bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of Electronic Medical Record Content Standards to Collect Pan-Canadian Primary Health Care Indicator Data
Authors: Sullivan-Taylor Patricia  , Webster Greg  , Mukhi Shaheena  , Sanchez Maria
Published: February 2025

In 2006 the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) released a set of 105 pan-Canadian Primary Health Care (PHC) indicators. This was followed by an assessment of data gaps, which prevented the calculation of the indicators, and the data collection options available to close the gaps. A quality review of Electronic Medical Record (EMR) data indicated a requirement for content standards. In order to assist the provinces as they developed requests for proposal for PHC-based EMRs, the EMR content standards project was born. Considerable effort was made to identify standards for the Electronic Health Record (EHR) including existing national and international EHR content. As well, CIHI attempted to align the content standards with those of other projects such as the Physician Office System Requirements (POSR). The outcome of this project was a set of EMR content standards for 12 pan-Canadian PHC indicators. The standards will be used to develop a prototype of a PHC reporting system that collects and analyzes data to generate clinical quality indicators for regional and longitudinal comparisons. In late 2008, CIHI will release the pan-Canadian PHC Core Reporting Data Set. This project has developed EMR content standards to better understand PHC in Canada.
Genotypic Approaches to Therapy in Children (GATC): Using Information Technology to Improve Drug Safety
Authors: Wong E.  , Carleton B.C.  , Wright D.F.B.  , Smith M.A.  , Verbeek L.  , Hildebrand C. A.  , Stannard P.  , Vaillancourt R.  , Elliot-Miller P.  , Ross C.J.D.  , Hayden M.R.
Published: February 2025

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Current models of ADR surveillance have repeatedly demonstrated little pragmatic value to practicing clinicians. ADR reporting rates in the US and Canada suggest that only 5% of ADRs are reported. The Genotypic Approaches to Therapy in Children (GATC) network was established to identify and solve drug safety problems in paediatrics. We hypothesized that genetic polymorphisms underlie a significant portion of concentration-dependent ADRs in children. Our objective was to establish an ADR active surveillance network in paediatric hospitals across Canada. Surveillance clinicians evaluate clinical information from ADR cases and drug-matched controls, and collected DNA samples from all patients. The surveillance network will enable the identification of predictive genomic-markers for ADRs. With this knowledge, children at risk can be identified before therapy is initiated and enable personalized adjustments to therapy based on genetic make-up.
The User-centered Approach in the Development of a Complex Hospital-at-home Intervention
Authors: Cafazzo Joseph A.  , Leonard Kevin  , Easty Anthony C.  , Rossos Peter G.  , Chan Christopher T.
Published: February 2025

We discuss the development of a comprehensive remote patient monitoring system that facilitates the self-care of patients undergoing nocturnal home hemodialysis (NHHD), a complex hospital-at-home therapy. The use of a continuous, iterative approach with user involvement for the validation of assumptions can avoid situations where the system serves a patient poorly. An ethnographic analysis was used to determine specific design principles, which were reviewed with the patients prior to development of the system. Iterative designs were tested through usability testing and further validation was done with a member-checking exercise. Patients expressed concern about the physical obtrusiveness of monitoring which, consequently, led to a lack of adherence. The need for monitoring the integrity of the bloodlines was identified as important because one of the most significant fears among patients was potential blood loss. Patients expressed a need for immediate human intervention in response to an alert. The use of ethnography, usability testing, and member-checking methods in a user-centered approach to design can result in systems that better meet the needs of the patients and caregivers alike.
Applying a Human Factors Engineering Approach to Healthcare IT Applications: Example of a Medication CPOE Project
Authors: Pelayo Sylvia  , Bernonville Stéphanie  , Kolski Christophe  , Beuscart-Zephir Marie Catherine
Published: February 2025

This paper describes a Human Factors Engineering approach to a medication use system in the context of a hospital medication CPOE project. It presents the results obtained from the organizational analysis and describes the variations in the distribution of tasks among actors in the medication use process, which depend on the organization of the work system. It then focuses on nurses' medication administration tasks including the preparation and update of pill dispensers. This situation may be characterized according to the distributed cognition framework. The high level organizational features have an impact on the quality and safety of the coordination and communication procedures that characterize medication preparation and administration by nurses.
Adopting and Introducing New Technology To Improve Patient Care: A Wedding of Clinicians and Informatics Specialists
Authors: Barnett Jeff  , Syme Ann
Published: February 2025

The BC Cancer Agency sees 128,172 patients per year, of which 2,186 are referred to the Patient Symptom Management/Palliative Care (PSMPC) clinics for tertiary symptom management. Other than at the PSMPC clinics, screening for symptom distress is extremely variable because there is no systematic assessment protocol. In a recent audit of patients coming to the Cancer Agency, approximately 64% of patients reported experiencing a moderate to severe level of symptom distress. Of the total patients in the audit (n = 1,147), only 18 were seen by the PSMPC teams and it is unclear whether or not the remaining patients had their symptoms attended to by a health professional at the BCCA.
Integrating Point-of-care Technology into the Midwifery Curricula
Authors: Smith Rachel  , Gray Joanne
Published: February 2025

At the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), Australia, a pilot study was conducted to introduce and integrate mobile point-of-care technologies into the clinical laboratory experiences of students in the Bachelor of Midwifery program. The pilot study was a collaborative project between Intel Healthcare and the Faculty of Nursing Midwifery and Health at UTS and was conducted using Intel's mobile clinical assistants (MCA). Through role playing, students were exposed to a number of case scenarios drawn from authentic midwifery practice. The MCA was used to gain information such as test results, clinical practice protocols, and best evidence guidelines. The students were expected to discuss the information with the woman. Following the activity, students completed an online survey to identify the impact of the MCA on the role-playing situations. They also participated in a focus group where they could discuss the use of the point-of-care technology in relation to preparation for practice. Results from these evaluations indicated that the students were positive about using the MCA in simulation sessions and they also considered that this technology would be helpful in their practice. It is hoped that the use of such point-of-care technology will be integrated across the Faculty's pre-registration midwifery and nursing programs to provide students with access to the most recent information technology innovations in health care.
An Innovative Learning Experience for Entry to eHealth Careers
Authors: Fenton Shirley  , Covvey H. Dominic
Published: February 2025

We describe an innovative educational program that provides an easily-accessible introduction to Applied Health Informatics (AHI) in an effort to attract new trainees to this discipline. We call this program the AHI Bootcamp. It includes an intense, interactive, but brief on-site program, with the majority of its content delivered in approximately 80 hours of on-line presentations. The AHI Bootcamp introduces individuals, who have a broad spectrum of backgrounds but little or no knowledge of Health Informatics (HI), to the nature, concepts, methods, tools and applications of HI to address information-based challenges in health maintenance and health care delivery. AHI is the discipline that is concerned with the planning, procurement, deployment, implementation, management, effective use, and evaluation of informatics solutions in the health space. This program targets the high profile areas of AHI, orienting participants to the pursuit of broader and deeper explorations in the field.
Virtual Reality Interventions for Rehabilitation: Considerations for Developing Protocols
Authors: Boechler Patricia  , Krol Andrea  , Raso Jim  , Blois Terry
Published: February 2025

This paper is a preliminary report on a work in progress that explores the existence of practice effects in early use of virtual reality environments for rehabilitation purposes and the effects of increases in level of difficulty as defined by rate of on-screen objects.
Online Game Addiction among Chinese College Students Measurement and Attribution
Authors: Zhou Yuqiong  , Li Zhitian
Published: February 2025

This study made an initial attempt to measure and attribute online game addiction among Chinese college students. We generated three factors of online game addiction: Control Disorder, Conflict, and Injury, as well as proposed a comprehensive model that attributed online game addiction to three groups of driving forces: environmental influences (most significant), characteristics of online games, and personal reasons.
Changes in EEG Behavior through Feedback Presentation
Authors: Ron-Angevin Ricardo
Published: February 2025

Performance of brain-computer interface (BCI) will depend, to a great extent, on the ability of subjects to control their own electroencephalographic signals (EEG). To this end, it is necessary to follow a suitable training and to provide some type of visual feedback. The objective of this study is to explore the possibility of improving the EEG control via feedback presentation. Eighteen untrained subjects, divided in two groups, were trained using a BCI system based on virtual reality techniques, which submits subjects to a more familiar environment, such as controlling a car to avoid different obstacles. Different types of obstacles were introduced for each group. Significant differences in classification error rates between both groups were obtained during the last second of the feedback period.
Facial Synthesys of 3D Avatars for Therapeutic Applications
Authors: Orvalho Verónica  , Miranda José  , Sousa A. Augusto
Published: February 2025

People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) find it difficult to recognize and respond to emotions conveyed by the face. Most existing methodologies to teach people with ASD to recognize expressions use still images, and do not take into account that facial expressions have movement. We propose a new approach that uses state of the art technology to solve the problem and to improve interactivity. It is based on an avatar-user interaction model with real time response, which builds upon the patient-therapist relationship: it is designed to be used by the therapist and the patient. The core technology behind it is based on a technique we have developed for real time facial synthesis of 3D characters.
Computer-Guided Mental Practice in Neurorehabilitation
Authors: Gaggioli Andrea  , Morganti Francesca  , Meneghini Andrea  , Pozzato Ilaria  , Greggio Giovanni  , Pigatto Maurizia  , Riva Giuseppe
Published: February 2025

Motor imagery is the mental simulation of a movement without motor output. In recent years, there has been growing interest towards the application of motor imagery-based training, or “mental practice”, in stroke rehabilitation. We have developed a virtual reality prototype (the VR Mirror) to support patients in performing mental practice. The VR Mirror displays a three-dimensional simulation of the movement to be imagined, using data acquired from the healthy arm. We tested the system with nine post-stroke patients with chronic motor impairment of the upper limb. After eight weeks of training with the VR Mirror, remarkable improvement was noted in three cases, slight improvement in two cases, and no improvement in four cases. All patients showed a good acceptance of the procedure, suggesting that virtual reality technology can be successfully integrated in mental practice interventions.
Robotic Assistance for Upper Extremity Training after Stroke
Authors: Reinkensmeyer David J.
Published: February 2025

There has been a rapid increase in the past decade in the number of robotic devices that are being developed to assist in movement rehabilitation of the upper extremity following stroke. Many of these devices have produced positive clinical results. Yet, it is still not well understood how these devices enhance movement recovery, and whether they have inherent therapeutic value that can be attributed to their robotic properties per se. This chapter reviews the history of robotic assistance for upper extremity training after stroke and the current state of the field. Future advances in the field will likely be driven by scientific studies focused on defining the behavioral factors that influence motor plasticity.
Alternative Futures of Proactive Tools for a Citizen's Own Wellbeing
Authors: Meristö Tarja  , Tuohimaa Hanna  , Leppimäki Sami  , Laitinen Jukka
Published: February 2025

The aim of this paper is to create the basis for a vision of an empowered citizen who can control his/her life, especially in relation to health and personal wellbeing with the use of new ICT-tools. The methods used in the study are based on futures studies, especially on scenario methodology. Alternative future paths, i.e. scenarios are constructed using the scenario filter model that we have developed, with market, technology and society perspectives. Scenarios not resulting in the vision are described in what if – analysis as well. The scenarios are combined with Viherä's model on citizen's skills, access and motivation to use new ICT-tools. The concept COPER is targeted to different user groups with an adaptable user interface and its development is user centered. We will consider the effects and the appropriate elements of COPER in every scenario, as well as the possibilities and challenges nursing will confront. As a result we will gain information of the characteristic of COPER that advance the vision. For the future development of COPER the alternative scenarios give the basis for flexibility planning, too.
Reading Between the Numbers: The Potential of Patient Narrative
Authors: Johnson Kathy A.  , Brennan Patricia Flatley
Published: February 2025

The prevalence of online sharing of an illness experience suggests that some patients find real value in narrative. Set in the presence of evolving personal health records, a new venue for the therapeutic relationship is emerging, creating an opportune moment for nursing to influence the structure of this new model of care.
Evaluation of the Content Coverage of SNOMED-CT to Represent ICNP Version 1 Catalogues
Authors: Park Hyeoun-Ae  , Lundberg Cynthia B.  , Coenen Amy  , Konicek Debra J.
Published: February 2025

To evaluate the ability of SNOMED-CT (Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms) to represent ICNP (International Classification for Nursing Practice) nursing diagnosis and intervention catalogue concepts. We selected the 194 nursing diagnosis and 139 nursing intervention catalogue statements from ICNP Version 1.0. From June 2007 through December 2007, the first author mapped the ICNP catalogue concepts to SNOMED-CT using Apelon's TermWorks and CLUE browser 5.0. The second and fourth authors from SNOMED Terminology Solutions and the third author from ICN validated the mapping result. SNOMED-CT covered 172 concepts of 194 nursing diagnosis and 136 concepts of 139 nursing intervention catalogue concepts. SNOMED-CT can represent most (92.5%) of the ICNP nursing diagnosis and intervention catalogue concepts. Improvements to synonymy and adding missing concepts would lead to greater coverage of nursing diagnosis and intervention catalogue concepts.
Nurses Using Futuristic Technology in Today's Healthcare Setting
Authors: Wolf Debra M.  , Kapadia Amar  , Kintzel Jessie  , Anton Bonnie B.
Published: February 2025

Human computer interaction (HCI) equates nurses using voice assisted technology within a clinical setting to document patient care real time, retrieve patient information from care plans, and complete routine tasks. This is a reality currently utilized by clinicians today in acute and long term care settings. Voice assisted documentation provides hands & eyes free accurate documentation while enabling effective communication and task management. The speech technology increases the accuracy of documentation, while interfacing directly into the electronic health record (EHR). Using technology consisting of a light weight headset and small fist size wireless computer, verbal responses to easy to follow cues are converted into a database systems allowing staff to obtain individualized care status reports on demand. To further assist staff in their daily process, this innovative technology allows staff to send and receive pages as needed. This paper will discuss how leading edge and award winning technology is being integrated within the United States. Collaborative efforts between clinicians and analyst will be discussed reflecting the interactive design and build functionality. Features such as the system's voice responses and directed cues will be shared and how easily data can be documented, viewed and retrieved. Outcome data will be presented on how the technology impacted organization's quality outcomes, financial reimbursement, and employee's level of satisfaction.
Evaluation of a Training Program for Counselors in Contraception and Prevention of STIs and a Website-based Support System
Authors: Narita Shin  , Tsuru Satoko  , Suzuki Sachiko  , Kudo Rika  , Nonoyama Mikiko  , Dannoue Hideo  , Endo Toshiko
Published: February 2025

In Japan, the incidences of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are increasing among young people. To address these issues, we initiated the following steps: 1) processes supporting contraception and prevention of STIs were created for counseling and construction of an algorithm for that process; 2) a system was developed using a website to support the program for training counselors, and provide practical support during and after the training; and 3) a program for the counselor was developed and is being evaluated. The counseling process was visualized by an algorithm notion method developed by Tsuru et al. Participants registered on the website, enabling them to confirm the lecture contents, record their self studies and submit issues. In order to evaluate this program, a preliminary survey and short tests after the lectures were completed. Participants were nurse-midwives who graduated at a nursing university. 27 participants were expected to complete the program. The answer ratios in the short tests were significantly improved compared to them in the preliminary survey. All participants submitted issues via the website. Further development of the system is planned so that the website can provide practical support by trained counselors and build on the accumulated practical results. Further refinement of the developed algorithm is required so that trained counselors can use it regularly via the website.
The Evaluation of the Nurses' Work Performance After Nursing Information System Implementation in One Medical Center in Taiwan
Authors: Hou I-Ching  , Yu Hui-Chu  , Hwang Yuen-Jiau  , Cheng Jimmy  , Wu Rong-Syuan  , Chang Polun
Published: February 2025

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nurses' work performance before and after implementation of two nursing information subsystems: Patient Admission Nursing Documentation(PAND) and Physical Examination Documentation(PED) in 2351 beds medical center in Taiwan. Nurses' work performance was measured by time observation. The results of research showed that PAND increased the nurses' work performance 19.7% and PED increase the nurses' performance 2.8%.
Second Life and Health Information
Authors: Brixey Juliana J.  , Turley James P.
Published: February 2025

Second Life (SL) is emerging as a repository of health information. The purpose of this study was to determine the number of places and groups that offer specific health information in SL. A retrospective analysis of SL places and groups was conducted for cancer. Findings indicate that more cancer information is available from groups than specific places in SL. All current and future cancer information will need to be evaluated for reliability and efficacy.
Cross-mapping the Finnish Classification of Nursing Diagnosis, Nursing Interventions and the Oulu Patient Classification
Authors: Liljamo Pia  , Kaakinen Pirjo
Published: February 2025

The structure of nursing documentation in Finland is based on the nursing process model and nursing diagnosis, interventions and outcomes are documented using a standardized nursing terminology. Patient related information is produced and stored in an electronic form at multiple sites. Patient care intensity classification is one of the essential pieces of nursing core data belonging to the structural data of an electronic patient record supported by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The purpose of this paper is to describe the process of cross-mapping Finnish Classification of Nursing Diagnosis/Needs (FiCND), Nursing Interventions (FiCNI) and the most commonly used patient intensity classification in Finland, the Oulu Patient Classification (OPC). These databases enable evaluation, analysis and utilisations of data for administrative and research purposes. The end product is a cross-mapped classification material in The Institute for Health and Welfare (before National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health, STAKES) to use in every electronic patient record systems in Finland.
The Effect of a Standardized Form in Guiding Communication Between Peers During the Hand-Off of Patients in a Hospital Setting
Authors: Phillips Andrew
Published: February 2025

The Joint Commission, whose mission is to continuously improve the safety and quality of care provided to the public hrough health care organizations establishes annual National Patient Safety Goals as part of their accreditation process of hospitals in the United States. One of the stated goals for 2009 is to mprove the effectiveness of communication among caregivers. Hospitals, in meeting this goal, have used various methods, including the development of hand-off standards and improvements to supporting information systems.
Service Engineering for Grid Services in Medicine and Life Science
Authors: Weisbecker Anette  , Falkner Jürgen
Published: February 2025

Clearly defined services with appropriate business models are necessary in order to exploit the benefit of grid computing for industrial and academic users in medicine and life sciences. In the project Services@MediGRID the service engineering approach is used to develop those clearly defined grid services and to provide sustainable business models for their usage.
The evolution of HPV by means of a phylogenetic study
Authors: Isea Raúl  , Chaves Juan L.  , Montes Esther  , Rubio-Montero Antonio J.  , Mayo Rafael
Published: February 2025

In this work we demonstrate the adequacy of revising the classification systems based on molecular phylogenetic calculations by allowing an arbitrary number of taxas that take advantage of high performance computing platforms for the Human papillomavirus (HPV) case. To do so, we have analysed several phylogenetic trees which have been calculated with the PhyloGrid tool, a workflow developed in the framework of the EELA-2 Project.
Developing Navigation Planning Skill with Learner-Adaptable Scaffolding
Authors: Kashihara Akihiro  , Taira Kazuaki
Published: February 2025

Navigation planning is an important meta-cognitive process for self-directed learning in hyperspace. However, it is hard for learners to accomplish it. The main issue addressed in this paper is how to develop navigation planning skill. This paper describes a cognitive apprenticeship approach to this issue, which enables learners to accumulate experiences of navigation planning process with cognitive tool. In particular, we propose a learner-adaptable scaffolding method, in which functions of the tool can be fadable according to their planning skill. The results of the case study suggest that it allows learners to fade functions of the cognitive tool to develop their navigation planning skill.
MetaTutor: Analyzing Self-Regulated Learning in a Tutoring System for Biology
Authors: Azevedo Roger  , Witherspoon Amy  , Graesser Arthur  , McNamara Danielle  , Chauncey Amber  , Siler Emily  , Cai Zhiquiang  , Rus Vasile  , Lintean Mihai
Published: February 2025

We report preliminary data of an initial laboratory study examining the effectiveness of self-regulated learning (SRL) training versus no training on learners' ability to deploy SRL processes and learn about the circulatory system with MetaTutor. MetaTutor is an intelligent tutoring system (ITS) designed to train and foster learners' SRL processes while learning about several complex human body systems. We used a mixed methodology approach and include the results of a subset of the participants (N=30) whose product and process data we have analyzed. Overall, the results indicate that the SRL training group significantly outperformed the control group.
Learning by Guiding a Teachable Agent to Play an Educational Game
Authors: Pareto Lena  , Schwartz Daniel L.  , Svensson Lars
Published: February 2025

Teachable agents are used to support transfer of game playing knowledge to domain knowledge for an educational, arithmetic game. A pre-posttest experiment study show promising learning effects for low ability students.
Identifying Unresolved Issues in Online Student Discussions: A Multi-Phase Dialogue Classification Approach
Authors: Kim Jihie  , Kim Taehwan  , Li Jia
Published: February 2025

Automatic tools for analyzing student online discussions are highly desirable for providing better assistance and encouraging participation. This paper presents an approach for automatically identifying student discussions with unresolved issues or unanswered questions. We apply a two-phase classification algorithm. First, we classify “speech acts” of individual messages to identify the roles that the messages play, such as question, answer, issue raising, or acknowledgement. We then use the resulting speech acts as features for identifying discussion threads with unresolved issues or questions. We performed a preliminary analysis of the classifiers and achieved an average accuracy of 78%.
Predicting soil liquid limit and plasticity index using tree-based learning
Authors: Piantedosi M.C.  , Livingston G.R.  , Kurup P.U.  , Griffin E.P.
Published: February 2025

This study documents the successful application of tree learning and data mining techniques to predict liquid limit (LL) and plasticity index (PI) from in situ cone penetration test (CPT) data. The primary learning methods used were regression trees, linear model trees, and recently popularized ensemble methods that average the results of many differently grown, individual trees. The data used in this study were obtained after a 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan on September 1999 in the town of Chi-Chi, and numerous CPTs were conducted in the surrounding area. LL and PI data were obtained from soil samples taken from adjacent boreholes. Three approaches for predicting LL and PI were evaluated. The first approach predicted these values from cone resistance (qc), friction ratio (Rf), total overburden stress (σv0), equilibrium pore pressure (u0), and the associated depth of these measurements. The second approach predicted LL and PI using qc, Rf, σv0, u0, and their depth, along with a binary plastic identity feature that indicated whether or not a soil was plastic or non-plastic. The third approach consisted of a two-step prediction process where classification-tree learning methods were used to train models for predicting the plastic identity from qc, Rf, σv0, u0, and their depth. This predicted value was then used, along with qc, Rf, σv0, u0, and their depth, to predict LL and PI. The third approach was found to give better estimates of LL and PI than the first method, and the second approach gave the best predictions.
Interaction analysis of displacements two granular pile anchors
Authors: Vidyaranya B.  , Kumar M.  , Madhav M.R.  , Sivakumar V.
Published: February 2025

Granular Piles (GP) offer significant improvement to over-all performance of the ground by improving bearing capacity, reducing settlements, accelerating the rate of consolidation, facilitate drainage and mitigating liquefaction damage by reinforcement and densification. GP resist compressive and shear loads but not tensile loads due to their inherent nature. A simple modification of placing an anchor at the base and attaching the same by a cable or rod to the footing to transfer an applied pullout forces to the bottom of the GP makes it resist tensile loads. Such an assembly is termed a Granular Pile Anchor (GPA). A linear analysis and another considering slip at the GPA-soil interface for displacements of GPA are presented elsewhere. Analysis for displacements of group of two granular pile anchors is presented in this paper. The shear stresses and displacements generated in the two GPA group are analyzed and the influence of spacing between GPA, L/d and relative stiffness ratio of GP material with respect to ground, are quantified.
Predicted and measured settlements due to installation and removal of sheet piles
Authors: Oung O.  , Brassinga H.E.
Published: February 2025

At a construction site in the centre of Rotterdam, several sheet piles had to be installed. Preliminary calculations based on the method of Hergarden showed that large soil settlements at the location of an underground water duct could cause damage to it. Measurements of the soils settlement have been taken during both the vibratory installation and removal of sheet piles. Two types of prediction of these effects have been carried out: an advanced and a straightforward method. The predicted settlements at groundlevel have been compared to the measurements carried out during construction. The results show that the advanced method is conservative although easy to use. The calculated settlements seem to be consistent with the soil profiles. The straightforward method can be used for preliminary calculations.
Structure upgradation concept applied to cyclic mobility of sand and high ductility of natural clay
Authors: Nakai K.  , Nakano M.  , Asaoka A.  , Kawai T.
Published: February 2025

The soil skeleton structure (structure, overconsolidation, and anisotropy) increases and decreases as the plastic deformation varies. Previously, only the structure has been considered to be degraded; however, observation of the undrained cyclic shear behavior of medium dense sand shows that not only does the structure degrade, but a structure upgradation process also occurs. Therefore, the concept of structure upgradation accompanying plastic swelling was introduced into the SYS Cam-clay model based on the results of testing. This structure upgradation concept makes it possible to describe the cyclic mobility of sand and to explain the high ductility behavior seen in soft natural clay.
New Hoog Catharijne: a 5-levels challenging underground construction
Authors: van der Stoel A.E.C.  , Vink D.  , Kluft D.J.  , den Nijs P.
Published: February 2025

In the centre of the City of Utrecht, Corio project development will built the first Dutch 5 levels underground car parking. The project concerns some especially challenging underground construction topics, such as the use of prefabricated, prestressed concrete walls constructed in slurry walls, extremely highly loaded bored piles, plate pile foundation and building extremely close to nearby high rise buildings. The concept of the car parking also incorporates an integrated canal, which flows midways through the garage! In this paper first the specific soil and environmental conditions are summarised. After that the special topics concerning the calculations of the construction sequence, pile design, influence on surroundings and groundwater flow modelling are outlined. Special attention is given to the influences caused by the displacement caused by the wall installation.
Field instrumentation of an embankment on stone columns
Authors: Castro J.  , Sagaseta C.
Published: February 2025

The construction of a 10-metre-height embankment on a marsh area is presented. The foundation ground was improved with stone columns to reduce the final settlement and increase the settlement rate. Stone columns were constructed by the dry bottom-feed method with a diameter of 0.8 m and a spacing of 2.8 m in a triangular pattern. The soft soil treated is a more or less homogeneous clay layer of 9 m. Field instrumentation was used to study stone column behaviour. Total pressure cells on soil and column, piezometers and a 3-level extensometer were installed. Settlement and stress concentration factors are assessed, whereas the consolidation process was too fast to be analysed. The measurements are compared with the results of a three dimensional finite element model.
Fibre optic installation techniques for pile instrumentation
Authors: Mohamad H.  , Soga K.  , Bennett P.J.
Published: February 2025

An innovative technique based on optical fibre sensing that allows continuous strain measurement has recently been introduced in structural health monitoring. Known as Brillouin Optical Time-Domain Reflectometry (BOTDR), this distributed optical fibre sensing technique allows measurement of strain along the full length (up to 10km) of a suitably installed optical fibre. Examples of recent implementations of BOTDR fibre optic sensing in piles are described in this paper. Two examples of distributed optical fibre sensing in piles are demonstrated using different installation techniques. In a load bearing pile, optical cables were attached along the reinforcing bars by equally spaced spot gluing to measure the axial response of pile to ground excavation induced heave and construction loading. Measurement of flexural behaviour of piles is demonstrated in the instrumentation of a secant piled wall where optical fibres were embedded in the concrete by simple endpoint clamping. Both methods have been verified via laboratory works.
Real-time monitoring of ground movement and groundwater conditions associated with natural terrain landslides in Hong Kong
Authors: Millis S.W.  , Chan E.K.K.  , Ho A.N.L.  , Lau K.W.K.  , Sun H.W.
Published: February 2025

The geotechnical profession in Hong Kong is familiar with the use of geotechnical instrumentation as a ground investigation tool for stability assessment of slopes and the design of slope stabilization measures. Geotechnical instrumentation has also helped collection of field data for research and development projects that further our understanding of slope behaviour in Hong Kong. As instrumentation techniques continue to improve and practitioners gain a better understanding of the possible influence of progressive slope deterioration, it is anticipated that slope instrumentation for long-term performance monitoring of landslide development at individual sites will become more frequently used in Hong Kong. To prepare for this trend, the Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) of Hong Kong is undertaking some relevant technical development work to test the performance of various instruments and arranging pilot instrumentation schemes to set up a prototype real-time instrumentation networks in Hong Kong.
Design of engineered slopes in flysch rock mass
Authors: Brunčić A.  , Arbanas Ž.  , Kovačević M.-S.
Published: February 2025

The method for the design and realization of systems for ensuring stability of cuts in flysch formations, with an interactive approach based on stress-strain back analyses, is presented. Flysch formations can be regarded as materials belonging in a transitional zone between soft rocks and hard soils. Based on results obtained by laboratory and in-situ investigations in various stages of design and realization of projects, it can be concluded that the strength and deformability parameters for flysch can not accurately be determined by traditional methods, and that it is very difficult to adopt realistic design parameters. An interactive design procedure to be applied during realization of cut support constructions in flysch formations is proposed. The use of proposed methods is presented and illustrated by examples of cuts realized in flysch on the Adriatic motorway route in the vicinity of the town of Rijeka, Croatia. Design procedures used for ensuring stability of cuts are based on results obtained by geotechnical investigations as well as on classifications for heterogeneous rock formations. The system for monitoring behaviour of flysch formations in cuts is established, and flysch formations are classified in open side cuts through geotechnical supervision. Relevant data are used in stress-strain back analyses, so as strain properties of flysch are varied in order to harmonize measured and calculated displacements at cut locations. The results of these analyses either confirm the predictions or require modifying the design support systems in order to ensure cuts stability in flysch formations.
Soil improvement by stone columns for the ore storage yard at the Rio de Janeiro steel plant on soft, alluvial deposits
Authors: Wegner Rainer  , Candeias Miguel  , Moormann Christian  , Jud Holger  , Glockner Andreas
Published: February 2025

ThyssenKrupp Steel AG is presently setting up a new steel plant on an area of 9 km2consisting predominately of alluvial terrain in the State of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. The planned annual production is 5.0 mio ton of crude steel. Cohesive sediments of soft to very soft consistency up to considerable depths and a groundwater level close to the surface provide extreme difficult foundation conditions for heavy industry structures of the envisaged nature. A major challenge is the geotechnical foundation solution by stone column soil improvement for the heavily loaded iron ore storage yard and the adjacent corridors for loading and transport facilities. The project had to be completed by 2009 in only 3 years. This article describes the way of gathering and processing basic site data for an industrial project of the planned magnitude. Subsoil data available are reviewed and are then used in the soil improvement analysis. The results of the full-scale load test are reported. Furthermore the enormous project requirements with regard to site and material logistics as well as to production progress are shown.
Numerical modeling of the seismic response of soil-mixed reinforced ground
Authors: Martin J.R.  , Olgun C.G.
Published: February 2025

Ground reinforcement methods such as stone columns, jet grouting, and soil mixing are commonly used to improve subsoil conditions for seismic mitigation. The purpose of this improvement is usually for foundation support and/or liquefaction mitigation. Additional benefits, such as a possible reduction in seismic ground motions, are not considered in NEHRP/IBC code provisions. This paper summarizes results from parametric dynamic 3-D finite element analyses of soil-mix reinforced ground. The results suggest that stiff ground reinforcements arranged in lattice-type soil-mix panels may significantly reduce ground motions and improve NEHRP/IBC Site Classification. Moreover, the cost of the soil improvement may be more than offset by the lower construction cost resulting from lower design motions and a more favorable site classification. Additional research is needed to provide detailed insight.
Behavior of ordinaryencased stone columns studied by FEM analysis
Authors: Elsawy M.  , Lesny K.  , Richwien W.
Published: February 2025

Construction on soft natural soil is considered a risk due to its low shear strength and high compressibility. Stone columns are an effective improvement method for soft soils under light structures such as rail or road embankments. Stone columns are generally used to increase the bearing capacity which depends on their lateral support. In this research full scale stone columns in Bremerhaven clay, a soft soil layer of 6.0 m thickness, were analyzed using the finite element program Plaxis. The stone columns were loaded under undrained and drained conditions of the surrounding soft soil to investigate the effect of varying parameters like spacing distance between columns, column diameter and stiffness of the geogrid encasement on the behavior of the stone column in short and long term conditions. The results showed that the ordinary stone columns with narrower spacing distances and smaller diameters have a greater bearing capacity and show smaller settlement as well as lateral bulging than wider spacings and greater diameters of stone columns. When using geogrids as encasement for stone columns, a huge increase in the bearing capacity of the stone column as well as a huge reduction in the lateral bulging and the settlement occur. The bearing capacity of the stone columns increases as well as their lateral bulging, settlement and differential settlement decrease with increasing encasement stiffness in both short and long term conditions.
Soft soil strengthening by calcium cation permeation
Authors: Davoudi M.H.  , Astaneh F.  , Alvandkoohi H.
Published: February 2025

Different methods are used for increasing shear strength of soft soils; among them are additive materials such as slag, fly ash, lime and cement. This paper presents a new method for evolution of shear strength in soft soils. In this method the calcium ion is prepared by dissolving hydrated lime in the water. Once saturated lime solution (SLS) is permeated in the soil, two phenomenons, cation exchange and pozolanic reaction, take place and result in soil strengthening. To study this method, a physical model was design and built in SCWMRI and 1600 liter SLS was permeated through a high plastic clay, then direct shear and Atterburg limit tests were carried out on treated samples. The results showed that the shear resistance of soil increase about 200% while the settlement and plasticity index decreases 58% and 14% respectively.
Monitoring of building the dam of Rezaksay water storage from the point of view of engineering geology
Authors: Mavlyanov N.G.  , Abdullaev Sh.Kh.
Published: February 2025

Complicated geological and geomorphological conditions, uniqueness of the construction and high rates of building the Rezaksay water storage dam made necessary of accurate holding engineering-geological monitoring of quality control of construction works during its building. Monitoring carried out by implementation during stacking and compactions of the ground in a body of the dam the audit engineering-geological tryouts, lab tests and seismic measuring using modern express methods. The next basic indexes were controlled: volumetric weight of skeleton, humidity, particle-size distribution, filtration factor, plasticity, shearing resistance, angle of internal friction, velocity of propagation seismic waves, head resistance of the ground. That has allowed, not slashing rate of the building to carry out qualitative and reliable control and in time to reveal and eliminate degraded construction works.
Ground freezing for tunnelling under historical structures
Authors: Kirsch F.  , Richter Th.
Published: February 2025

The newly constructed City-Tunnel Leipzig, Germany consists of two tubes manufactured by a hydraulic shield with segmental lining. On its way below the historical city centre of Leipzig it crosses a housing complex composed by a building constructed in 1908 and a modern structure of 1995 both separated by a reinforced bored pile wall, which intersects with the tunnel clearing. The lower edge of the bored pile wall needs to be removed prior to tunnelling. For this purpose an auxiliary tunnel 3,5 m in diameter is constructed directly underneath the two buildings starting from a vertical shaft. The excavation of this 60 m long tunnel is performed by mining technique supported by a ground freezing body of approximately 5,000 m3. Due to geometrical necessities the tunnel consists of three parts including two caverns of approximately 7 m in diameter to allow for a sudden change of direction. Ground freezing is performed by liquid nitrogen flowing through a total of 120 pipes, installed in 35 m long horizontal boreholes below ground water table. The design of the ground freezing measures includes numerical analysis of the thermal and mechanical behaviour of the soil. A total of 180 temperature gauges are installed in the ground in order to allow proper control of the ice propagation. Control parameters were determined for all temperature gauges by prior numerical analysis and are constantly adapted to real soil-ice behaviour. The structural analysis takes account of the highly non-linear performance of frozen ground and enables the prediction of deformations both of the tunnel and the adjacent buildings. Due to previous damage the allowable deformations of the historical structures are as low as 10 mm accompanied by a relative distortion of 1/2000. Supervision of displacements is realized by highly sensitive barometric levelling.
The effect of limited site investigations on the design of pile foundations
Authors: Arsyad A.  , Jaksa M.B.  , Fenton G.A.  , Kaggwa W.S.
Published: February 2025

When designing pile foundations, it is normal practice to perform a site investigation in order to quantify the physical and engineering properties of the ground. Often, the scope of the site investigation is dictated by construction time lines and budgetary constraints, rather than on the variability of the ground. It has been shown by a number of authors that as little as 0.04% – 0.3% of the total construction budget is spent on geotechnical investigations. Limited site investigations have the potential to impact significantly on the success or otherwise of the completed project. These include cost over-runs, construction delays, foundation failure and over-design. It has been suggested that “You pay for a site investigation whether you have one or not.”
Advances in geotechnical characterization of Mexico City basin subsoil
Authors: Auvinet G.  , Méndez E.  , Juárez M.
Published: February 2025

This paper presents recent advances in the geotechnical characterization of Mexico City subsoil based on a Geographic Information System for Geotechnical Borings (GIS-GB) that includes more than 7,000 soil profiles. Geostatistical techniques were used to define 2D and 3D models of the subsoil. Contours of layers thickness, as well as index and mechanical properties in the area were also obtained. The maps that have been established have been used in order to update the geotechnical zoning presented in Mexico City Building Code.