The paper considers the poor state of the construction industry in UK and ways in which it might improve for all stakeholders.The transition from present state to a desirable future is mapped using the“three horizons...The paper considers the poor state of the construction industry in UK and ways in which it might improve for all stakeholders.The transition from present state to a desirable future is mapped using the“three horizons”and“four capitals”concepts.Servitisation is suggested as a key innovation for engineering systems in buildings,the dominant lifecycle cost area.Digital twinning facilitates this method of provision and blockchain technology can support its commercialisation,enabling payments for service delivered and keeping safe records.展开更多
In a short time, during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, we managed to shift rapidly to use digital technologies and replace some of our daily operations with virtual modes. This shift happened so i...In a short time, during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, we managed to shift rapidly to use digital technologies and replace some of our daily operations with virtual modes. This shift happened so instantly and widely that it enables us to argue that the COVID-19 became a valid reason to boost some of the gradual and ongoing transitions towards faster transformations. In this study, we use gray literature to delve into arguments around the boost for digitization, digitalization, and systems thinking in the development of the built environment. This is mostly discussed from the influence of COVID-19 on some of the existing practices or the business-as-usual of the built environment sector. From technological advancement to technology use, these arguments are put forward to discuss what is likely to be the major driver of technological adoption and the shifting paradigms that are yet to be revealed. The study concludes that the current push towards new directions and development pathways are likely to be widely accepted in a shorter time. The findings of this brief study feed into existing arguments on transformative pathways due to the COVID-19 pandemic.展开更多
The study was conducted to identify indoor air quality and the level of thermal comfort in various selected locations in Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment （FKAB）, University Kebangsaan Malaysia （UKM） wi...The study was conducted to identify indoor air quality and the level of thermal comfort in various selected locations in Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment （FKAB）, University Kebangsaan Malaysia （UKM） with built-up area of 250,936 fie. The indoor air quality and thermal comfort were measured at various selected locations by using indoor air quality equipment （Thermal Comfort SERI）. The thermal comfort assessments are based on Malaysian Code of Practice Indoor Air Quality 2005 and Moderate Thermal Environments-Determination of the PMV and PPD indices specification of the condition for thermal comfort （ISO7730：1994） From the data analysis, the FKAB building is considered inadequately vented space. The concentration of CO2 for all sampling area evaluated exceeds the recommended concentration （〉 1000 ppm）. The ventilation system used in FKAB building is designed by delivering fix amount of fresh air into building from external building without consideration on the number of occupants. This common ventilation design will increase the amount of CO2 dramatically all day long and these reflect the inefficiency of energy used. The faculty needs to be equipped with a comprehensive energy management system that can allow detailed documentation of continuous performance of all energy system and consumption in the building.展开更多
Studies have demonstrated that advanced technology,such as smart contract applications,can enhance both pre-and post-contract administration within the built environment sector.Smart contract technology,exemplifying b...Studies have demonstrated that advanced technology,such as smart contract applications,can enhance both pre-and post-contract administration within the built environment sector.Smart contract technology,exemplifying blockchain technologies,has the potential to improve transparency,trust,and the security of data transactions within this sector.However,there is a dearth of academic literature concerning smart contract applications within the construction industries of developing countries,with a specific focus on Nigeria.Consequently,this study seeks to explore the relevance of smart contract technology and address the challenges impeding its adoption,offering strategies to mitigate the obstacles faced by smart contract applications.To investigate the stakeholders,this research conducted 14 virtual interview sessions to achieve data saturation.The interviewees encompassed project management practitioners,senior management personnel from construction companies,experts in construction dispute resolution,professionals in construction software,and representatives from government construction agencies.The data obtained from these interviews underwent thorough analysis employing a thematic approach.The study duly recognizes the significance of smart contract applications within the sector.Among the 12 identified barriers,issues such as identity theft and data leakage,communication and synchronization challenges,high computational expenses,lack of driving impetus,excessive electricity consumption,intricate implementation processes,absence of a universally applicable legal framework,and the lack of a localized legal framework were recurrent impediments affecting the adoption of smart contract applications within the sector.The study also delves into comprehensive measures to mitigate these barriers.In conclusion,this study critically evaluates the relevance of smart contract applications within the built environment,with a specific focus on promoting their usage.It may serve as a pioneering effort,especially within the context of Nigeria.展开更多
Women-friendliness is an important content of inclusive city,while it has received rare attention during the regeneration of old cities.This study constructed women-friendliness indicators in three dimensions,i.e.,sec...Women-friendliness is an important content of inclusive city,while it has received rare attention during the regeneration of old cities.This study constructed women-friendliness indicators in three dimensions,i.e.,security,equity,and specialization,and combined the quantitative calculations of coupling coordination with the qualitative analysis of in-depth interview.25 subdistricts in old Beijing city were selected as case studies to analyze the spatial variation pattern of women-friendliness at the subdistrict level,and the characteristics of supply and demand relationships in three scenarios,namely“living,”“working,”and“traveling,”were summarized.It was found that the spatial variation in terms of women’s security and equity indicators among each subdistrict of the old Beijing city was large,while specialized facilities,which are still at an early development stage,were more evenly distributed but fewer in number.And the facilities in old Beijing city were more inclusive for both female residents and female tourists,while less inclusive for female employees.Finally,specific suggestions for the women-friendly development of old Beijing city were proposed in perspectives of mixed use of function,facility optimization,supply and demand adjustment,etc.,hoping to provide references for other cities to increase inclusiveness in the process of urban regeneration.展开更多
Urban flooding has been a severe problem for many cities around the world as it remains one of the greatest threats to the property and safety of human com-munities.In Australia,it is seen as the most expensive natura...Urban flooding has been a severe problem for many cities around the world as it remains one of the greatest threats to the property and safety of human com-munities.In Australia,it is seen as the most expensive natural hazard.However,urban areas that are impervious to rainwater have been sharply increasing owing to booming construction activities and rapid urbanisation.The change in the built environment may cause more frequent and longer duration of flooding in flood-prone urban regions.Thus,the flood inundation issue associated with the effects of land uses needs to be explored and developed.This research constructs a framework for modelling urban flood inundation.Different rainfall events are then designed for examining the impact on flash floods generated by land-use changes.Measure-ment is formulated for changes of topographical features over a real time series.Geographic Information System(GIS)technologies are then utilised to visual-ise the effects of land-use changes on flood inundation under different types of storms.Based on a community-based case study,the results reveal that the built environment leads to varying degrees of aggravation of urban flash floods with dif-ferent storm events and a few rainwater storage units may slightly mitigate flood-ing extents under different storm conditions.Hence,it is recommended that the outcomes of this study could be applied to flood assessment measures for urban development and the attained results could be utilised in government planning to raise awareness of flood hazard.展开更多
One of the crucial elements that is directly tied to the quality of living organisms is the quality of the water.How-ever,water quality has been adversely affected by plastic pollution,a global environmental disaster ...One of the crucial elements that is directly tied to the quality of living organisms is the quality of the water.How-ever,water quality has been adversely affected by plastic pollution,a global environmental disaster that has an effect on aquatic life,wildlife,and human health.To prevent these effects,better monitoring,detection,characterisation,quanti-fication,and tracking of aquatic plastic pollution at regional and global scales is urgently needed.Remote sensing tech-nology is regarded as a useful technique,as it offers a promising new and less labour-intensive tool for the detection,quantification,and characterisation of aquatic plastic pollution.The study seeks to supplement to the body of scientific literature by compiling original data on the monitoring of plastic pollution in aquatic environments using remote sensing technology,which can function as a cost saving method for water pollution and risk management in developing nations.This article provides a profound analysis of plastic pollution,including its categories,sources,distribution,chemical properties,and potential risks.It also provides an in-depth review of remote sensing technologies,satellite-derived in-dices,and research trends related to their applicability.Additionally,the study clarifies the difficulties in using remote sensing technologies for aquatic plastic monitoring and practical ways to reduce aquatic plastic pollution.The study will improve the understanding of aquatic plastic pollution,health hazards,and the suitability of remote sensing technology for aquatic plastic contamination monitoring studies among researchers and interested parties.展开更多
The relationship between the neighborhood environment and well-being is attracting increasingly attention from researchers and policymakers,as the goal of development has shift from economy to well-being.However,exist...The relationship between the neighborhood environment and well-being is attracting increasingly attention from researchers and policymakers,as the goal of development has shift from economy to well-being.However,existing literature predominantly adopts the utilitarian approach,understanding well-being as people’s feelings about their lives and viewing the neighborhood environment as resources that benefit well-being.The Capability Approach,a novel approach that conceptualize well-being as the freedoms to do or to be and regard environment as conversion factors that influence well-being,can offer new lens by incorporating human development in-to these topics.This paper proposes an alternative theoretical framework:well-being is conceptualized and measured by capability;neighborhood environment affects well-being by providing spatial services,functioning as environmental conversion factors,and serving as social conversion factors.We conducted a case study of Changshu City located in eastern China,utilizing multiple resource data,applying explainable artificial intelligence(XAI),namely eXtreme Gradient Boosting(XGBoost)and SHapley Additive exPlana-tions(SHAP).Our findings highlight the significance of viewing the neighborhood environment as a set of conversion factors,as it provides more explanatory power than providing spatial services.Compared to conventional research based on linear relationship as-sumption,our results demonstrate that the effects of neighborhood environment on well-being are non-linear,characterized by threshold effects and interaction effects.These insights are crucial for informing urban planning and public policy.This research enriches our un-derstanding of well-being,neighborhood environment,and their relationship as well as provides empirical evidence for the core concept of conversion factors in the capability approach.展开更多
Pleurotus ostreatus,a saprotrophic fungus,has been proposed for the remediation of organic contaminants in soils and more recently for modifying the hydraulic and mechanical behaviour of granular soils.The in situ per...Pleurotus ostreatus,a saprotrophic fungus,has been proposed for the remediation of organic contaminants in soils and more recently for modifying the hydraulic and mechanical behaviour of granular soils.The in situ perfor-mance of fungal-based biotechnologies will be controlled by the fungal growth and associated biochemical activity that can be achieved in soil.In this study,the influence of environmental conditions(temperature,degree of saturation),substrate type(lignocellulose and spent coffee grounds)and concentration on the my-celium growth of P.ostreatus in sand are investigated.Furthermore,the evolution of growth/survival indicators(respiration,ergosterol concentration)and enzymatic activity(laccase,manganese peroxidase)are investigated.Temperature was shown to have a strong influence on the growth of P.ostreatus in sand:growth was observed to be delayed at low temperatures(e.g.5℃),whereas growth was prevented at high temperatures(e.g.35℃).No growth was observed at very low degrees of saturation(S,=0%and 1.2%),indicating there is a critical water content required to support P.ostreatus growth.Within the mid-range of water contents tested radially,growth of P.ostreatus was similar.However,growth under saturated soil conditions was restricted to the air-water at-mosphere due to the requirement for oxygen availability.Low substrate concentrations(1%-5%)resulted in high radial growth of P.ostreatus,whereas increasing substrate content further acted to reduce radial growth,but visual observations indicated that fungal biomass density increased.These results are important for under-standing the feasibility of P.ostreatus growth under specific site conditions and for the design of successful treatment strategies.展开更多
This research investigates the application of digital images in military contexts by utilizing analytical equations to augment human visual capabilities.A comparable filter is used to improve the visual quality of the...This research investigates the application of digital images in military contexts by utilizing analytical equations to augment human visual capabilities.A comparable filter is used to improve the visual quality of the photographs by reducing truncations in the existing images.Furthermore,the collected images undergo processing using histogram gradients and a flexible threshold value that may be adjusted in specific situations.Thus,it is possible to reduce the occurrence of overlapping circumstances in collective picture characteristics by substituting grey-scale photos with colorized factors.The proposed method offers additional robust feature representations by imposing a limiting factor to reduce overall scattering values.This is achieved by visualizing a graphical function.Moreover,to derive valuable insights from a series of photos,both the separation and in-version processes are conducted.This involves analyzing comparison results across four different scenarios.The results of the comparative analysis show that the proposed method effectively reduces the difficulties associated with time and space to 1 s and 3%,respectively.In contrast,the existing strategy exhibits higher complexities of 3 s and 9.1%,respectively.展开更多
Wave energy is a promising form of marine renewable energy that offers a sustainable pathway for electricity generation in coastal regions.Despite Malaysia’s extensive coastline,the exploration of wave energy in Sara...Wave energy is a promising form of marine renewable energy that offers a sustainable pathway for electricity generation in coastal regions.Despite Malaysia’s extensive coastline,the exploration of wave energy in Sarawak remains limited due to economic,technical,and environmental challenges that hinder its implementation.Compared to other renewable energy sources,wave energy is underutilized largely because of cost uncertainties and the lack of local performance data.This research aims to identify themost suitable coastal zone in Sarawak that achieves an optimal balance between energy potential,cost-effectiveness,and environmental impact,particularly in relation to infrastructure and regional development.The findings indicate that wave energy generation in Sarawak is technically feasible based on MOGA analysis.Among the studied sites,Bintulu emerged as the most balanced option,with a levelized cost of electricity(LCOE)of 0.778–0.864 USD/kWh and a CO_(2) emission factor as low as 0.019–0.020 CO_(2)/k Wh.Miri,while producing lower emissions than Sematan,recorded a higher LCOE of 1.045 USD/kWh with moderate emissions at 0.029 CO_(2)/kWh.Sematan,characterized by weaker wave conditions and higher installation penalties,resulted in the least favorable outcome,with an LCOE of 3.735 USD/kWh.Bintulu’s strategic location reduces CAPEX requirements,making it the most suitable site for large-scale wave energy deployment in Sarawak.展开更多
This study investigates the thermo–mechanical behavior of C40 concrete and reinforced concrete subjected to elevated temperatures up to 700℃by integrating experimental testing and advanced numerical modeling.A tempe...This study investigates the thermo–mechanical behavior of C40 concrete and reinforced concrete subjected to elevated temperatures up to 700℃by integrating experimental testing and advanced numerical modeling.A temperature-indexed Concrete Damage Plasticity(CDP)framework incorporating bond–slip effects was developed in Abaqus to capture both global stress–strain responses and localized damage evolution.Uniaxial compression tests on thermally exposed cylinders provided residual strength data and failure observations for model calibration and validation.Results demonstrated a distinct two-stage degradation regime:moderate stiffness and strength reduction up to~400℃,followed by sharp deterioration beyond 500℃–600℃,with residual capacity at 700℃reduced to~20%–25%of the ambient value.Strain–damage analyses revealed the formation of a peripheral tensile strain band,which thickened and propagated inward with increasing temperature,governing crack initiation and cover spalling.Supplemental analyses highlighted that transverse reinforcement improved ductility and damage distribution at moderate temperatures(~300℃),but bond deterioration and steel softening beyond~600℃substantially diminished confinement effectiveness.The proposed CDP model accurately reproduced experimental stress–strain curves(R^(2)≈0.94–0.98 up to 600℃;≈0.90 at 700℃),with peak stress errors within 7%–10%and energy absorption captured within~12%.These findings confirm the robustness of the temperature-indexed CDP framework for simulating fire-damaged reinforced concrete and provide practical guidelines for post-fire assessment,spalling detection,and fire-resilient design of structural members.展开更多
Accurate estimation of photovoltaic(PV)parameters is essential for optimizing solar module perfor-mance and enhancing resource efficiency in renewable energy systems.This study presents a process innovation by introdu...Accurate estimation of photovoltaic(PV)parameters is essential for optimizing solar module perfor-mance and enhancing resource efficiency in renewable energy systems.This study presents a process innovation by introducing,for the first time,the Triangulation Topology Aggregation Optimizer(TTAO)integrated with parallel computing to address PV parameter estimation challenges.The effectiveness and robustness of TTAO are rigorously evaluated using two standard benchmark datasets(KC200GT and R.T.C.France solar cells)and a real-world dataset(Poly70W solar module)under single-,double-,and triple-diode configurations.Results show that TTAO consistently achieves superior accuracy by producing the lowest RMSE values and faster convergence compared to state-of-the-art metaheuristic algorithms.In addition,the integration of parallel computing significantly enhances computational efficiency,reducing execution time by up to 85%without compromising accuracy.Validation using real-world data further demonstrates TTAO’s adaptability and practical relevance in renewable energy systems,effectively bridging the gap between theoretical modeling and real-world implementation for PV system monitoring and optimization,contributing to climate mitigation through improved solar energy performance.展开更多
Artificial Intelligence(AI)is changing healthcare by helping with diagnosis.However,for doctors to trust AI tools,they need to be both accurate and easy to understand.In this study,we created a new machine learning sy...Artificial Intelligence(AI)is changing healthcare by helping with diagnosis.However,for doctors to trust AI tools,they need to be both accurate and easy to understand.In this study,we created a new machine learning system for the early detection of Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD)in children.Our main goal was to build a model that is not only good at predicting ASD but also clear in its reasoning.For this,we combined several different models,including Random Forest,XGBoost,and Neural Networks,into a single,more powerful framework.We used two different types of datasets:(i)a standard behavioral dataset and(ii)a more complex multimodal dataset with images,audio,and physiological information.The datasets were carefully preprocessed for missing values,redundant features,and dataset imbalance to ensure fair learning.The results outperformed the state-of-the-art with a Regularized Neural Network,achieving 97.6%accuracy on behavioral data.Whereas,on the multimodal data,the accuracy is 98.2%.Other models also did well with accuracies consistently above 96%.We also used SHAP and LIME on a behavioral dataset for models’explainability.展开更多
The use of Cu_(2)O-based photocathodes has demonstrated the promising activity of these earth-abundant materials for the photoelectrochemical CO_(2)reduction reaction(CO_(2)RR),particularly in producing methanol.Howev...The use of Cu_(2)O-based photocathodes has demonstrated the promising activity of these earth-abundant materials for the photoelectrochemical CO_(2)reduction reaction(CO_(2)RR),particularly in producing methanol.However,their application in long-term devices is hindered by severe photocorrosion.To address this limitation,photocathode designs incorporating Schottky barriers,heterojunctions,and scaffolding layers have been explored.In this work,a CuBi_(2)O_(4)/CuO thin layer was employed as a scaffold to support Cu_(2)O films with either seeded or grown morphologies for enhanced photoelectrochemical CO_(2)RR.Photoelectrochemical testing in CO_(2)-saturated electrolyte revealed that 0.55 V vs.reversible hydrogen electrode(RHE)yielded the highest activity and stability for methanol(CH_(3)OH)production,outperforming more negative potentials.Furthermore,the present work highlighted that electrolyte engineering can be used to promote the generation of alternative products such as methyl acetate(CH_(3)COOCH_(3)).The presence of CuBi_(2)O_(4)/CuO scaffold was critical for allowing this pathway,providing both enhanced stability and improved charge transfer on the Cu_(2)O surface.The generation of CH_(3)COOCH_(3)is attributed to locally modified microenvironments that facilitate the esterification reaction when acetate is present in solution.These findings highlight the role of scaffold engineering in improving photocathode performance and electrolyte tuning in steering product selectivity toward scarcely explored,added-value compounds such as methyl acetate.展开更多
The environmental implications of cultured meat are profound. An anticipatory life cycle assessment of cultured meat published in 2011 suggested it could have a smaller impact than agricultural meat in all categories ...The environmental implications of cultured meat are profound. An anticipatory life cycle assessment of cultured meat published in 2011 suggested it could have a smaller impact than agricultural meat in all categories except energy consumption. As with most technologies, cultured meat will almost certainly be accompanied by unintended consequences as well as unforeseen costs and benefits that accrue disproportionately to different stakeholders. Uncertainty associated with new engineered products cannot be completely eliminated prior to introduction, but ongoing environmental assessments of the technologies as they advance can serve to reduce unforeseen risks. Given the pace at which tissue engineering is advancing, systemic assessments of the technology will be pivotal in mitigating unintended environmental consequences.展开更多
Water footprint(WF)measures human appropriation of water resources for consumptive use of surface and ground water(blue WF)and soil water(green WF)and for assimilating polluted water(grey WF).Questions have been often...Water footprint(WF)measures human appropriation of water resources for consumptive use of surface and ground water(blue WF)and soil water(green WF)and for assimilating polluted water(grey WF).Questions have been often asked about the exact meaning behind the numbers from WF accounting.However,to date environmental sustainability of WF has never been assessed at the sub-national level over time.This study evaluated the environmental sustainability of blue,green and grey WF for China’s 31 mainland provinces in 2002,2007 and 2012,and identified the unsustainable hotspots.Overall,the total WF increased by 30%between 2002 and 2012.The growth can be attributed to the increase of grey WF because the green and blue WF showed only a slight rise.Among all provinces investigated in 2012,eleven showed unsustainable blue WF(sustainability index SI<0),which were mainly located in the North China Plain.There were 12 provinces that displayed unsustainable green WF,and they were distributed in China’s southern and southeastern areas.The grey WF was not sustainable in approximately two third of provinces(19),which were mainly located in China’s middle and northern regions and Guangdong province.More than half of China’s provinces showed trends of improved SI of green and blue WF from 2002 to 2012.However,the SI of grey WF decreased in almost two third of provinces.Poor levels of WF sustainability were due to water scarcity and pollution,which intensify the degradation of local rivers and ecosystems and make restoration more difficult.The results shed light on the policy making needed to improve sustainable water management,and ecological restoration of hotspot regions.展开更多
A new burgeoning family of two-dimensional(2D)transition metal carbides/nitrides,better known as MXenes,have received extensive attention because of their distinct properties,such as metallic conductivity,good hydroph...A new burgeoning family of two-dimensional(2D)transition metal carbides/nitrides,better known as MXenes,have received extensive attention because of their distinct properties,such as metallic conductivity,good hydrophilicity,large surface area,good mechanical stability,and biodegradability.About 40 different MXenes have been synthesized,and dozens more structures and properties have been theoretically predicted.However,the recent progress in MXenes development is not well covered in chronological order based on different applications.This review article focuses on emerging synthesis methods,the properties of MXenes,and mainly the applications of MXenes and MXene-based material family in environmental remediation,a comprehensive review of gaseous and aqueous pollutants treatment.展开更多
A new methodology was created to measure the energy consumption and related green house gas （GHG） emissions of a computer operating system （OS） across different device platforms. The methodology involved the direc...A new methodology was created to measure the energy consumption and related green house gas （GHG） emissions of a computer operating system （OS） across different device platforms. The methodology involved the direct power measurement of devices under different activity states. In order to include all aspects of an OS, the methodology included measurements in various OS modes, whilst uniquely, also incorporating measurements when running an array of defined software activities, so as to include OS application management features. The methodology was demonstrated on a laptop and phone that could each run multiple OSs, results confirmed that OS can significantly impact the energy consumption of devices. In particular, the new versions of the Microsoft Windows OS were tested and highlighted significant differences between the OS versions on the same hardware. The developed methodology could enable a greater awareness of energy consumption, during both the software development and software marketing processes.展开更多
Context-aware facial recognition regards the recognition of faces in association with their respective environments.This concept is useful for the domestic robot which interacts with humans when performing specific fu...Context-aware facial recognition regards the recognition of faces in association with their respective environments.This concept is useful for the domestic robot which interacts with humans when performing specific functions in indoor environments.Deep learning models have been relevant in solving facial and place recognition challenges;however,they require the procurement of training images for optimal performance.Pre-trained models have also been offered to reduce training time significantly.Regardless,for classification tasks,custom data must be acquired to ensure that learning models are developed from other pre-trained models.This paper proposes a place recognition model that is inspired by the graph cut energy function,which is specifically designed for image segmentation.Common objects in the considered environment are identified and thereafter they are passed over to a graph cut inspired model for indoor environment classification.Additionally,faces in the considered environment are extracted and recognised.Finally,the developed model can recognise a face together with its environment.The strength of the proposed model lies in its ability to classify indoor environments without the usual training process(es).This approach differs from what is obtained in traditional deep learning models.The classification capability of the developed model was compared to state-of-theart models and exhibited promising outcomes.展开更多
文摘The paper considers the poor state of the construction industry in UK and ways in which it might improve for all stakeholders.The transition from present state to a desirable future is mapped using the“three horizons”and“four capitals”concepts.Servitisation is suggested as a key innovation for engineering systems in buildings,the dominant lifecycle cost area.Digital twinning facilitates this method of provision and blockchain technology can support its commercialisation,enabling payments for service delivered and keeping safe records.
文摘In a short time, during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, we managed to shift rapidly to use digital technologies and replace some of our daily operations with virtual modes. This shift happened so instantly and widely that it enables us to argue that the COVID-19 became a valid reason to boost some of the gradual and ongoing transitions towards faster transformations. In this study, we use gray literature to delve into arguments around the boost for digitization, digitalization, and systems thinking in the development of the built environment. This is mostly discussed from the influence of COVID-19 on some of the existing practices or the business-as-usual of the built environment sector. From technological advancement to technology use, these arguments are put forward to discuss what is likely to be the major driver of technological adoption and the shifting paradigms that are yet to be revealed. The study concludes that the current push towards new directions and development pathways are likely to be widely accepted in a shorter time. The findings of this brief study feed into existing arguments on transformative pathways due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
文摘The study was conducted to identify indoor air quality and the level of thermal comfort in various selected locations in Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment （FKAB）, University Kebangsaan Malaysia （UKM） with built-up area of 250,936 fie. The indoor air quality and thermal comfort were measured at various selected locations by using indoor air quality equipment （Thermal Comfort SERI）. The thermal comfort assessments are based on Malaysian Code of Practice Indoor Air Quality 2005 and Moderate Thermal Environments-Determination of the PMV and PPD indices specification of the condition for thermal comfort （ISO7730：1994） From the data analysis, the FKAB building is considered inadequately vented space. The concentration of CO2 for all sampling area evaluated exceeds the recommended concentration （〉 1000 ppm）. The ventilation system used in FKAB building is designed by delivering fix amount of fresh air into building from external building without consideration on the number of occupants. This common ventilation design will increase the amount of CO2 dramatically all day long and these reflect the inefficiency of energy used. The faculty needs to be equipped with a comprehensive energy management system that can allow detailed documentation of continuous performance of all energy system and consumption in the building.
基金funded by Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment and Construction Industry Development Board(CIDB)Centre of Excellence,University of Johannesburg,South Africa(Grant No.05-35-061890).
文摘Studies have demonstrated that advanced technology,such as smart contract applications,can enhance both pre-and post-contract administration within the built environment sector.Smart contract technology,exemplifying blockchain technologies,has the potential to improve transparency,trust,and the security of data transactions within this sector.However,there is a dearth of academic literature concerning smart contract applications within the construction industries of developing countries,with a specific focus on Nigeria.Consequently,this study seeks to explore the relevance of smart contract technology and address the challenges impeding its adoption,offering strategies to mitigate the obstacles faced by smart contract applications.To investigate the stakeholders,this research conducted 14 virtual interview sessions to achieve data saturation.The interviewees encompassed project management practitioners,senior management personnel from construction companies,experts in construction dispute resolution,professionals in construction software,and representatives from government construction agencies.The data obtained from these interviews underwent thorough analysis employing a thematic approach.The study duly recognizes the significance of smart contract applications within the sector.Among the 12 identified barriers,issues such as identity theft and data leakage,communication and synchronization challenges,high computational expenses,lack of driving impetus,excessive electricity consumption,intricate implementation processes,absence of a universally applicable legal framework,and the lack of a localized legal framework were recurrent impediments affecting the adoption of smart contract applications within the sector.The study also delves into comprehensive measures to mitigate these barriers.In conclusion,this study critically evaluates the relevance of smart contract applications within the built environment,with a specific focus on promoting their usage.It may serve as a pioneering effort,especially within the context of Nigeria.
基金supported by“Theory and Method of the Ecological Planning of Urban and Rural Landscape with Locality for Livability,”the Key Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52130804)。
文摘Women-friendliness is an important content of inclusive city,while it has received rare attention during the regeneration of old cities.This study constructed women-friendliness indicators in three dimensions,i.e.,security,equity,and specialization,and combined the quantitative calculations of coupling coordination with the qualitative analysis of in-depth interview.25 subdistricts in old Beijing city were selected as case studies to analyze the spatial variation pattern of women-friendliness at the subdistrict level,and the characteristics of supply and demand relationships in three scenarios,namely“living,”“working,”and“traveling,”were summarized.It was found that the spatial variation in terms of women’s security and equity indicators among each subdistrict of the old Beijing city was large,while specialized facilities,which are still at an early development stage,were more evenly distributed but fewer in number.And the facilities in old Beijing city were more inclusive for both female residents and female tourists,while less inclusive for female employees.Finally,specific suggestions for the women-friendly development of old Beijing city were proposed in perspectives of mixed use of function,facility optimization,supply and demand adjustment,etc.,hoping to provide references for other cities to increase inclusiveness in the process of urban regeneration.
文摘Urban flooding has been a severe problem for many cities around the world as it remains one of the greatest threats to the property and safety of human com-munities.In Australia,it is seen as the most expensive natural hazard.However,urban areas that are impervious to rainwater have been sharply increasing owing to booming construction activities and rapid urbanisation.The change in the built environment may cause more frequent and longer duration of flooding in flood-prone urban regions.Thus,the flood inundation issue associated with the effects of land uses needs to be explored and developed.This research constructs a framework for modelling urban flood inundation.Different rainfall events are then designed for examining the impact on flash floods generated by land-use changes.Measure-ment is formulated for changes of topographical features over a real time series.Geographic Information System(GIS)technologies are then utilised to visual-ise the effects of land-use changes on flood inundation under different types of storms.Based on a community-based case study,the results reveal that the built environment leads to varying degrees of aggravation of urban flash floods with dif-ferent storm events and a few rainwater storage units may slightly mitigate flood-ing extents under different storm conditions.Hence,it is recommended that the outcomes of this study could be applied to flood assessment measures for urban development and the attained results could be utilised in government planning to raise awareness of flood hazard.
文摘One of the crucial elements that is directly tied to the quality of living organisms is the quality of the water.How-ever,water quality has been adversely affected by plastic pollution,a global environmental disaster that has an effect on aquatic life,wildlife,and human health.To prevent these effects,better monitoring,detection,characterisation,quanti-fication,and tracking of aquatic plastic pollution at regional and global scales is urgently needed.Remote sensing tech-nology is regarded as a useful technique,as it offers a promising new and less labour-intensive tool for the detection,quantification,and characterisation of aquatic plastic pollution.The study seeks to supplement to the body of scientific literature by compiling original data on the monitoring of plastic pollution in aquatic environments using remote sensing technology,which can function as a cost saving method for water pollution and risk management in developing nations.This article provides a profound analysis of plastic pollution,including its categories,sources,distribution,chemical properties,and potential risks.It also provides an in-depth review of remote sensing technologies,satellite-derived in-dices,and research trends related to their applicability.Additionally,the study clarifies the difficulties in using remote sensing technologies for aquatic plastic monitoring and practical ways to reduce aquatic plastic pollution.The study will improve the understanding of aquatic plastic pollution,health hazards,and the suitability of remote sensing technology for aquatic plastic contamination monitoring studies among researchers and interested parties.
基金Under the auspices of National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.42271230,42330510)。
文摘The relationship between the neighborhood environment and well-being is attracting increasingly attention from researchers and policymakers,as the goal of development has shift from economy to well-being.However,existing literature predominantly adopts the utilitarian approach,understanding well-being as people’s feelings about their lives and viewing the neighborhood environment as resources that benefit well-being.The Capability Approach,a novel approach that conceptualize well-being as the freedoms to do or to be and regard environment as conversion factors that influence well-being,can offer new lens by incorporating human development in-to these topics.This paper proposes an alternative theoretical framework:well-being is conceptualized and measured by capability;neighborhood environment affects well-being by providing spatial services,functioning as environmental conversion factors,and serving as social conversion factors.We conducted a case study of Changshu City located in eastern China,utilizing multiple resource data,applying explainable artificial intelligence(XAI),namely eXtreme Gradient Boosting(XGBoost)and SHapley Additive exPlana-tions(SHAP).Our findings highlight the significance of viewing the neighborhood environment as a set of conversion factors,as it provides more explanatory power than providing spatial services.Compared to conventional research based on linear relationship as-sumption,our results demonstrate that the effects of neighborhood environment on well-being are non-linear,characterized by threshold effects and interaction effects.These insights are crucial for informing urban planning and public policy.This research enriches our un-derstanding of well-being,neighborhood environment,and their relationship as well as provides empirical evidence for the core concept of conversion factors in the capability approach.
基金support of the European Commission by way of the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks(ITN-ETN)project TERRE Training engineers and researchers to rethink geotechnical engineering for a low carbon future'(H2020-MSCA-ITN-2015-675762)the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council(EPSRC,EP/N035526/1)The contribution of El Mountassir to this work was also supported by a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship(MR/V025376/1).
文摘Pleurotus ostreatus,a saprotrophic fungus,has been proposed for the remediation of organic contaminants in soils and more recently for modifying the hydraulic and mechanical behaviour of granular soils.The in situ perfor-mance of fungal-based biotechnologies will be controlled by the fungal growth and associated biochemical activity that can be achieved in soil.In this study,the influence of environmental conditions(temperature,degree of saturation),substrate type(lignocellulose and spent coffee grounds)and concentration on the my-celium growth of P.ostreatus in sand are investigated.Furthermore,the evolution of growth/survival indicators(respiration,ergosterol concentration)and enzymatic activity(laccase,manganese peroxidase)are investigated.Temperature was shown to have a strong influence on the growth of P.ostreatus in sand:growth was observed to be delayed at low temperatures(e.g.5℃),whereas growth was prevented at high temperatures(e.g.35℃).No growth was observed at very low degrees of saturation(S,=0%and 1.2%),indicating there is a critical water content required to support P.ostreatus growth.Within the mid-range of water contents tested radially,growth of P.ostreatus was similar.However,growth under saturated soil conditions was restricted to the air-water at-mosphere due to the requirement for oxygen availability.Low substrate concentrations(1%-5%)resulted in high radial growth of P.ostreatus,whereas increasing substrate content further acted to reduce radial growth,but visual observations indicated that fungal biomass density increased.These results are important for under-standing the feasibility of P.ostreatus growth under specific site conditions and for the design of successful treatment strategies.
基金financially supported by Ongoing Research Funding Program(ORF-2025-846),King Saud University,Riyadh,Saudi Arabia.
文摘This research investigates the application of digital images in military contexts by utilizing analytical equations to augment human visual capabilities.A comparable filter is used to improve the visual quality of the photographs by reducing truncations in the existing images.Furthermore,the collected images undergo processing using histogram gradients and a flexible threshold value that may be adjusted in specific situations.Thus,it is possible to reduce the occurrence of overlapping circumstances in collective picture characteristics by substituting grey-scale photos with colorized factors.The proposed method offers additional robust feature representations by imposing a limiting factor to reduce overall scattering values.This is achieved by visualizing a graphical function.Moreover,to derive valuable insights from a series of photos,both the separation and in-version processes are conducted.This involves analyzing comparison results across four different scenarios.The results of the comparative analysis show that the proposed method effectively reduces the difficulties associated with time and space to 1 s and 3%,respectively.In contrast,the existing strategy exhibits higher complexities of 3 s and 9.1%,respectively.
基金supported by Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus and Birmingham City University.
文摘Wave energy is a promising form of marine renewable energy that offers a sustainable pathway for electricity generation in coastal regions.Despite Malaysia’s extensive coastline,the exploration of wave energy in Sarawak remains limited due to economic,technical,and environmental challenges that hinder its implementation.Compared to other renewable energy sources,wave energy is underutilized largely because of cost uncertainties and the lack of local performance data.This research aims to identify themost suitable coastal zone in Sarawak that achieves an optimal balance between energy potential,cost-effectiveness,and environmental impact,particularly in relation to infrastructure and regional development.The findings indicate that wave energy generation in Sarawak is technically feasible based on MOGA analysis.Among the studied sites,Bintulu emerged as the most balanced option,with a levelized cost of electricity(LCOE)of 0.778–0.864 USD/kWh and a CO_(2) emission factor as low as 0.019–0.020 CO_(2)/k Wh.Miri,while producing lower emissions than Sematan,recorded a higher LCOE of 1.045 USD/kWh with moderate emissions at 0.029 CO_(2)/kWh.Sematan,characterized by weaker wave conditions and higher installation penalties,resulted in the least favorable outcome,with an LCOE of 3.735 USD/kWh.Bintulu’s strategic location reduces CAPEX requirements,making it the most suitable site for large-scale wave energy deployment in Sarawak.
文摘This study investigates the thermo–mechanical behavior of C40 concrete and reinforced concrete subjected to elevated temperatures up to 700℃by integrating experimental testing and advanced numerical modeling.A temperature-indexed Concrete Damage Plasticity(CDP)framework incorporating bond–slip effects was developed in Abaqus to capture both global stress–strain responses and localized damage evolution.Uniaxial compression tests on thermally exposed cylinders provided residual strength data and failure observations for model calibration and validation.Results demonstrated a distinct two-stage degradation regime:moderate stiffness and strength reduction up to~400℃,followed by sharp deterioration beyond 500℃–600℃,with residual capacity at 700℃reduced to~20%–25%of the ambient value.Strain–damage analyses revealed the formation of a peripheral tensile strain band,which thickened and propagated inward with increasing temperature,governing crack initiation and cover spalling.Supplemental analyses highlighted that transverse reinforcement improved ductility and damage distribution at moderate temperatures(~300℃),but bond deterioration and steel softening beyond~600℃substantially diminished confinement effectiveness.The proposed CDP model accurately reproduced experimental stress–strain curves(R^(2)≈0.94–0.98 up to 600℃;≈0.90 at 700℃),with peak stress errors within 7%–10%and energy absorption captured within~12%.These findings confirm the robustness of the temperature-indexed CDP framework for simulating fire-damaged reinforced concrete and provide practical guidelines for post-fire assessment,spalling detection,and fire-resilient design of structural members.
基金funded by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education through the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme(FRGS/1/2024/ICT02/UCSI/02/1).
文摘Accurate estimation of photovoltaic(PV)parameters is essential for optimizing solar module perfor-mance and enhancing resource efficiency in renewable energy systems.This study presents a process innovation by introducing,for the first time,the Triangulation Topology Aggregation Optimizer(TTAO)integrated with parallel computing to address PV parameter estimation challenges.The effectiveness and robustness of TTAO are rigorously evaluated using two standard benchmark datasets(KC200GT and R.T.C.France solar cells)and a real-world dataset(Poly70W solar module)under single-,double-,and triple-diode configurations.Results show that TTAO consistently achieves superior accuracy by producing the lowest RMSE values and faster convergence compared to state-of-the-art metaheuristic algorithms.In addition,the integration of parallel computing significantly enhances computational efficiency,reducing execution time by up to 85%without compromising accuracy.Validation using real-world data further demonstrates TTAO’s adaptability and practical relevance in renewable energy systems,effectively bridging the gap between theoretical modeling and real-world implementation for PV system monitoring and optimization,contributing to climate mitigation through improved solar energy performance.
基金the King Salman center for Disability Research for funding this work through Research Group No.KSRG-2024-050.
文摘Artificial Intelligence(AI)is changing healthcare by helping with diagnosis.However,for doctors to trust AI tools,they need to be both accurate and easy to understand.In this study,we created a new machine learning system for the early detection of Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD)in children.Our main goal was to build a model that is not only good at predicting ASD but also clear in its reasoning.For this,we combined several different models,including Random Forest,XGBoost,and Neural Networks,into a single,more powerful framework.We used two different types of datasets:(i)a standard behavioral dataset and(ii)a more complex multimodal dataset with images,audio,and physiological information.The datasets were carefully preprocessed for missing values,redundant features,and dataset imbalance to ensure fair learning.The results outperformed the state-of-the-art with a Regularized Neural Network,achieving 97.6%accuracy on behavioral data.Whereas,on the multimodal data,the accuracy is 98.2%.Other models also did well with accuracies consistently above 96%.We also used SHAP and LIME on a behavioral dataset for models’explainability.
基金funding support from the INCT-DATREM:FAPESP:2014/50945-4,CNPq|:465571/2014-0,and Capes:88887136426/2017/10Programa Nacional de Investigación Científica y Estudios Avanzados(PROCIENCIA)with grant number 237-2015-FONDECYT+2 种基金We thank the support from Vicerrectorado de Investigación(VRI-UNI).Serrapilheira Institute[Grant number Serra–2211-41925]São Paulo Research Foundation,FAPESP[Grant number#2023/10027-5][Grant numbers#406156/2022-0,180111/2023-0]。
文摘The use of Cu_(2)O-based photocathodes has demonstrated the promising activity of these earth-abundant materials for the photoelectrochemical CO_(2)reduction reaction(CO_(2)RR),particularly in producing methanol.However,their application in long-term devices is hindered by severe photocorrosion.To address this limitation,photocathode designs incorporating Schottky barriers,heterojunctions,and scaffolding layers have been explored.In this work,a CuBi_(2)O_(4)/CuO thin layer was employed as a scaffold to support Cu_(2)O films with either seeded or grown morphologies for enhanced photoelectrochemical CO_(2)RR.Photoelectrochemical testing in CO_(2)-saturated electrolyte revealed that 0.55 V vs.reversible hydrogen electrode(RHE)yielded the highest activity and stability for methanol(CH_(3)OH)production,outperforming more negative potentials.Furthermore,the present work highlighted that electrolyte engineering can be used to promote the generation of alternative products such as methyl acetate(CH_(3)COOCH_(3)).The presence of CuBi_(2)O_(4)/CuO scaffold was critical for allowing this pathway,providing both enhanced stability and improved charge transfer on the Cu_(2)O surface.The generation of CH_(3)COOCH_(3)is attributed to locally modified microenvironments that facilitate the esterification reaction when acetate is present in solution.These findings highlight the role of scaffold engineering in improving photocathode performance and electrolyte tuning in steering product selectivity toward scarcely explored,added-value compounds such as methyl acetate.
基金possible by the generous financial support of the Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics at Arizona State University and the Graduate College at Arizona State University, USA
文摘The environmental implications of cultured meat are profound. An anticipatory life cycle assessment of cultured meat published in 2011 suggested it could have a smaller impact than agricultural meat in all categories except energy consumption. As with most technologies, cultured meat will almost certainly be accompanied by unintended consequences as well as unforeseen costs and benefits that accrue disproportionately to different stakeholders. Uncertainty associated with new engineered products cannot be completely eliminated prior to introduction, but ongoing environmental assessments of the technologies as they advance can serve to reduce unforeseen risks. Given the pace at which tissue engineering is advancing, systemic assessments of the technology will be pivotal in mitigating unintended environmental consequences.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.41625001)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDA20060402)+4 种基金the Pengcheng Scholar Program of Shenzhen,the National High-level Talents Special Support Plan(“Ten Thousand Talents Plan”)the Leading Innovative Talent Program for young and middle-aged scholars by the Ministry of Science and Technologysupported by the Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control(Grant No.2017B030301012)the State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Controlthe High-level Special Funding of the Southern University of Science and Technology(Grant No.G02296302,G02296402).
文摘Water footprint(WF)measures human appropriation of water resources for consumptive use of surface and ground water(blue WF)and soil water(green WF)and for assimilating polluted water(grey WF).Questions have been often asked about the exact meaning behind the numbers from WF accounting.However,to date environmental sustainability of WF has never been assessed at the sub-national level over time.This study evaluated the environmental sustainability of blue,green and grey WF for China’s 31 mainland provinces in 2002,2007 and 2012,and identified the unsustainable hotspots.Overall,the total WF increased by 30%between 2002 and 2012.The growth can be attributed to the increase of grey WF because the green and blue WF showed only a slight rise.Among all provinces investigated in 2012,eleven showed unsustainable blue WF(sustainability index SI<0),which were mainly located in the North China Plain.There were 12 provinces that displayed unsustainable green WF,and they were distributed in China’s southern and southeastern areas.The grey WF was not sustainable in approximately two third of provinces(19),which were mainly located in China’s middle and northern regions and Guangdong province.More than half of China’s provinces showed trends of improved SI of green and blue WF from 2002 to 2012.However,the SI of grey WF decreased in almost two third of provinces.Poor levels of WF sustainability were due to water scarcity and pollution,which intensify the degradation of local rivers and ecosystems and make restoration more difficult.The results shed light on the policy making needed to improve sustainable water management,and ecological restoration of hotspot regions.
基金made possible by FRGS/1/2021/TK0/UKM/02/41 grant from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia。
文摘A new burgeoning family of two-dimensional(2D)transition metal carbides/nitrides,better known as MXenes,have received extensive attention because of their distinct properties,such as metallic conductivity,good hydrophilicity,large surface area,good mechanical stability,and biodegradability.About 40 different MXenes have been synthesized,and dozens more structures and properties have been theoretically predicted.However,the recent progress in MXenes development is not well covered in chronological order based on different applications.This review article focuses on emerging synthesis methods,the properties of MXenes,and mainly the applications of MXenes and MXene-based material family in environmental remediation,a comprehensive review of gaseous and aqueous pollutants treatment.
基金part supported by an Eng.D.studentship provided by the U.K.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council(EPSRC) and Microsoft(U.K.) Ltd
文摘A new methodology was created to measure the energy consumption and related green house gas （GHG） emissions of a computer operating system （OS） across different device platforms. The methodology involved the direct power measurement of devices under different activity states. In order to include all aspects of an OS, the methodology included measurements in various OS modes, whilst uniquely, also incorporating measurements when running an array of defined software activities, so as to include OS application management features. The methodology was demonstrated on a laptop and phone that could each run multiple OSs, results confirmed that OS can significantly impact the energy consumption of devices. In particular, the new versions of the Microsoft Windows OS were tested and highlighted significant differences between the OS versions on the same hardware. The developed methodology could enable a greater awareness of energy consumption, during both the software development and software marketing processes.
文摘Context-aware facial recognition regards the recognition of faces in association with their respective environments.This concept is useful for the domestic robot which interacts with humans when performing specific functions in indoor environments.Deep learning models have been relevant in solving facial and place recognition challenges;however,they require the procurement of training images for optimal performance.Pre-trained models have also been offered to reduce training time significantly.Regardless,for classification tasks,custom data must be acquired to ensure that learning models are developed from other pre-trained models.This paper proposes a place recognition model that is inspired by the graph cut energy function,which is specifically designed for image segmentation.Common objects in the considered environment are identified and thereafter they are passed over to a graph cut inspired model for indoor environment classification.Additionally,faces in the considered environment are extracted and recognised.Finally,the developed model can recognise a face together with its environment.The strength of the proposed model lies in its ability to classify indoor environments without the usual training process(es).This approach differs from what is obtained in traditional deep learning models.The classification capability of the developed model was compared to state-of-theart models and exhibited promising outcomes.
