Assessment Of Infrastructure Research Articles

The Future of Education: A Multi-Layered Metaverse Classroom Model for Immersive and Inclusive Learning

Modern education faces persistent challenges, including disengagement, inequitable access to learning resources, and the lack of personalized instruction, particularly in virtual environments. In this perspective, we envision a transformative Metaverse classroom model, the Multi-layered Immersive Learning Environment (Meta-MILE) to address these critical issues. The Meta-MILE framework integrates essential components such as immersive infrastructure, personalized interactions, social collaboration, and advanced assessment techniques to enhance student engagement and inclusivity. By leveraging three-dimensional (3D) virtual environments, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven personalization, gamified learning pathways, and scenario-based evaluations, the Meta-MILE model offers tailored learning experiences that traditional virtual classrooms often struggle to achieve. Acknowledging potential challenges such as accessibility, infrastructure demands, and data security, the study proposed practical strategies to ensure equitable access and safe interactions within the Metaverse. Empirical findings from our pilot experiment demonstrated the framework’s effectiveness in improving engagement and skill acquisition, with broader implications for educational policy and competency-based, experiential learning approaches. Looking ahead, we advocate for ongoing research to validate long-term learning outcomes and technological advancements to make immersive learning more accessible and secure. Our perspective underscores the transformative potential of the Metaverse classroom in shaping inclusive, future-ready educational environments capable of meeting the diverse needs of learners worldwide.

Urban Regeneration: Economic and Social Impacts of a Multifunctional Sports Park in Reggio Calabria

Urban areas increasingly face complex challenges in achieving sustainability, particularly in balancing economic, social, cultural, and environmental needs. Despite their significant potential, multifunctional infrastructures remain underexplored, especially in socio-economically disadvantaged and marginal contexts, where they could play a crucial role in urban regeneration processes. This research, based on a case study of an unused urban infrastructure in Southern Italy, adopts a methodological framework to transform these abandoned urban spaces into integrated multifunctional infrastructures capable of providing social, sports, cultural, educational, and recreational services. The proposed framework offers a comprehensive decision-making tool for planners and policymakers, enabling the assessment of multifunctional infrastructures as strategic assets for urban regeneration. The study employs Discounted Cash Flow Analysis (DCFA) and Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) to assess the economic feasibility and social sustainability of the proposed project. Investment and management costs were analyzed and compared against both direct and indirect economic benefits, revealing scenarios that support the feasibility of public–private investment. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis corroborates the robustness of the model, demonstrating its applicability under variable economic and social conditions. In conclusion, the evaluation results highlight the transformative potential of multifunctional infrastructures, highlighting their ability to generate significant social and economic impacts.

Cloud Migration Framework: Transitioning from On-Premises to Azure Cloud for Improved System Reliability and Scalability

This article examines the transition from on-premises IT infrastructure to the Microsoft Azure cloud platform, aimed at enhancing the reliability, flexibility, and scalability of information systems. The purpose of the study is to analyze the migration process from an on-premises network to the Microsoft Azure cloud platform. The article explores the stages of migration, including the assessment of the current infrastructure, the design of an architecture based on cloud technologies, and the implementation of monitoring tools and process automation. The methodology is based on theoretical principles, practical recommendations, and examples of successful migrations. The findings demonstrate that transitioning to the Azure platform improves system availability and reliability through its distributed infrastructure and automated resource management tools. Cloud technologies enable organizations to scale computing power flexibly, adapting to changing demands. Azure also offers integration with other cloud services, expanding the functional capabilities of the ecosystem. This article will be useful for IT professionals, IT managers, cloud solution architects, and developers interested in efficient migration and optimization of IT structures. The conclusion emphasizes that a well-planned cloud transition can reduce operational costs, improve system resilience, and enhance the competitiveness of IT systems, thereby supporting organizational goals.

Novel Methodology for resilience assessment of Critical Infrastructure considering the interdependencies: A case study in Water, Transportation and Electricity sector

Novel Methodology for resilience assessment of Critical Infrastructure considering the interdependencies: A case study in Water, Transportation and Electricity sector

Testing Methods for Masonry Cores: A way forward to increase reliability of mechanical properties evaluation

The assessment of unreinforced brick masonry structures and infrastructure is a worldwide challenge for the development of resilient urban areas and preservation of historical assets. Among other factors, the estimation of mechanical performance of masonry in existing construction is of importance. However, the characterisation effort does not always satisfy the requirements from structural analyses point of view, i.e. need of elastic, strength and toughness properties, and/or from technical point of view, i.e. use of conventional technical expertise and limited invasiveness. In this respect, the new RILEM Technical Committee CTM aims at promoting the use of tests on masonry cores for the evaluation of compression and shear properties of unreinforced masonry with regular units. Upon a state-of-the-art review, a database of previous experimental test series will be created to identify influencing factors (e.g., core’s geometry, boundary conditions). Selected testing procedures will be compared at various international institutes for a variety of masonry types typically used in existing structures and infrastructure. By comparing results with standardise tests, correction factors will be identified. Eventually, testing guidelines to characterise masonry with core specimens will be defined and shared within the research and engineering community.

Application Framework and Optimal Features for UAV-Based Earthquake-Induced Structural Displacement Monitoring

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) vision-based sensing has become an emerging technology for structural health monitoring (SHM) and post-disaster damage assessment of civil infrastructure. This article proposes a framework for monitoring structural displacement under earthquakes by reprojecting image points obtained courtesy of UAV-captured videos to the 3-D world space based on the world-to-image point correspondences. To identify optimal features in the UAV imagery, geo-reference targets with various patterns were installed on a test building specimen, which was then subjected to earthquake shaking. A feature point tracking-based algorithm for square checkerboard patterns and a Hough Transform-based algorithm for concentric circular patterns are developed to ensure reliable detection and tracking of image features. Photogrammetry techniques are applied to reconstruct the 3-D world points and extract structural displacements. The proposed methodology is validated by monitoring the displacements of a full-scale 6-story mass timber building during a series of shake table tests. Reasonable accuracy is achieved in that the overall root-mean-square errors of the tracking results are at the millimeter level compared to ground truth measurements from analog sensors. Insights on optimal features for monitoring structural dynamic response are discussed based on statistical analysis of the error characteristics for the various reference target patterns used to track the structural displacements.

Bridges monitoring and assessment using an integrated bim methodology

Risk assessment of long-existing infrastructure has become one of the main challenges in civil engineering. Major efforts have been made in recent years to develop new techniques for rapid damage identification and ensure proper management of these structures. This paper presents a data management approach utilizing BIM methodology to create a digital database for bridge monitoring procedures. Initially, two BIM methodologies for creating a damage database are introduced, focusing on beams from a dismantled urban viaduct. Subsequently, the most suitable methodology is applied to an existing bridge in Turin, Italy. Through the chosen methodology a damage identification and classification process based on a triangular mesh is performed, assisted by a convolutional neural network (CNN) for automatic damage detection. Additionally, the paper outlines a digitalization process within a BIM environment, integrating official guidelines for bridge risk evaluation, classification, and monitoring in Italy. By employing programming tools, all data required by the guidelines is efficiently incorporated into the database. The outcomes demonstrate the effectiveness of remote sensing applications for bridge inspection and the possibility of merging BIM methodology into the inspection process to enhance the damage assessment of existing structures.

Urban green infrastructure assessment: identification of public green spaces misuse

Urban green infrastructure assessment: identification of public green spaces misuse

Application of a fuzzy, indicator‐based methodology for investigating the functional vulnerability of critical infrastructures to flood hazards

AbstractHazard vulnerability assessment of critical infrastructures (CIs) is crucial for ranking infrastructures based on their level of criticality, enabling the urban managers to prioritize CIs for allocating funds in the hazard mitigation/recovery process. This study aims to provide a framework for ranking CIs based on a rapid and preliminary flood vulnerability assessment by introducing a methodology for classifying CIs according to their vulnerability to riverine flooding. An indicator‐based vulnerability curve is calculated both quantitatively (using Fuzzy Logic Toolbox in MATLAB) and qualitatively (using susceptibility–exposure matrix), based on which CIs prioritization is accomplished with a focus on functional flood vulnerability considering structural/nonstructural damages. Besides, this study addresses the consequences that a damaged infrastructure may have on the rest of CIs and estimates their vulnerability given the additive impact of the surrounding failed infrastructures considering their interdependence. The methodology was applied to Berat (Albania) and Sarajevo (Bosnia‐Herzegovina) with findings compared to those of a multi‐criteria decision‐making‐based approach commonly used in CI ranking literature. The obtained results from both methods represent that roads are the most vulnerable studied infrastructure in the case of Berat, while regarding the city of Sarajevo, road infrastructures are considered the least vulnerable to riverine floods compared to bridges and schools.

Life cycle assessment and material flow analysis of road and rail infrastructure assets – A critical review

Life cycle assessment and material flow analysis of road and rail infrastructure assets – A critical review

Real-time Bayesian axle load estimation and structural identification of railway bridges under train loads based on strain monitoring

Health monitoring of railway bridges under train loads is of importance for the assessment and maintenance of railway infrastructure. The existing dynamic methods for the estimation of axle loads of trains require the track irregularities that are difficult to be obtained. Additionally, as trains have multiple carriages with a large number of axle loads without knowing magnitudes and positions, the corresponding estimation problem is essentially ill-conditioned. Furthermore, only the estimation of train loads is considered in the existing methods. The ill-conditioning problem may further deteriorate when the structural identification of railway bridges is taken into account. To address these problems, a Bayesian probabilistic approach for the real-time simultaneous estimation of train loads and structural parameters of railway bridges is developed using only strain measurements. From the train-track-bridge interaction dynamics, the axle loads of trains are modelled as modulated filtered noises, which avoids the direct analysis of the coupled system and thus does not require the additional information of track irregularities. Additionally, the time-varying speed parameter is introduced for the position tracking of axles, which allows the axle detection for the train loads with variable speeds. Furthermore, in order to tackle the ill-conditioned estimation problem, the prior information on axle loads from standardized trains is incorporated into the extended Kalman filter (EKF) to reduce the number of unknowns and improve the estimation. Examples for the estimation of a single-span bridge and a multi-span bridge under train loads are presented to illustrate the feasibility of the proposed methods.

Assessment and economic regulation of transport infrastructures in the case of PPP and PFI

Assessment and economic regulation of transport infrastructures in the case of PPP and PFI

Database model for inventory and condition assessment of hydraulics infrastructure in Indonesia

Indonesia is a country that has a reasonably large area with quite a lot of water resources such as rivers, reservoirs, lakes, and so on. To manage these water resources, quite a lot of physical infrastructure is needed from upstream to downstream. A well-documented physical infrastructure will assist the government in maintaining and repairing the building if there is damage/disruption. This research aims to develop a database model for the inventory of existing hydraulic structures in the Cengklik reservoir area and an evaluation sheet for their condition. The database model for inventory and evaluation sheets is structured within the MYSQL Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS) framework based on attributes of a dam studied and expert judgments, and the user interface is developed using the PHP framework for managing the database. The research results are a water/hydraulics structures inventory database model and an evaluation sheet for one type of hydraulics structure in the form of a dam. The built model is expected to help supervisors in the field record the condition of hydraulic structures in their area of responsibility and assist the government in managing the hydraulic infrastructure.

Transportation Infrastructure Impacts Calculator (TIIC): An Infrastructure Assessment Tool

Transportation Infrastructure Impacts Calculator (TIIC): An Infrastructure Assessment Tool

ASSESSING THE LEVEL OF ANTHROPOGENIC PRESSURE ON PARK ECOSYSTEMS IN CHERNIHIV

Objective: To evaluate the condition of park ecosystems in Chernihiv in relation to urbanization levels and air pollution from vehicular emissions. Methodology: The study assessed the state of park ecosystems (PE) in various districts of Chernihiv, following the methodological guidelines by Lavrov et al. (2021). Species composition, the health of vegetation by layers, and the impact of anthropogenic pollution were examined in temporary sample plots (0.2–0.6 ha) established in mature park areas in 2023. The urbanization index was calculated using the Urbanisation Score software, which analyzes land use—such as asphalt, buildings, and green space intensity—using Google Maps imagery. Road traffic load and phytotoxic emissions near the PEs were estimated based on the methodology of Miroshnyk et al. (2022). Maps were generated with the GIS tools Golden Software Surfer 19.2.213, using the kriging method, and QGIS 3.16.3. Scientific Novelty: This study provides the first environmental assessment of Chernihiv's green infrastructure a year after the intense warfare of spring 2022. The findings reveal that urbanization index values in Chernihiv range from 2.5 to -5, decreasing as one approaches the Dnipro River valley. Conclusions: The study found that the regional landscape park ‘Yalivshchyna’ and the remaining forest area in the Podusivka neighborhood are significantly impacted by vehicular aerotoxicants. The central park, ‘City Garden’, and the municipal forest park, ‘Maryin Hai,’ situated within the river valley, display better sanitary conditions than those in the city's central areas. Urbanization levels decrease closer to the river valley. Additionally, the Ski Base forest area suffered notable damage to its green infrastructure due to warfare during the city's siege in February-April 2022.

Enhancing sustainable urban areas through digital green infrastructure: achieving tangible outcomes

The object of this research is integrating green infrastructure into sustainable urbanization zones within the context of digitalization. The problem addressed is the difficulty of ensuring urban sustainability without considering the green infrastructure in urban and suburban areas. The article argues that city sustainability cannot be effectively addressed without integrating green corridors that connect urban and suburban zones. The research proposes using optimization and simulation models to plan and manage the expansion of green corridors in sustainable urban areas. The results highlight the importance of a joint approach to green infrastructure development in urban and suburban areas, showing that interconnectivity is crucial for long-term environmental sustainability. Findings were interpreted by illustrating how simulation models can be used to assess the effectiveness of green infrastructure in real-time. The research demonstrates that the digital modeling of green corridors enhances planning precision, ensuring better connectivity between the city and surrounding areas. The key features that solved the problem include an optimization model, which enabled efficient planning for green corridor expansion, improving connectivity between urban and suburban areas. The paper uses digital simulation tools that allow for real-time assessment of green infrastructure's sustainability impact, leading to better-informed decision-making. The results are applicable in urban planning and sustainability management within rapidly urbanizing cities. The findings are most effective when cities have access to digital tools and aim to enhance green infrastructure's role in sustainability strategies

FAILURE MODES AND EFFECTS ANALYSIS (FMEA) ON TRACK INFRASTRUCTURE INTEGRITY ASSESSMENT

Track infrastructure plays an important role in the railway business, where the safety of rail travel is determined by the integrity that exists in each component of the railway track. In this paper, an integrity assessment of track infrastructure is carried out using the Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) method by identifying various failure modes for each component and track geometry that have existed in the field. Then a survey was conducted to track maintenance experts at PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) to get the value of severity, occurrence, detection, and recommended actions taken. Based on the analysis, the failure mode with the highest Risk Priority Number (RPN) is the cracked rail on the welding/fish plate joint with a value of 280, while the failure mode with the lowest RPN is the loose rail with a value of 108. Then 21 failure modes fall into the "unacceptable" risk level, 4 failure modes fall into the "tolerable" risk level, and 1 failure mode falls into the "acceptable" risk level. From the results of this assessment, it is expected to help in prioritizing the risk of failure, so that the maintenance strategy can be planned properly, and the safety of train travel can be maintained.

Back-testing the iconic Polyfytos balanced-cantilever bridge to enhance condition assessment

This paper introduces a comprehensive framework for reliable damage assessment and decision making for bridge intervention planning. By utilising historical data and three-dimensional unmanned aerial vehicle (3D-UAV) photogrammetry, a detailed 3D numerical model is created, incorporating advanced modelling and scenario-based approaches. The methodology is applied to the Polyfytos bridge in Greece, which faces significant vertical deck deflections that disrupt traffic and have an impact on local communities. This approach offers a reliable, cost-effective, and efficient process, allowing stakeholders to make informed decisions with minimal physical interaction with the bridge. The integration of advanced modelling with in situ measurements and expert judgement is emphasised. For the Polyfytos bridge, the framework helps prioritise retrofits and assess the deck’s remaining strength under various loads, providing estimates of its overstrength. This aids in evaluating the bridge’s ability to handle additional vertical loads through pushdown analysis. Overall, the framework is valuable for rapid infrastructure assessment, identifying damage patterns, severity and the urgency of interventions related to structural strength.

Geospatial Assessment of Healthcare Accessibility and Equity in Qatar in Preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup

Accessibility to healthcare is one of the significant components of social determinants of public healthcare and is integral to societies’ overall well-being and economic prosperity. This study intends to assess changes in spatial distributions and accessibility of healthcare services within Qatar for 2010–2020, specifically concerning preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Assessment of the healthcare infrastructure is made using various techniques within a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) framework, like kernel density estimation, network analysis, and proximity analysis. The results show that access to healthcare has significantly improved, especially in urban centers such as Doha, besides a significant reduction in the length one travels to access healthcare facilities. However, despite improvements, many areas outside Doha still lag, requiring further investment in strategic planning. This study underscores how effective the health policies in Qatar and the Qatar National Master Plan (QNMP) have been in furthering principles of equity in access to healthcare services. The policy implications are that healthcare service planning should be integrated with urban development and transport networks for sustainable improvement in healthcare access. Thus, investment in infrastructure, strategic planning of locations, and addressing residual disparities are crucial for the long-term healthcare equity and system resilience of Qatar’s healthcare system.

Life-cycle assessment tools for road design: analysing linearity assumptions

Road infrastructure significantly impacts how people move, live, and the emissions associated with travel behaviour. The design of roads is crucial in mitigating emissions. This paper reviews existing transport Life-Cycle Assessment tools that have been developed by various entities and can be used for roads. The review focuses on several aspects in terms of data sources used in the analysis, the methods of estimating carbon emissions, the underlying software that is used to make the estimates and any limitations of the tools. A critical issue identified in Life-Cycle Assessment analysis is the erroneous assumption that relationships within the assessed systems are linear. The current tools focusing on transport infrastructure assessment were developed based on the linear assumptions and limitations of the Life-Cycle Assessment analysis. A significant research gap identified is that existing Life-Cycle Assessment tools are not integrated with the design process. The analysis is an add-on process to design and the results of an assessment are not then used iteratively to enhance the design. A case study on aggregate road design found that road area significantly correlates with emissions, slope adjustments reduce emissions, and soil type impacts emissions, suggesting future research should explore nonlinear relationships for sustainable road design.