bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Civil and environmental engineering education with focus on geotechnical training in Germany
Authors: Katzenbach R.  , Astheimer B.  , Wachter S.
Published: February 2025

Geotechnical engineering is an indispensable element of the education of civil engineers at German universities. In the following the German system of civil engineering education and the geotechnical curricula, in particular the new Bachelor and Master programs, at German universities are described and presented. In the end the authors give an overview of further Bachelor and Master programs for environmental engineering, facility management and energy engineering, which are strongly connected with the education and training of geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering.
Degradation of ballast and crushed rock subballast in Finnish railways
Authors: Nurmikolu A.  , Kolisoja P.
Published: February 2025

The degradation of aggregate is the factor that normally determines the service life of the ballast bed. Quite recently the use of crushed rock aggregate has expanded also to the structural layers beneath the ballast bed (subballast). To ensure sufficient frost protection for the track, the thickness of subballast in Finland is normally as much as 1.5-2.0 metres. The ballast degradation occurring in an actual track structure over decades was studied by sampling and extensive series of laboratory tests with a special view to the quality of fines. Many properties of the mineral fines of the analysed ballast samples generally differed relatively little from each other. Degradation of ballast aggregates results mainly from mechanical fragmentation and attrition caused by traffic loads and tamping, and in a few cases possibly from frost weathering. The chemical weathering after crushing of the ballast of Finnish railways is generally insignificant. In the absence of long-term use experiences, the research strived to forecast the degradation of the subballast crushed rock aggregates in cyclic loading apparatus with three separate loading plates. A total of 35 long-term cyclic loading tests equivalent to about 150-300 MGT were carried out varying grain size distribution, strength of the aggregate, amount of fine material and water in the aggregate, loading level and flexibility of the bottom. In the water saturated state the degradation of crushed rock aggregate was dramatically strong. Grading of crushed rock aggregate had a significant impact on the degradation.
Laboratory testing of the cohesive soils and the correlation between the resisting characteristics of soils and their physical parameters
Authors: Bozo Luljeta  , Allkja Skender  , Harizaj Lorena
Published: February 2025

In Albania are present many serious phenomena's as movement of terrains, landslides, slopes instability ect. All this problems are tied with the shear strength of soils. In this paper we would like to present a part of our study that determines the resisting characteristics of cohesive soils by different methods in laboratory. Also we would like to establish relations between resisting characteristics of soil determined by different methods and their correlation with physical and mechanical parameters of soil.
Environmental suitability of recycled concrete aggregates used in geotechnical applications
Authors: Inui T.  , Katsumi T.  , Kamon M.
Published: February 2025

Solid waste and by-products have been widely recycled as construction or geotechnical materials. They may contain several inorganic toxic chemicals such as heavy metals. Thus, a testing framework to evaluate their leaching behaviours and the relevant environmental impact needs to be developed. A parametric study was conducted using FE analysis to calculate the transport of the contaminant of concern (COC) in the surrounding subsurface to discuss the effects of influential factors such as the leaching concentration, infiltration rate, and flow rate of aquifer. In addition, a series of leaching tests was conducted for recycled concrete aggregates (RCAs) to determine the leaching potential/concentration of COC for the environmental impact assessment. Three different acceleration tests; wetting-drying, freezing-thawing and abrasion, which actually occur in field conditions, were conducted respectively to evaluate the effect of the exposure to these conditions on the leaching of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) contained in the RCA, since physical and chemical properties of cement based secondary materials, such as RCA, may change under environmental conditions due to the loss of soluble constituents and/or the surface wearing. Exposure to these accelerated conditions, particularly the wetting-drying, promoted the leaching of Cr(VI). Leaching amounts of granular RCA exposed to these conditions are no more than that with the conventional batch leaching test, which is conducted for crushed RCA with <2 mm in grain size. This finding suggests that the Cr(VI) leaching amount in the field can be conservatively estimated by the conventional batch leaching test.
Geotechnical characterization of mine waste rock
Authors: Azam Shahid  , Wilson G. Ward  , Fredlund Delwyn G.  , Van Zyl Dirk
Published: February 2025

The determination of geotechnical charactertiscs of waste rock is essential for addressing issues of in situ hydrology and the stability of steep and high-standing dumps. Based on laboratory investigations and numerical modeling, this paper gives the geotechnical properties of a selected waste rock under saturated and unsaturated conditions. Results indicated that the engineering behavior of the investigated waste rock is similar to granular soils and governed by the “well-graded” and “very angular” nature of the materials. The samples exhibited low air entry values (0.2 and 0.8 kPa) and low water storage (0.44) along with a high saturated hydraulic conductivity (1 × 10−5m/s). The hydraulic conductivity dropped sharpely beyond the air entry value by up to eight orders of magnitude at 200 kPa. The shear strength was identical to loose coarse materials and was primarily derived from the angle of internal friction that measured 37° to 39°, similar to the angle of repose. Additional strength can be availabe in the form of effective cohesion due to clays and cementation and apparent cohesion due to matric suction.
Dynamic testing of marine sediments at the Pelješac bridge site
Authors: Ivšić T.  , Vrkljan I.  , Zlatović S.  , Mavar R.
Published: February 2025

The complex geotechnical investigations were performed at the location of the long bridge at the south Adriatic. The sea depth at the location is 27 to 28m. Marine sediments, deposited in horizontal layers, are very soft to soft high plasticity clay with silt, from the sea bottom to the depth of 60m where overconsolidated clay with fragments of lime and shells was found. The depth of base lime rock varies along the bridge from the surface at the coasts to 100m under the sea bottom. Seismicity of the location is significant. Comprehensive dynamic testing was performed in order to establish the representative seismic soil profile. Vane shear, SCPT and CPTU testing (seismic cone penetrometer and piezocone) were performed to the depth of 25m, as well as down hole testing to the depth of 80m. Numerous classification tests, compressibility and strength tests were performed in the laboratory. Undisturbed specimens from the borehole for down hole measurements were tested in the resonant column apparatus, double specimen direct simple shear device (DSDSS), and in the triaxial apparatus with bender elements. Effects of mean effective stress and excitation characteristics are investigated in all tests. The compilation of basic investigation results is presented. Values of shear modulus obtained from all the laboratory tests and from wave velocity measurements are compared taking into account shear deformation which varies from 0,00003% in resonant column tests to 3%, showing very good agreement.
Characterization of debris slope failures: An integrated field based numerical modelling study
Authors: Stead Doug  , Brideau Marc-André  , Paddington Scott  , Millard Tom  , Turner Kevin
Published: February 2025

In the Interior of British Columbia debris slope failures have been frequently noted to occur at marked transitions in slope gradient, often termed \ll gentle over steep slopes \gg. Steady state and transient groundwater modelling analyses were conducted using SEEP/W. The result from the groundwater modelling was coupled with both limit equilibrium analysis and finite element slope deformation models. A second component of the current research program is the field characterization and the rheological modelling of runout associated with open slope debris flows. Field data from Vancouver Island was used to conduct a back-analysis with the code DANW of specific failure to determine their rheological input. The results of these analyses are compared against published debris flow analyses data.
Performance of geoysnthetic-reinforced flexible pavements: Numerical parametric study
Authors: Saad B.  , Mitri H.S.  , Hamade T.
Published: February 2025

A finite element parametric study was conducted in this paper to explore the increase in the rutting and fatigue resistance brought about to a conventional pavement system due to the insertion of geosynthetic membrane under different foundation types and geosynthetic locations. The study concluded that regardless of the foundation quality the longest life against fatigue distress was achieved when the geosynthtic was placed at the bottom of the asphalt concert layer; whereas, the optimum location for prolonging the rutting life was found at the 1/3 of the base thickness from the bottom. However, the life extension against rutting in this case was dependent on the foundation quality. Further investigations are required to validate the conclusions obtained for pavements with different foundation and geosynthetic parameters as well as loading features.
Inter-active design in Geo-engineering practice
Authors: Brandl H.
Published: February 2025

Inter-active design or semi-empirical design is an adaptable design method based on site observation, monitoring and the possibility to strengthen the project even after construction. It involves parametric studies, contingency plans and a detailed in-situ proof of ground-structure interactions based on monitoring. The paper describes the basic principles in connection with case histories.
Defining the critical state line from triaxial compression and ring shear tests
Authors: Sadrekarimi A.  , Olson S.M.
Published: February 2025

The critical state (or critical void ratio) line is the locus of void ratio-effective stress conditions achieved after shearing a soil to large displacement and after all net void ratio changes and effective stress changes are complete. The triaxial compression test is commonly used to define the critical state line of sandy soils. In this study, we present drained and undrained triaxial compression and ring shear tests that are used to define the critical state line of a silty sand sampled from the Mississippi River near Cape Girardeau, Missouri, USA. All specimens were prepared by pluviating the dry sand through air. The results show that both drained and undrained (or constant volume) triaxial and ring shear tests reach critical state at similar shear displacements prior to the onset of particle damage in the ring shear tests. A unique critical state line can be defined for these states. At larger shear displacements only possible in the ring shear tests, considerable particle crushing happens and dominates the sand behavior and only after very large shear displacements (>750 cm) particle crushing ceases to continue and a complete particle rearrangement is reached. At this state, the stresses and volume of the sand become constant which corresponds to the critical state of the crushed sand. A unique line can also be drawn for this state. These unique critical state lines indicate that they are not influenced by the drainage conditions and shearing modes.
Report of TC32: Engineering Practice of Risk Assessment and Management
Authors: Nadim F.
Published: February 2025

The Technical Committee 32 (TC32), “Engineering Practice of Risk Assessment and Management Committee”, of the International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE) is charged with promoting and enhancing professional activities in geotechnical and geo-environmental engineering in areas related to geostatistics and probabilistic site characterization, quantification of uncertainties in performance prediction, reliability-based design, risk-based decision analysis and calibration of LRFD-type geotechnical design codes. This report provides a brief summary of the TC32 activities during the period 2005 – 2009.
Simulations of in situ water content and temperature changes due to ground-atmospheric interactions
Authors: Bicalho K.V.  , Cui Y.-J.
Published: February 2025

A series of numerical analyses has been carried out to investigate the sensitivity of water content, pore-water pressure and temperature changes to the variations of the soil albedo value (i.e., the ratio of reflected to incident solar radiation) and the initial temperature profiles (ITP). The soil-atmosphere interface model is used to calculate the evaporation rate and heat flux on the soil surface; the water transport equations (liquid - Darcy's law and vapor - Fick's law) coupled to heat flow equation (de Vries 1987) are solved to determine the profiles of temperature, water content or pore water pressure. The results show that it is important to know the atmospheric water balance for predicting soil temperature and water content (or pore water pressure) profiles. The results also suggest that the ITP can affect the temperature profiles but its influence of the considered changes on the pore water pressure and volumetric water content profiles is very small. During the cold season, precise albedo values are not very important nor very sensitive in influencing the water balance.
Effects of specimen thickness and skeletal structure on consolidation behavior around consolidation yield stress
Authors: Watabe Y.  , Tanaka M.  , Sassa S.  , Kobayashi M.  , Udaka K.
Published: February 2025

The objective of this study is to empirically clarify the scale effect in long-term consolidation behavior. A series of inter-connected type consolidation tests was carried out. The strains for the clays with low viscosity effect followed the hypothesis A, in contrast, the strains for the clays with high viscosity effect followed the hypothesis B. The temporal variations of excess pore pressure for the clays with a highly developed structure are characterized by two staged dissipation curves.
Evaluation of filter paper calibrations for indirect determination of soil suctions of an unsaturated compacted silty sand
Authors: Bicalho K.V.  , Marinho F.A.M.  , Fleureau J.M.  , Correia A. Gomes  , Ferreira S.
Published: February 2025

The soil suction is a key variable in the analysis of the hydro-mechanical behavior of unsaturated soils. The filter paper method (FPM) calculates soil suction indirectly by measuring the gravimetric water content of the filter paper at equilibrium that is related to soil suction through a predetermined calibration curve between the water content of the filter paper and suction. This paper evaluates the use of six published calibration functions for the Whatman 42 filter paper for indirect determination of soil suctions of an unsaturated compacted silty sand. Evaluation of the filter paper calibrations was carried out using the experimental results given by Fleureau et al. (2002) obtained with other techniques used to measure or control the soil suctions in the compacted silty sand. The results show that the matric suctions inferred from FPM depend on the used calibration function. A modified calibration function is suggested, which gives better estimation of the soil water retention curve for the investigated soil. The FPM offers a promising simple technique for the determination of soil suction, provided that an adequate calibration function is used for the investigated soil saturation range.
Effect of oil on the behavior of collapsible soil
Authors: Labib M.S.  , Mansour M.A.  , Baligh F.A.
Published: February 2025

The presence of collapsible soils has been reported at several locations in the Egyptian deserts. By definition, collapsible soils are moisture sensitive and susceptible to large reduction in volume when subjected to wetting. Nowadays, as a result of industrial developments in the desert regions, collapsible soils can also be subjected to leak oil contamination.
Slippage effect on the settlement response of a granular soft soil system
Authors: Al-Adili A.  , Chandra S.  , Sivakugan N.
Published: February 2025

In this paper a numerical study using the finite element method is undertaken to predict the settlement response of a footing, considering plane strain conditions, resting on a reinforced granular bed on soft soil. The granular fill, soft soil and geosynthetic reinforcement are considered as non linear materials. The geosynthetic reinforcement is modelled with interface elements for allowing slip between the soil and reinforcement. The results obtained from the present investigation showed close agreement when compared with the results of finite element analysis and lumped parameter modelling carried out by previous researchers, assuming no slip conditions. The number of reinforcement layers was taken as one or three (multilayer). A parametric study has been carried out to illustrate the effect of slippage of the reinforcement layer on the settlement response. The increase in the settlement is not significant when the slippage of the reinforcement is considered.
Calculating method of reinforced bedding in the geosynthetics reinforced and pile supported embankment
Authors: Yang-sheng Ye  , De-gou Cai  , Qian-li Zhang  , Hong-ye Yan
Published: February 2025

Based on the current study of geosynthetics reinforced and pile supported embankment (GRPS) China and abroad, the loads and deformation of reinforced bedding undertaken, influence of dynamic load and intensity of reinforced bedding were analyzed by field test, model test and numerical simulation, the study was based on embankment soil arching effect, lateral spreading effect and geosynthetics deformation properties. The vertical embankment load by arching effect was analyzed by global arching, the tensile force of geosynthetics by that load was analyzed by cable, and ground reaction and initial deflection of geosynthetics were taken into account. Friction of embankment bottom was considered when analyzing tensile force by lateral spreading effect. Reliability of this method was validated, that perfects and promotes the theory of GRPS.
Essai de chargement de pointe: facteurs d'influence et détermination de modules de déformation
Authors: Ali H.  , Reiffsteck P.  , Van de Graaf H.  , van der Stoel A.E.C.  , Gourves R.  , Bacconnet C.  , Baguelin F.
Published: February 2025

L'essai de chargement de pointe avec un pénétromètre statique consiste à interrompre la pénétration à une cote souhaitée et à réaliser un chargement par paliers successifs de la pointe jusqu'à la rupture du sol. On obtient une courbe de chargement reliant la pression appliquée sur la pointe au tassement résultant de celle-ci. Cette communication présente les différents facteurs d'influence et les méthodes de correction développées, ainsi qu'une étude des modules de déformation pour réaliser l'interprétation d'un essai de chargement de pointe pénétrométrique. Nous présentons les résultats récoltés lors d'une campagne d'essais réalisés avec un pénétromètre statique classique semi-lourd.
The EU-ADR Project: Preliminary Results and Perspective
Authors: Trifiro Gianluca  , Fourrier-Reglat Annie  , Sturkenboom Miriam C.J.M.  , Díaz Acedo Carlos  , Van Der Lei Johan
Published: February 2025

The EU-ADR project aims to exploit different European electronic healthcare records (EHR) databases for drug safety signal detection. In this paper we describe the project framework and the preliminary results. Methods: As first step we created a ranked list of the events that are deemed to be important in pharmacovigilance as mining on all possible events was considered to unduly increase the number of spurious signals. All the drugs that are potentially associated to these events will be detected via data mining techniques. Data sources are eight 8 databases in four countries (Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom) that are virtually linked through harmonisation of input data followed by local elaboration of input data through custom-built software (Jerboa©). All the identified drug-event associations (signals) will be thereafter biologically substantiated and epidemiologically validated. To date, only Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) event has been used to test the ability of the system in signal detection. Results: An initial ranked list comprising 23 adverse events was identified. The top-ranking events were: cutaneous bullous eruptions, acute renal failure, acute myocardial infarction, anaphylactic shock, and rhabdomyolysis. Regarding the UGIB test, a total of 48,016 first-ever episodes were identified. The age-standardized incidence rates of UGIB varied between 40-100/100,000 person-years depending on country and type of healthcare database. A statistically significant association between use of NSAIDs and UGIB was detected in all of the databases. Conclusion: a dynamic ranked list of 23 adverse drug events judged as important in pharmacovigilance was created to permit focused data mining. Preliminary results on the UGIB event detection demonstrate the feasibility of harmonizing various health care databases in different European countries through a distributed network approach.
Computerization Framework for Clinical Practice Guidelines by Extending the XML Guidelines Element Model (GEM)
Authors: Hashmi Zafar  , Zrimec Tatjana  , Hopkins Andrew
Published: February 2025

Contextually sensitive and semantically related evidence-based knowledge play an important role in decision-making. Clinical practice guidelines (CPG) are being developed to provide a rich source of up-to-date knowledge of evidence-based best clinical practices. Such knowledge assists healthcare practitioner in specific clinical circumstances at their decision-points. In many studies, it was shown that the effectiveness of CPG could be improved with their computerization. In this paper, we present our CPG-knowledge computerization framework that has been developed and implemented along the lines of knowledge management approaches. This framework adds context, semantics and related meta-information to the CPGs knowledge content using an extended-knowledge component ontology and UMLS. It also transforms them into a set of structured ‘extended-knowledge components’. These extended-knowledge components constitute a ‘CPG knowledge base’, which is used for providing assistance at point of care.
A Data Model for Handling Whole Slide Microscopy Images in Picture Archiving and Communications Systems
Authors: Punys Vytenis  , Laurinavicius Arvydas  , Puniene Jurate
Published: February 2025

Extremely large medical images, like ones of virtual slide microscopy, are beyond some limitations of the DICOM standard (e.g., a 4 Gbyte barrier, caused by 32-bit architecture). Some solutions and trade-offs have been already proposed and included in the DICOM standard (e.g., usage of JPEG2000 image compression standard, JPEG2000 interactive protocol [JPIP] and division of the images into smaller parts for placing them in the PACS). These new features lead to implementation of alternative interaction solutions simultaneously in the same PACS to serve both images of typical size (e.g., radiological) and large size virtual slide microscopy images. The paper deals with problems of (a) constructing a data and interaction model of images within PACS, (b) searching for criteria to assess image content complexity and to reach an efficient division of virtual slide microscopy images into tiles; (c) providing both the conventional DICOM services and the image interchange using JPIP.
Open Source and Healthcare in Europe – Time to Put Leading Edge Ideas into Practice
Authors: Murray Peter J.  , Wright Graham  , Karopka Thomas  , Betts Helen  , Orel Andrej
Published: February 2025

Free/Libre and Open Source Software (FLOSS) is a process of software development, a method of licensing and a philosophy. Although FLOSS plays a significant role in several market areas, the impact in the health care arena is still limited. FLOSS is promoted as one of the most effective means for overcoming fragmentation in the health care sector and providing a basis for more efficient, timely and cost effective health care provision. The 2008 European Federation for Medical Informatics (EFMI) Special Topic Conference (STC) explored a range of current and future issues related to FLOSS in healthcare (FLOSS-HC). In particular, there was a focus on health records, ubiquitous computing, knowledge sharing, and current and future applications. Discussions resulted in a list of main barriers and challenges for use of FLOSS-HC. Based on the outputs of this event, the 2004 Open Steps events and subsequent workshops at OSEHC2009 and Med-e-Tel 2009, a four-step strategy has been proposed for FLOSS-HC: 1) a FLOSS-HC inventory; 2) a FLOSS-HC collaboration platform, use case database and knowledge base; 3) a worldwide FLOSS-HC network; and 4) FLOSS-HC dissemination activities. The workshop will further refine this strategy and elaborate avenues for FLOSS-HC from scientific, business and end-user perspectives. To gain acceptance by different stakeholders in the health care industry, different activities have to be conducted in collaboration. The workshop will focus on the scientific challenges in developing methodologies and criteria to support FLOSS-HC in becoming a viable alternative to commercial and proprietary software development and deployment.
Using Reality Mining to Improve Public Health and Medicine
Authors: Pentland Alex  , Lazer David  , Brewer Devon  , Heibeck Tracy
Published: February 2025

We live our lives in digital networks. We wake up in the morning, check our e-mail, make a quick phone call, commute to work, buy lunch. Many of these transactions leave digital breadcrumbs – tiny records of our daily experiences. Reality mining, which pulls together these crumbs using statistical analysis and machine learning methods, offers an increasingly comprehensive picture of our lives, both individually and collectively, with the potential of transforming our understanding of ourselves, our organizations, and our society in a fashion that was barely conceivable just a few years ago. It is for this reason that reality mining was recently identified by Technology Review as one of “10 emerging technologies that could change the world” [1].
Using Semantic Web Technologies to Provide Contextualized Feedback to Instructors
Authors: Jovanovic Jelena  , Gasevic Dragan  , Torniai Carlo  , Devedzic Vladan
Published: February 2025

The chapter presents our research aimed at providing teachers with fine-grained and contextualized feedback about students' activities in online learning environments. The rational is that teachers provided with such advanced feedback are able to better organize/revise the course content and customize that content to the students needs. Our approach is based on semantic technologies, namely ontologies and semantic annotation, which enable integration of data about students' interactions with e-learning environments, as well as interlinking of learning artifacts that were used or produced during those interactions. We have implemented this approach into a tool called LOCO-Analyst and first applied it in Learning Content Management Systems (LCMSs) as today's most often used e-learning environments. Subsequently, we further enhanced this approach (as well as the LOCO-Analyst tool) to leverage the features of advanced e-learning settings, i.e. LCMSs extended with tools for enhanced learning experience. In particular, we have studied the benefits for educational feedback provisioning that stem from integrating tools for collaborative content annotation (such as tagging, highlighting and commenting) into LCMSs. This enabled us to provide teachers with course ontology maintenance and evolution features.
A Cross-Curriculum Representation for Handling and Searching Dynamic Geometry Competencies
Authors: Libbrecht Paul  , Desmoulins Cyrille
Published: February 2025

Interactive Geometry is becoming part of the curriculum in many European countries; sharing the files of interactive geometry, the constructions, is, however difficult because of the communities are scattered between the many software systems and the many curriculum differences. The Intergeo project addresses this issue by offering a platform where cross-curriculum search and annotation can be done. The annotation language is an ontology and is made easily accessible to users; this ontology describes elementary competencies and topics and their relationships. The search functions, the management, and the access are all empowered by the semantic nature of this ontology together with the various names attached to each ontology element. This paper describes the ontology and the infrastructure that provides utility, usability, and interoperability to this knowledge corpus.
ACTIVEMATH – a Learning Platform With Semantic Web Features
Authors: Melis Erica  , Goguadze Giorgi  , Libbrecht Paul  , Ullrich Carsten
Published: February 2025

ACTIVEMATH is an intelligent e-Learning platform that exhibits a number of Semantic Web features. Its content knowledge representation is a semantic XML dialect for mathematics, semantic search is enabled, some of its components work as a web service and, vice versa, it employs certain foreign web services, e.g., for diagnostic purposes.
Comparative Evaluation of ASPL, Semantic Platform for e-Learning
Authors: Dzbor Martin  , Rajpathak Dnyanesh G.
Published: February 2025

Work reported in this chapter focuses on the learner's interaction with resources on the Semantic Web; in particular with the semi-structured data that can be exposed to the user via domain-specific inference templates. We assessed this capability to use information from multiple sources of the service-based ASPL-v2 framework and analyzed it in terms of assisting users with interpreting connections in the academic domain; for example, identifying leading experts, recognizing communities of practice, or associating research topics and issues with particular publication outlets. The outcomes of a user-based study are reported, with our semantic platform found to outperform other similar tools – including the generic search engine aggregator Ask and semi-specialized Google Scholar.
Authoring and Exploring Learning Content: Share Content by Sharing Concepts
Authors: Dicheva Darina  , Dichev Christo
Published: February 2025

We propose an environment that enables authors to create learning repositories by collecting and annotating learning content using a consensually agreed vocabulary and learners to explore the repositories based on relevant staring points for exploration. The authors' support includes: (i) tools for creating an ontological structure, partially populated with learning resources, to be used as a skeleton for structuring and organizing course related resource repositories, and (ii) help in selecting names for new concepts/topics combined with their subject identification. Besides the conventional querying and browsing support for learners, the focus is on tasks that imply exploratory search requiring extensive navigation on the part of the user. In this context we propose a method for finding good staring points for navigation designed to assist learners in performing open-ended search tasks in learning repositories.
Lessons Learned using Social and Semantic Web Technologies for E-Learning
Authors: Brooks Christopher  , Bateman Scott  , Greer Jim  , McCalla Gord
Published: February 2025

This paper describes work we have done over the past five years in developing e-learning applications and tools using Semantic Web and Web 2.0 technologies. It does not provide a comprehensive description of these tools; instead, we focus on the pitfalls we have encountered and attempt to share experiences in the form of design patterns for developers and researchers looking to use these technologies.
Disburdening Tutors in E-Learning Environments via Web 2.0 Techniques
Authors: Loll Frank  , Pinkwart Niels
Published: February 2025

Today, collaborative filtering techniques play a key role in many Web 2.0 applications. Currently, they are mainly used for business purposes such as product recommendation. Collaborative filtering also has potential for usage in “Social Semantic Web” e-learning applications in that the quality of a student provided solution can be heuristically determined by peers who review the solution, thus effectively disburdening the workload of teachers and tutors. This chapter presents a collaborative filtering algorithm which is specifically adapted for the requirements of e-learning applications. An empirical evaluation of the algorithm showed that the results of the collaborative filtering were more accurate than the self-assessment of the participants and that already four peer evaluations were generally enough to reach a satisfying accuracy. Based on these results, we developed a web based e-learning system (CITUC), which was successfully used in a university course in summer 2008. This chapter describes an evaluation of CITUC based on surveys, interviews and a detailed analysis of the system's usage by students. Our conclusion is that Social Semantic Web applications such as CITUC, which enable learners to review and comment on peer solutions, have high potential as a support for classic academic teaching in larger classes.
Ontology Evolution and the Referencing of Resources in Semantic Web Context
Authors: Rogozan Delia  , Paquette Gilbert
Published: February 2025

Because ontologies evolve over time, their evolution needs to be managed. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a framework composed of two main systems: ChangeHistoryBuilder, which tracks and manages the history of ontology changes, and SemanticAnnotationModifier, which provides a support to maintain the integrity of the ontology-based referencing of resources after the ontology evolution. Both systems are based on a formal specification of types of possible changes in OWL-DL ontologies. In concrete terms, this specification is an ontology of ontology changes.
Inside a Theory-Aware Authoring System
Authors: Mizoguchi Riichiro  , Hayashi Yusuke  , Bourdeau Jacqueline
Published: February 2025

At one time, computers that could understand learning and instructional theories seemed only a dream, yet recent advances in ontological engineering have enabled this dream to come true. We first envisioned such a goal in 2000, to be realized in 2010 [16]. Since then, we have tackled this problem and devised a theory-aware authoring system named SMARTIES, based on a comprehensive ontology of learning and instructional theories named OMNIBUS. This chapter discusses the philosophy behind the research as well as its technological details.
Using Ontologies to Author Constraint-Based Intelligent Tutoring Systems
Authors: Suraweera Pramuditha  , Mitrovic Antonija  , Martin Brent  , Holland Jay  , Milik Nancy  , Zakharov Konstantin  , McGuigan Nicholas
Published: February 2025

In this chapter we focus on the role of ontologies in developing constraint-based tutors, a special class of Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITSs). Domain models for ITSs are extremely difficult to develop, and therefore efforts devoted to automatic induction of the necessary knowledge are of critical importance for widening the real-world impact of ITSs. We conducted an initial study which showed that ontologies were useful for manual composition of domain models for constraint-based tutors, as they allow authors to reflect on their understanding of the domain and organize the domain model better. Starting from these encouraging results, we developed ASPIRE, an authoring system for constraint-based tutors, which automated many of the tasks in domain model generation and serves the produced ITSs. The domain ontology plays a central role in the authoring procedure deployed in ASPIRE. We present one of the ITSs produced in ASPIRE as well as the experiences of authors in using ASPIRE.
An Ontology-Based Test Generation System
Authors: Soldatova Larisa N.  , Mizoguchi Riichiro
Published: February 2025

This chapter proposes: an ontology for the development of tests, the architecture of a test generation module (as a part of a learning management system), and a test generation system (as a separate information system). As an example of the proposed ontology engineering approach to the development of test generation systems we describe an implemented semi-automatic system capable of: designing and generating tests, assisting a user in defining input test parameters (for example a test goal, a scoring schema), explaining the test generation process, and producing test specifications. The system has been tested in two Universities: Aberystwyth (UK), and Vladivostok (Russia).
Modeling the behavior of sand-steel interfaces
Authors: Nakayama H.  , Dietz M.  , Lings M.  , Muir Wood D.
Published: February 2025

Experimental studies of the behavior of dry sand-steel interfaces have been performed in a modified direct shear apparatus. The shear stress-displacement behavior is influenced by the normal stress, the density of the sand and by the relative roughness of the interface. The patterns of response – peak, softening, dilation – are similar to those seen in the shearing of sand and a model which introduces stress level and density through a state parameter is found to be successful in matching the observed shear stress and volume change behavior at both small and large shear displacements.
A Comparative Study on Pan-SharpeningAlgorithms
Authors: Abu Alhin Khaldoun  , Niemeyer Irmgard
Published: February 2025

There is an increased utilization of image fusion techniques for the combination of multispectral bands with higher resolution panchromatic bands of to produce so-called pan-sharpened images with both high spatial and spectral resolution. The objective of this study is to evaluate performance and quality of the following pan-sharpening algorithms: i) Discrete Wavelet Transformation (DWT), ii) À trous Wavelet Transforms fusion (ATWT), iii) Gram-Schmidt Spectral Sharpening (GS) and iv) Principal Component Spectral Sharpening (PC). We intended to evaluate the spectral and spatial quality of the pan-sharpened image by using Universal Image Quality Index (UIQI), Correlation Coefficient (CC), Variance Texture Filter and Change Class Difference. The variance texture images represent the high frequency domain data .The difference of the two variance images was used to estimate the spatial quality of the sharpened images. The variance images subtraction shows that ATWT pan-sharpening obtains the best results followed with PC and GS, whereas DWT achieves the poorest result. Applying CC as quality measure exhibits the same results; again DWT obtained the poorest correlation coefficient. The UIQI results, calculated for different land-cover classes, indicate that ATWT pan-sharpening achieves a good spectral and spatial quality compared to DWT. The percentage of changed classes indicates that both wavelet-based algorithms (ATWT and DWT) provide better quality than PC and GS pan-sharpening. Therefore the wavelet-based techniques seem to better preserve the spectral information of the original multispectral bands, whereas PC and GS come along with a larger modification of the spectral information.
Determination of Land Surface Temperature (LST) Model of Lut Desert (Iran) Based on NOAA-AVHRR and MODIS Data Ground Measurements
Authors: Alavipanah S.K.  , Sarajian M.R.  , Hamzeh M.
Published: February 2025

The maximum land surface temperature related to hot and dry climatic condition, Clear sky causes that the highest radiation reaches to the land surface and land surface warms up fast during day time. Lut Desert seems ideal condition for studying and determining land surface temperature and model development. Therefore in this study, 12 NOAA-AVHRR and MODIS data and air temperature data were used to evaluate the model of land surface temperature of Yardang region in Lut Desert. To study the LST model, 8 ground measurements as ground truth were used. From the results obtained from this research. We concluded that in spite of some difficulties in estimating land surface temperatures, we can extract valuable information from surface features. We may also conclude that accurate emissivities are necessary to study surface features and soils and to monitor surface changes.
A Study of the Performance of the Modified Simple Vegetation Index (MSVI), Based on Probability Theory
Authors: Skianis Georgios Aim.  , Nikolakopoulos Konstantinos G.
Published: February 2025

In the present paper a study of the performance of the Modified Simple Vegetation Index (MSVI) is carried out, in terms of its statistical behavior, optical effect and efficiency in land cover mapping. It is pointed out that the standard deviation and entropy of the MSVI image depends on the standard deviations of the Near Infrared and Red channels, as well as on a characteristic parameter c which appears in the definition of the MSVI. This parameter also controls the optical effect of the MSVI image and thus it may help in producing images with different tonality contrasts and qualitative characteristics. The results and conclusions of this paper may be useful in land cover mapping.
Finding proper non-informative priors for regression coefficients
Authors: van Erp H.R.N.  , van Gelder P.H.A J.M.
Published: February 2025

By using informational consistency requirements, Jaynes (1968) derives the form of maximal non-informative priors for regression coefficients, to be uniform. However, this result does not tell us what the limits of this uniform distribution should be. If we are faced with a problem of model selection this information is an integral part of the evidence, which is used to rank the various competing models. In this paper, we give some guidelines for choosing a parsimoneous proper uniform prior. It turns out that in order to construct such a parsimoneous prior one only needs to assign a maximal length to the dependent variable and minimal lengths to the independent variables, together with their maximal correlations.
Market Movements and New Façade Concepts
Authors: Lichtenberg Jos
Published: February 2025

Prof. Dr. Ir. Jos Lichtenberg from Eindhoven Technical University underlines the role of Product Development for climate oriented architecture. Enlarged façade functionalities will lead to a more product oriented approach and to new building processes. He explains how the rules of the market will influence our approach to the future façade.
Development in the Technology of Façades
Authors: Pfenninger Kurt
Published: February 2025

Over the past decade façade planning has grown to be a firm discipline in the building industry. The façade planning firm Emmer Pfenninger und Partner in Basel, Switzerland supports reknown architecture firms around the world. Based on an amazing series of projects, Dipl.-Ing. Kurt Pfenninger answers the question whether climate-orientation has found it splace within avangarde architecture.
Product Development
Authors: Zijlstra Els
Published: February 2025

The Delft architecture firm, cepezed, claims to use an integral design method with multiple material use in which various aspects such as spatial design, construction and installation techniques are forged into an indivisible whole. cepezed preferes construction elements which are prefabricated, wherever possible. The application of components produced industrially and under controlled production circumstances has a favorable effect on both the functionality and sustainability of buildings, and also offers great gains in the domain of process control. It leads to less use of materials and less transport, demountability and in this way is a strong contribution to climate oriented architecture.
The Façade Sector
Authors: Kremers Nico
Published: February 2025

Nico Kremers, Director of VMRG – Vereniging Metalen Ramen en Grevelbranche (Dutch association for façade manufacturers) and head of the company Kremers Aluminium underlines the potential for innovation and concentrates on strategies for the future development of the industry through growth and integration.
Climate integrated Design (Climate iD) of Building Skins
Authors: van Timmeren Arjan
Published: February 2025

Dr. ir. Arjan van Timmeren is part of the Research Group Climate Integrated Design at the Faculty of Architecture, TU Delft. He describes numerous projects with a focus on climate design and its possible application in the façade technology. The result is the image of a building envelope with its functionality reaching beyond its traditional function as a climate separating element.
‘The Living Façade’
Authors: Lieverse Bert
Published: February 2025

Ing. Bert Lieverse is general secretary of the FAECF (Federation of European Window and Curtain Walling Manufacturers Association). The impact of Climate oriented architecture on the façade industry is immanent. Climate orientation does not only mean geometrical adjustment of functions or increasing the insulation value, but the integration of new technologies in the physical façade space. This is challenging the traditional building teams. The “Living façade” is a model to describe the impact and the chances of climate oriented architecture on the façade industry.
Research into Complex Façade Geometries as a Response to Climate in the Work of Newtecnic Architects
Authors: Watts Andrew
Published: February 2025

Together with Yasmin Watts, Andrew Watts BA DipArch leads the façade planning office Newtecnic in London. His work focuses on new ways of construction and digital techniques. He is a teacher at the University of Bath and has published several books about façade construction. Andrew Watts believes that especially new digital design tools will be necessary to cope with the growing complexity of the future façade.
Creating a Reference Architecture for Service-Based Systems – A Pattern-Based Approach
Authors: Stricker Vanessa  , Lauenroth Kim  , Corte Piero  , Gittler Frédéric  , de Panfilis Stefano  , Pohl Klaus
Published: February 2025

The variety of technologies and standards in the domain of service-based systems makes it complex to build architectures which fit specific project contexts. A reference architecture accompanied by guidelines for deriving context-specific architectures for service-based systems can ease this problem. The NEXOF-RA project is defining a reference architecture for service-based systems that serves as a construction kit to derive architectures for a particular project context. Experience in developing the reference architecture over the last two years has shown that the service-oriented context results in different and sometimes contradicting demands for the reference architecture. Therefore, the development of a single and integrated reference architecture is not feasible. Instead, for constructing the reference architecture, the project has chosen a pattern-based approach that allows the consideration of different types and demands of service-based systems. Thus it can deal with contradicting demands of different types of service-based systems and is extensible to include new future trends of service-based systems. This paper will present the structure of the pattern-based reference architecture and explain how it addresses the needs of a reference architecture for service-based systems.