Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Collaborative Public Works Contracts Using Bim – An Opportunity For The Irish Construction Industry?, Barry Mcauley, Alan Hore, Robert Kane, Simon Fraser

Conference papers

In Ireland, large and progressive contractors are claiming significant benefits in construction management efficiency through the implementation of BIM (Building Information Modelling). While these contractors note that the cost benefits to the project budget alone justify the implementation of BIM in the field, they are acutely aware that in 2011 the UK Government has mandated the construction industry in the UK to use BIM on all public projects by 2016. In the Republic of Ireland however, in 2007, the Government introduced the Public Works Contracts (PWC) suite for the procurement of all public sector works. After 8 years of working …

Cultural Change Through Bim: Driving Lean Transformation In Education, Avril Behan, Malachy Mathews, Kevin Furlong, Ciara Ahern, Una Beagon, Peter Brennan, Colin Conway, Lee Corcoran, Pierce Fahy, Alan Hore, Barry Mcauley, Trevor Woods

Conference papers

This paper presents a case study of how the adoption of BIM-based practices in the AECO industry is being reflected by cultural change in higher education in Ireland. The silo-mentality that has dominated the AECO sector for more than a century has, despite numerous reorganisations, been replicated in the structures of educational institutions, including in Dublin Institute of Technology since the inception of its founding colleges in the late 1800s. Most AECO programmes must include content that is external to the programme’s specific discipline. Through the School structures of the Institute, delivery of such content is known as "service teaching" …

Adopting Of Pas 1192-2 By Irish Aec Companies – A Formula For Winning International Work, Robert Moore, Alan Hore, Barry Mcauley

Conference papers

Forfás Ireland policy advisory board for enterprise, trade, science, technology and innovation have recently recommended that the Irish Architecture Engineering Construction (AEC) industry should engage in more international work and in doing so have advised the industry to work within a Building Information Management (BIM) environment, so as to avoid the possibility of a competitive disadvantage in overseas markets. According to Forfás BIM can help develop the appropriate technical skills amongst Irish construction firms so that they can successfully compete in markets where BIM is widely adopted or a requirement. More importantly they have encouraged the industry to strive to …

Practitioner Interview, Jayantha Obeysekera

All ECSTATIC Materials

Phone interview with Jayantha Obeysekera from South Florida Water Management District by David Watkins, Jr., and Ali Mirchi. Interview questions asked inquired about (i) practitioner’s professional background, (ii) practitioner’s personal experience with systems analysis techniques and software in their job, (iii) role, benefits, and challenges in using systems analysis concepts in the water resources engineering profession, and (iv) recommendations for improving education of environmental and water resources systems analysis in universities.

Stochastic Rainfall-Runoff Model With Explicit Soil Moisture Dynamics, Mark Bartlett, E. Daly, Jeffrey Mcdonnell, Anthony J. Parolari, Amilcare Porporato

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Stream runoff is perhaps the most poorly represented process in ecohydrological stochastic soil moisture models. Here we present a rainfall-runoff model with a new stochastic description of runoff linked to soil moisture dynamics. We describe the rainfall-runoff system as the joint probability density function (PDF) of rainfall, soil moisture and runoff forced by random, instantaneous jumps of rainfall. We develop a master equation for the soil moisture PDF that accounts explicitly for a general state-dependent rainfall-runoff transformation. This framework is then used to derive the joint rainfall-runoff and soil moisture-runoff PDFs. Runoff is initiated by a soil moisture threshold and …

Assessment Of Wood Processing Engineers By Requirements Of Leading Manufacturing Entities In Albania, Ramadan Topuzi, Arden Bejtja

UBT International Conference

In Albania a significant number of wood-processing engineers exercise this profession in the field of manufacturing and trading of furniture. In this sector exercise their activity over 800 manufacturing entities distributed across the country with about 9,000 employees. The main purpose of the study is the assessment of wood processing engineers as perceived by the manufacturing entities and their adaptation to the requirements of the labor market . The data collected through a structured questionnaire for this purpose, are thrown into a database (where they are analyzed to generate the results given in this paper. The selection of the respondents …

Motorizing Cbd Of Tirana. A Before And After Study In Tirana From Sustainability Point Of View, Edison Barhani

UBT International Conference

The Center Business District of Tirana (Skanderbeg Square) plays a crucial part in Tirana Transportation System. After a closure of about 2 years, being under reconstruction, CBD opened to traffic on November 14th, 2011. This study analyses performance parameters like: travel time for both cars and buses, waiting time at bus stations, and passenger boarding/alignment for bus passing through or around the CBD before and after it was opened to traffic. Route that follows Kinostudio-Kombinat bus line has been selected as a representative of all other lines passing through the center of Tirana. Opened to traffic for the supply to …

Structural Analysis Of A Typical Highway Bridge Comparison Between Ktp, En And Aashto Load Models, Endrit Berisha

UBT International Conference

This study consists on a structural analysis comparison of a typical highway bridge between KTP, EN and AASHTO based on load capacity. The Eurocodes are currently in the process of national implementation towards becoming the Europe wide means for structural design of civil engineering works. A team from Mott Macdonald inspected 562 bridges and the main causes of the defects are figured out in the study as traffic load, nature force, and aging, lack of maintenance and design deficiencies. As design codes are advancing with time, the need of Albania to upgrade its code has become a must. This paper …

Effect Of Steel Fiber And Polypropylene Fiber On Reinforced Concrete, Erjola Reufi, Jozefita Marku

UBT International Conference

This paper presents the results of an experimental study that investigated, the effects of steel fibers and polypropylene fibers on the mechanical properties of concrete. Two types of fibers used are hooked end steel fibers of 50 mm and 30 mm length with the aspect ratio of 67 (length 50 mm and diameter 0.75 mm) and 44 (length 30 mm and diameter 0.75 mm). On the other hand, three types of polypropylene fibers are used of length 12mm, 6mm and 3 mm. Steel fibers are used of 0%, 0.25%, 0.5%, and 1% by the volume of concrete and polypropylene fiber …

A Study On Tibiofemoral Joint Contact Area Stresses Using Finite Element Method, Anjeza Gjini, Altin Bidaj, Enio Deneko, Drilona Disha

UBT International Conference

The joints of the human body act as mechanical or building structures joints. Joints connect different segments by enabling the movement of these segments. The design of a joint that provides durability or static support differs from that one which provides only movement. Joints of the human body, as organic joints, are considered more complex than other types of joints. Finite element models help to comprehend the knee structure behavior under the action of dynamic and static loads. Deformations in the articulating cartilage and the distribution of loads from meniscus provide data to understand the effect of loads in different …

Application Of Ec Regulations On Assessment Of The Effect Of Fire On Buildings, Xhemshir Mulliqi

UBT International Conference

The last decade has been characterized by construction of multi-storey buildings in almost all cities of Kosovo, with the storey-height ranging from B+G+4 to B+G+11 and even B+G+15, which means that they need to be subjected to the revision of the main project, including things be verified for the effect of fire. This paper aims to illustrate the use of EC regulations for the verification of reinforced concrete structures under effect of fire, respectively: EN 1991-2-2 Basis of design and actions on structures. Part-2.2: Actions on structures exposed to fire and EN 1992-1-2:2004 Design of concrete structures- part -1-2: Structural …

Application Of En 1991-1-2 Annex E, Using’S Software Package, Xhemshir Mulliqi

UBT International Conference

The fire may occur anywhere and in any phase in the lifetime of a building .Fire resistance requirements should be based on the parameters influencing fire growth and development. For calculating the characteristic fire load, the characteristic fire load has to be determined using the table of EN 1991-1-2 Annex E.The aim of this paper is to present the methodology used in this tool and to show an example of application. The fire resistance of a steel beam submitted to compartment fires which supports a non-collaborating concrete slab in a compartment is estimated in case of an unprotected and a …

Reducing The Porosity And Sealing Cracks By Using Crystalline Admixture In Conventional Concrete, Visar Krelani, Liberato Ferrara

UBT International Conference

There is a continuous increase of quality on civil engineering materials in developed countries and parallel increase of need for new constructions in developing countries. Professional community should propose solutions for the durability that can resist in different severe environments. The most important factor that can affect concrete durability is represented by the pore distribution. Transport properties can take place through the porous network inside the cementitious composites and the aggregates interface, permitting the ingress of aggressive agents damaging concrete function intrinsically as a material and the well-functioning of the entire structure. The use of a crystalline admixture during the …

The Impact Of Municipal Waste Water In Neredime River, Kosovo, Bekim Selimi

UBT International Conference

Today, environmental protection is of great concern in Kosovo. Almost all waste water effluents from the localities are discharging in surface water and groundwater without being significantly treated deterioning water quality in Kosovo’s rivers. The aim of this paper is to analyze the level of pollution in the Neredime river created from municipal wastewater as well as to identify pollutants and their impact on the river. An attempt has been made to present the situation of the waters defining physicochemical water qualities of Neredime river from the source to the outskirts of town in the south-west of Ferizaj; this includes …

Design Of Bearing Capacity Of The Driven Piles Of A Highway Bridge Foundation According To 3 Different Methods, Papa Dhimitri, Dervishi Idlir

UBT International Conference

Contemporary design methods of bearing capacity of deep foundation (pile foundation) change according to different design codes. The main requisition of the designing process of the deep foundation is related with the axial bearing capacity, which should be sufficient to withstand the applied loads. Many authors has developed and published detailed methods to analyze the behavior of a single reinforced concrete pile or a group of piles, based on vertical bearing capacity due to lateral friction or residence at the pile point. The goal of this paper is to illustrate the calculation methods according to 3 analytical methods of vertical …

Advanced Construction Materials For Highway Applications, Altin Bidaj, Irakli Premti, Hektor Cullufi

UBT International Conference

Nowadays cost of highway materials increase every year. In addition, use of marginal materials results in early development of pavement distress, requiring more frequent repairs also rehabilitation, associated lane closures, traffic congestion in high volume traffic areas which increases the potential for construction zone accidents and increased levels of environmental pollution related to automobile emissions. Therefore, there is a strong desire in our country to optimize the use of materials currently used for highway pavement construction and to seek advanced materials that are cheaper and environmentally friendly. It has now been recognized that the age of limitless construction materials and …

Processing Of Gis Data And Building Of 3d Dem Models With Fme Transformer Tools, Hebib Alili, Fadil Shehu, Shenur Muslija

UBT International Conference

The processes of processing of 2D or 3D geodetic or geo-information data by using the FME software and other software's or tools in combination and then through mathematical logics in FME building of such 3D models from original measured terrain data within transformers given by FME, could be considered as very important attempt of creating of such 3D models, exactly when we have to deal with huge data by the size of its as input data. These kind of doing of processing of data through FME software, can be considered as important issue also for resolving of other today related …

The Effects Of Recycling Asphalt Use In Terms Of Economic Growth And Environmental Improvement In Kosova, Muhamet Ahmeti, Binak Beqaj

UBT International Conference

Through this paper is analysed the possibility of recycling asphalt and reusing this in receipts of new asphalt to build road infrastructure inside urban areas and inter-urban areas, because analysing the investments that are being realized in the road infrastructure in Kosova last years, and investments that are going on, there are indicators showing economical, environmental and ….benefits of the society .

According to database of the Kosova Ministry of Transport and Telecommunication until the year 2014, the territory of Kosova has 2005.5 km of the road, 4% are highways, magisterial roads 32% and 64% regional roads, most of them …

Climate Change And Drinking Water, Muhamet Ahmeti, Ilira Abdullahu

UBT International Conference

The period June 2012 – March 2014 saw a prolonged deficit of precipitation below normal. This led to a major continental scale drought across southern Europe, and in eastern Kosova in particular. E.g. see figure 1 below for the month of December 2013, from Drought Monitoring Center for SEE. In fact December 2013 was the fifth driest month in the recorded history of Kosova. February registered the driest month in the recorded hydro-meteorological history of Kosova, since 1927 with only 2.1 mm precipitation, which expressed in Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI). The chance of getting this value in February was 1 …

Imperfection Impact On Behavior Of The Secondary Nonstructural Elements And Vertical Non Precise Erection Of Members, Armend Mujaj, Florim Grajçevci, Driton R. Kryeziu, Zijadin Guri, Fisnik Kadiu

UBT International Conference

In this paper of works will be try to present the fundamental computation referring to the imperfection impacts phenomena of non-precise erection effects of the structural members as are vertical columns. Depends from the structural type, the structure should have a vertical structural members with the enough vertical and shear capacity provoked from horizontal action of earthquake, wind, dead and imposed vertical loads. The structural designers, during the structural computation are improve the several approximations creating the dynamic modeling, having into the consideration of structural elements classification in the prior and secondary structural elements. It is very none that the …

Dehalococcoides Abundance And Alternate Electron Acceptor Effects On Large, Flow-Through Trichloroethene Dechlorinating Columns, Babur S. Mirza, Darwin L. Sorensen, Ryan Dupont, Joan E. Mclean

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Trichloroethene (TCE) in groundwater is a major health concern and biostimulation/bioaugmentation-based strategies have been evaluated to achieve complete reductive dechlorination with varying success. Different carbon sources were hypothesized to stimulate different extents of TCE reductive dechlorination. Ecological conditions that developed different dechlorination stages were investigated by quantitating Dehalococcoides 16S rRNA (Dhc) and reductive dehalogenase gene abundance, and by describing biogeochemical properties of laboratory columns in response to this biostimulation. Eight large columns (183 cm × 15.2 cm), packed with aquifer material from Hill AFB, Utah, that were continuously fed TCE for 7.5 years. Duplicate columns were biostimulated with whey or …

Effect Of Mineral And Chemical Admixtures On Durability Of Cementitious Systems, Victor Tran

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Mineral and chemical admixtures are used today in almost all concrete mixtures to improve concrete fresh and hardened properties, and to enhance concrete durability. In this study, four mineral and four chemical admixtures were investigated: namely, metakaolin (MK), silica fume (SF), Class F fly ash (FA), blast-furnace slag (BFS), two high-range water reducers (SP), water reducer/retarder (WRD), and air-entrainer (AEA). The objective of this study is to assess the effects of commonly used mineral and chemical admixtures on the durability of the cementitious system. Two durability issues were addressed in this study: the potential of the cementitious system to generate …

Evaluating Corrosion Resistance Of Reinforcing Steel In A Novel Green Concrete, Andrea Carolina Ramirez

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Reinforced concrete structures are expected to have a long service life with minimal maintenance. Corrosion of reinforcing steel is a major factor in reducing concrete structure lifespan, as corrosion products occupy a larger volume than that of the consumed steel and generate tensile stresses that crack the concrete cover. Procedures to control corrosion in traditional concrete, which is made with Portland-cement (PC), have been well established. However, in recent years novel concrete materials based on alternatives to normally cured PC have been developed in response to global needs to reduce greenhouse gases emissions. In particular, a promising new cement has …

Evaluation Of Low-Cost Low Impact Development Practices In Southwest Florida For The Control Of Urban Runoff, Laura Kathren Rankin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Stormwater management is required due to development and alteration of the natural environment. It is heavily regulated in Florida and at the national level. Over the last two decades, Low Impact Development (LID) has been promoted as a sustainable and environmentally friendly method of controlling urban runoff. Case studies, provided in Chapter 2, show that LIDs can restore watershed hydrology by balancing the water budget. The difference in runoff between pre-development and post-development appears to increase with soil perviousness. However, the potential for mitigating the impacts of urbanization through runoff reduction is also greater for pervious, sandy soils that dominate …

Binding Of Nitrite In Concrete, Cement Mortar And Paste, Saad Alshehri

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Calcium nitrite as a corrosion inhibitor is mainly used to protect steel reinforcement in concrete by reducing its corrosion rate. Hence the effectiveness of calcium nitrite depends on its availability as a free nitrite in the pore solution. The present research work aims to determine the concrete mixture component mostly responsible for nitrite binding in concrete. Firstly, the experimental program included testing of nitrite binding in cement paste. Secondly, the effect of adding the fine aggregate (mortar mix) on nitrite binding was assessed. Finally, the mix with coarse aggregate (concrete mix) was evaluated. In-situ leaching method was used to obtain …

Feasibility Of Cathodic Protection In Grouted Post Tensioned Tendons - Exploratory Model Calculations, Jacob Dharma Bumgardner

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Recent corrosion related failures of grouted post tensioned tendons, even after the introduction of improved grouts, have led to renewed interest in supplemental or backup means of corrosion control for these systems. A finite element model is presented to explore feasibility of impressed current cathodic protection of strand in grouted tendons. The model examines polarization evolution as function of service time and includes consideration of anode placement and size, grout porosity, pore water alkalinity, electrochemical species diffusivity and applied voltage on the polarization efficacy and durability of such a system. The exploratory model projections suggested that, within the context of …

Consumer Perception And Anticipated Adoption Of Autonomous Vehicle Technology: Results From Multi-Population Surveys, Nikhil Menon

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Emerging automotive and transportation technologies, such as autonomous vehicles (AVs) have created revolutionary possibilities in the way we might travel in the future. Major car manufacturers and technology giants have demonstrated significant progress in advancing and testing AV technologies in real-life traffic conditions.

Results from multi-population surveys indicate that despite enjoying moderate familiarity with AVs, more than 40% of the respondents were likely to use them when they become available. Simply looking at the demographic differences without paying any regard to the perceptions might suggest that the demographic differences are the primary causal factors behind the differences observed in the …

Evaluation Of The Snow Thermal Model (Sntherm) Through Continuous In Situ Observations Of Snow’S Physical Properties At The Crest-Safe Field Experiment, José Alberto Infante Corona, Jonathan Muñoz, Tarendra Lakhankar, Peter Romanov, Reza Khanbilvardi

Publications and Research

Snowpack properties like temperature or density are the result of a complex energy and mass balance process in the snowpack that varies temporally and spatially. The Snow Thermal Model (SNTHERM) is a 1-dimensional model, energy and mass balance-driven, that simulates these properties. This article analyzes the simulated snowpack properties using SNTHERM forced with two datasets, namely measured meteorological data at the Cooperative Remote Sensing Science and Technology-Snow Analysis and Field Experiment (CREST-SAFE) site and the National Land Data Assimilation System (NLDAS). The study area is located on the premises of Caribou Municipal Airport at Caribou (ME, USA). The model evaluation …

Kelvin Probe Electrode For Field Detection Of Corrosion Of Steel In Concrete, Leonidas Philip Emmenegger

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

While the Kelvin Probe (KP) has been used in a variety of surface scanning applications, the use of the KP in reinforced concrete structures to detect corrosion has been pioneered by previous work performed at the University of South Florida. However, in that work, the scale and construction of the probes was not suited to use in the field. This is primarily attributable to the small operating disk-to-concrete gap which would make the probe unable to accommodate road conditions, such as irregularities in the grading of the road, and local pitting of the surface. Therefore, it was important to investigate …

Standard For Cold-Formed Steel Framing -- Prescriptive Method For One- And Two-Family Dwellings, 2015 Edition, American Iron And Steel Institute

American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) Specifications, Standards, Manuals and Research Reports (1946 - present)

No abstract provided.