Underground Passages Research Articles

Research on the Construction of the Underground Street Passage with FLAC 3D

With the fast development of scientific technology and city economy construction, Mining method adopted for shallow underground works, have being applied in the construction of underground passages at present. With typical Wenzhou underground passages embedded in silt and built by shallow mining excavation as the project background,3-D stress and deformation characteristics of a passage in the city center was analyzed by means of Finite Difference software FLAC3D, compared with field monitoring data of the underground street passage near the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College. Much important engineering information was obtained, such as the displacement deformation and stress nephogram of the passage, which can be referred for the construction of the similar underground projects in soft soil areas in future to make the projects more reasonable, safe and economical.

Uma abordagem multi-análise com base em detecção remota para mapear recursos hídricos subterrâneos no Vale cársico de Meo Vac, Vietname

Remote sensing data can be integrated with analyses of topography, structural geology, hydrogeology and geophysics. The integration gives premises for the delineation of zones of potential groundwater resources in strongly fractured and karstified deep aquifers in the uplifted Meo Vac Highland, northern Vietnam. Remote sensing analysis outlines geological faults with hydrogeological significance. These faults are combined with a derived lineament density map, interpreted analysis of surface flow direction and existing hydrogeological data, resulting in indications of groundwater flow direction. An analysis of the SPOT 5 band ratio 4/1, together with indications of surface-flow direction in low terrains, results in a determination of underground cavern passages. The delineated zones of potential groundwater resources are verified by detailed hydrogeological field surveys and geophysical measurements. Remote sensing analysis is shown to effectively contribute to the investigation of groundwater resources for a hydrogeologically complex area.

The Role of the Skywalk System in the Development of Hong Kong’s Central Business District

Notwithstanding arguments claiming that direct interpersonal business contacts have been decreased due to widespread use of efficient telecommunication technologies, we can still easily find the greatest concentration of offices, the largest vehicular and pedestrian traffic, and the highest density of tallest buildings in the central business district (CBD) of many cities. Because of high functional diversity and development density, the CBD of Hong Kong has an extensive network of pedestrian facilities, including street-level, elevated and underground passages, linking many commercial buildings to accommodate the amazingly high flows of pedestrians, particularly during the daytime of weekdays. In this study, I firstly examine the spatial pattern of the CBD skywalk network in Hong Kong. Using data collected from pedestrian counts on the skywalks during weekdays, I then quantitatively analyze the pedestrian flow patterns characterizing commuting and business trips within the skywalk network, as well as exploring the relationship between these patterns and connected structure. As evident from the extensive connections and dense pedestrian flows, this study concludes that Hong Kong’s skywalk system with growing spatial extent successfully draws in a enormous amount of business people from further parts of the CBD, and thus facilitates the internal face-to-face interactions in the area. Different from other North American cities, the extensive CBD skywalk system in Hong Kong has largely attributed to its limited developable space and thus high density of development especially in the heart core of the city.

Advances in Quaternary studies in Tasmania

Abstract The last 35 years have seen rapid advances in our knowledge of climate change during the Quaternary Period in Tasmania. Extensive mapping and new dating studies, particularly since the advent of exposure dating, have revealed that maximum ice advance occurred 1 Ma ago and later advances were less extensive. Ice advances occurred several times during the last 100 ka, not only during the Last Glacial Maximum. Deglaciation was rapid after 18 ka and complete by 14 ka. Ice strongly affected limestone and produced extensive glaciokarst with deranged surface drainage. Glacial sediment plugged conduits to underground passages partially filled with glaciofluvial gravels. Periglacial erosion, and human impact since late oxygen isotope stage (OIS) 3, enhanced sediment influxes. New pollen records, particularly from Lake Selina, provide a 125 ka vegetation and climate record representative of the Southern Hemisphere. Finally, stable isotope studies of speleothem growth have revealed wide swings in climate. The climate was warm and moist during OIS 5e and early in OIS 1. Climate was cold and dry during OIS 5d and 4, and prevented speleothem growth during OIS 3 and OIS 2.

The gradus descensionis in the presbytery of St Lawrence’s Cathedral in Trogir

During the conservation treatment of the ciborium and while the high altar in St Lawrence’s Cathedral in Trogir was being put in order, in the north, a squarish opening was found from which there is a vertical drop to some steps. A flight of five steps leads to a narrow corridor that angles off like a labyrinth below the altar of the cathedral. This installation must have belonged to an Early Christian church, and derived its shape from the pattern of the original tombs of the Roman martyrs, to which underground passages led. The Early Christian church under the auspices of which the Romanesque church in Trogir was built during the time of peace that prevailed in the province in the first part of the fifth century, when the ecclesiastical centre of Salona and churches throughout the metropolitan see were renewed. The relics of St Lawrence were probably deposited in the Trogir confessio at the time of the great renovator of the churches in Dalmatia, Hesychius, bishop of Salona, and after the triumphant campaign of the Augusta, Galla Placidia, who re-established the continuity of the Theodosian dynasty in Ravenna.

A Vision of Complex Symmetry

A Vision of Complex Symmetry

Iatefl

The 42nd Annual International IATEFL Conference will take place at the University of Exeter 7–11 April 2008. Exeter is a historic city in Devon, south-west England. The River Exe runs through the centre of the city, providing pleasant walks to contrast with the other sights, which include Roman remains, a magnificent cathedral, the Rougemont Gardens, a network of underground passages, pubs, restaurants and many opportunities for shopping. The University is about a mile away from the city centre. As usual, the conference will bring together ELT professionals from all over the world, to discuss and reflect on ideas, meet friends both old and new, and take part in a four day programme of talks, presentations, workshop, symposiums and panel discussions. There will also be a resources exhibition with the latest ELT publications and services. The deadline for speaker proposals was Monday 17 September 2007, but if you haven't managed to meet the deadline, you should still submit your proposal, and you will be placed on a waiting list. There is also a cheap conference fee for participants who register and pay before 21 January 2008.

The Genus Xiphophorus in Mexico and Central America

The genus Xiphophorus is found from northeastern Mexico (Coahuila) for about 2200 Km as far as Honduras. There are 26 species, of which 21 occupy headwaters on the eastern slope of the Sierra Madre Oriental and continuing Cordillera to the southeast. Virtually all the species in the headwaters occupy limited ranges, often in rivers traversing karst country that are separated from lowland streams by underground passages. Only the three forms in the coastal plain are more widely distributed. Nineteen taxa occur within 400 Km of the Mexican Trans Volcanic Belt, suggesting that the genus may have evolved in this region. In many localities two species are sympatric, but natural hybrids are only known from three or four sites. Four monophyletic groups have been identified: the northern platyfish and the northern swordtail groups, north of the Mexican Trans Volcanic Axis, and to the south the helleri and the clemenciae swordtail groups. The status of the three southern platyfish is still not resolved and the phylogenetic relationship of the different groups to each other is still not fully understood.

Passage Through a Small Drainage Culvert by Mule Deer, <em>Odocoilus hemionus</em>, and Other Mammals

Cameras with infra-red triggers were used to monitor the passage of wildlife through underground passages that ran under a major highway and railway. Several species of mammals were detected traveling through the passages; of particular interest was the movement of Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) through a relatively small culvert that would not have been predicted to see usage by these animals.

Integration raids in the Amazon ant Polyergus rufescens (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Groups of enslaved Formica fusca workers from mixed colonies of Polyergus rufescens with numerous slave workforce tend to split off and found small and almost homospecific nests around the main nest, with at least some of them connected with the latter with underground passages. Their inhabitants are able, at least temporarily, to adopt young F. fusca gynes. P. rufescens invades these satellite nests in a manner similar to the normal slave raids, and carries the slaves back to the main nest. The supposed evolutionary cause of this behaviour is to keep integrity of mixed colonies and prevent possible emancipation of slaves.

"The Clarity of Secrets"

He upsets a harmony without our knowing how he succeeds in doing it: perhaps because, used to the horror of Earth, we only see the alien horror he attempts to impose on Earth (Jorian Murgrave, 95). Thus ponders Dojna, one of the two female soldiers sent to seek out Jorian Murgrave, the being (is he human?) who wants to destroy Earth. Thus perhaps thinks the reader, confronting the universe of Volodinian fictions, who shudders as he reads, and then, closing the book, looks peacefully on his daily horror-at least more comfortable than the desolate steppes or the ravaged cities where the characters wander. Also more reassuring than these paradoxical spaces where one advances without advancing, where the monastery promising refuge constantly eludes the advance of the two deserters, where the underground passages ineluctably lead to the same shop of the lute-player of the shadows. More reassuring than these no man's lands where dead people wander among several uncertain endings. Than these mental Moebius strips, where the linkage between dream and reality is imperceptibly made, where one can die in a dream, even if one awakens immediately in order to dodge the fire from flame-throwers, and where one investigates one's own death, at the risk of seeing oneself condemned to ashes: Go away...you are dead...

Underground passage system of Macrotermes carbonarius (Isoptera, Termitidae) in a dry evergreen forest of northeast Thailand

The complete underground passage systems of six colonies of the termite Macrotermes carbonarius in a dry evergreen forest within the Sakaerat Environmental Research Station, northeast Thailand, were excavated. We found 4-10 main underground passages radiating out from each mound, with smoothly plastered floors (6-35 cm below the soil surface). All of the underground passages were well built (2.5-13 cm wide) and one of the main passages extended 33 m from the nest. The total length of the passages of each colony varied between 33.8 m and 112.8 m. It was demonstrated that 5 adjacent colonies of M. carbonarius generally segregated their underground passages horizontally. Vertical segregation of the passages of M. carbonarius from a subterranean nest of the neighboring species, Macrotermes annandalei was also found. In contrast to other Macrotermes species, the underground passage system of M. carbonarius only consists of major tracks and lacks a dense network of passages in the terminal part of the system. In the vicinity of their foraging sites, M. carbonarius forages in the open using pavement trackways on the ground, which are considered to be equivalent to a dense network of fine passages of other Macrotermes species.

A Basic Research on the Creation of Walking Space with Shortening Effect of Consciousness Distance

In today, traffic means diversifies, people is expecting more comfortable transfer. However, walking also accompanies any traffic means. In other words, walking is the basis of them and occupies most of urban traffic. And recently, Sapporo in Hokkaido, it is planning the city that considered environment and pedestrian. Therefore, It is necessary that comfortable transfer would be possible in walking space, as the walking becomes more important. Then, this study noticed that the possibility reducing the sensation of distance: “consciousness distance”.In the place, distance perception of human in transfer is very unclear, and the main factors influencing that are considered mental state of human, weather condition, surroundings of transfer, etc.Then, this study noticed surroundings of transfer that can consider in urban and regional planning, the relationship between consciousness distance and the surroundings of walking in walking transfer clarified. To begin with, we set six sidewalks as objects of the research, and carried out walking experiment. As the result, it was proven that the consciousness distance was greatly influenced by surroundings of walking.Next, we set some underground passages as objects of the research for purpose of clarifying factors influencing consciousness distance. Then, as a result of analysis of factors influencing by Semantic Differential method and Analytic Hierarchy Process in addition to the walking experiment, it was proven that four factors: busyness, richness of visual environment, brightness, diversity of visual environment are greatly influencing consciousness distance. In addition, it was proven the relation that high total weight in AHP evaluation of underground passage coincided with short consciousness distance.

Effect of a Motorway on Mortality and Isolation of Wildlife Populations

Abstract Although motorways could affect wildlife species, only few studies have been documented on their effects on mortality and isolation. With 2266 road-killed animals representing 97 species, the results of a study on a motorway section emphasized that traffic considerably affected vertebrate populations (14.5 animals day−1100 km−1). Road-killed animals were mainly mammals (43.2%), with predators also suffering critical impacts (21.7% vertebrates). Rare or endangered species such as the Midwife toad, the Blue throat, the little Horseshoe bat, or the European otter were among the victims. Animal mortality exponentially increased with traffic volume. Mortality reached almost 100% of migrants when no passage existed, and this barrier effect was only reduced when underground passages crossed the road restraining the mortality to 31% of migrants in Field mice and 23% in Common toads, while mortality always exceeded 74% in a road section with fauna ducts. It is reasonable to conclude that traffic severely ...

Guy's New Hospital damaged by flood

Flooding at Guy's Hospital, London, has caused millions of pounds worth of damage to the medical school and hospital. Water poured from St Thomas's Street rapidly - 1 tonne a second - and spread through the basements of medical school and hospital buildings through a network of underground passages. The water, which was contaminated with sewage, gushed into Boland House, ripping doors from their frames and overturning snooker tables. The bar and new nightclub had only been open for three weeks, after a major refurbishment over the summer. Ben Thorpe, the vice president of Guy's, King's and St Thomas's Medical …

The system of underground passages in Macrotermes subhyalinus and comparison of laboratory bioassays to field evidence of intraspecific encounters in M. subhyalinus and M. bellicosus (Isoptera, Termitidae)

The system of underground passages and storage pits used in foraging have been excavated in two nests of the termite Macrotermes subhyalinus in West Africa (Ivory Coast). A detailed qualitative description of the morphology and the dimensions of the passage network is given. Three types of passages could be distinguished: radial passages, big cross passages and small cross passages. These varied in their dimensions and their functional significance. Density values for the different types of passages and the storage pits in various zones of the two mounds were calculated. Density of total passages varied between 1.46 m/m2 and 1.80 m/m2 being in the order of other Macrotermes species with a comparable foraging behaviour.¶In the second part of the study intraspecific behavioural tests between pairs of colonies of M. subhyalinus and M. bellicosus were performed in neutral arenas and the zones of contact between the corresponding colonies were then excavated. Hints of agonism such as cemeteries with dry head capsules of termites, passage blockings and phenomena of horizontal or vertical passage segregation were found. Generally colonies displaying strong reaction in behavioural tests reacted in the natural context upon contact with deadly conflicts. On the other hand, colonies with a weak behavioural reaction withdrew and blocked the passages without deadly conflicts. For the first time results of laboratory bioassays were connected to unmanipulated field evidence of termite agonism.

Design of underground pedestrian passages with nonuniform frozen soil base swelling

Design of underground pedestrian passages with nonuniform frozen soil base swelling

Topoclimatic Zones and Ice Dynamics in the Caves of the Northern Yukon, Canada

In the upper basin of the Porcupine River, the subhorizontal caves of Bear Cave and Tsi-it-toh-Choh mountains are characterized by a very rich ice zone. The authors propose a model for the build-up of ice based on the formation of hexagonal ice sublimation crystals on the cold walls of underground passages. In this model, water freezes and thaws many times, causing a series of different forms from the ceiling to the floor of the caves. This process will sometimes provoke total obstruction of a passage due to particular topoclimatic conditions or a change of climate, notably an increase in atmospheric humidity. During the summer the passage where the ice is located is preceded by a warm and humid passage and is followed by a cold and extremely dry passage, in which are preserved fragments of wood, animal faeces and remains of small mammals.Key words: Yukon, Porcupine River, Bear Cave and Tsi-it-toh-Choh mountains, caves, climate, cave ice

Contribution à l'étude des systèmes karstiques gabonais. Les réseaux souterrains de la région de Lébamba (Gabon)

Contribution to the study of karstic systems of the Lebamba region (Gabon) The Lebamba region is situated in the extreme southern part of Gabon bordering the Republic of Congo. Geologically it can be included within the Niari-Nyanga synclinoriurn where the Precambrian schists and limestones show many karstic features and particularly a remarkable subterranean network as to yet only partially explored. The dolomitic limestone of Lebamba, although of little importance, contains many cave systems : Lebamba, Bongolo et Mbenaltembe. A severe tectonic mesh together with fine micro-stratifications have opened the way to biochemical corrosion which, after observations and analysis, appears to result from a climate wetter than at present. The dimensions of the underground passages appear disproportionate relative to the low aggressivity of the present environment thus illustrating the importance of paleo-climatic factors on the morphogenesis of central african karsts.

The underground passages and storage pits used in foraging by a nest of the termite Macrotermes michaelseni in Kajiado, Kenya

Part of the system of underground passages and storage pits used in foraging by a nest of Mucrofermes michaelseni was excavated and is described in detail, and an attempt is made to quantify it. Densities as high as 1.9 m of passage and 21.4 storage pits per m2 were recorded in the main foraging zone, which is 10–35 m from the nest. The estimated total for the whole nest was just under 6 km of passage and 72,000 storage pits, in an area of about 8000m2