Construction Planning Research Articles

Hydrological streamflow modeling at the inlet of Gilgel Gibe III dam of Ethiopia using soil and water assessment tool

AbstractComprehensive approach is a pre‐requisite to improve the estimation of variability in streamflow data for designing water supply systems, generating hydropower, determining environmental flows, allocating water, and conducting pollution studies that need a comprehensive approach. There is a need to model streamflow data to develop effective water policy plans when sufficient data are unavailable. This study aims at assessing the accuracy and applicability of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model in predicting streamflow at the inlet of the Gilgel Gibe III dam watershed in Ethiopia. Historical meteorological data from nine available stations between 1987 and 2017 were used to predict the streamflow. The SWAT model was calibrated and validated for two different time periods (1997–1999 and 2003–2004) using SWATCUP program and SUFI‐2 technique. Calibration and validation were based on monthly observed discharges at the Abelti and Gojeb stations. The results showed acceptable values of R2, Nash–Sutcliffe modeling efficiency (NSE), and percent bias (PBIAS). At the Abelti station and Gojeb station, the calibration and validation results were 0.82, 0.79, and −10.1%; 0.88, 0.84, and −14.4%; and 0.86, 0.79, and 14.1% for calibration and 0.88, 0.8, and 11.1% for validation, respectively. The prediction uncertainty of 95% was consistent with the observed discharge. The mean annual runoff was 440.08 m3/s, demonstrating the model's effectiveness in simulating streamflow at the dam's inlet. The calibrated and validated model can be used to study the effects of climate and land use changes; analyze water quality and sediment yield; and inform future water policy plans, dam construction planning, and flood disaster risk management.

Older Adults' Needs and Wishes for Contact With the Outdoors at Residential Care Facilities: Implications for Theory and Practice.

Aim: This qualitative study aimed to explore needs and wishes of older adults concerning their perceived need for contact with outdoor environments at residential care facilities (RCFs) and what implications it has for theory and practice. Background: There is increased awareness of the importance of health-promoting everyday environments for persons with special needs. Therefore, it is important to include the experiences of older adults at RCFs in research. Methods: Twelve older adults from three Swedish RCFs participated in semistructured walking interviews. Results: Two categories were identified concerning the needs and wishes of older adults for contact with outdoor environments. The first category, Outdoor environments as part of everyday life, describes aspects of normality linked to outdoor stays at RCFs. The second category, Getting outdoors in practice, describes supportive and hindering aspects of outdoor stays, as well as accessibility regarding different body positions and access to personal support. Conclusion: It was found in this study that the needs and wishes of older adults are important to consider to increase their opportunities for outdoor stays. Their needs and wishes could also be included in briefs and programs for the design and planning of new construction or refurbishment of RCFs. The results of the study can serve as the basis for further discussions concerning older adults' outdoor stays and the accessibility of outdoor environments. Further, the results are intended to facilitate practical knowledge that is useful for care workers and managers at RCFs and to support decision makers, property developers, architects, and planners.

Predicting future impacts of climate and land use change on streamflow in the middle reaches of China's Yellow River

With increasing temperatures, changing weather patterns and ongoing development, it is becoming increasingly important to clarify the evolution mechanism of future regional streamflow processes and their controlling factors. In this study, an integrated framework for watershed streamflow prediction based on a Global Climate Model (GCM), the Patch-generating Land Use Simulation model (PLUS), and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was proposed in the middle Yellow River. The results indicate that, compared with the baseline period (1989–2018), levels of precipitation and maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to increase in the next 30 years, resulting in a warmer and wetter regional climate. Under various climate scenarios, the annual streamflow is projected to increase by 49.2–115.1%. The acreage of various land types may have tended to be saturated, and the main land types such as cropland, forest and grassland have little change (−6.6%-0.6%), so the impact on streamflow will be correspondingly reduced. Under various land use scenarios, the annual streamflow is projected to increase by 5.0%–7.3%. The annual average streamflow trends under the combined climate and land use scenarios are consistent with the climate change scenarios, while the mean values corresponding to the combined scenarios are higher than those of the single scenario. Findings show that climate change is the main driver influencing streamflow, with a contribution of 86.3%–95.1%. This study deepens understanding of the change pattern and influence mechanism of the streamflow process, which can provide a scientific basis for the development and refinement of regional ecological construction plans.

Quantitative assessment of PM2.5-related human health impacts at the provincial level in China and analysis of its heterogeneity affected by economic structural transformation

Rapid economic development has led to massive fossil energy consumption and emissions of air pollutants such as PM2.5, which have severely impacted human health and the environment. By uncovering the primary regions and pivotal sectors of PM2.5-related human health impacts (PM2.5-HHI) and evaluating the influence of economic structural factors on them, we can facilitate a more targeted strategy for managing PM2.5 pollution sources. This study employs a structural decomposition analysis method based on input–output analysis to evaluate the impact of China’s provincial economic structural transformation and changes in final demand on PM2.5-HHI in the years 2012, 2015, and 2017. Results indicated that PM2.5-HHI is primarily concentrated in economically developed provinces (e.g., Shandong and Guangdong), which is compared to Shanghai, Heilongjiang, Liaoning, and Hebei experienced negative growth in PM2.5-HHI during 2007–2017. The production-based PM2.5-HHI is primarily driven by energy-intensive sectors such as the production and distribution of electric power and heat power. By contrast, the building sector is key to driving consumption-based PM2.5-HHI. An increasing number of regions are reducing PM2.5-HHI by implementing production structure changes. Moreover, the driving effect of production structure changes on PM2.5-HHI growth is strengthening in Beijing and Tianjin. Changes in the final demand structure mainly led to the growth of PM2.5-HHI in areas with higher economic development levels, such as Beijing and Shandong, but this driving effect is weakening. The final demand–driven PM2.5-HHI shows an evolutionary trend of an increasing share driven by fixed capital formation and exports and a decreasing share driven by household consumption. Changes in emission intensity play a key role in decreasing PM2.5-HHI in each region. Alternatively, changes in the structure of emission sources have a relatively minor impact on PM2.5-HHI. To mitigate PM2.5-HHI, regional economic and resource endowment advantages should be used to promote regional coordinated development and strengthen green production-process innovation in energy-intensive industries. Meanwhcile, it is necessary to optimize urban construction planning and improve the energy efficiency of buildings.

The impact of reservoirs on the soils of adjacent areas: overview of global and local aspects

AbstractThis study aims to analyze the impact of reservoirs on the soils of surrounding areas to elucidate potential ecological consequences. To achieve this goal, a territorial analysis of the soil surrounding such reservoirs as the Kyiv, Kaniv, Kremenchuk, and Kakhovka, which constitute the Dnieper Cascade of Reservoirs, was conducted. The study found that the average soil pH changes in reservoirs range from 6.0 to 7.5, while nitrogen and phosphorus content in the soil varies from 0.2% to 1.5% and from 0.1% to 0.5%, respectively. Average changes in the content of humic substances and fulvic acids in the reservoirs range from 1.0 to 3.5 and from 0.2 to 1.5 mg/L, respectively. Furthermore, it was found that the creation of large reservoirs on the Dnieper River is accompanied by significant consequences for shoreline soils. The geomorphological study of the reservoirs within the Dnieper Cascade revealed their diversity in terms of shoreline types. Some have more erodible shores, indicating vulnerability to erosion, as observed in the Kakhovka Reservoir, while others have more neutral shores less susceptible to erosion, such as the Kremenchuk Reservoir. The distribution of humic substances in the reservoirs of the Dnieper Cascade is determined by the hydrological structure and water inflows, with the highest concentrations in the upper regions. Decreased flow velocity in the lower part of the cascade leads to the deposition of humic substances in bottom sediments. The threat to ecological systems is exacerbated by incidents such as the catastrophe at the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station in 2023, which triggered a serious ecological crisis with a wide range of consequences. Consequently, the application of a comprehensive approach to water resource management and environmental protection becomes crucial. This entails meticulous planning of construction, implementation of ecological technologies, and engaging the public in the water resource management process.

Accounting Method and Indicators of Multilevel CO2 Emissions Based on Cost During Construction of Shield Tunnels

With the rapid expansion of shield tunnel projects in China, precise accounting of CO2 emissions throughout the entire process is essential for advancing green and low-carbon construction practices. This paper introduces an innovative CO2 accounting methodology utilizing a cost-based carbon emission coding system. It adopts a multilevel approach to carbon emission accounting, aligned with this coding system, which facilitates a detailed examination of carbon emission ratios and characteristics across various construction techniques. The analysis includes six typical shield tunnel projects varying in diameter, focusing on sub-projects to scrutinize CO2 emissions and establish specific indicators. The findings indicate that CO2 emissions per 10,000 yuan of investment, approximately 30.25% (or 3025 kgCO2e/10,000 yuan), are more consistent than those per unit of length. Moreover, the study highlights differing CO2 emission trends among sub-projects compared to whole tunnel projects, assessing emission indicators and distribution patterns in four sub-projects: shield excavation, segmental lining, internal structure, and tunnel reinforcement. From these findings, the paper suggests more precise and tailored strategies for CO2 reduction. This research provides a theoretical basis for future construction planning and carbon management strategies.

Ontology-Guided Generation of Mechanized Construction Plan for Power Grid Construction Project

Mechanized construction is being fully implemented in the electric power infrastructure domain to ensure construction safety, enhance project quality, and improve efficiency. Traditional methods of designing mechanized construction plans are often inefficient due to their labor-intensive processes and heavy reliance on human expertise. This study introduces and evaluates an ontology-guided system designed to automate mechanized construction planning for power grid projects. The developed ontology effectively models domain-specific knowledge, enabling the semantic integration of data from various sources. By leveraging SPARQL queries, the ontology-guided system incorporates knowledge reasoning capabilities that facilitate the automated selection of construction equipment and the generation of comprehensive construction plans. A prototype system incorporating an ontology-guided mechanism has been developed, showcasing marked enhancements in efficiency and accuracy over traditional manual methods, as evidenced by case studies and expert evaluations. The research results emphasize the potential of ontology-guided systems in innovating architectural planning, providing an extensible and standardized approach. Expert evaluation indicates that the system achieves 71.38% effectiveness in generating mechanized construction plans.

Field test of internal visualization of deep-water pile foundation using ultrasonic waves

Early-age internal visualization is critical for timely assessing the quality of pile foundations, especially as super cross-sea bridges increase the diameter and length of pile foundations beyond the capabilities of traditional cross-hole sonic logging (CSL). This article introduces two innovations. First, ultrasonic instruments are specially developed to transmit waves through a concrete pile with a diameter of 4 m, a length of 92 m, and a water depth of 63 m, before the full hardening of concrete. Second, an imaging method is proposed to upgrade traditional CSL from 1D detection to 3D visualization. Both large-scale experiments and field tests are tested in the first 7 days after the concrete casting. The experiments successfully visualize typical construction defects, achieving a detection resolution of 18 cm for layered defects and 15 cm for void defects. During the field test, a low-pixel region is observed at the pile head, extending approximately 2.1 m deep, attributed to mud floating up during concrete casting into the steel casing. These developments in instrument technology and visualization methods provide essential tools for the quality evaluation of super pile foundations. Furthermore, the visualization data can support digital twin modeling in subsequent stages of construction and maintenance planning.

Wind Rose Analysis of Temperature Variation with Sensor Implantation Technique for Wind Turbine

This study focuses on analysing the impact of seasonal variations in heat on different parts of a "wind energy system," serving as a representative mechanical system. The proposed methodology utilizes wind rose analysis, offering a straightforward means to assess heat transfer effects, applicable to any mechanical system comprising numerous small heat-dissipating components. Furthermore, this work elucidates the correlation between mechanical component performance and heat dissipation impact, providing breakdown alerts for various wind turbine components. Additionally, it analyses the influence of mechanical part temperatures on energy generation, highlighting how high temperatures can indicate component deterioration, such as bearing damage. Notably, the study focuses on wind speeds ranging from 10 to 15 m/s, a typical operational range for wind turbines. By employing wind rose charts and real-time readings, the graded heat dissipating potential of mechanical parts under various wind velocities and weather conditions is determined. Moreover, the study emphasizes the significance of heat transfer analysis in optimizing wind turbine performance, demonstrating how temperature differentials between mechanical components and the environment, along with increased surface area, affect heat transfer. The proposed analysis underscores the importance of considering heat's impact on each mechanical component in tandem with seasonal environmental temperature fluctuations. The wind rose methodology, integrated with sensor implantation, emerges as a cost-effective tool for studying -level heat variances in mechanical systems, enabling the development of heat profiles for future turbine designs and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses. As heat transfer coefficient increases the wind turbine performance decrease. The heat transfer coefficient decreases 14.28% from rainy to winter season and 42.85% from winter to summer season. The wind rose analysis provides valuable insights into wind patterns and characteristics at a specific location, which can inform decision-making in various fields such as energy, construction, environmental management, and safety planning. As the turbine temperature increases the wind velocity decreases. Here it decreases 28 % from rainy to winter season.

Blueprints for success: applying structural equation modeling in dam construction planning

Blueprints for success: applying structural equation modeling in dam construction planning

A Comparative Study of Geometric Principles in the Sulba Sutras and the Pythagorean Theorem: Historical Context and Mathematical Applications

This research delves into the geometric principles detailed in the ancient Sulba Sutras and their parallels with the Pythagorean Theorem, traditionally attributed to the Greek mathematician Pythagoras. While the Pythagorean theorem is widely regarded as a cornerstone of Greek geometry, recent studies suggest that its formulation appeared centuries earlier in Indian mathematics, as evidenced in Baudhāyana’s Sulba Sutra (circa 800 BCE). These texts offer extensive insights into the geometric constructions used in Vedic rituals, including the use of Pythagorean triples and transformations between geometric shapes. The Sulba Sutras present a rich mathematical framework, emphasizing practical applications in altar construction, land measurements, and urban planning. This study aims to bridge the research gap by comparing the geometric developments in the Sulba Sutras with Greek formulations, particularly focusing on their mathematical methods, cultural contexts, and historical significance. The findings underscore the advanced state of Indian mathematics and its profound influence on subsequent mathematical traditions, offering a nuanced understanding of the parallel evolution of geometric knowledge across cultures.

A novel FDEM-GSA method with applications in deformation and damage analysis of surrounding rock in deep-buried tunnels

In underground hydraulic tunnel engineering, particularlydeep-buried projects, the deformations and stability of the surrounding rock are critical to the construction process. Due to the complex depositional environment of such tunnels, multiple factors influence the stability of the surrounding rock during construction. This paper proposes a novel hybrid method combining Finite-Discrete Element Method (FDEM) with Global Sensitivity Analysis (GSA) and machine learning. The FDEM model is used to establish an approximate relationship between input and output parameters, and its accuracy is validated through comparison with monitoring data. On the basis of data simulated by the FDEM model, a meta-model is developed by Particle Swarm Optimization-Extreme Gradient Boosting (PSO-XGBoost). 10,000 data sets are generated using the meta-model for Sobol sensitivity analysis. The proposed analysis framework is applied to study the deep-buried water diversion tunnel in the Central Yunnan Water Diversion Project (CYWDP). The results indicate that in deep-buried tunnel environments, as the tunnel depth increases, the dominant factor influencing the deformation of the surrounding rock transitions from tunnel depth to the mechanical properties of the rock itself. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing construction plans in similar tunnel projects and offer a new perspective on sensitivity analysis frameworks based on numerical computations.

The fracture propagation law of axially symmetric intersecting precut hydraulic fracturing in mine rock-breaking

As a mine rock-breaking technique, hydraulic fracturing technology can reduce the amount of explosives used, which enhance safety and reduce environmental pollution in mines. After precutting along the borehole axis, hydraulic fractures will expand along the precutting direction within a certain range and reduce initiation pressure. These hydraulic fractures cut through the rock mass, reducing its integrity and weakening its mechanical properties. Hydraulic fracturing with axially symmetric intersecting precut fractures not only controls the multi-directional propagation of fractures but also increases the fractures within rock mass. The lattice method simulated the hydraulic fracturing process, focusing on the parameters like angles between precut fractures and the minimum horizontal principal stress, the maximum horizontal principal stress, and angles between intersecting precut fractures. Results indicate that the hydraulic fractures propagate along intersecting precut fractures, forming main and interconnected secondary fractures. The directional cutting effect is influenced by the number of secondary fractures. With the increase in the angle between precut fractures and the minimum horizontal principal stress, the maximum horizontal principal stress, the angle between precut fractures, the area of secondary fractures decreased, and the expansion extent of main fractures along the precut fractures increased, indicating better directional effects. The study identifies relationships between initiation time, initiation pressure, and parameters. These findings provide valuable technical guidance for designing on-site construction plans for hydraulic fracturing projects involving intersecting precut fractures.

CONSTRUCTION MEDIATION: GLOBAL EXPERIENCE FOR ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION IN THE MODERNISATION OF MULTI-APARTMENT RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

Modernisation of multi-apartment buildings is one of the steps towards achieving the goals of sustainable urban development. Modernisation of buildings and construction in general causes many disputes between the condominium, co-owners and other stakeholders, especially approval and financial issues. Such disputes are usually interpersonal rather than legal or legislative. In this regard, litigation is impractical or not at all within the competence of the courts. Modernisation, as an architectural, engineering, constructing and the process of urban development in general, is not an obligation and is a manifestation of desire of communities and a goal of the country, therefore the dispute resolution on this issue requires a special and innovative approach. Mediation is almost the only one way to resolve disputes between condominiums and co-owners on issues of modernisation and further operation and maintenance. If for many countries in the world construction mediation, although a relatively new concept, is already widely used in practice, then in Ukraine this method of dispute resolution is little known and not widespread. This method has proven its effectiveness in practice, because it is quick and simple in contrast to the litigation, which can suspend or delay construction for a very long time. Mediation helps parties reach agreement on any issue. Modernisation is an important and necessary step, at the same time controversial and difficult, due to the need for co-financing of the project by the co-owners of the house. Disputes between the parties are not only obstacles for project implementation and development but also endangers the achievement of achieving the goals of urban sustainable development. The larger project the more controversial issues arise that need to be resolved: not only financial, coordination and legislation but also compliance of norms and rules of non-government organisations or foundations that finance the program. Implementation of global mediation experience in modernisation and urban planning will help to more effectively and easily develop construction processes and dispute resolution between stakeholders of the project. The research and implementation of this issue is an important step on the way to improving the processes of modernisation of multi-apartment building, construction and urban planning.

A dual opposition learning-based multi-objective Aquila Optimizer for trading-off time-cost-quality-CO2 emissions of generalized construction projects

PurposeMost of the existing time-cost-quality-environmental impact trade-off (TCQET) analysis models have focused on solving a simple project representation without taking typical activity and project characteristics into account. This study aims to present a novel approach called the “hybrid opposition learning-based Aquila Optimizer” (HOLAO) for optimizing TCQET decisions in generalized construction projects.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, a HOLAO algorithm is designed, incorporating the quasi-opposition-based learning (QOBL) and quasi-reflection-based learning (QRBL) strategies in the initial population and generation jumping phases, respectively. The crowded distance rank (CDR) mechanism is utilized to rank the optimal Pareto-front solutions to assist decision-makers (DMs) in achieving a single compromise solution.FindingsThe efficacy of the proposed methodology is evaluated by examining TCQET problems, involving 69 and 290 activities, respectively. Results indicate that the HOLAO provides competitive solutions for TCQET problems in construction projects. It is observed that the algorithm surpasses multiple objective social group optimization (MOSGO), plain Aquila Optimization (AO), QRBL and QOBL algorithms in terms of both number of function evaluations (NFE) and hypervolume (HV) indicator.Originality/valueThis paper introduces a novel concept called hybrid opposition-based learning (HOL), which incorporates two opposition strategies: QOBL as an explorative opposition and QRBL as an exploitative opposition. Achieving an effective balance between exploration and exploitation is crucial for the success of any algorithm. To this end, QOBL and QRBL are developed to ensure a proper equilibrium between the exploration and exploitation phases of the basic AO algorithm. The third contribution is to provide TCQET resource utilizations (construction plans) to evaluate the impact of these resources on the construction project performance.

Research on the Construction of a Sichuan Intangible Cultural Heritage Archive Chinese-English Parallel Corpus

This study aims to construct a Chinese-English parallel corpus of Sichuan's intangible cultural heritage (ICH) archives to facilitate the protection, inheritance, and international exchange of ICH. Through field research, literature review, and the application of digital technology, this project analyzes the current state of Sichuan's ICH archives, discusses the construction plan for the Chinese-English corpus, and proposes strategies to enhance the internationalization level of ICH inheritance and exchange. The research results indicate that the construction of the Chinese-English corpus is of great significance for the digital protection of ICH resources, optimization of translation practices, and promotion of cultural heritage.

Introduction to civil engineering through the PLAXIS application in construction planning for students of SMAN 3 Jakarta

Introduction to civil engineering through the PLAXIS application in construction planning for students of SMAN 3 Jakarta

Finite-difference time-domain method of ground penetrating radar images for accurate estimation of subsurface pipe properties

The increasing length of subsurface pipe causes overlapping, accumulation, and occasionally the old pipe layout is not also available. Consequently, accidents, damages, time delays, and financial losses occur during construction of new structures or installation of new pipes. Therefore, depth, radius, material of the existing pipe, and map of pipe are indispensable for knowing proper construction planning. In this article, an algorithm is proposed to estimate the properties of subsurface pipes and show 3D maps. Using this algorithm, the radius of the field pipes was estimated with 83, 67, and 89 % accuracy and depth with 95, 95, and 98 % accuracy. The effect of pipe radius should be considered to assess the pipe depth with higher accuracy. The material of the field pipe was successfully determined using the evaluated relative permittivity. A 3D map of the field pipe was developed by applying the tracing algorithm and linear regression on estimated depth.

Promoting “physical fitness” with “intelligence”—A research and discussion of intelligent sports parks under the background of national fitness program

The National Fitness Program Plan (2021–2025) (hereinafter referred to as the Plan) proposes to perfect the public service system for sports and fitness by 2025, make national sports and fitness more convenient, and advocate providing intelligent services for national fitness campaign. With the development of the Internet era, modern information technologies such as big data, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence have been introduced into sports affairs, providing technical support for the optimization of the public service system for sports and fitness. Therefore, in the context of a national fitness campaign, intelligent sports service is an important link for promoting national fitness in various regions. Relevant workers should attach importance to promoting “physical fitness” with “intelligence” in the process of advancing national fitness program, and actively creating intelligent public services for national fitness. Focusing on the integration of modern information technology and sports affairs, with the implementation of the Plan as the research background, the construction of intelligent sports parks as the starting point, this article outlines the construction plan of intelligent sports parks based on the connotation summary of national fitness program and intelligent sports. At the same time, it analyzes the issues that intelligent sports parks need to pay attention to in providing public services for national fitness, and proposes countermeasures for the high-quality development of national fitness services in intelligent sports parks.

Hybrid Fuzzy Method for Performance Evaluation of City Construction

Evaluating the performance of city construction not only helps optimize city functions and improve city quality, but it also contributes to the development of sustainable cities. However, most of the scoring rules for evaluating the performance of city construction are overly cumbersome and demand very high data integrity. Moreover, the properties, change scale, and scope of different evaluation indicators of city construction often lead to uncertain and ambiguous results. In this study, a hybrid fuzzy method is proposed to conduct the performance evaluation of city construction in two phases. Firstly, a city performance index (CPI) was developed by combining the means and standard deviations of indicators of city construction to address the volatility of historical statistical data as well as different types of data. Considering the sampling errors in data analysis, the parameter estimation method was used to derive the 100% × (1 − α) confidence interval of the CPI. Buckley’s fuzzy approach was then adopted to extend the statistical estimators from the CPI into fuzzy estimators, after which a fuzzy CPI was proposed. To identify the specific improvement directions for city construction, the fuzzy axiom design (fuzzy AD) method was applied to explore the relationship between the targets set by city managers and actual performance. Finally, an example of six cities in China is provided to illustrate the effectiveness and practicality of the proposed method. The results show that the performance of Chongqing on several evaluation indicators is lower than that of other cities. The proposed method takes into account the issues of uniformity and diversity in the performance evaluation of city construction. It can enable a quantitative assessment of the city construction level in all cities and provide theoretical support and a decision-making basis for relevant government departments to optimize city construction planning and scientifically formulate city construction policies.