevention measures in the Philippines.

Establishing community mental health facilities: a comparative review of Hong Kong and international jurisdictions

BackgroundThe establishment of mental health facilities in the community has been hindered by opposition from local residents in Hong Kong. Through a comparative review, this study aimed to compare the issues related to the process of establishment of community-based mental health facilities between Hong Kong and selected overseas countries and regions. It will better inform the strategies and best practices that can be adopted for the establishment of mental health facilities in Hong Kong.MethodsThree electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, and PsycINFO) were used to examine literature on nine jurisdictions in Asia and western societies from 2005 to 2019. In addition, we conducted a number of in-depth interviews with overseas experts to gain in-depth insights and clarify information that was unavailable or unclear. A total of 19,248 articles were identified through the initial search. 71 of them met the inclusion criteria. In addition, 20 articles about the establishment of other types of community facilities or sensitive facilities were identified from supplementary sources.ResultsMost Western countries and Singapore have adopted regulations or laws to reduce public discrimination against particular groups, giving them corresponding human rights and legislating to demarcate the use of land in the community. Regions close to Hong Kong emphasize communication with community leaders to obtain support for sensitive services or facilities.ConclusionsHong Kong may consider strengthening the land zoning ordinance in relation to community sensitive facilities, as well as increasing communication with the community and considering the possibility of locating facilities in government buildings.

Usage of alternative cementitious binders containing naturally occurring radioactive by-products: The industry's perspective

In 2021, global cement production was responsible for around 7% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Alternative cementitious binders from secondary raw materials that replace traditional cement can reduce the need for the use of virgin raw materials and can thereby reduce GHGs associated with cement. Some of these secondary materials include industrial by-products categorised as NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material). While prior research has investigated the technical aspects of using NORM-contained by-products in cementitious binders, to date, no attention has been given to non-technical aspects such as perceived risks and concerns of the main stakeholders. This study brings novel insights into these overlooked aspects through a series of semi-structured interviews with concrete industry representatives in Belgium. Through a thematic analysis of the data, we found six themes that represent industry's concerns regarding the usage of NORM-contained cementitious binders: (1) availability of the by-products, (2) financial factors, (3) quality and performance, (4) common sustainability parameters, (5) customer demand, and (6) acceptance of NORM-contained by-products. Regulatory certainty was found to be a key driver in all six themes. With regard to the expected role of governments, we can synthesise three core expectations highlighted by interviewees: a) Policymakers need to revisit the current regulations regarding the performance and quality to facilitate innovation in the concrete industry such as the use of alternative cementitious binders. b) They should implement EU-level regulations that can provide a level playing field for the industry during their transition to net-zero targets, including import regulations and certification for the usage of NORM-contained by-products. c) As an important public buyer, the government should expedite the transition to alternative binders through their procurement policies for governmental buildings and infrastructure projects.

Електроакустичний тракт детектора для виявлення малих безпілотних літальних апаратів

Small unmanned aerial vehicles have become increasingly popular in recent years for both commercial and recreational use. However, with the onset of war, the threat of using such drones for illegal purposes such as reconnaissance operations and terrorist attacks on the most vulnerable and important targets — military equipment, government buildings, airports or places with a large concentration of people — has rapidly increased. As a result, many methods have been developed for detecting drones, but the most promising of these is considered to be the acoustic method. This article discusses the implementation of a simple and inexpensive acoustic detector with a single microphone, enabling the detection of the sound emitted by the drone engines and propellers, which can then be analyzed to determine the location and trajectory of the unmanned aircraft. To register sound waves, it was proposed to use the electret microphone CMA-4544PF-W with a foam windscreen, and to ensure a wide dynamic range and protect the detector from overload, an amplifier with an automatic gain control system with feedback regulation based on the integrated circuit MAX9814. For further digital signal processing on a PC, an analog-to-digital converter with a sampling frequency of 48 kHz and a bit depth of 16 bits will be used, as well as an external sound card CM6206 with a line input. As a result of test flights, a database of audio files of the noise of the DJI Mavic 2 Pro quadcopter was created, which is now actively used by the military for reconnaissance, the accuracy of object detection by the acoustic detector was studied. The distance from the drone to the microphone affected the accuracy of detection, and the maximum value of reliable detection was 40 meters. The device successfully performs its functions, given its low cost and ease of use, but requires improvement to enhance its characteristics. The spectra of the obtained audio recordings of quadcopter emissions make it possible to determine the main frequencies of tones, the number of which coincides with the number of electric motors and are important features for further identification of the drone.

Experimental Findings and Analysis of a Split Unit Evaporative Cooler for Efficient and Eco-Friendly Cooling Applications

As the global energy demand surges, there is a pressing need to develop energy conservation methods to ensure future comfort requirements are met sustainably. Traditional air conditioners, employing vapor compression refrigeration systems, consume substantial power (around 1.5KW) and entail high costs. Alternatively, evaporative coolers offer a cost-effective and lower-power option for comfort maintenance. However, their drawback lies in the excessive humidity in the cooled air, leading to discomfort for individuals. To address this issue, our article focuses on designing and manufacturing a split cooling unit that efficiently cools the air without increasing its humidity. By recirculating the air through the split unit, we aim to maintain optimal room conditions for comfort. This becomes increasingly vital as inefficient building designs in India contribute to 20-25% of electricity wastage in government buildings, resulting in significant annual energy-related financial losses. Conventional heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems further exacerbate the problem, consuming about 50% of building energy, mostly sourced from fossil fuels, rendering them environmentally unfriendly and unsustainable. Our split cooling unit seeks to provide an eco-friendly and sustainable solution to tackle this energy challenge.

Signification of Plants in Traditional Peace Building in the Bamenda Grassfields of Cameroon: The Case of Fig Tree and Dracaena amongst the Bali Chamba Polities

Gifts of nature such as streams, hills and vegetation constitute the centre of activities in African cultural practices. Communities across the continent in the face of conflicts seek peace using one of several gifts of nature just like the the Balis make use of fig tree and dracaena in their socio-cultural economic and political life. From Fondom creation to contemporary times, these trees have occupied a preponderant place in the Bali peace culture as they are used in the domain of traditional governance, conflict resolution, and peace building. Further, these plants are used to pass various messages namely; the birth of twins, the end of wars, and also to indicate the entrances or exits from a community or farmland. This chapter argue that, the fig tree and dracaena locally called ghim and nkeng respectively, amongst the people of Bali Chamba polities of North West Cameroon played fundamental roles in the preservation of peace in the life of the people. These plants having dark green beautifully designed leaves, have cultural, moral, spiritual, economic and political implications. Planted around shrines, graves, boundaries and used in performing rituals, the ghim and nkeung are also symbols of traditional authority, source of economic growth, traditional medicine health and peace. The introduction of foreign cultures amongst these people during the wave of migration, settlement and colonial rule, greatly diminished the symbolic values assigned to these plants. Although the deep cultural and moral implications of these plants are fading away as a result of religious influences and western secular culture, their significance have not been completely eroded especially as the plants are still used in Bali and most communities in the region for different reasons.

Sajjad Alibaigi, Shahram Aliyari, Naser Aminikhah, Farhad Fatahi. “Some Clues of a Number of Manor Houses, Fire Temples and Governmental Buildings Belong to the Historical Period in the Kermanshah Province, Based on Analysis of New Finds Column Bases, Shafts and Stone Bases”

Sajjad Alibaigi, Shahram Aliyari, Naser Aminikhah, Farhad Fatahi. “Some Clues of a Number of Manor Houses, Fire Temples and Governmental Buildings Belong to the Historical Period in the Kermanshah Province, Based on Analysis of New Finds Column Bases, Shafts and Stone Bases”

Variations in Building Construction Projects in Ghana: A Public Organisational Perspective

Abstract The occurrence of variations in building construction contracts is a subject that needs some attention in public sector projects. They are, almost all the time, detrimental rather than beneficial variations. The paper aimed to identify the nature of variations in government-initiated building projects over fourteen years, from 2000 to 2014, in the Central Region and their impacts. Preliminary counts of documents revealed that a total of 348 projects were executed over the period. The data collection process started by first sorting out files, contract documents, and payment certificates for the period under consideration. These documents were scrutinised one after the other to detect possible variations. The inclusion criterion for selecting a project was if a project had any form of variation(s) recorded. After thoroughly examining these 348 project documents, 84 were found to have variations. The study identified additional works and substitutions as the most inherent variations in public building projects in the Central Region. About 85 % of the variations found in the 84 projects with various forms of variations were additional works and substitutions. It was revealed that the cost of multiple variations was higher than single variations. Projects with multiple variations had high percentage variation and durations than others. Percentage variation in some instances was 400 %. The study identified that multiple variations were more costly than single variations. The highest variation cost identified was (USD 211 864.41 or EUR 183 150.18) for one project. The study identified the nature of variations that usually occurred in government building projects and their association with both cost and time. The study asserts that the presence of multiple change orders has substantial financial significance and should be diligently avoided through efficient project initiation and planning.

The greenlight for government buildings: strategies for a low-carbon building portfolio

There is a global focus by governments on retrofitting buildings, as well as incorporating energy efficiency into new construction, as a means to address climate change. Initiatives to reduce energy use, source renewable electricity, and use low-carbon materials are aimed at leading by example, where governments attempt to showcase innovation through green building strategies. Greening government initiatives are promoted to reduce operating costs, improve energy system resilience, grow the “green” economy, support clean energy development, and encourage sustainable building practices. Here, we outline the benefits of greening government initiatives by examining Canada's Greening Government Strategy as a case study approach for transitioning to a low-carbon building portfolio. We focus our review on initiatives that outline how public institutions can transition buildings to reduce their carbon footprint by (1) pairing greening government mandates with adequate support structures for public agencies, (2) using an integrated energy management process for the planning and development of carbon-neutral portfolios, and (3) overcoming barriers to low-carbon project implementation with procurement standards, financial instruments, and staff training. These approaches are defined to offer leadership in the green building industry, strategically identify carbon reduction projects, and reduce barriers to a low-carbon building portfolio.

Design Standard for Government Building Equipment and Planning Standard for Government Building Equipment

Design Standard for Government Building Equipment and Planning Standard for Government Building Equipment

SECURITY CHALLENGES AND NATION BUILDING IN AFRICA: NIGERIA IN FOCUS

Africa's recent security issues have become a cog in the continent's nation-building machinery. Perhaps the biggest threats to security in Africa are violent extremism and terrorism; there are local groups operating throughout east, west, and southern Africa that have connections to international terrorism. Their actions incite regional conflicts and facilitate organized crime networks, further destabilizing an already precarious political environment that ought to be a tool for nation-building and the advancement of development across Africa, particularly in Nigeria. Security issues have included kidnapping, killings, and the destruction of government buildings, medical facilities, and schools. These issues have plunged the country into a persistent state of insecurity and impeded the process of nation-building. Therefore, this paper uses Nigeria as a case study to examine the threat of security challenges to the development of nation building in Africa. Qualitative techniques are used to gather secondary data for analysis. The results showed that a great deal of lives and property have been lost to insecurity, which has also hindered the effective execution of government policies and initiatives aimed at strengthening the country. As a result, this paper concludes that security challenges have a negative impact on nation building and makes recommendations for how to lessen security challenges in order to promote Nigerian nation building through good governance, corruption, synergy-security, transparent, and accountable leadership.

Seismic hazard analysis on Solok Regency, West Sumatra to support local government development program

Solok Regency is an administrative area located in West Sumatra that is currently carrying out disaster mitigation programs. Mostly, major infrastructure such as the Solok Local Government Buildings Complex, school facilities, hospital buildings, and many dense residential buildings are scattered over this area. One notable event happened on September 30, 2009, which forced the local government to take serious prevention steps to reduce casualties and damages in the future. Furthermore, there is a need to develop a comprehensive study to analyze the seismic hazards by determining the value of Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) at the bedrock. The analysis was carried out using the Probability Seismic Hazard Analysis (PSHA) by calculating several seismic sources towards Solok regency by a radius of 500 kilometers from the Arosuka area for a 2475-year return period. The result showed a PGA value of 1.052g on Arosuka, Solok regency, while the Openquake platform shows the range of PGA values varies from 0.576g – 1.368g. The PGA values were then visualized into a seismic hazard map using a geographic information system (GIS). In addition, these scientific results are used as basic information to estimate the seismic vulnerability to support the disaster risk reduction program in West Sumatra.

Impact of Climate Induced Disaster in Sindhupalchowk District


 
 
 This study attempt to analyze the impact of climate induced disaster on human, private housing, government building, and economy in Sindhupalchowk district based on the information available on Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal from 1971 to 2022. The disaster caused by climate change can be classified as hydrological, climatological, meteorological, or both. Hydrological disasters are controlled by hydrological processes, such as floods, droughts, and avalanches; climatological disasters are concerned with hazards related to extreme temperatures, such as heat waves, cold waves, and wildfires; and meteorological disasters represent storms of all types, such as snowstorms, thunderstorms, hurricanes, and tornadoes. This article is based on literature review that includes district disaster preparedness and response plan (DPRP) and different articles related to disaster and climate induced disaster. DRR portal of MoHA and Disinventar are the major secondary source of information. Sindhuplchowk district is one of the disaster-prone districts of Nepal. Landslide, flood and thunderbolt are the major disasters of Sindhupalchowk district. Climate induced disaster affected 100,903 families; 4,467 persons have lost their lives, 2,778 to have been injured, 314 missing. It has found that among all disaster 53% death toll by climate induced disaster and 47% death happens due to the non-climate induced disaster. Damage and losses due to the disaster were amounted to an estimated 72,565,001 Nepalese rupees. The findings of this study can help local, national, and international policies and decision-making in order to lessen the risks associated with these disasters and foster resilient communities.
 
 

A Protest, Coup d’État, or Internal Party Power Struggle

The paper investigates war veterans as organisers of contentious politics in ‎post-war Croatia, by looking into two significant protests. Already amid the‎1990s War in Croatia, the first veteran associations were tied to the army or ‎governing Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). After the HDZ government ‎ignored their demands in 1996, the main association gathering disabled veterans‎ announced a protest, shocking the regime. After defusing the situation ‎by meeting most of veteran demands, the protest against the Government ‎was transformed into a support rally for officials who helped the protesters’‎ cause. In 2014, veteran associations initiated a protest over, at first, officials’‎ speculations about PTSD cases among the local Serb population, framed ‎among the veterans as “aggressors”. As Prime Minister Zoran Milanović refused ‎to dismiss the Minister of Veterans and his associates, the veteran protest ‎outlasted the Government, including violent episodes in the government‎ building’s vicinity and ending in April 2016. The article proceeds to analyse ‎the disruptiveness of the protest, the repertoire and violence used, as well as‎ frames of meaning with which protesters justified their collective actions and‎ wished to appeal to wider constituencies. The article attempts to analyse the‎ motives behind the protest and links of protesters with different political actors‎– mostly HDZ – trying to show if veterans acted as independent political ‎actors or only as an extended arm of politicians. By using veteran associations’‎ documents, archival documents, media reports and literature, the paper‎ wishes to place the two case studies into the body of literature that describes‎ the decades-long patron-client relationship between veterans, HDZ and the‎ state.‎

The Transformation of Rumoh Aceh Philosophy in Educational Facilities of Balai Pengajian Quran in Aceh Besar

The phenomena of the Acehnese traditional houses philosophy functioned as dwelling houses have shifted into simple educational building design concepts, particularly for the people who live in suburban. The concept is able to be implemented by modern society in Aceh in order to design government buildings, banking offices, and other public buildings. This study aims to identify and analyze how the philosophies of the Acehnese traditional dwelling are transformed into a modest educational facility. The focus area of study is educational facilities owned by the local community located in the suburbs. Is the level of comfort suitable for its function? The study used three stages of research methodology: (1) observation which was carried out by using a typomorphological approach; (2) analysis of elements of Acehnese traditional house construction; and (3) simulation of the factors that determine the comfort of the building. The results of this study indicate the possibility of adapting the traditional Acehnese house design concept into an educational facility. The front porch (Seuramoe Keue) of the space division in Rumoh Aceh can be transformed as Balai Pengajian Quran using wood as primary materials for construction and building.