Search results for "021105 building & construction"
showing 10 items of 409 documents
A practical approach to estimate the degree of binder activity of reclaimed asphalt materials
2019
Using Reclaimed Asphalt (RA) in new asphalt mixtures can reduce the amount of new material required thereby saving money and natural resources. In addition, asphalt mixtures with RA have shown comparable properties and performance to that generally associated with asphalt mixtures made with 100% virgin material. However, RA content in pavement surface layers is still limited due to specification and technical limitations. For higher contents, the aged RA binder must be analysed to accurately determine the requirements for virgin binders and additives while the degree of blending (DOB) between the RA binder and the virgin binder also needs to be quantified. This is not a simple process and g…
Performance of a sustainable asphalt mix incorporating high RAP content and novel bio-derived binder
2019
The recent drive to find ways to increase sustainability and decrease costs in asphalt paving has led researchers to find innovative ways to incorporate more recycled materials and bio-derived binders into mixes with varying success. A new novel bio-derived binder made from refined pine chemistry stabilised with a polymer can increase the sustainability of asphalt mixes while maintaining pavement performance. Laboratory performance testing was conducted on asphalt mixes containing 50% Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) by mix weight and the novel bio-derived binder. Results show that the bio-derived binder outperforms the conventional 50/70 pen grade binder mixes with respect to resistance to…
Intrinsic adhesive and cohesive assessment of the moisture sensitivity of bio-rejuvenated recycled asphalt binders
2019
Alternative binders not derived from fossil fuels, known as biobinders, are opening new paths for multiple applications in road infrastructure. Biobinders, usually produced from bio-oils obtained from the processing of biomass and industry by-products, are tuneable materials whose properties can be adjusted to meet specific targets. For this reason, an interesting approach is to couple biobinders with Reclaimed Asphalt (RA) by taking advantage of their rejuvenating properties to design bio-asphalt mixtures with high-content RA and no additional virgin bitumen. Recent research has proven the feasibility of this approach through validation at full-scale (BioRePavation project). However certai…
The Current and Future Role of Carsharing in Palermo: Analysis of Collected Data and Results of a Customer Satisfaction Survey
2018
In recent years many cities, both in Italy and abroad, have adopted Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans, in which one of the key action is the developing of the sharing mobility. The aim of the paper is to define the role that carsharing plays in Palermo today and it will play in the future, thanks to the adoption of new strategies, such as the introduction of the free-floating system, and transport demand orientation policies, such as the increase in the parking fees for private cars or the expansion of the ZTL. The average user profile of carsharing in Palermo has been identified through a customer satisfaction survey and the potential demand of carsharing in Palermo has been studied using G…
Using UAV Based 3D Modelling to Provide Smart Monitoring of Road Pavement Conditions
2020
Road pavements need adequate maintenance to ensure that their conditions are kept in a good state throughout their lifespans. For this to be possible, authorities need efficient and effective databases in place, which have up to date and relevant road condition information. However, obtaining this information can be very difficult and costly and for smart city applications, it is vital. Currently, many authorities make maintenance decisions by assuming road conditions, which leads to poor maintenance plans and strategies. This study explores a pathway to obtain key information on a roadway utilizing drone imagery to replicate the roadway as a 3D model. The study validates this by using stru…
Forensic Inspections in the Time of Covid-19
2021
The global pandemic of COVID-19 has impacted the entire world in ways that were unimaginable months ago. It has changed how professionals work and interact with one another. To ensure the safety of experts and attorneys, also forensic inspection procedures must evolve, while still providing a reliable foundation for an expert testimony, relevant to the task at hand. Traditional field inspections require attendees to be physically present and generally in close proximity. Inspecting artifacts may also require that individual components be serially examined by multiple experts, which increases the risk of transmitting the disease. The authors propose a new approach to forensic inspections aim…
Survey and Photogrammetric Restitution of Monumental Complexes: Issues and Solutions—The Case of the Manfredonic Castle of Mussomeli
2019
The latest results obtained through photogrammetric restitution enhanced by GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) survey achieved increased levels of accuracy. These survey solutions are used to rapidly obtain a detailed model with an excellent level of accuracy (centimetric) with cheaper equipment. However, the contour conditions are not always favorable for obtaining the best results in a simple way. The work presented in this paper shows the survey and the photogrammetric restitution of the Manfredonic Castle of Mussomeli in Sicily, developed as a part of the PON NEPTIS European Project, aimed at the valorization of Cultural Heritage (CH). This case is a typ…
Exploiting Low-Cost 3D Imagery for the Purposes of Detecting and Analyzing Pavement Distresses
2020
Road pavement conditions have significant impacts on safety, travel times, costs, and environmental effects. It is the responsibility of road agencies to ensure these conditions are kept in an acceptable state. To this end, agencies are tasked with implementing pavement management systems (PMSs) which effectively allocate resources towards maintenance and rehabilitation. These systems, however, require accurate data. Currently, most agencies rely on manual distress surveys and as a result, there is significant research into quick and low-cost pavement distress identification methods. Recent proposals have included the use of structure-from-motion techniques based on datasets from unmanned a…
Knowledge and training needs on built environment and indoor health of Italian public health residents: a national survey
2017
Introduction The Working Group for Hygiene of Built Environment and the National Council of Residents of the Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health conducted a nation-wide survey to evaluate the knowledge and training needs on built environment and indoor health of Italian public health residents. Results The compliance was very high (52,4%) covering all the Italian postgraduate schools. The results underline important lacks of theoretical formation and practical training, but also a certain inhomogeneity across the country and show a strong interest of residents on this topic. Conclusions The authors propose the adoption a national core curriculum and suggest som…
Green geopolymeric concrete using grits for applications in construction
2018
Abstract This work investigates the production a green geopolymer-based concrete for a sustainable construction material using biomass wastes from a kraft pulp industry: fly ash (as main alumina-silicate source) and grits (as aggregate). Moreover, a simple, reproducible, ambient temperature, and low-cost manufacture is followed. Mix design aims to maximize wastes incorporation and optimize the mechanical performance. Preliminary tests indicate that the used wastes may be successfully employed to produce green geopolymeric concretes with satisfying mechanical performance (up to 18 MPa), according to the European standards. Furthermore, they represent a viable solution to reduce the environme…