bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cities on Circular Economy: Urban Strategies based on the study of pioneering local experiences
Authors: Martínez Alberto Lloret , Salazar Nuria Nebot-Gómez de , Rosa-Jiménez Carlos 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Today's society is in a critical situation: the prevailing linear model of the economy has led to an overexploitation of natural resources, and it has generated environmental impacts that affect the health of all living beings. An economic model of a cyclical nature, or circular economy, is presented as a solution in this situation. This form of economy facilitates the optimization of the useful life of materials, reducing the environmental impact, allowing products and materials to retain their value throughout the production and use cycle. The main purpose of this work is to identify urban strategies carried out by local experiences in pioneering cities that are actively committed to the development of a circular economy as an economic model of society. Cases such as Amsterdam, London, Paris or Milan stand out. The ultimate goal is to show examples that can inspire other cities and local governments to implement measures towards this new model of economy and urban development. The study of local cases throughout the strategies carried out has made possible to establish relationships between the different experiences analysed and to identify the areas with the greatest development and those in which there is less experience. Efficient waste management is one of the most explored areas and where a greater number of local initiatives have been identified. But alongside this, there are other areas that need to be explored: the efficient management of water resources, energy, or food in the city. In response to these, some urban strategies stand out: regeneration of public spaces, sustainable mobility infrastructures, renaturation of urban environments, urban limits, integration of pre-existences, citizen participation and governance are some of them. The contribution of the work focuses on the identification and classification of a whole series of urban strategies already implemented for their possible transfer to other environments.
Optimizing Bidding Strategy of the Roadway Projects – An Application of Utility Function Theory
Authors: Chen Wei Tong , Liem Ferdinan Nikson , Chen Tai-Jung , Bria Theresia Avila 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
The "A+B" bid method is determined by the lowest combined bid. Contractors must greatly shorten construction time to be able to win bidding competitions. However, the risk under the shortened duration of construction increased rapidly. For this reason, it is important to propose a bidding strategy to acquire the best composition of construction cost and time. This research targeted contractors with a questionnaire regarding A+B bidding in Taiwan by applied “Utility Function Theory” to construct a decision model of the best construction cost and time. It was found that the optimal profit regressed from the modified utility function differs from contractors’ preliminary bids. In the situation that the difference in basic profits is not large, contractors can set up a decision maker’s utility function based on their ability to take a risk and simulate the major competitors based on experience to judge the potential success and risk from shortening the construction time.
Global Sensitivity Analysis of Ultimate Limit States of Stainless Steel Structural Members
Authors: Omishore Abayomi 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
The article presents global Sobol sensitivity analysis of a rolled member in tension made from austenitic chromium-nickel stainless steel of type 1.4307/AISI 304 L. The statistical characteristics of yield strength and of the geometry of the rolled steel IPE cross-section are presented on the basis of published experimental research. The sensitivity analysis showed the dominant effect of the yield strength on the static resistance. The second dominant variable is the flange thickness. Higher-order sensitivity indices oriented at detecting the presence of interaction effects between input variables are very small. The characteristics of other types of sensitivity analyses oriented at quantiles or the probability of failure are discussed, especially in terms of a higher proportion of higher-order sensitivity indices. The results of Sobol sensitivity analysis of stainless steel are compared with similar results of carbon steels.
Functional Performance Evaluation of Hospital Radiology Facilities and Equipment Using FA and AHP: A Case Study
Authors: Chen Wei Tong , Bria Theresia Avila , Shih-An Hsieh , Liem Ferdinand 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Result of evaluates the usage function at radiology facilities and equipment based on the professional opinions of radiology department relevant medical personnel in Taiwan, using of factor analysis (FA), analytic hierarchy process (AHP), and simple weight method is : The among the four evaluation dimensions for the usage function evaluation model of radiology facilities and equipment, the safety equipment dimension is far more important than the other so that needs to be improved (The total number of institutions, whose evaluation score falling below the dimension average value, are 9, 4, 7 and 5, respectively). Of the 17 medical institutions, the overall performance of the best (90.95) and the worst (61.47) the gap between is up to 47%.
Quantifying the Spatial Evolution of Bai People’s Courtyard Houses
Authors: Krauth Jonathan 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Bai People’s courtyard houses in the rural parts of China’s Dali area are a particular type of Chinese courtyard house, adapted to local culture and conditions. These dwellings were constructed in vernacular tradition up until the 1980s but underwent significant changes in the following decades. The goal of this study is to examine the evolution of the spatial structure using quantitative data, and relate it to changes in the social culture of the inhabitants. Three vernacular and three contemporary cases in the village Gushengcun are compared. To enhance understanding and examine the idea of evolutionary change in architecture, the concept of a Spatial DNA is applied, building on a metaphor of the biological DNA. It uses Space Syntax techniques and links numerical values of integration and space type to functional information. Findings show that the integration of the courtyard and bedrooms is decreasing, and space types indicate a change from rings to sequences. In contrast, the kitchen space integration is increasing. These results reveal parallels to changes in the means of subsistence, social structure of the family and conceptions of privacy: Decreasing spatial centrality of the courtyard - once a key space in the processing of agricultural produce - coincides with a shift from work in the primary sector to secondary and tertiary industries. Modern conceptions of privacy and individualism replacing the family as a unit of privacy are related to the segregation of bedrooms. The change in the spatial location of the kitchen is interpreted in the context of abolished gender separation and the changing role of women. This study hence provides measurable evidence to the links between space and culture in an intertemporal comparison of dwelling types.
Sustainable Transitions of Urban Projects towards Mitigation and Adaptation Projects for Climate Change: The case of Medellin
Authors: Perez-Lancellotti Gino , Ziede Marcela 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
The research investigates the relationship between cities and climate change by examining how urban projects shifted to mitigation and adaptation for climate change at an urban scale. The article is based upon two complementary approaches, a multilevel analysis from sustainable transitions theory and a framework of interrelations of urban mitigation and adaptation projects. The methodological design is a case study; we analyzed the case of Medellin that, at the beginning of the 2000's, implemented public transport projects, urban parks, educational and cultural facilities, and risk mitigation projects in the surrounding hills. The main findings are that specific projects at an urban scale are operating as niches or experiments, taking advantage of windows of opportunities, and triggering changes in the urban design routines, framing a new sociotechnical system. It is found that governance, leadership, teams of experts and urban planners are drivers for the transition of urban projects, which were initially designed for social and transport needs, to urban mitigation projects for climate change. At the same time, urban mitigation projects such as the Metropolitan Green Belt are transiting to adaptation projects for climate change. The conclusion for this case study is that while most urban projects retain their traditional role, a new generation of projects with mitigation and adaptation features is emerging in the context of climate change. This article contributes to expanding the empirical analysis of the literature on the theory of sustainable transitions specifically related to cities and urban projects. The theoretical framework of urban projects and their linkages with climate change are enriched. The conceptual framework of the analysis is replicable and useful for practitioners in the field of urban design and researchers interested in comparisons to identify patterns or typologies. In addition, the article contributes to sensitize actors involved in public urban design policies in their roles as managers of transitions.
Pedestrian Paths as an Indicator of Legibility Aspects of Omani Traditional Settlements
Authors: Benkari Naima , Sallam Islam 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
The interest for studying the Omani built heritage is not recent. However, the published research about the subject since the early 1970s, is limited in number and sporadic in topics and territories investigated. Moreover, there was no or little interest in examining this built heritage from the point of view of its urban design typologies. This paper is examining the urban form of these settlements and linking it with legibility aspects. Legibility and its influence on users of urban spaces have been significant for many theorists in urban studies. In their point of view, behaviour patterns of pedestrians are strongly influenced by legibility perception of the spatial patterns in urban spaces. The current research aims at studying the legibility aspects of traditional Omani residential settlements in an objective evaluation represented by numerical approach. Through a descriptive and analytical method, the results will link the influence of urban forms with legibility and behaviour patterns of pedestrians, which are deeply affected by the perception of body and mind. The paper explored paths’ forms influence on legibility perception of pedestrian in some of traditional settlements in Oman that have a strong urban identification. Five case studies representing traditional Omani settlements were chosen and analysed with an innovative quantitative approach capable of discovering, evaluating deficiencies, and suggesting solutions to develop local concepts for paths in any of urban settlements. The findings disclose that the contest to adopt international approaches to solve local urban spaces has created pointless, despicable, and unused spaces, while adopting local patterns, features and solutions will enhance the legible image of local urban settlements.
Enhancing Ecological, Functional, Social and Aesthetic Quality of Street Green Space by Planning Green Pockets
Authors: Nitavska Natalija , Skujane Daiga , Markova Madara , Spage Aiga 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
City residents do not always have an opportunity to visit larger parks or nature areas on a daily basis as the rhythm of their daily life does not allow them to spend enough time in a natural environment. More and more time is spent on the way to the place of work or home. As well as tourists on visiting the city use main streets as touristic routes. On the one hand, major central streets affect ecological balance of the city due to the heavy traffic and contamination from it, but on other hand, they are mostly visited public areas because of the public transport and various public buildings and touristic objects concentrated there. Thus, street green space plays an important role in the city landscape pattern and often requires much more diversity of plantings, humane and safer environment than other areas of the city. Street green space can be very limited especially in the centre of the city with dense building areas or places where historic pattern of buildings does not allow to expand green areas. But it is possible to find small green spaces or green pockets in several places along the street. Green pockets that developed as multifunctional, ecological and aesthetical green spaces can compensate insufficiency of street greenery. The socio-economically active, medium-size city of Rezekne in Latvia has been chosen as a pilot area for the assessment of potential to develop green pockets along main streets of the city. The central street of Rezekne is the main axis of the urban landscape which provides access to the city from other regions, although it is historic heritage area with active public life. Unfortunately, within the development of the city there were needs to increase the flow of the main street by reducing the green space. Therefore, it was not possible to develop classic street greenery of tree alleys. Due to the random spatial structure of buildings along the main street, there are open spaces of different size and shape between or in front of buildings. Those are appropriate for development of green spaces. The approach of green pockets was adapted for the main street of Rezekne as a tool for enhancing ecological, functional, social and aesthetic quality of street green space. As well as, this makes it possible to give the street landscape a diverse and multifunctional image and provide necessary functions and environment for residents and tourists. The aim of the article is to analyse problematic issues of the greenery of major central streets of Rezekne and present an approach of green pockets as a tool for their solving.
Dam Safety Emergency Action Plan: A Current Practice for Hydropower Dam in Malaysia
Authors: Muda Rahsidi Sabri , Hussain Mohd Ramzi Mohd , Tukiman Izawati , Abdullah Fatin Shahira 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
There are currently 104 dams constructed in Malaysia. The dams were built for various purposes; 16 of them were built for hydropower. The dam's reservoir often presents significant risks to downstream areas if a massive downfall release occurs. The enormous downfall could be due to a dam break event, overtopping, and emergency operational release. An incident may occur due to massive flows over a spillway with high-speed discharge or unexpected peak discharge. The obvious impact of the incident is direct to the community in the downstream area. Although there is no dam failure recorded case in Malaysia since the 1900s, the possibility of dam failure occurring is still there. Therefore, the dams must have an emergency action plan (EAP) to prepare the likelihood of the emergency occurrences. This paper aims to explore the EAP practices for dam incident over the region and review the EAP practices of a hydropower dam in Malaysia. Implementing EAP in the emergency response system would minimise the public and environment's impact due to dam failures. The benefit of establishing an EAP is to create better communication and effective responses system among agencies during dam emergency occurrences. This paper revolves around the EAP practices by dam owners in mitigating the risk of dam failure occurrences.
Probabilistic Modelling of Demographic Changes in Singapore’s Neighbourhoods
Authors: Barakathullah Malik M , Willemse Elias Jakobus , Tunçer Bige , Bouffanais Roland 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Predicting the temporal evolution of the demography and the residents’ spatial movements would immensely aid the estate development and urban planning. The evolution of population in three townships of Singapore is simulated at neighbourhood scale using a novel agent-based probabilistic approach with inputs from large-scale survey and statistical data. The demographic changes due to age-dependent rates of death and fertility are studied by considering the inter-ethnic marriages that has a varying probability depending on the ethnicities of the male and female partners. The predicted changes in the age and household compositions and family types have been found to reflect the population trends in Singapore over the past years. The decline in family types that contain children and the structure of age composition over years underline the issue of prevailing low fertility rates. The strategies for incorporating the population relocation to consider the long-term spatial movement are also discussed. In Singapore’s context, we consider in the relocation model an added complexity of ethnic quota for the residential units developed by public housing board. The ethnicity dependent parameter coupled with other parameters that represent the number of children in a household besides their size, the household income, the proximity of children’s schools, and the places of employment could play a strong role in predicting the spatial evolution of the residents. These predictions can be used by the urban planners and policy makers to improve the quality of life in Singapore.
The analysis of morphometric parameters in hydrological modeling using GIS
Authors: Cotoarba Liliana , Herbei Mihai - Valentin , Florescu Constantin , Bādāluţā - Minda Codruţa 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
The analysis of the physical-geographical conditions determines and influences the formation and the regime of the water resources from a hydrographic basin. This paper aims to analyse spatial data based on raster models, more precisely the terrain analysis, later used in hydrological modelling. For the elaboration of the digital model of the terrain, methods of interpolation of certain data are used - the level curves - after which, by running the ArcGIS program will result the structure of the irregular triangulation network (TIN). Next, based on the TIN model, a set of analyses is obtained regarding the morphology of the terrain: the slope map; slope exposure map, etc. The slope is one of the most important factors for controlling surface and intermediate water runoff. The exposure of the slopes depends very much on the direction of the slope of the land. With the help of the analysis of the slope and slope exposure it is possible to: calculate the solar lighting for each location in a region; find all slopes in the southern part of a mountainous region to identify locations where the snowmelt process will start earlier than in other areas, thus avoiding the danger of flooding due to runoff from the slopes and the danger of soil erosion; the value and speed of surface runoff; identify the spread and abundance of flora and fauna, precipitation; identify the productivity classes of the land; find all the north-facing slopes on a mountain as part for the search of the best ski slopes.
Roughness Modeling for Composite Pavements using Machine Learning
Authors: Barros Rulian , Yasarer Hakan , Uddin Waheed , Sultana Salma 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
A large number of paved highway surfaces comprises composite pavements as a result of concrete pavement rehabilitation that uses an asphalt overlay on top of the concrete surface. Annually, billions of dollars are spent on the maintenance and rehabilitation of road networks. Roughness is one of the several indicators of road conditions used to make objective decisions related to road network management. The irregularities in the pavement surface affecting the ride quality of road users can be described by a standard roughness index defined as the International Roughness Index (IRI). Roughness prediction models can identify rehabilitation needs, analyze rehabilitation effects, and estimate future pavement conditions to implement different Maintenance and Rehabilitation (M&R) activities to extend the pavement life cycle and provide a smooth surface for road users. This study intended to develop pavement performance models to predict roughness for asphalt overlay on concrete pavement sections using the Long-Term Performance Pavement (LTPP) program database. Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) approach was used to develop roughness prediction models. A total of 52 pavement sections with 592 data points were analyzed. Five models were developed, and the best performing model, Model 5 was found with an average square error (ASE) of 0.0023, mean absolute relative error (MARE) of 12.936, and coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.88. Model 5 utilized one output variable (IRIMean) and 14 input variables (i.e., Initial IRIMean, Age, Wet-Freeze, Wet Non-Freeze, Dry-Freeze, Dry Non-Freeze, Asphalt Thickness, Concrete Thickness, CN Code, ESAL, Annual Air Temperature, Freeze Index, Freeze-Thaw, and Precipitation). The ANN model structure utilized for Model 5 was 14-9-1 (14 inputs, 9 hidden nodes, and 1 output). Environmental impacts and traffic repetitions can cause severe damage to the pavement if timely maintenance and rehabilitation are not performed. By considering the effects of the M&R history of the pavement, it is possible to obtain realistic prediction models for future planning. Therefore, the developed ANN roughness performance models in this paper can be used as a prediction tool for IRI values and guide decision-makers to develop a better M&R plan. Local and state agencies can use available historical traffic and climatological data in the developed models to estimate the change in IRI values. Utilizing these prediction models eliminates time-consuming data collection and post-processing, and consequently, a cost reduction. This low-cost tool will improve the condition assessment and effective M&R scheduling.