Historical Construction Research Articles

La sombra alargada del patrón: Gamonalismo y hábitos hacendatarios en Chimborazo tras la reforma agraria

AbstractThis paper explores selective aspects of the historical processes of organization of the kichwa peasantry in the Andes of Ecuador. Based on the analysis of two representative cases of confrontation between peasants and landowners over access to land in the province of Chimborazo, it discusses the relevance of the concept of “gamonalismo” as both a category with which to interpret the system of peasant subjugation until the 1960s, and as significant social system conceived by Mariátegui in 1927. The paper identifies perceptions of social space that suggest the symbolic presence of the gamonal order among the generations who inherited the processes of struggle. It has an exploratory nature as it probes the interconnections between topics such as the ecological characteristics of the territory, the historical construction of a long‐standing system of domination and, after its dissolution, the persistence of its symbolic universe in Andean communities.

A new multi-analytical procedure for radiocarbon dating of historical mortars

The overarching challenge of this research is setting up a procedure to select the most appropriate fraction from complex, heterogeneous materials such as historic mortars in case of radiocarbon dating. At present, in the international community, there is not a unique and fully accepted way of mortar sample preparation to systematically obtain accurate results. With this contribution, we propose a strategy for selecting suitable mortar samples for radiocarbon dating of anthropogenic calcite in binder or lump. A four-step procedure is proposed: (I) good sampling strategies along with architectural and historical surveys; (II) mineralogical, petrographic, and chemical characterization of mortars to evaluate the feasibility of sample dating; (III) a non-destructive multi-analytical characterization of binder-rich portions to avoid geogenic calcite contamination; (IV) carbonate micro-sample preparation and accelerator mass spectrometer (AMS) measurements. The most innovative feature of the overall procedure relies on the fact that, in case of positive validation in step III, exactly the same material is treated and measured in step IV. The paper aims to apply this procedure to the ancient mortar of the Florentine historical building (Trebbio Castle), selecting micro-samples suitable for dating in natural hydraulic mortars. The discussion of the mortar dating results with the historical-archaeological hypotheses provided significant insights into the construction history of the building.

The Historical Building and Room Acoustics of the Stockholm Public Library (1925–28, 1931–32)

The Stockholm Public Library was realized in two distinct phases of construction in the 1920s and early 1930s, and remains a well-known work in twentieth-century architecture, with a heritage status today. While previous studies have focused on the library’s architectural design, particularly its lighting, acoustics were also an important aspect of the building’s design and construction. This study marks the first detailed investigation of the library’s architectural acoustics, with a suite of standard measurements performed to assess and characterize the library’s historical room and building acoustics. Reverberation time measurements in the library’s reading rooms yielded results of about 1.5–2 s for frequencies associated with speech. A significantly longer reverberation time of 5–6 s was measured in the library’s central rotunda, confirming a prominent acoustic issue in the library, where appropriate heritage discussions are needed in the future as the library undergoes a major renovation in the coming years. A comparison of the measured airborne and impact sound insulation of the 1920s and 1930s reading room ceilings also yielded interesting results. While the materials in library’s two construction periods are notably different, the airborne sound insulation performance of the 1920s and 1930s floors or ceilings was comparable and in line with contemporary standards. Impact sound insulation results from the 1920s and 1930s floors, however, differed significantly, with the latter displaying a relatively poor performance. Flanking transmission effects related to historical construction details and deviations from archival plans were investigated and discussed. This work emphasizes the practical and academic importance of conducting on-site measurements, and the close mutual development of modern architecture, construction, and architectural acoustics.

You are remembered by grateful memory, Mr. Betancourt

The article covers the life and certain episodes of the activities of Augustin Betancourt (1758–1814), an outstanding engineer, scientist, architect, teacher, and statesman of Spain and Russia, in Russia. Arriving in Russia at the personal invitation of Emperor Alexander I, and being in the Russian service from 1808 to 1824, A. Betancourt left a notable mark in the history of engineering and construction, in the development of industry and transport of the Russian Empire, and formation of engineering education in the country. Based on the sources, including those of the XIX century, the article provides information on the main projects implemented by him in Russia, offers characteristics of the relations between Augustin Betancourt and Emperor Alexander I, and other statesmen of that epoch, and reveals some personal and psychological peculiarities of behaviour of the engineer and scientist. An attempt is made to study the reasons for the tsar’s disfavour of Augustin Betancourt and his resignation from government posts. The article describes the conspicuous merits of A. Betancourt, his contribution to speeding up the industrial revolution in Russia, gives the main facts related to the special role of the scientists of Emperor Alexander I St. Petersburg State Transport University (PGUPS),the successor of the Institute of the Corps of Railway Engineers (IKIPS), organised by Betancourt, and the Betancourt’s Legacy International Scientific and Educational Project held since 2015 and the annual Betancourt International Engineering Forums dedicated to the development of higher engineering education in the world. This article is dedicated to the memory of Augustin Betancourt and is published in the year of the 200th anniversary of his passing on July 26 (14), 1824.

Seismic performance assessment of the historical Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore Dome by numerical analysis

The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore was constructed in 1420 and features one of the largest masonry domes constructed without the use of reinforcement. The city of Florence is situated between two zones of seismic activity, namely Mugello and Chianti, and has been affected by earthquakes in recent years. The objective of the present work is to develop a non-linear numerical analysis of the seismic behavior of the Cathedral using the finite element method, with the aim of allowing the perpetuation of historical constructions. The seismic analysis was developed with geological database comprising seven natural accelerograms, with five return times (50, 75, 101, 201, and 475 years). This analysis entailed the detailed examination of the accelerations, tensions and deformations resulting from the application of seismic events in the Cathedral’s structure and indicate the failure zones. The greatest accelerations were observed for the seismic event with a magnitude of 6.93 Mw, a return time of 475 years, and were indicative of the most fractures in the Dome region.

OLD UKRAINIAN SLOVUTA AND «OLD EUROPEAN» HYDRONYMY

The paper offers a new etymology of the Old Ukrainian hydronym Slovuta and its derivational congeners Slovuticь and Slovutičь against the background of the non-Slavic equivalent Dъněprъ and the Greek transcriptions Δάναπρις and Βορυσϑένης. The proposed explication of OU Slovuta is undertaken in the context of research on «Old European» hydronymy as first introduced within Krahe’s school of thought. The author substantiates the origins of the derivative Slovuticь / Slovutičь in the historical paratactic construction Dъneprъ-Slovuticь. A comparison with other paratactic constructions shows that this derivative is a result of the historical substantivization of Slavic nouns used primarily in the attributive function. In place of its commonly accepted participial interpretation, the author treats the form Slovuta as an athematic denominative from PU *slov-ǫt-a continuing an earlier formation with the original meaning ‛the one who possesses the quality of *slov-’. The postulated base *slov- is characterized by onomatopoetic syncretism of both the sound of rinsing, washing, flowing (PIE *k̂leṷH-) and its perception (PIE *k̂leṷ-), while the termination -ā functions as a «noun class marker» designating a natural stream of fresh water. The author also argues that the underlying formation PIE *k̂leṷH-/ *k̂leṷ-ont-ā >*k̂leṷ(H)-ont-ā (> PS slov-ont-ā > PU slov-ǫt-ā > OU slov-ut-a) could have appeared in the early-inflecting «Old European» period in the formation of Indo-European, transitional from the active grammar type to the system of nominative-accusative grammar.

Balanced Cantilever Construction Method in Post-Tensioned Concrete Bridges

This article gives an overview of the history of, and the research on, the balanced cantilever construction method, with a focus on post-tensioned concrete bridges. In the introduction, the method and the history of cantilever construction in steel, concrete and post-tensioned concrete bridges is presented. Structural failure of two different bridges is shown as a motivation for a more detailed understanding of the performance and force transmission of these bridges. Recent experimental and numerical research on post-tensioned concrete balanced cantilever bridges is introduced. In conclusion, most of the research is done on already completed structures. For a better overview, the need to conduct numerical and experimental research on balanced cantilever bridges during construction is highlighted.

An Analytical Safety Tree for Heritage Buildings: Application to the Archaeological Museum “Domenico Ridola”, Matera (Italy)

ABSTRACT Historical masonry construction is a significant architectural typology that represents the cultural identity of Western Europe. Exposure to seismic events seriously compromises the conservation of architectural heritage, as evidenced by recent earthquakes. In this context, the process of knowledge acquisition, vulnerability evaluation, and planning interventions becomes fundamentally important to identify and implement maintenance and conservation strategies. Safety trees, never used for seismic engineering purposes, are particularly effective in making safety-related decisions in potentially hazardous or complex situations. This paper proposes an analytical framework to evaluate the structural safety of cultural heritage buildings, using an analytical safety tree. This instrument is here applied to assist safety assessments, risk management, and process optimization. Specifically, the proposed tree encompasses a multi-step procedure characterized by three possible vulnerability assessments, with the advantage of providing an overview of the knowledge state, detected pathologies, and analysis of a heritage building, outlining a path to follow to ensure the safety of built heritage. The work first formalizes this new tool, starting from the classical theory of safety decision trees. Secondly, to demonstrate the potential of the approach, the decision tree is developed and applied to the safety assessment of the Archaeological Museum “Domenico Ridola” in Matera, Italy.

Medieval Arles through the Lives of Its Founding Bishop

Texts recounting the careers of saints were foundational to Christian worship and historical construction in medieval Europe. They were also fluid, living works that evolved over time as individual saints’ stories were revised, adapted, and retold. These texts changed in response to changing contexts in which they were used and understood. This article undertakes a case study to see how the evolution of one urban saint’s legend reflects the history of that saint’s city. Specifically, it analyzes the numerous Latin and vernacular texts produced between the mid-fifth and late twelfth centuries that recount the deeds of Saint Trophimus, first bishop of Arles. It argues that shifts in the saint’s story reflect broad changes in the political, religious, and social life of Arles. It also demonstrates that the number of parties recounting the legend multiplied over time, and that dissonances within the story arose as these groups adapted the tale to their own interests.

Automated Surface Crack Detection in Historical Constructions with Various Materials Using Deep Learning-Based YOLO Network

ABSTRACT Cultural heritage (CH) constructions involve the use of diverse masonry materials. Under natural and human influences, masonry materials can undergo various types of damages, with crack damages being most prevalent. Developing a robust model using deep learning (DL) capable of detecting cracks in various CH materials is crucial. In this study, we compared the performance of the DL method You Only Look Once (YOLO) object detection network based on images in different masonry materials (stone, brick, cob, and tile) with that in a modern material (concrete). The dataset used in the study comprised 1213 bricks, 1116 concretes, 955 cobs, 882 stones, and 208 tile images. YOLOv5 architecture, transfer learning, and object detection models were utilized for detecting cracks and compare their performance in different materials. This study represents the first comparison of this kind using an original dataset. The DL model achieved mean average precision values of 94.4%, 93.9%, 92.7%, 87.2%, 83.4%, 81.6%, and 70.3% for concrete; concrete and cob, cob; stone; stone and brick; brick; and tile, respectively. The findings of this study indicate considerable potential for the widespread use of DL techniques in identifying cracks from images across various CH materials and assisting inspection professionals in damage surveys.

Identity, Law and Agrarian Economy in India: Past and Present

The article discusses the contentious issue of agricultural reform in India, particularly focusing on the three Acts proposed by the ruling party in September 2021. These Acts aimed to revolutionize farming practices but faced significant opposition from agrarian communities nationwide, culminating in extensive protests and the eventual withdrawal of the bills. The debate surrounding these Acts delves into questions of agrarian identity and the historical construction of the farmer’s role, going back to colonial-era policies and their lasting impact. The article highlights the complex interplay between legal frameworks, social identities, and economic structures, emphasizing the transition of the farmer’s identity from a class-based to a caste-based construct. Through historical analysis and contemporary parallels, it explores how colonial legacies continue to shape agrarian politics and the ongoing struggle to define and protect the interests of farmers in India

Growing Apart: The Historical Construction of Difference in Northern Cabo Delgado, Mozambique

How do past experiences of violence map onto present day narratives of insurgency in northern Mozambique? In the insurgency that began in northern Mozambique in 2017, narratives of past violent encounters and animosity between different ethnic groups sharing the coastal space emerge as a way of making sense of the conflict. This article explores the ways these narratives stem from existing historical tensions between Makonde and Mwani inhabiting the northern districts of Cabo Delgado. Drawing on ethnography and oral history to highlight the continuities in narrative, I will explore the ways in which current violence is interpreted through references to pivotal moments of violence in the past. I will address the historical construction of difference between Makonde and Mwani to consider what it may tell us about the fractures that underpin the insurgency.

A visual construction history of the West Lothian shale bings

The West Lothian shale bings are large deposits of spent-shale rock in Scotland, created by the first industrial scale oil refineries which operated in the region from the mid-19th to the mid-20th century. Through its visual format, this gallery essay eschews formal investigative strategies to break with previous scholarship and interpret the bings as structures with their own construction history. Images of their current shape have been substituted for plans, photos and representations of them in development, to highlight the various logics and designs that converged within their construction. First-hand accounts from archived interviews have also been used to integrate the sensory and personal information that animated the bings as they were built. Social production is centred in this way to undermine an ideological narrative that sees waste as either aberrant corollary to intensive industry, or a neutral object without history. Analysing each image of the bings reveals intent, calculation and purpose which are pointedly incongruous with the view of waste as monolithic, accidental or unconscious. Such interpretations must be challenged because they obfuscate the necessarily profound impact of capital upon environmental history, as well as denuding ecology of its social aspects.

Elements of Historical Personal Identity Construction of Finnish-Speaking Students

In this paper, the constructions of historical personal identity of Finnish-speaking students are analysed. The students participated in a larger study of historical narratives and identities, carried out in 2020 in two schools in Finland and in one European School outside Finland. In the mixed-method study, sixty-one students were interviewed and given writing and drawing assignments on historical identity. In this paper, the students’ visual representations of their personal historical identity and its relationship with wider official history are analysed. The aim is to increase understanding of how 14–16-year-old students visualise and articulate their historical personal identity constructions and the historical elements they use in negotiating this identity. The findings suggest that the students integrate personal and historical social narratives in diverse ways but that the majority of them find it challenging to connect their personal family history with the wider official history. Only twelve students made the connection. In addition to presenting the results for the whole group of students, the visual representations of two selected students are discussed in more detail so as to highlight the difference in the approaches to historical personal identity construction among the students.

An experience of the Conservation of Historic Buildings’ Facades in Old Saida City

This article delves into the nuanced experience and challenges involved in conserving historic building facades within an old Saida city neighborhood marked by neglect and limited restoration efforts due to class dynamics and discrimination by heritage curators. Nevertheless, its buildings have been subjected to lack of maintenance and repair which led to processes of degradation with time and loss of some cultural heritage [6]. Focusing on a deprived area, the paper examines the challenges and opportunities encountered in conserving architectural heritage amidst socioeconomic constraints. Damage related to the collapse of building elements necessitates an investigation into the underlying causes to prevent such occurrences. This involves identifying a set of parameters to assess the hazards of façades and public exposure. Through a blend of community involvement in close coordination between the author who drives innovative conservation techniques, UNDP and the Municipality of Saida, the project sheds light on the potential for safeguarding the historical character to the damaged historic Musalkhiyyeh street arcades and façades, Kaniset el-amercani, Musallabiyyeh old market streets amongst with a specific square called “Furn el Saha” in old Saida historic city. The project falls under the UNDP project “Improving Living Conditions in Gatherings Host Communities”. The conservation project aimed to conserve those buildings, and promoted histories of places and people’s memories connected to the selected heritage sites. The project rehabilitated internally and externally for the three selected areas. It addressed both the physical deterioration and build the knowledge about the importance of the sites. By documenting this journey, valuable lessons emerge for policymakers, urban planners, and conservationists seeking to address heritage preservation in marginalized communities. Historic structures design and construction tell us much about the cultures and the history of a community that created them and about the traditions and events from which our society grew.

The Soviet-Chinese cooperation in production of penicillin in the 1950s

The article considers, on the basis of analysis of archival documents, issue of Soviet-Chinese cooperation in field of production of penicillin in the 1950s. The main attention is paid to history of construction of penicillin plant in Shijiazhuang. It is demonstrated that it was carried out on preferential terms for China and it was under special control of the USSR government. The building of plant was bound by great difficulties conditioned by range of project, specifics of production conditions in China, special requests of customer, necessity to manufacture non-standard equipment. The implementation of this project of enormous humanitarian significance was at the same time manifestation of concurrence between the USSR and the USA for geopolitical and ideological influence in East Asia.

Professionalisation means building a structured and structured nursing structure

While the Ministry of Health has been communicating for several months about the launch of the reform of the nursing profession, work finally began in mid-2023 in the field of practice, to efine the new perimeters to be covered for the profession of tomorrow. At the same time, the move towards university-based initial nursing training, which began in 2009, is continuing, with discussions starting at the end of 2023 on educational engineering, selection procedures, placements, student rights, the fundamentals of research teaching, etc. Between increasing skills and the associated responsibilities, and establishing a disciplinary field, the development of the profession is part of a gradual historical construction.

Conceptualising personhood in nursing care for people with altered consciousness, cognition and behaviours: A discussion paper.

The aim of this discussion paper is to explore factors and contexts that influence how nurses might conceptualise and assign personhood for people with altered consciousness, cognition and behaviours. While a biomedical framing is founded upon a dichotomy between the body and self, such that the body can be subjected to a medical and objectifying gaze, relational theories of self, multiculturalism and technological advances for life-sustaining interventions present new dilemmas which necessitate discussion about what constitutes personhood. The concept of personhood is dynamic and evolving: where historical constructs of rationality, agency, autonomy and a conscious mind once formed the basis for personhood, these ideas have been challenged to encompass embodied, relational, social and cultural paradigms of selfhood. Themes in this discussion include: the right to personhood, mind-body dualism versus the embodied self; personhood as consciousness, rationality and narratives of self; social relational contexts of personhood and cultural contexts of personhood. Patricia Benner's and Christine Tanner's clinical judgement model is then applied to consider the implications for nursing care that seeks to reflexively incorporate personhood. Nurse clinicians are able to move between conceptions of personhood and act to support the body, as well as presumed autonomy and relational, social and cultural personhood. In doing so, they use analytical, intuitive and narrative reasoning which prioritises autonomous constructions of self. They also incorporate relational and social contexts of the person receiving care within the possibilities of technological advances and constraints of contextual resources.

The production, distribution and attribution of risk: a conceptual framework to climate-related risk management from the perspective of Arraigo in Bogotá, Colombia

ABSTRACT This article offers a critical perspective on disaster risk management, arguing that the mainstream approaches are based on reductive epistemologies that constrain access to a dimension of knowledge, that not only fails to mitigate risk, it actually increases it. Re-examining the notion of underlying risk drivers, the study investigates risk through ontological and sociological approaches to define three different operations or risk dynamics: the production, distribution and attribution of risk. The framework outlined is based on a case study of Bogotá, Colombia, where the notion of «arraigo» has served to anchor the popular resistance to risk-related relocation policies, revealing historical constructions (risk production), preferences and exclusions embedded within knowledge systems (risk attribution), and spatial patterns of permissiveness, control and regulations, or asymmetries across the geographical space (risk distribution). This three-branched conceptual framework has practical implications, serving to integrate the underlying risk drivers into the knowledge and stewardship frames of action to respond to the political questions in disaster risk management and leverage their transformative potential as climate adaptation measures.

The 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake: Preliminary observations and lessons to be learned

On 1st January 2024 an Mw7.5 earthquake occurred along an active fault across the Noto Peninsula. The tremors generated a wide range of cascading hazards, including geological uplift, liquefaction, landslides, fires and tsunamis. This study offers some preliminary observations on the impacts of the cascading hazards. It also describes the pattern of casualties and the experience of evacuees and the management of evacuation centers. The hazards caused damage to buildings and infrastructure and more than 240 deaths. As usual, most casualties were caused by building collapse, but there was a high incidence of death by hypothermia and cold, which is different from the impact of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and reflects the harsher winter climate of this Noto Peninsula. Tsunamis arrived within a few minutes but killed only two people, which testifies to the high awareness of tsunamis in this area. Severe damage to roads significantly delayed early recovery as transportation was curtailed. This earthquake also showed how the problems of evacuees and evacuation shelters had remained unresolved since the 2011 disaster. The main lessons to be learned from this disaster are that improving the earthquake resistance of buildings is important even in Japan, which has a long history of anti-seismic construction. Special provisions are needed for disasters that occur during peak winter or summer weather. Special plans are required to repair and reopen roads damaged by earthquake and to support vulnerable people in both the short and the long term after disaster.