Construction Products Research Articles

Formaldehyde and asthma: a plausibility?

Formaldehyde (FA) is a ubiquitous indoor air pollutant emitted from construction, consumer, and combustion-related products, and ozone-initiated reactions with reactive organic volatiles. The derivation of an indoor air quality guideline for FA by World Health Organization in 2010 did not find convincing evidence for bronchoconstriction-related reactions as detrimental lung function. Causal relationship between FA and asthma has since been advocated in meta-analyses of selected observational studies. In this review, findings from controlled human and animal exposure studies of the airways, data of FA retention in the respiratory tract, and observational studies of reported asthma applied in meta-analyses are analyzed together for coherence of direct association between FA and asthma. New information from both human and animal exposure studies are evaluated together with existing literature and assessed across findings from observational studies and associated meta-analyses thereof. Retention of FA in the upper airways is > 90% in agreement with mice exposure studies that only extreme FA concentrations can surpass trachea, travel to the lower airways, and cause mild bronchoconstriction. However, taken together, detrimental lung function effects in controlled human exposure studies have not been observed, even at FA concentrations up 4ppm (5mg/m3), and in agreement with controlled mice exposure studies. Typical indoor FA concentrations in public buildings and homes are far below a threshold for sensory irritation in the upper airways, based on controlled human exposure studies, to induce sensory-irritative sensitization nor inflammatory epithelial damage in the airways. Analysis of the observational heterogeneous studies applied in the meta-analyses suffers from several concomitant multifactorial co-exposures, which invalidates a direct association with asthma, thus the outcome of meta-analyses. The evidence of a direct causal relationship between FA and asthma is insufficient from an experimental viewpoint that includes retention data in the upper airways and controlled animal and human exposure studies. Taken together, a coherence of controlled experimental findings with individual observational studies and associated meta-analyses, which suffer from caveats, is absent. Further, lack of identified evidence of FA-IgE sensitization in both experimental studies and observational studies agrees with indoor FA concentrations far below threshold for sensory irritation. The assessment of experimental data with uncontrolled observational studies in meta-analyses is incompatible with a direct causal relationship between FA and asthma or exacerbation thereof due to lack of coherence and plausibility.

BIM-based base position optimization of mobile construction robots for bricklaying task

ABSTRACT Base position (BP) optimization is a fundamental problem for robotics applications in large-scale scenarios. Although BP-related issues have been extensively studied in various fields, it remains a challenge in the construction industry due to the difficulty for mobile construction robots (MCRs) to fully leveraging accurate and explicit environmental models and construction information. This work proposes a building information modeling (BIM)-based prototype that incorporates a novel building world modeling approach and an effective BP optimization method. The former can automatically generate robot-compatible building worlds and element coordinates from BIM. Based on the parsed BIM data, the latter can determine the optimal BPs with higher manipulability for the manipulator through a two-stage optimization method. Experiments demonstrate the proposed method's ability to efficiently model the building world, and identify optimal BPs solution with an average manipulability index (AMI) improvement of 59.3 % within limited time. This system uses BIM data to guide robotic construction, laying the foundation for improving construction productivity and pointing the way for on-site automated construction in real building scenarios.

Precision of Fungal Resistance Test Method for Cereal Husk-Reinforced Composite Construction Profiles Considering Mycelium Removal Techniques.

Many test methods used in the assessment of construction products are characterised by poor precision, which is reflected in the discrepancies of results obtained by different laboratories. The test procedure for fungal resistance of natural particle-reinforced composite construction profiles has not been fully specified, which may lead to such discrepancies and erroneous utility assessment. In this study, the precision of the method and the influence of the mycelium removal on the fungal resistance were assessed based on the flexural strength and modulus of elasticity test results obtained for millet- and oat husk-reinforced PVC composites exposed to Coniophora puteana. The study revealed low precision of the test method, the coefficient of variation, in which, based on the standard deviation of interlaboratory reproducibility for one of the tested composites, was even higher than 20%. Additionally, it was found that the method of mycelium removal can significantly (at the level of 16% difference between flexural strength results) affect the resistance test results. This indicates the need to modify the test method and clearly specify the recommended method of cleaning samples after exposure to fungi.

Growing demand for housing and the productivity challenges in developing housing projects in Iraq

The housing sector in Iraq is facing growing demand. However, productivity challenges continue to hinder the timely and efficient delivery of residential projects. Recognising the urgent need to increase construction productivity (CP) in this sector, this study investigates critical factors that impact the performance of horizontal housing projects in Iraq. The novelty of this research lies in its focus on housing skeleton tasks, such as foundations, brickwork, and slabs, which are pivotal to project efficiency. A structured questionnaire was developed, encompassing 47 factors distributed across the planning, design, and construction phases. The survey was administered to a range of industry stakeholders, including project managers, consultants, engineers, and supervisors, and it achieved a high response rate of 79.6%. The results were analysed via a modified weighted relative importance index (RII), which incorporates respondents’ experience levels to yield a nuanced understanding of each factor’s impact. The key findings reveal that planning (RII = 0.874), team size (RII = 0.856), quantity of brickwork (RII = 0.838), supervision (RII = 0.815), and unit area (RII = 0.793) are among the most influential factors on CP. These insights provide valuable guidance for researchers and practitioners in identifying areas for strategic improvement, ultimately supporting the capacity of Iraq’s housing sector to meet escalating demands.

Enhancing sustainable construction decisions: integrating BIM and VR for circular economy assessment

ABSTRACT The significant environmental impact of the construction industry requires a shift towards sustainable practices and circular economy (CE) processes. BIM-based VR has demonstrated great potential for allowing project teams to visualize and understand the complexity of projects and can be used early in the design process to establish a circularity perspective during the decision-making processes. This paper presents a framework named ‘DecideCircular’, which combines BIM and VR to enhance the selection of construction products and materials under a circular approach by providing an immersive and interactive solution. Employing a Design Science Research methodology, the study outlines the conceptual model approach together with the relevant indicators to include in the selection of construction products. Then, the framework is implemented in existing software and evaluated through a case study. Within the VR environment, stakeholders are able to check the different metrics (environmental, social, circularity and economic) of the building products and the entire building to optimize them in alignment with project objectives and sustainability considerations. The results demonstrate that the DecideCircular framework significantly enhances the accessibility and comprehensibility of CE-related information, leading to more informed and sustainable construction decisions.

Alkali-Activated Mineral Residues in Construction: Case Studies on Bauxite Residue and Steel Slag Pavement Tiles.

This research aimed to investigate the potential of using alkali activation technology to valorize steel slag and bauxite residue for the production of high-performance pavement blocks. By utilizing these industrial by-products, the study seeks to reduce their environmental impact and support the development of sustainable construction materials. Lab-scale testing showed that bauxite pavers showed a decrease in mechanical strength with increasing replacement of ordinary Portland cement. Partial replacement up to 20% still exceeded 30 MPa in compressive strength. Steel slag-based pavers achieved the 30 MPa threshold required for the application with selected mix designs. Pilot-scale production-optimized formulations and standards testing, including freeze-thaw resistance, confirmed the technical viability of these products. Life cycle analysis indicated a 25-27% reduction in CO2 emissions for slag-based tiles compared to traditional concrete tiles. Moreover, using industrial residue reduced mineral resource depletion. This study examined the properties of the resulting alkali-activated binders, their ecological benefits, and their performance compared to conventional materials. Through a comprehensive analysis of these applications, our research promotes the circular economy and the advancement of sustainable construction products.

Outdoor exposure of a heavy metal doped concrete -Measuring and modelling of substance release.

Many construction products are in contact with, e.g., rain and seepage water during their service life. As a result, they may leach and release potentially harmful substances into the environment. Harmonized laboratory tests are available to assess the potential environmental impact, but the evaluation of leaching test results remains challenging because releases found in laboratory experiments cannot be directly extrapolated to field conditions. Particularly complex is the case of irrigated and therefore intermittently wetted components. This paper presents the leaching results of a one-year outdoor irrigation of a fly ash concrete doped with heavy metals (arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, thallium, vanadium, and zinc). The results are compared with those of two other outdoor irrigation studies: a high-density concrete and a facing masonry mortar. Two modeling approaches, a statistical method by Weiler et al. and a thermodynamic model of Vega Garcia et al. are used to model the incremental and cumulative releases and to compare their applicability and predictive value. The experimental data of this work confirm the well-known fact that cementitious phases effectively incorporate many potentially environmentally harmful substances. However, increased leaching, particularly outdoors, is observed for the oxyanion-forming elements arsenic, chromium, vanadium, and sulfur. Both models seem sufficient for depicting and, in the case of statistics, also to predict the magnitude of the measured values. However, while the statistical approach focuses only on the results and requires further verification data and factor development for different materials, the thermodynamic approach describes the geochemical processes and therefore requires more background knowledge of the operator; it also lacks predictive accuracy for the irrigation case. Further research is needed.

Linguistic variation in the interpretation and production of Italian motion event constructions in younger and older adults: evidence for language change?

Linguistic variation in the interpretation and production of Italian motion event constructions in younger and older adults: evidence for language change?

A method to create weighted-average life cycle impact assessment results for construction products, and enable filtering throughout the design process

A method to create weighted-average life cycle impact assessment results for construction products, and enable filtering throughout the design process

Technical assessment of construction products exported from the European Union to Ukraine

Technical assessment of construction products exported from the European Union to Ukraine

Eco-economically effective method of fluorangydrite utilization

Relevance. At this moment, one of the types of ecological disadvantage is the presence of sulphate-calcium waste in hydrogen fluoride production, referred to in scientific and technical literature as fluorangydrite, which pollutes the environment in places where the production facilities are located not only in the Russian Federation, but also in other countries. The use of fluorangydrite, a solid waste of the above-mentioned production, as a raw material for construction products will not only reduce the negative impact on the environment, but also occupy a new niche of the market of construction products, obtaining economic profit. Earlier the employees of Tomsk Polytechnic University developed several directions of fluorangydrite application in construction industry with different profitability coefficients. Aim. Development of variants of obtaining highly profitable resource-saving construction products on the basis of technogenic anhydrite binder, which is an alternative to natural mineral – anhydrite, in the form of building products such as channel and floor screed. Results and conclusions. The paper introduces the information on safety of this type of building products based on the results of radiological study of technogenic anhydrite from Siberian chemical plant. The authors have revealed the grinding intensity impact on fluorangydrite neutralization time. They determined the compositions of components of new building products, some their properties, including those depending on the ratio of water and gravel screening, as well as on the time of mixing the mortar, the dependence of strength and water resistance of anhydrite building samples on the content of water and gravel screening.

Achieving On-Site Trustworthy AI Implementation in the Construction Industry: A Framework Across the AI Lifecycle

In recent years, the application of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the construction industry has rapidly emerged, particularly in areas such as site monitoring and project management. This technology has demonstrated its great potential in enhancing safety and productivity in construction. However, concerns regarding the technical maturity and reliability, safety, and privacy implications have led to a lack of trust in AI among stakeholders and end users in the construction industry, which slows the intelligent transformation of the industry, particularly for on-site AI implementation. This paper reviews frameworks for AI system design across various sectors and government regulations and requirements for achieving trustworthy and responsible AI. The principles for the AI system design are then determined. Furthermore, a lifecycle design framework specifically tailored for AI systems deployed in the construction industry is proposed. This framework addresses six key phases, including planning, data collection, algorithm development, deployment, maintenance, and archiving, and clarifies the design principles and development priorities needed for each phase to enhance AI system trustworthiness and acceptance. This framework provides design guidance for the implementation of AI in the construction industry, particularly for on-site applications, aiming to facilitate the intelligent transformation of the construction industry.

Ecologic and economic motives for transforming calcium-based food wastes into sustainable value-added products: a review.

An overview of various industrial and bio-applications of unavoidable bio-waste materials reported in the literature over the last 25years is presented in this review. Calcium-based food wastes or "unavoidable bio-wastes" are hybrid bio-composite materials, consisting of a softer organic matrix surrounding a stiff mineralized ceramic phase. A wide range of different bio-wastes that are already in use or are investigated for multipurpose applications are presented. Bio-wastes hold considerable potential to contribute more widely to the circular management strategy through, for example, being processed to make new consumer products for a variety of applications, which include the use as a filler in polymers, biogenic hydroxyapatite, limestone or lime in construction products, nutritional feed supplements, soil-improving material and fertilizer, or precursor for making catalysts and adsorbents for the remediation of environmental contaminants. This review summarizes the results of various reported approaches with regard to the development of cost-effective value-added products from under-utilized food waste residues such as eggshells, seafood shells, and animal bones via a simple, eco-friendly, and economically viable approach. Therefore, the work is an advancement toward the goal of achieving a sustainable product by ensuring a holistic design approach from bio-wastes to various salable products, where calcium-based food wastes can compete with non-renewable resources.

СОВЕРШЕНСТВОВАНИЕ АЛГОРИТМОВ РАЗРАБОТКИ ОРГАНИЗАЦИОННО-ТЕХНОЛОГИЧЕСКИХ РЕШЕНИЙ В СТРОИТЕЛЬНОЙ ДОКУМЕНТАЦИИ ДЛЯ ОБЕСПЕЧЕНИЯ ФУНКЦИОНАЛЬНОГО КАЧЕСТВА ОБЪЕКТОВ

The indicators of the functional efficiency for construction projects are largely characterized by the quality at design (organizational and technological) solutions as part in the COP sections (construction organization project) and “WPP” (work production project), as well as technical and technological perfection methods for the practical implementation in construction processes in the construction residential facilities. The subject of research in the article is an algorithm for the development at organizational and technological solutions in the format for sections "COP (POS) → WPP (PPR)" in documentation for construction. Design activity in the construction industry is considered as a necessary tool and the most important means for achieving the planned results, bearing in mind, first of all, the quality of organizational and technological solutions, a systematic approach to solving the problems forming the functional quality in residential formations. Conclusions and recommendations. It has been established that the modern practice in developing organizational and technological solutions does not correctly take into account the consequences the effects of various factors at the external and internal environment on the indicators the functional quality at construction products. The modern design algorithm requires improving the methodological foundations for the development and automation design procedures, a systematic approach to the analysis factors influencing the parameters at the state construction products, the formation conditions for reducing the consequences at the negative influence the human factor.

Construction Industry in Ukraine: Transformations and Prospects in the Context of Martial Law and Postwar Reconstruction

Purpose. Military actions have caused serious changes in the economic sphere in all regions of the country. The construction industry is also experiencing major transformations and challenges. The main purpose of the study is to analyze current trends in the construction market of Ukraine, its features and future in the context of martial law and post-war reconstruction. Methodology. The full-scale invasion led to the near collapse of the construction industry, most Ukrainian enterprises were forced to suspend or limit production, and some reoriented to the needs of the Armed Forces. Many companies in the South and East of the country were in the area of active hostilities or under temporary occupation, as were logistics elements and suppliers of raw materials and components. Damage to the engineering infrastructure also had a negative impact on the production of construction products. Most of the raw materials and construction materials have to be imported, but the volume of imports is also limited, as the port infrastructure is practically non-existent. During the martial law period, the government adopted a number of decrees to facilitate the import of certain goods, but many construction materials are still not on the list. Import substitution and logistics restructuring are also taking place after the abandonment of goods from unfriendly countries that previously dominated such segments as the glass wool, bitumen, and other markets. The experience of other countries in protecting construction facilities from destruction during military operations is considered. Findings. The article analyzes the state of the domestic market and the problems of imports of building materials; staffing of the construction industry; changes in the structure and volume of demand in the construction and real estate sectors; changes in urban planning legislation, as well as the state of transport infrastructure; preparation for post-war reconstruction. Originality. A comprehensive analysis of the state of the construction industry of Ukraine during the armed aggression is carried out. The importance of introducing new safety and civil protection standards in the construction of construction projects, facilitating the issuance of permits, and developing the Unified State Electronic System in the field of construction is considered. Practical value. The article highlights the areas of construction and transport infrastructure that can be developed even during martial law, and considers the main problems of the construction industry in Ukraine.

Potential of quartzite and Hevea brasiliensis wood in the production of cement-wood panels.

The incorporation of residues in cement matrices is a viable alternative for obtaining new products for civil construction and a sustainable solution for the disposal of materials discarded by industries. In this context, the objective of the study was to evaluate the potential use of quartzite and particles of Hevea brasiliensis in the production of cement-wood panels. Quartzite residues and Hevea brasiliensis wood particles were obtained and characterized. The panels were produced with CPV-ARI Portland cement, 4% calcium chloride (CaCl2) in relation to cement mass, treated wood particles, and replacing cement with quartzite in different proportions (0, 10, 20, and 40%), totaling four treatments. The physical-mechanical and microstructural properties of the panels were determined. Replacing cement with 10 and 20% quartzite contributed to the improvement in water absorption and thickness swelling, and due to increased density, MOE and MOR also increased with 20% quartzite. The cement-wood panels were suitable for non-structural and internal use, requiring further studies to evaluate alternative methods of replacing these residues.

Artificial Intelligence in the Sustainable Design and Manufacturing of Products in Civil Engineering in the Context of Industry 4.0

The implementation of smart technologies as well as artificial intelligence resulted in an increase in productivity and efficiency in production, optimization of costs, and automation of time-consuming processes. The situation is similar in the field of the production of construction products. Digitization and automation are challenges within Industry 4.0 (Construction 4.0), which are the subject and interest of several studies and discussions by experts in the field. The aim of the research is to analyze the relationships between digitization in the industry, artificial intelligence, and performance in the design, production, and use of construction products in the context of Industry 4.0 principles. The research uses primary and secondary data on the use of AI and its potential and impacts in the field of performance and efficiency in design, production, and use in civil engineering. Several statistical tools are used in the analysis, from descriptive statistics to the use of statistical tests and correlation and regression analysis. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was the primary tool for evaluating the dependence between variables. The research results point to the connection and dependence between the use of AI and digitization in individual design and production activities. Autonomous production machines, the production of ore products, and generative design represent areas of production in the construction industry, where the use of AI and digitization makes sense from the point of view of the performance of the results. Innovations and intelligent tools within the concept of Industry 4.0 (Construction 4.0) are, therefore, a prerequisite for an effective setting of design and production in this industry as well.

A paradigm for building fire safety

The aim of study is to describe the fire safety paradigm using the concept of T. Kuhn, its components, and its role and significance for the further development of construction science, particularly the fire safety of buildings. The components of the fire safety paradigm form a complex structure (system) that is presented graphically to illustrate the interconnections and interactions between them. This structure is built by analogy with a three-dimensional coordinate system using linguistic quantities. Currently, it is not yet possible to assign a sequence of numbers representing the coordinates of a point in the space of this system. The three axes of this system determine the major groups of paradigm elements: - fire safety; - components; - activities and inputs. For each group, the components were distinguished, which were then briefly described and characterised, emphasising their mutual connections and importance for the fire safety of buildings. Some significant gaps in the systemic approach to fire safety in the EU were discussed and illustrated by the example of Grenfell Tower fire in London. The paradigm described is universal, and its universality is based on the possession of certain common attributes characteristic of the fire safety environment and their interpretation, as well as the manner in which fire safety entities implement them. A paradigm shift will result in the introduction of a fire toxicity criterion for the assessment of construction products, which, for unknown reasons, has so far only been implemented in relation to cables. The second necessary amendment is the addition of a requirement for the spread of fires on building facades.

Monetised sustainability impacts of integrated planning in the manufactured construction products industry: A transport perspective from New Zealand

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;">The extensive, interdisciplinary nature of construction supply chains make them prone to inefficiencies at organisational interfaces. Inefficiencies are accentuated by the project-centric delivery paradigm, and complex logistics systems between multiple stakeholders. They manifest as a multitude of concurrent activities, processes, and systems both on and off-site. Transportation is the largest component of the logistics domain. Transport operations are inherently fragmented, intrinsic to every business, while vehicle ownership and deployment is typically externalised. Differentiated waste removal and materials delivery further disintegrate the already fragmented construction supply chain. Inefficiencies from the insularity of the planning process across segmental boundaries aggregate incrementally, with impacts visible at the macro level. Re-configuration of activities, resources and actors are acknowledged strategies for optimising logistics and transportation function. This paper investigates the impact of three integration strategies on a manufactured construction products supply chain efficiency. These strategies include vertical integration of distribution, integrated planning for transport operations, and integration of reverse logistics into operations. Sustainability impacts are evaluated according to domestically determined monetary parameters in order to benchmark performance at the business and national scale.</span></p>

Development of Composite Materials Based on Tuya-Moyun barite for the Construction Industry

Discusses technologies for the development of composite materials based on Tuyamoyunsky barite, which has unique physico-chemical properties, which makes it promising for the construction industry. The methods of synthesis, characteristics, and potential applications of barite, as well as its role in the creation of radiation-protective materials, are investigated. The chemical composition of barite and its effect on the strength and thermal insulation characteristics of the obtained composites are analyzed. The experimental results show that an increase in the barite content has a positive effect on the strength of materials, as well as improves their thermal insulation properties. The development of these materials is important for improving the competitiveness of construction products and optimizing the use of barite deposits in Kyrgyzstan.