bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Use of Information Technologies for Processing of Materials of Field Surveys
Authors: Kosheleva E A , Koshelev S A
Published: June 2019

Data processing and subsequent visualization is currently one of the leading values in field studies. The application of geographic information technologies (GIS) greatly simplifies these processes. The article gives a brief overview of the main software currently used to integrate the information into databases, its analysis and translation of paper maps into digital form with the creation of maps of actual material in 2D. The capabilities of this software for real-time data processing and 3D modelling are limited. The author’s program “LABPOLYGON” version 5.1, developed for documenting and visualizing field research data, allows for multifunctional processing, including in real time.
The Grounds of Subject Area of Technosphere Studies
Authors: Taburkin V I , Doronina M V , Udartseva O V , Solovev D B
Published: June 2019

In this article we have made an attempt to comprehend the subject area of technosphere studies. First of all, with these purposes there was carried out the methodological analysis of the basic concepts, principles and notions of technosphere knowledge existing in the modern scientific literature; critical assessment is given. On this basis we suggest new structure of the subject area grounds and object of cognition as a criterion of determination of the subject of technosphere knowledge and its structure. For this there was applied the principle of unity of the cognition subject and object as a criterion of determination of technosphere knowledge subject and its structure. Then it’s created a picture of technosphere reality and its fundamental and general scientific principles and notions are formed: technosphere, technology, technosphere evolution, technosphere and technical activities, technosphere safety, technosphere ecology etc. The system model of the subject area of technosphere studies is constructed on such a methodological base.
Regularities of the Formation of Indoor Radiation Doses Caused to People by External Exposure
Authors: Khorzova L I , Tekushin D V , Bykadorova O A
Published: June 2019

The concept of safety and assurance of vital human activities in urbanization is one of the most significant backbone concepts of human ecology. The comfort of residential buildings under construction is largely owed to the radiation properties of the construction materials used. Therefore, the radiation-related hygienic support of technological processes and construction is an important issue for the construction industry. The paper considers the regularities of the formation of indoor background gamma radiation depending on various factors, in particular on the impact of the specific activities of naturally occurring radionuclides in construction materials. The results of the investigation allowed determining that the annual accumulated dose calculated according to the formula and the actual accumulated dose in buildings constructed of various materials comply with the normative documents, however the accumulated doses of human exposure in panel buildings are 4-6 times higher than in other types of buildings.
Materials and Technologies Ensuring Environmental Safety of Reconstruction and Overhaul of Trunk Pipelines
Authors: Abramyan S G , Oganesyan O V
Published: June 2019

The paper presents an overview of the studies of Russian and foreign scientists exploring the issues of reliable operation of trunk pipelines transporting oil and gas. It is found that subsea pipeline networks pose a greater danger in terms of their functional failures and environmental effects and appear more prone to stress corrosion cracking. Certain materials and technologies are brought into focus to demonstrate that their use allows curbing the environmental expansion or ensures the reliable operation of oil and gas pipelines. It is noted that one of the most promising methods for reconstruction and overhaul of trunk pipelines provide for the application of composite materials to the internal surface of a damaged pipes. The appropriate formulation of composite materials depends on the condition of the internal pipeline cavity. Also, there are scientific breakthroughs which may serve to reduce corrosion activity of clayey soils. Stress is laid on the importance of innovations in the development of technologies and materials ensuring the maintenance of ecological balance in the areas where oil and gas transmission networks operate.
Multi-Stage Intelligent System for Diagnostics of Pumping Equipment for Oil and Gas Industries
Authors: Bukhtoyarov V V , Tynchenko V S , Petrovsky E A
Published: June 2019

New approach for classification of the state of technological pumping equipment is presented in the paper. The approach involves the use of pumping equipment parameters operative monitoring data for indirect fault identification. The proposed method is a part of developed integrated approach for decision support in the management of technological equipment of oil and gas fields. The method realizes a multi-stage classification scheme based on an ensemble approach to the intelligent data analysis. The scheme involves the creation of simple classifiers of the first level, which can be implemented on the basis of artificial neural networks or other effective classifying methods. The second level of the scheme is realized by a dynamically tunable aggregators of the first level solutions. The results of an experimental numerical study of the proposed approach and a number of data analysis techniques are presented. The obtained results allow to confirm that it is possible to detect different states of the pumping technological equipment more effectively by the usage of the proposed approach as a part of intelligent data driven diagnostics system.
New Transport Project: Threats to the Regional Geosystem Diversity
Authors: Pomazkova N , Faleychik L , Faleychik A
Published: June 2019

Currently the China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) attracts the attention of the rest of the world. Two transport corridors, the sea and the land routes, will link China with Europe. For Russia the transportation component of the BRI has gained special significance, because it will allow to unlock the export and transit potential of Russian economy. The eastern transport corridor crossing Transbaikalia is a very interesting project for the Trans-Baikal Territory. One of the priority directions of this project is the possible building of a high-speed railway (HSR). The study purpose is the assessment of the impact of HSR building on the regional landscapes in the context of a) identification and evaluation of risks of loss for the most valuable natural areas and b) necessity of inclusion of these areas in the existing network of natural protected areas. The spatial analysis performed using GIS technologies shows that the HSR project will affect 35% of diversity of the regional landscapes. Fragile natural complexes were revealed among them. Moreover, the greatest impact can be asserted on the “Dzeren Valley” Federal Reserve, a part of natural complexes of which will be covered by the 10-km impact zone. The measures to mitigate and to compensate the negative impact of the new transport infrastructure on the regional geosystems are suggested.
Content of Microelements in Brown Coals of Transbaikal Region
Authors: Sidorova G P , Yakimov A A , Ovcharenko N V
Published: June 2019

The coal deposits containing a complex of the major valuable microelements which have various degree of study are disclosed in Transbaikal territory. The analysis of geological material on coal deposits of Transbaikal region demonstrates great prospect for search and surveying of germanium-bearing coals in this territory. Gallium and beryllium at infrequent elements’ group is expedient to consider which are contained in local coals in the increased concentration connected among themselves. Content of these elements in coals it is caused by space exposure of coal and rare-metal deposits. The last include the production reserves of beryllium and they are a part of the Transbaikal region beryllium-bearing province in Russia. It is noted that some coal deposits of Transbaikal region have the increased content of rare-earth elements. Noble metals in the increased concentration are established in many assay of coal of various deposits that is caused by constant aurum content within the Transbaikal metallogenic province. There are data on content of valuable ore elements in coal deposits of the Transbaikal region, regularities of their placement depending on geochemical features of metallogenic provinces, conditions of accumulation and to form into various components of coals and also information about ore elements’ localization and their associations. The analysis of these data gives geological and technological characteristic to metal-bearing coals as to perspective complex of mineral raw materials. There are considered infrequent and diffuse elements, non-ferrous, noble, rare-earth and radioactive metals with concentration less than 0,1% as microelements in coals. According to the International Organization for Standardization 84 elements are detected in coals which belong to various groups of a periodic system of elements. 35-40 elements are found stably in coals of deposits of Russia in detection limits of mass analyses.
Evaluation of Drilling Cutting Components and Their Impact on the Environment Using Bioassay (Siberia, Russia)
Authors: Mishunina A S , Klimova A A
Published: June 2019

To meet the demands for oil and gas production, the number of oil and gas wells is increasing every year, construction of drilling sites is growing and, as a consequence, the amount of drilling wastes continues to grow too. The article is concerned with consideration of hazards from produced chemicals for different environments as industrial anthropogenic sources based on drilling cuttings (DC) from Tomsk Oblast oil fields (Siberia, Tomsk) as an example. The rock-forming minerals in all samples are quartz, albite, and Muscovite. Bioassay results of DC from research oil field showed the biological effect on the test culture.
Influence of SHF Treatment on Lipid Output from Microalga Chlorella Sorokiniana
Authors: Politaeva N , Smyatskaya Yu , Toumi A
Published: June 2019

This work is devoted to investigation of methods of obtaining and usage of lipid fraction from microalgae. We describe methods for obtaining lipid fractions from microalgaeChlorella Sorokinianaby means of Sohxlet apparatus. We studied influence of microalga biomass drying technique (IR and lyophilization) and cell disintegration technique on lipid output from biomass. We investigated physical (SHF-radiation) and mechanical (grinding) treatments aiming at cell disintegration. It was shown, that maximum lipid output is obtained at combined treatment of biomass by lyophilization and SHF-irradiation. When comparing total lipids output from lyophilized biomass without and after disintegration (by mechanical and physical treatments), we didn’t notice any notable difference. Lyophilic treatment simultaneously dehydrates biomass and results in maximum cell disintegration, which provides maximum lipids output without additional disintegration stage (13.2%). It was proved that biomass lyophilization results in maximum lipids output.
Technosphere Safety: from Concept to Scientific Direction
Authors: Aladyshkin I V , Kulik S V , Efremov S V
Published: June 2019

The paper discusses the theoretical principles of the scientific field “Technospheric Security”. The conducted research gives grounds to believe that this scientific field came as an attempt to integrate various aspects of life safety issues rather than a fundamentally new concept of safety. The paper reveals the key points of the current state of the theoretical foundations of the scientific field “Technospheric Security”, among which is the gap between theoretical and practical/applied components of the area as well as the blurriness of the conceptual framework, the eclecticity of methodology and inconsistency of strategies for studying safety issues. The authors have come to the conclusion that it is necessary to work out an integrative concept of the technosphere which ought to become the basis for the development of the theoretical and methodological foundations of the new scientific field “Technospheric Security”. The authors substantiate the definition of the technosphere that can be proposed to start the integration of the theoretical and methodological foundations of Technospheric Security and the development of the integrational concept of the technosphere.
Vibro Packed Column Equipment for Mass Transfer Processes
Authors: Tukaeva R B , Afanasenko V G , Yunusova Y L
Published: June 2019

Modern oil-processing industry is based of development of the real sector of economy of any state. Cardinal equipment modernization is necessary for increase in efficiency and acceleration of rates of oil processing. In this regard development of new designs of contact devices for mass-exchanged processes is the most urgent task. For her decision in this article the design of the vibronozzle mass-exchanged device for carrying out process of extraction is offered. The feature of the developed design consists in sectioning of the interdish-shaped space filled with layers of a floating pack that allows to prevent cross hashing of the interacting components in devices even of big diameter and to provide counterflow carrying out process in the conditions of vibration influences. For assessment of efficiency of the upgraded device process of crushing of a disperse phase at back and forth motion is investigated and also process of formation of a surface of contact of phases for each operating mode of the device – the vibropulsation, vibropump and vibroboiling is considered. During the researches on height of volume of interdish-shaped space of the device three pronounced zones differing in the impact on the considered liquid drop have been revealed. Also as a result of the done work expression of dependence of diameter of drops in the device is received from the geometrical sizes of mass-exchanged devices and from physical and chemical properties of phases.
New Industrial Eco-Technologies Using the Effects of Hydro-vortex Dedusting
Authors: Makarov V N , Makarov N V , Franyuk E E
Published: June 2019

The genesis of industrial ecology, the analysis of the main stages in development of technology and eco-technology, allows to confirm that they are not effective enough in ensuring safety and sanitary-hygienic conditions. The introduction of promising innovative technologies, the growth of labor productivity is often limited by parameters of ensuring controllability of technogenic processes, in particular, localization of explosions of aerosol dust mixtures. A method of hydro-vortex dedusting is suggested based on the principle of circulating orthokinetic hetero-coagulation in the system “liquid-solid”, graphical-analytical model of hydro-vortex inertial orthokinetic hetero-coagulation. Expressions for effective values of the Stokes and Reynolds criteria under conditions of hydro-vortex hetero-coagulation were modified. Equations are obtained for calculating the amount of decrease in the total energy consumption required for absorption of dust particles, the effective wetting contact angle and minimum diameter of dust particles to be absorbed during hydrovortical heterocoagulation in a function of angular velocity of liquid droplet rotation. A decrease in the energy barrier under conditions of hydro-vortex coagulation is established, being caused by an increase in the effective values of the Stokes criterion in comparison with the values obtained without taking into account rotation of the liquid drops. It is shown that hydro-vortex dedusting increases efficiency of dust suppression, localization of dust mixture explosions, significantly reducing the size of dispersed dust composition, ensures the growth of resource efficiency of eco-technology due to reducing of water consumption.
Risk Assessment of Accidents During the Transportation of Liquid Radioactive Waste in Multimodal Transport
Authors: Tumanov A
Published: June 2019

To enhance the safety of the transport of dangerous goods in tanks, the latter should improve the mechanical (physical) protection to prevent accidental damage to the boilers, such as objects containing dangerous goods directly. Damage to the boiler will almost inevitably leads to such consequences as decompression, the leakage of liquid radioactive waste and radiation pollution of the surrounding area. This article discusses scenarios accidents when overloading with marine railway transport; the explosion of gas cylinders on board the vessel. Calculation formulas are obtained to determine the speed at which the shards is provided by probabilistic the breakout a certain thickness of the tank walls. Received probability distribution function for the specified parameters shards and material barriers, which was determined by conducting a full-scale experiment. The results of theoretical studies, experiments used to improve designs of tanks carrying LRW and recommendations for improving the security of multimodal transport.
Experimental Simulation of Sorption Processes of Heavy Metals on Natural Clay Minerals
Authors: Badmaeva S V , Khankhasaeva S Ts , Dashinamzhilova E Ts
Published: June 2019

The sorption of iron (III) and copper (II) ions on natural clay minerals of deposits of Buryatia is investigated. The adsorption of ions of these metals depends on pH of solution, clay loading, concentration of metals ions and also on the temperature of adsorption carrying out and regularities of influence of these parameters on adsorption efficiency are determined. Kinetic regularities of adsorption of ions of Fe3+ and Cu2+ on natural clays are consistent with kinetics model of pseudo- second order. The isotherms of equilibrium adsorption of above-mentioned ions on natural clay are described by Langmuir equation with the correlation coefficient of R2 equal 0.994. Results of testing of clays in the process of purification of adit wastewater of iron and copper ions testify to a possibility of effective use of natural clays of Buryatia in sewage treatment from ions of heavy metals.
Intellectual Control of Dangerous States of the Facilities of Main Hydrocarbon Transport Systems in Adaptive Expert Systems
Authors: Zemenkova M Y
Published: June 2019

The work deals with the development of methods for assessing the reliability of oil and gas equipment and systems for adaptive decision support systems. At the Department of Hydrocarbon Transportation, studies are underway to create decision support systems with predictive, warning and reliability assessment functions. The proposed methodology can be used for adaptive expert systems for monitoring reliability in real time. The technique allows identifying the state of the technological facility and predicting the probabilities of parametric failure by the given criteria. The proposed method has been tested and can be used when estimating the reliability of oil and gas pipeline technical systems.
Economic-Mathematical Model of Telecommunication System, Which is Being Developed for a High-Tech Company
Authors: Ermakov A , Sokolov N
Published: June 2019

The article proposes a model of a telecommunication system that allows to conduct a joint study of its functional and cost characteristics. For this model, three technical indicators and three economic metrics are used. They allow to explore the basic characteristics of a telecommunication network under normal operating conditions and when a critical situation of a different nature occurs. In this case, the numerical values of the attributes included in the bundle of the three technical indicators and the three economic metrics differ only. Consequently, the model itself remains unchanged. A methodology for analyzing the proposed model is developed. Two examples of the application of the proposed methodology are given. It is shown that in critical situations, which are often associated with a sharp decrease in the available resources of the telecommunication network with a simultaneous sharp increase in traffic, it is advisable to use methods of interdisciplinary approach. Such methods, as a rule, will significantly improve the effectiveness of further research.
Efficiency Sorbents Comparative Analysis for Heavy Oil Products in the Conditions of Low Temperatures
Authors: Blinovskaya Ya Yu
Published: June 2019

At the present time ecological safety questions occupy one of priority positions. This is especially important when objects in the Arctic water areas and the freezing seas are projecting. Nature and climatic features of these areas limit use of traditional methods of oil spill response. The analysis of response activities in various climatic and natural conditions has shown that one of the well-proven methods is sorption purification. The laboratory data have served the preliminary stage for correcting sorbents (Lessorb, Exfoliated Graphite Sorbent (EGS), Peat Dust Oil Sorbent (PDOS), Biomatrix technical passports and selecting their best quantities for oil spill response under various temperatures including low value in the marine environment.
Adaptation of Polytechnical Education to Industrial Production
Authors: Stolbova I D , Aleksandrova E P , Nosov K G
Published: June 2019

Insufficient level of professional training of engineering personnel is noted. Factors affecting disbalance of links between modern vocational education and real engineering practice are given. Young engineers engaged in design and development do not have enough modern instrumental training in the field of information technology, as well as interdisciplinary knowledge and system competencies to use technologies for the full life cycle of innovative products. In professional training of technical personnel, the changes aimed to shorten adaptation of young specialists in the workplace and encourage the speedy introduction of methods and technologies of digital economy into engineering practice are imminent. An overview of innovative approaches used in training of engineering personnel by leading Russian universities is given.

Graphic training is the first discipline in technical students’ professional orientation. In the context of substantive training, it is important to create a learning environment that is close to the professional one. Examples of practice-oriented study assignments based on the method of projects implemented by students in the course of independent work are given. Innovation in the development of individual tasks is possibility to execute projects in 3D format. Effectiveness of the proposed innovative training technology is confirmed by the given statistical data.
Strategic Areas of Partner Relationships Marketing for IT Company Under Crisis Conditions
Authors: Golovina N Y , Veles Y P
Published: June 2019

The Russian IT market is in crisis. The reason is a complex geopolitical environment and a national economic policy, resulting in a low ruble exchange rate, the absence of low-interest credits, general economic decline, reduction of IT companies’ budget, sanctions. The decline of the IT service market for 2015 exceeded the values forecast by IDC analysts (International Data Corporation) by virtually two times. Properly selected marketing strategies can provide a way out from this difficult situation. To keep its strong positions at the IT service market, the company can use a strategy to develop partner relationships on the basis of the following basic principles: orientation towards partner business interests, boosting a loyal attitude to clients; entering new prospective markets; broadening the business geography due to the development of a network of IT branches in the regions.
Evaluation of Synergy Efficiency of Investment Projects Based on an Analytical Hierarchical Procedure
Authors: Kovrizhnykh O E , Vyachina I N
Published: June 2019

The article is devoted to definition of synergy efficiency of investment projects and a method of their estimation on the basis of analytical hierarchical procedure. Synergy effects are based on space and time coordinated actions of heterogeneous factors, mechanisms that lead to qualitative changes in the system. The model for determining the synergy efficiency of the project is total ratio received as a result of activities for project implementation and their effects in various spheres, such as economic, social, technological, environmental, regional, to to the costs of their obtaining and implementation, weighted by priority of each sphere of obtaining the effect in an overall index. To identify the priorities, the objectives of the project are identified, a hierarchy of synergistic project efficiency is developed and the priorities are calculated based on an analytical hierarchical procedure.
The Concept of“Quality Construction Products”
Authors: Aleksandrova N N , Bezhentseva T V
Published: June 2019

The task of this article is to determine the scope of the term “quality” regarding the construction products. For this purpose we provide the analysis of evolutionary development of the concept “quality”. The article deals with the content and elements of construction products. Building on results of scientific research and existing regulatory documents, the authors interpreted the concept of “quality”, requesting to consider it as an integrated category. The term characterizes the effectiveness of organization as an object of the assessment. Disclosing the concept of “quality of construction products” the authors took into account the productive, operational and consumer characteristics.
Parametric Models of the Product Novelty Assessment Through the Basic Structures Approach
Authors: Korshunov G I , Nazarevich S A
Published: June 2019

The Achievement of essential consumer parameter values or the implementation of new functionality determines the degree of novelty of the product. However, issues related to the evaluation of technical and scientific novelty of experimental products remain open. This is due to different approaches in the formulation of the problem in terms of many parameters. One of the known approaches to quality assessment is the formation of options based on the basic structures. This approach is consistent with the practice of creating a new product based on a retrospective analysis of the basic structures in the selected problem area. Known, for example, models of functionally necessary and functionally sufficient structures, basic structures represented by the point of the multidimensional parameter space. An important complement to this approach is to take into account the constraints required to manage the quality of an innovation project. The process of improving the parameters of new products is halted by the existing limitations, both in scientific and technological progress and in the social environment. The paper proposes to determine the degree of change in the technical characteristics of new products in relation to the current analogue or adopted prototype. The set of technical and social requirements established for the product by the terms of technical requirements and normative documents determine the functional significance of new products. Models and methods of estimation of a product novelty achievability in the conditions of not completely clear requirements of the market are offered. The analysis of the degree of change of parameter values is performed using fuzzy logic and flexible calculations. The parametric model application allows, taking into account the existing limitations, to determine the required level of perspective novelty of products.
Special Aspects in Controlling Innovation Activities of Enterprise
Authors: Arskaya E V , Usatova L V
Published: June 2019

This article considers the state and prospects of the construction industry development in the current economic situation. A special attention is paid to the issues of the innovation implementation in the construction industry, which will allow one to ensure search for working methods of harmonious development of the Russian economy.

Issues in development of the innovation activities in construction are a complex system of measures, aimed at creation, development, mastering, production and commercial application of innovative products. Innovative activity in construction has some industry-wide specifics, which shall be taken into account. The construction industry undergoes cycles of development in connection with development trends of both national and global economy. Currently, there is a reduction in the number of orders for design, installation and surveying works. The financial situation of many enterprises specializing in construction works has become very complex. The construction industry is multi-faceted. Besides erection of buildings and structures, it includes creation of new high-tech materials, technologies, scientific developments in design, training of personnel for operation with innovative products. To a large extent, complex solution and improvement of these processes are simplified if organized management with governmental participation is involved.

Thus, implementation of innovation activities in the construction industry is currently impeded due to prolonged market reforms and negative effects caused by the global financial and economic crisis. It is manifested in using obsolete production assets, insufficient volume of investments for development of production assets, lack of qualified personnel, gaps in the regulatory and legislative framework, etc.

The paper uses one of the regions of Russia to consider principal development trends of innovation in construction, to analyze main factors impeding activation of the construction industry, to determine prospects for development of innovation in the Russian Federation, which are also being studied and discussed by many other specialists and practitioners.
Northern Civilization: the Present and the Future
Authors: Isachenko N
Published: June 2019

The article is devoted to the study of the civilized development perspectives connected with global reorganization of the world. In this article, different points of view of the representatives of the philosophical idea are analyzed, considering the process of Northern civilization formation and its development perspectives. Interest to the problem of the Northern civilization is conditioned by the problems of the humankind’s future and high attention of the world’s community to the Arctic, owning unique natural resources. It is indicated, that representatives of the world’s power consider the Arctic as the world’s pantry of energy and natural resources and as the center of future geopolitics and economic development of the whole planet.

The author speaks out several suppositions about the Northern civilization as an ancient civilization and a future one as well. The realization of Northern civilization idea is possible on condition of formation the certain setting on the organization of the civilized center, based on the mind’s beginnings and justice, on the principle of humanism and noosphere.
Differentiation of Regions by Level of Financial Security of Reproductive Processes
Authors: Kurmanova D , Kurmanova L
Published: June 2019

The article considers modern conditions of financial support of reproductive processes in the regions. Due to the high concentration of financial market infrastructure in the central and “raw” regions of the country and the hypertrophied development of the financial sector, the timely and full implementation of regional programs for social and economic development is complicated, which indicates a high differentiation of regions in terms of financial provision and development of financial infrastructure.

Clustering of the aggregate of the regions of the Russian Federation on the basis of selected economic indicators having a significant range of the coefficient of variation has been carried out, and the need for the development of the regional infrastructure of the financial market is substantiated. The realized procedure of splitting non-uniform set of the Russian Federation regions on a number of economic signs indicates about growing interregional differentiation on the level of economic development, an essential gap between “economic poles” of the country, strengthening of social stratification and differentiation of standard of the population living.
Comparative Analysis of Electrogenic Activity of Complex Microbial Preparations in Microbial Fuel Cells
Authors: Zhdanova G O , Konovalova E Yu , Tolstoy M Yu , Kashevsky A V , Barbora L , Goswami P , Goel S , Fialkow V A , Kupchinsky A B , Stom D I
Published: June 2019

The ability of a variety of commercial microbiological preparations for local wastewater purification and recycling of various solid waste to generate electricity in a microbial fuel cell for disposal of various products was investigated. The dynamics of transformation of substrates, and various changes in the environment settings anolyte and catholyte in the process of the microbial fuel cell was studied.
Innovative Forms of Students’ Independent Work in Modern Technical Education
Authors: Zhilina V A , Kuznetsova N V
Published: June 2019

Recent social, economic and demographic changes are setting new challenges for public education which require structural changes. A priority task in engineering education is how to train competent personnel who would be capable to quickly respond to labour market demands and willing to engage in life-long learning. The innovative component of the educational process in the new paradigm of higher education says that a student should be encouraged to be independent in learning. In the course of the transition towards a learning framework with a higher focus on independent learning there is a higher demand for face-to-face interaction with the teacher.

The authors argue that independent learning is an integral part of all the subject areas of higher education and that it should be considered as a holistic phenomenon and a complex system. The unique feature behind independent learning is that the student not only gains knowledge of the subject but also develops basic competencies that help his/her adaptation in professional sphere, such as analysis, planning, self-adjustment and self-assessment.

The solution proposed by the authors is to take into account the communication and polydialogue approach when defining the subject of education in the context of the competence- and activity-based paradigms by bringing metacognitive, cognitive, compensation and collaboration learning strategies in independent learning. The authors distinguish two aspects with regard to the above strategies: strategies as an intellectual behaviour of the student aimed at faster and more efficient learning and strategies as ways to process information for better understanding and retainment.
Teaching Communicative Grammar to Technical University EFL Learners
Authors: Baydikova N L , Davidenko Y S
Published: June 2019

The paper considers communicative approach to grammar as a means to develop the Technical University EFL learners’ ability to communicate with each other focusing on the language meaning rather than on the form. Although the communicative approach is not ideal, it makes the communication in the classroom natural, thus creating conditions for self-realization, motivation and meaningful language acquisition. The paper establishes principles to be applied when teaching grammar communicatively. They concern two aspects: the grammar material itself and the ways it is taught. Grammar material chosen ought to be relevant to communication in real life situations. Greater attention is to be paid to more frequent and important grammar structures. Teaching methods within the framework of communicative approach to grammar should motivate authentic interpersonal interaction with the priority to fluency over accuracy. To illustrate the principles some communicative grammar activities are presented.
Methodical Aspects of Tourism Research as a Priority Branch of the Region
Authors: Kolesnikova U V
Published: June 2019

The article describes the methodological aspects of studying tourism as a branch in order to determine its significance for the economy of the region. The main approaches to the assessment of tourism and tourist-recreational potential of the territory were studied. The main requirements for the assessment methodology, taking into account the peculiarities of the functioning of the tourist sphere, are revealed. The necessity of application the system approach is grounded, according to which the tourism industry is represented as a holistic system, the efficiency of which is determined by the interaction of its individual elements. Features of the proposed methodology are to assess the degree of activation of factors and the effectiveness of subsystems of the tourism industry. The final conclusion about the priority of tourism for the economy of the region is made on the basis of the value of the integral indicator - the intensity factor of all elements of the industry.
A New Generation of Sustainable Structural Concretes – Design Approach and Material Properties
Authors: Müller H S , Moffatt J S , Haist M , Vogel M
Published: June 2019

Sustainable concretes, also termed eco-concretes or green concretes, produced with a significantly reduced cement content provide a promising alternative for improving concrete sustainability without using supplementary cementitious materials, such as fly ash or slag. However, the production of such eco-concretes is a challenge in view of concrete technology and concrete properties. In particular, new design concepts as well as new admixtures have to be developed and applied to produce concretes with a cement clinker content of approx. 100 kg/m3 while keeping the concrete performance on a level similar to ordinary structural concrete of today.

To evaluate the sustainability of these new types of concretes not only the very low ecological impact due to the composition may be regarded, but in addition also their technical performance, i.e. their mechanical, physical and chemical properties have to be taken into consideration.

This contribution firstly gives an overview on sustainable approaches for concrete structures, further introduces the Building Material Sustainability Potential as an index, which is applied in combination with the service life prediction for cement-reduced concretes using full probabilistic methods. The composition of these particular structural concretes is discussed and related test results for their performance are presented. The contribution closes with an introduction to graded concrete structures as an innovative approach for the improvement of concrete sustainability on a structural level and presents testing results for mechanical and durability properties of graded bending beams.

The paper at hand extends the information given in [1] by looking more closely at the performance of graded concrete structures and here in particular by considering concretes produced from intermixing two concrete types (i.e. eco-concrete and UHPC) in the fresh state.
Large Scale Urban Developments in Austria – Challenges and Opportunities Based on Two Case Study Examples
Authors: Österreicher D , Treberspurg M
Published: June 2019

As urban densification is on the rise and the population of cities are increasing, strategies for eco-friendly urban development plans are needed in order to ensure the long-term sustainable growth of our cities. Quality of life and socio-economic considerations are in this context equally important as environmental factors such as energy efficiency, resilience and a future proof mobility concept. Especially large scale urban developments require long-term planning as the actual implementation phase can take decades for completion and advances in technology can significantly change over time. However these developments offer the unique opportunity for research and innovation, as accompanying studies can support the projects throughout the whole life cycle ranging from planning to implementation and monitoring during operation. To discuss the challenges and opportunities of large scale urban development projects, two Austrian case studies, that differ in time, scale and overall context have been selected: The solarCity Linz in the county of Upper Austria and the Aspern Seestadt in the City of Vienna.
The Biophilic Power and Environmental Urgency of Earthen Construction
Authors: Ben-Alon L , Loftness V , Harries K A , Hameen E C
Published: June 2019

The built environment must meet the highest demands of human habitation, resource management and community enrichment. To achieve these goals, modern built environments should adopt restorative environmental and biophilic design principles which seek to reconnect the human built environment with nature. In this paper, the biophilic aspects and environmental benefits of earthen construction are assessed and compared to conventional construction in order to demonstrate the tangible and intangible benefits of earthen materials. Specifically, the synergies between biophilic design attributes and earthen construction are elaborated, characterizing the ecological, health, and community collaboration advantages that earthen structures provide. Subsequently, the results of an environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of earthen building materials from cradle to gate enumerate the environmental preferability of earthen materials over conventional materials.
Alternative Sands as Substitute for Natural Sand for the Construction Sector
Authors: Boehme L , Depoortere A
Published: June 2019

While the need for sand in the construction sector is increasing, natural sand becomes scarce. On the other hand, several sand-like fractions out of industrial residues become available. This paper focusses on the potential use of these “alternative sands” as substitute for natural sand in the construction sector. The investigation included the study of the properties of alternative sands and a market research. In order to determine the properties, standard tests were performed such as the determination of the particle size distribution, the fineness modulus, the methylene blue test, determination of the density and the water-absorption. The particle size distribution of several fine recycled aggregates and of other fine fractions, derived from different producers, were compared to each other and to natural sand. This was to how alternative sands relate to natural sand and more specifically if they can be compared to natural sand and if they match the requirements of use of sand in constructional applications set by the standards and the standard specifications for road construction SB250. As a result, an overview table is made with the potential applications for each type of sand.
Demolition-and-Reconstruction or Renovation? Towards a Protocol for the Assessment of the Residual Life of Existing RC Buildings
Authors: Casprini E , Passoni C , Belleri A , Marini A , Bartoli G , Riva P
Published: June 2019

When is demolition mandatory? To date there is a lack of specific tools and protocols enabling a rigorous scientific assessment of the deterioration level of existing structures, guiding the choice between the real possibility of renovation or the unavoidable need of demolition. In the present paper, an attempt is made to develop a protocol suitable to assess the actual capacity of existing structures and predict their future behaviour based on inspection and diagnosis of the building. The potential benefit of such a tool is to help detecting the best intervention strategy making the renovation process more sustainable and efficient. Toward this perspective, a critical analysis and comparison of literature models on the residual capacity of structural elements has already been carried out by the authors. The assessment of the preservation state is herein further extended to the overall structural level, by proposing a new approach relating the performance of deteriorated elements over time to the behaviour of the whole structural system.
3-D Printing in Building Construction: A Literature Review of Opportunities and Challenges of Reducing Life Cycle Energy and Carbon of Buildings
Authors: Dixit M K
Published: June 2019

Buildings consume approximately 48% of global energy each year as embodied and operating energy. Embodied energy is consumed in all products and processes used in building construction, maintenance, replacement, renovation and demolition. Operating energy is consumed in heating, cooling, lighting, and operating building equipment. To effectively reduce life cycle energy usage, both embodied and operating energy must be optimized. However, in spite of advancements in building envelope technologies, building systems/controls, building energy modelling, and material production, the energy and carbon footprint of buildings is still enormous. Perhaps, a new paradigm is needed to transform the way our buildings are designed and constructed. One emerging technology that could possibly help bring this paradigm shift is 3-D printing or additive manufacturing. Although, its application to mainstream construction is yet to be tested, it surely demonstrates energy and carbon benefits through innovative materials and construction processes. In this paper, we conduct a systematic review of literature to study the state of the art of 3-D printing or additive manufacturing in building construction. The goal will be to identify challenges and opportunities of saving operating and embodied energy and show future research directions to use 3-D printing technologies for energy optimization.
Laboratory Concrete Specimens Waste, a Case Study on Life Cycle Assessment
Authors: Han A L , Setiawan H , Hajek P
Published: June 2019

Material laboratories generally receive extensive amounts of concrete specimens for testing purposes. The tested specimen rises an environmental issue from the point of view of material waste accumulation. A study at the material laboratory was conducted, resulting in a database of daily concrete waste deposited at the landside, and the predicted increase trends based on a one-decade period of data collection. Based on these data, the emission of CO2 resulting from these test samples was evaluated, and a life cycle assessment plan was designed through impact assessment and interpretation of results. Practical solutions for a cradle-to-cradle and cradle-to-gate approach were explored, implemented and evaluated.
Using TRC as an Environmentally Effective Alternative for Subtle Elements of Railway Furniture
Authors: Laiblova L , Vlach T , Hajek P , Hajek K , Vanek A , Repka J
Published: June 2019

This paper presents the possibilities of an innovative and aesthetic solution of furniture from concrete for railway stations. At present, the railways in the Czech Republic undergo significant changes. Due to automation and centralization there is a lot of stations without permanent staff. Thus the need for railway station furniture, that exhibits considerable resistance to damage during the intense operation and deliberate vandalism, is raising. Currently, the most used material is metal. Such equipment is expensive and requires constant maintenance. Current concrete furniture is too massive, heavy and usually has a lack of aesthetic or architectonic appearance. The paper presents some results of research and development of the new, modern solution based on the use of concrete to form aesthetic furniture elements, while saving consumption of concrete and maintaining the required parameters and dealing with deliberate destruction. Reduction of concrete as a second most used material is one of the key factor of this solution focusing sustainability goals. This paper thus also presents the environmental analysis and comparison with standard solution.