Construction projects are among the riskiest projects, which require the application of the right rules and to abide by the proper safety standards. Thus, this study aims to study the impact of COVID-19 on the constru...Construction projects are among the riskiest projects, which require the application of the right rules and to abide by the proper safety standards. Thus, this study aims to study the impact of COVID-19 on the construction and engineering companies due to the Corona pandemic in the Gaza Strip, and introducing the means used in dealing with this pandemic and how to avoid, limit and deal with it. And to shed light on the most important obstacles and challenges facing the construction sector in the light of the outbreak of the epidemic. To achieve this, a cross-sectional study based on an online questionnaire was conducted by Google Forms. Then, the data collected was analyzed using the thematic analysis approach. The results show that best procedures to mitigate the impact of this epidemic and to prioritize the safety and health of employees in contracting and engineering companies, to provide a safe work environment and developing plans to confront the spread of injury in the work-environment. The study recommends that government may provide financial support to companies and reduce taxes imposed on them in order to be able to confront this pandemic.展开更多
This article echoes Kenneth Frampton’s critical regionalism to address maintaining the values of the past into the present.For Frampton,architecture design is regionally infused due to essentially dealing with“speci...This article echoes Kenneth Frampton’s critical regionalism to address maintaining the values of the past into the present.For Frampton,architecture design is regionally infused due to essentially dealing with“specificity and locality”,however,remains reluctant to adopt a“universal technology”.A Masdar City’s design represents a valuable case due to casting light on the complexity embedded in intertwining the modernist technologies and a regional architecture.The case study’s analyses cited here suggest that the design of the present evolves from this complexity witnessing a deviation from a“universal technology”and a local architecture.A vernacular style of architecture has been blamed because it stitches together the“globe”and the“local”.A universal technology has been also witnessed here which yields support for the vernacular approaches embedded in a traditional architecture.What Frampton’s critical regionalism appears to overlook are the vernacular approaches that in the analysis of this article embrace a model of the design principles for the“tectonics”to be realised.The key argument brought forward in this article concerns Frampton’s critical regionalism that yet lacks a realistic approach to produce a sense within a local context,thereby needing in its theory to neatly twist the vernacular approaches with a critical regionalism’s synthesis.展开更多
Latex as an asphalt modifier has gained popularity in the asphalt industry as it improves the durability of asphalt pavement.However,the elastomeric properties of latex stiffen the asphalt binders,resulting in additio...Latex as an asphalt modifier has gained popularity in the asphalt industry as it improves the durability of asphalt pavement.However,the elastomeric properties of latex stiffen the asphalt binders,resulting in additional energy consumption during the production of asphalt mixtures,which may cause a higher emission of greenhouse gases.This is undesirable for sustainable development and the environment.In this study,the applicability of diluted methanol and water was comparatively evaluated as foaming agents in the production of warm mix asphalt(WMA)mixtures incorporating latex.Diluted methanol was used because it has a lower boiling point and latent heat than water,allowing the asphalt mixture to be produced at a lower temperature and thus consuming less energy.The performance of the foamed asphalt mixture was investigated through service characteristics,mechanical performance,and moisture susceptibility of mixtures.The service characteristics,on the other hand,were measured in a laboratory while preparing and compacting the asphalt mixture,which refers to the amount of energy required during the production and construction stages in the asphalt plant and on the construction site,respectively.The degree of energy required was assessed based on the workability index,coatability index,and the compaction energy index.The mechanical performance of asphalt mixtures was characterized by indirect tensile strength,resilient modulus,and dynamic creep tests.The resistance to moisture damage was evaluated based on the common parameter,indirect tensile strength ratio.The findings revealed that the use of diluted methanol foaming agent helped improve the workability of latex modified asphalt mixtures.The foamed latex-modified WMA demonstrated better performance compared to asphalt mixtures prepared using water as the foaming agent.展开更多
文摘Construction projects are among the riskiest projects, which require the application of the right rules and to abide by the proper safety standards. Thus, this study aims to study the impact of COVID-19 on the construction and engineering companies due to the Corona pandemic in the Gaza Strip, and introducing the means used in dealing with this pandemic and how to avoid, limit and deal with it. And to shed light on the most important obstacles and challenges facing the construction sector in the light of the outbreak of the epidemic. To achieve this, a cross-sectional study based on an online questionnaire was conducted by Google Forms. Then, the data collected was analyzed using the thematic analysis approach. The results show that best procedures to mitigate the impact of this epidemic and to prioritize the safety and health of employees in contracting and engineering companies, to provide a safe work environment and developing plans to confront the spread of injury in the work-environment. The study recommends that government may provide financial support to companies and reduce taxes imposed on them in order to be able to confront this pandemic.
文摘This article echoes Kenneth Frampton’s critical regionalism to address maintaining the values of the past into the present.For Frampton,architecture design is regionally infused due to essentially dealing with“specificity and locality”,however,remains reluctant to adopt a“universal technology”.A Masdar City’s design represents a valuable case due to casting light on the complexity embedded in intertwining the modernist technologies and a regional architecture.The case study’s analyses cited here suggest that the design of the present evolves from this complexity witnessing a deviation from a“universal technology”and a local architecture.A vernacular style of architecture has been blamed because it stitches together the“globe”and the“local”.A universal technology has been also witnessed here which yields support for the vernacular approaches embedded in a traditional architecture.What Frampton’s critical regionalism appears to overlook are the vernacular approaches that in the analysis of this article embrace a model of the design principles for the“tectonics”to be realised.The key argument brought forward in this article concerns Frampton’s critical regionalism that yet lacks a realistic approach to produce a sense within a local context,thereby needing in its theory to neatly twist the vernacular approaches with a critical regionalism’s synthesis.
基金The authors express their appreciation to the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)for providing financial assistance via the Research Fund for the International Young Scientist(Grant No.51750110491)Additionally,acknowledgements are due to Universiti Sains Malaysia for providing financial support via Research University Individual(RUI)Grant 1001.PAWAM.8014140.Authors also would like to recognize supports from Chang'an University,China.Last but not least,special thanks to all technical staff of the Highway Engineering Laboratory,Universiti Sains Malaysia(USM),for their valuable help and support.
文摘Latex as an asphalt modifier has gained popularity in the asphalt industry as it improves the durability of asphalt pavement.However,the elastomeric properties of latex stiffen the asphalt binders,resulting in additional energy consumption during the production of asphalt mixtures,which may cause a higher emission of greenhouse gases.This is undesirable for sustainable development and the environment.In this study,the applicability of diluted methanol and water was comparatively evaluated as foaming agents in the production of warm mix asphalt(WMA)mixtures incorporating latex.Diluted methanol was used because it has a lower boiling point and latent heat than water,allowing the asphalt mixture to be produced at a lower temperature and thus consuming less energy.The performance of the foamed asphalt mixture was investigated through service characteristics,mechanical performance,and moisture susceptibility of mixtures.The service characteristics,on the other hand,were measured in a laboratory while preparing and compacting the asphalt mixture,which refers to the amount of energy required during the production and construction stages in the asphalt plant and on the construction site,respectively.The degree of energy required was assessed based on the workability index,coatability index,and the compaction energy index.The mechanical performance of asphalt mixtures was characterized by indirect tensile strength,resilient modulus,and dynamic creep tests.The resistance to moisture damage was evaluated based on the common parameter,indirect tensile strength ratio.The findings revealed that the use of diluted methanol foaming agent helped improve the workability of latex modified asphalt mixtures.The foamed latex-modified WMA demonstrated better performance compared to asphalt mixtures prepared using water as the foaming agent.
