Buildings

Many masonry buildings exist worldwide. Safety assessments are crucial for renovation and upgrading. On-site testing reveals material properties and historic loads, enabling updates to structural resistance models for more accurate evaluations. (1) This paper details updating resistance models with Bayesian theory and the proof load method. (2) It proposes three verification levels: high, medium, and low, using on-site material and load data. (3) Suitable resistance partial factors for each verification level are suggested. (4) The method is validated through practical case studies of masonry structure evaluations. The results show that (1) the mean value of the resistance of the existing masonry members updated by “Bayesian theory” and “Proof load methods” increases while the coefficient of variation decreases. (2) The reliability index of existing masonry components increases with the increase in the proof load and decreases with the increase in the coefficient of variation in material property uncertainty. (3) For “High verification level” and “Moderate verification level”, the resistance partial factors for existing masonry structure assessment can be taken as 1.67 and 1.70, respectively. (4) That updated partial factors can be used for structures.

This study presents an integrated intervention strategy for the adaptive reuse of vernacular architecture in a state of ruin, focusing on the fortified village of Moya (Cuenca, Spain). The proposal is framed within a rural revitalization program aimed at educational and cultural tourism uses, with the goal of reactivating abandoned built fabric through the incorporation of new functions that generate social value and contribute to territorial development. The proposed methodology combines archival research, digital documentation, material characterization, and a constructive solution based on the insertion of a reversible, structurally autonomous timber volume within the existing stone masonry. Through material characterization, a differentiated consolidation protocol is developed to stabilize the ruins while maintaining historical legibility. The new architectural volume, built with prefabricated cross-laminated timber (CLT) and insulated with locally sourced expanded cork, is designed to meet contemporary standards of energy efficiency, reversibility, and environmental responsibility, while remaining fully independent from the original structure. The intervention offers a replicable model for sustainable rural regeneration, balancing conservation ethics with functional adaptation. Future lines of research include the dynamic simulation of the energy performance of the inserted dwelling, with the aim of assessing its contribution to climate neutrality and net-zero emissions targets.

The proactive safety behavior of construction workers is crucial for accident prevention. This study examines the mechanism through which altruistic leadership influences such behavior, proposing a theoretical model grounded in social exchange theory, self-determination theory, and situational strength theory. The model positions psychological empowerment as a mediator and perceived organizational support as a moderator. Hypotheses were tested using survey data from 718 construction workers in China. The data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), complemented by a multi-group analysis based on the workers’ age and weekly working hours. The results show that altruistic leadership significantly enhances proactive safety behavior. Psychological empowerment partially mediates this relationship, while perceived organizational support positively moderates the link between psychological empowerment and proactive safety behavior. Furthermore, the positive effect of altruistic leadership was more substantial among older workers and those with longer weekly working hours. In contrast, the mediating role of psychological empowerment was more pronounced among younger workers. These findings reveal the dual influence of internal psychological mechanisms and external contextual factors in the relationship between altruistic leadership and proactive safety behavior. This study helps managers foster safety proactivity by promoting altruistic leadership and supportive organizational environments.