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Infrastructures
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Feature Papers
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Feature Papers

A special issue of Infrastructures (ISSN 2412-3811).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2018) | Viewed by 57725

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Pedro Arias-Sánchez

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Guest Editor
Applied Geotechnologies Group, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Engineering, School of Mining Engineering, University of Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain
Interests: smart cities; smart infrastructures; mobile mapping; laser scanning; close range photogrammetry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Susana Lagüela López

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Guest Editor
Cartographic and Land Engineering Department, Higher Polytechnic School of Avila, University of Salamanca, Hornos Caleros, 50 05003 Avila, Spain
Interests: infrared thermography; laser scanning; ground-penetrating radar; 3D modeling; civil and environmental engineering; geographic information systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This is a Special Issue of high quality papers in Open Access form by the editorial board members, or those invited by the editorial office and the Editor-in-Chief. The scope of the Infrastructures Journal includes, but is not limited to, the following items:

  • Construction technology, maintenance, retrofitting and management of constructed facilities
  • Construction materials: mechanical and thermal characterization
  • Analysis of transportation networks, logistics, supply chains, management of transport systems, intelligent transportation systems, safety, mobility and environmental concerns.
  • Structural design and control, health monitoring and prediction, structural reliability / stability
  • Non-destructive technologies, inspection, life cycle assessment and updating
  • Engineering for: pavement, railway, bridge, tunnel, dam, port
  • Geotechnical engineering
  • Survey engineering
  • Computers in civil engineering
  • Smart infrastructures and buildings
  • Adaptation to climate change, extreme events and hazards, and hazards mitigation

Dr. Pedro Arias-Sánchez
Dr. Susana Lagüela López
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Infrastructures is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 2760 KiB  
Article
Airfield Infrastructure Management Using Network-Level Optimization and Stochastic Duration Modeling
by Mohamadhossein Noruzoliaee and Bo Zou
Infrastructures 2019, 4(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures4010002 - 02 Jan 2019
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5416
Abstract
This paper proposes a facility-specific modeling approach to plan maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) activities on a network of airport runway pavement facilities. The objective of the modeling approach is to minimize system M&R cost while recommending M&R activities for each runway pavement facility [...] Read more.
This paper proposes a facility-specific modeling approach to plan maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) activities on a network of airport runway pavement facilities. The objective of the modeling approach is to minimize system M&R cost while recommending M&R activities for each runway pavement facility over a planning horizon. To do so, pavement condition forecast is derived from estimating stochastic duration models which capture the inherent uncertainty and dynamics in pavement deterioration and impacts of exogenous factors. Building on the pavement condition forecast, a network optimization-based M&R planning framework is developed which accounts for the interdependence of M&R activities among facilities as reflected in (1) the requirement for aggregate pavement performance and (2) simultaneous implementation of a major M&R action on connected facilities. The budget constraint is also respected. The M&R planning framework with the stochastic duration model-based pavement condition forecast is applied to Chicago O’Hare International Airport. It is found that the proposed approach leads to much reduced M&R cost compared to the state-of-the-practice which does not consider the interdependence of M&R activities among different pavement facilities. On the other hand, accounting for the simultaneous implementation of a major M&R action on connected facilities would substantially increase M&R cost. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers)
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14 pages, 5218 KiB  
Article
Building up and Characterization of Calcined Marl-Based Geopolymeric Cement
by Galal El-Habaak, Mohamed Askalany and Mahmoud Abdel-Hakeem
Infrastructures 2018, 3(3), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures3030022 - 06 Jul 2018
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5688
Abstract
The present study mainly investigates the synthesis of calcined marl-based geopolymeric cement under different synthesis conditions including NaOH concentration, sodium silicate (SS)/sodium hydroxide (SH) mass ratios, solid (S)/liquid (L) mass ratios, calcination temperatures, curing temperatures, curing times, and aging intervals. The studied head [...] Read more.
The present study mainly investigates the synthesis of calcined marl-based geopolymeric cement under different synthesis conditions including NaOH concentration, sodium silicate (SS)/sodium hydroxide (SH) mass ratios, solid (S)/liquid (L) mass ratios, calcination temperatures, curing temperatures, curing times, and aging intervals. The studied head sample was obtained from the Abu-Tartur phosphate mine in the Western Desert of Egypt and subjected to chemical and mineralogical characterizations using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform–infrared spectroscopy (FT–IR). Regarding calcination, this was conducted at 550, 650, 750, and 850 °C for one hour and resulted in thermal decomposition of calcite and saponite and the formation of new mineral phases including anthophyllite, wollastonite, and silica. On the other hand, the geopolymerization process was initiated by mixing the calcined marl sample with the alkali activation solution at different mixing ratios and varying curing conditions. The compressive strength measurements indicate that 750 °C, 12 M NaOH, 0.6 SS/SH mass ratio, 2 S/L mass ratio, 80 °C curing temperature, 12 h curing time, and 28 days aging time are considered all to be the optimum synthesis conditions of the Abu-Tartur calcined marl-based geopolymer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers)
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15 pages, 2820 KiB  
Article
Dynamic Amplification Factor of Continuous versus Simply Supported Bridges Due to the Action of a Moving Vehicle
by Arturo González and Omar Mohammed
Infrastructures 2018, 3(2), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures3020012 - 18 May 2018
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 7792
Abstract
Research to date on Dynamic Amplification Factors (DAFs) caused by traffic loading, mostly focused on simply supported bridges, is extended here to multiple-span continuous bridges. Emphasis is placed upon assessing the DAF of hogging bending moments, which has not been sufficiently addressed in [...] Read more.
Research to date on Dynamic Amplification Factors (DAFs) caused by traffic loading, mostly focused on simply supported bridges, is extended here to multiple-span continuous bridges. Emphasis is placed upon assessing the DAF of hogging bending moments, which has not been sufficiently addressed in the literature. Vehicle-bridge interaction simulations are employed to analyze the response of a finite element discretized beam subjected to the crossing of two vehicle types: a 2-axle-truck and a 5-axle truck-trailer. Road irregularities are randomly generated for two ISO roughness classes. Noticeable differences appear between DAF of mid-span moment in a simply supported beam, and DAFs of the mid-span sagging moment and of the hogging moment over the internal support in a continuous multiple-span beam. Although the critical location of the maximum static moment over the internal support may indicate that DAF of hogging moment would have to be relatively small, this paper provides evidence that this is not always the case, and that DAFs of hogging moments can be as significant as DAF of sagging moments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers)
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1595 KiB  
Article
A System-of-Systems Approach for Integrated Resilience Assessment in Highway Transportation Infrastructure Investment
by Ali Mostafavi
Infrastructures 2017, 2(4), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures2040022 - 10 Dec 2017
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 9553
Abstract
The objective of this paper is to propose a System-of-Systems (SoS) approach for an integrated assessment of resilience in civil transportation infrastructure in the U.S. A SoS approach is adopted for systemic assessment. Data obtained from case studies of two recent natural disasters [...] Read more.
The objective of this paper is to propose a System-of-Systems (SoS) approach for an integrated assessment of resilience in civil transportation infrastructure in the U.S. A SoS approach is adopted for systemic assessment. Data obtained from case studies of two recent natural disasters in the U.S. are utilized to explore the status quo, key players and interactions, and the drivers to and barriers of improving resilience in transportation infrastructure systems. The findings indicate that strategies for enhancing resilience in transportation infrastructure systems include redistributing the available funding through a special funding vehicle, using resilience-based performance measures, and integrating the efforts of different stakeholders. The SoS approach along with the findings from the case studies provides an analytical tool for understanding the dynamics of resilience in infrastructure systems. Such understanding could lead to identifying strategies for enhancing resilience in infrastructure systems. The study presented in this paper provides new insights to identify the determinants of resilience in highway transportation infrastructure based on a SoS approach. Full article
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Review

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41 pages, 1550 KiB  
Review
Performance-Based Analysis in Civil Engineering: Overview of Applications
by Said M. Easa and Wai Yeung Yan
Infrastructures 2019, 4(2), 28; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures4020028 - 23 May 2019
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 11751
Abstract
Traditional design approaches in civil engineering mainly focus on codes/guidelines related to building an infrastructure, while performance-based analysis (PBA), an emerging new reality around the world, focuses on the performance of the end product. Professional organizations, academicians, and the industry have made significant [...] Read more.
Traditional design approaches in civil engineering mainly focus on codes/guidelines related to building an infrastructure, while performance-based analysis (PBA), an emerging new reality around the world, focuses on the performance of the end product. Professional organizations, academicians, and the industry have made significant contributions in formulating PBA in various civil engineering fields, where practical guidelines and principles have been adopted in infrastructure analysis. This paper presents a critical review of PBA applications in three civil engineering fields: transportation, environmental, and structural engineering. The applications are grouped into a wide array of civil engineering areas, including highway transportation, pavement design and management, air transportation, water-structures design and operation, landfill design, building architectural design for evacuation, urban energy design, building earthquake-based design, building wind-based design, and bridge design and management. A total of 187 publications on PBA were reviewed and details on 122 application papers (from 23 countries/regions) are presented. The review consists of vertical and horizontal scans of PBA applications. In the vertical scan, the applications in each civil engineering area are summarized in tabular format that shows the system element modeled, analysis objective, performance criteria, analytical tool, and specifications/codes. The horizontal scan (discussion and lessons learned) addresses the following aspects of PBA: (1) the wide array of analytical tools used, (2) the broad functional and process-related areas, (3) the advantages, challenges, and opportunities, and (4) potential future applications. It is hoped that the state-of-the-art review presented in this paper will help researchers/practitioners quickly find useful information about PBA and promote its development in their respective fields. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers)
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19 pages, 456 KiB  
Review
Infrared Thermography’s Application to Infrastructure Inspections
by Iván Garrido, Susana Lagüela and Pedro Arias
Infrastructures 2018, 3(3), 35; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures3030035 - 12 Sep 2018
Cited by 33 | Viewed by 5941
Abstract
Health monitoring and prediction in different types of structures is essential in order to maintain optimal conditions. Some of the pathologies that affect their structural stability are characterized by distinct thermal properties compared to unaltered areas. Infrared thermography (IRT) is a technique based [...] Read more.
Health monitoring and prediction in different types of structures is essential in order to maintain optimal conditions. Some of the pathologies that affect their structural stability are characterized by distinct thermal properties compared to unaltered areas. Infrared thermography (IRT) is a technique based on the acquisition of the thermal radiation of the bodies using thermal sensors of infrared (IR) cameras, which produce an image of the thermal infrared radiation captured through the conversion of the radiation values to temperature values. Therefore, this technique can be used in different studies to analyse structures with one or more pathologies based on their anomalous thermal behaviour with regard to the unaltered surroundings. As a consequence, this review presents various IRT applications to infrastructure inspections, showing the utility of the technique. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers)
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25 pages, 3157 KiB  
Review
Critical Analysis of International Precast Concrete Pipe Standards
by Lui S. Wong and Moncef L. Nehdi
Infrastructures 2018, 3(3), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures3030018 - 22 Jun 2018
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 10929
Abstract
Reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) standard guidelines and industry practice have rather been disconnected from the end-users’ expectations. No genuine effort has so far been made to create synergy between the expertise gained and advances made around the world. With the advent of strong [...] Read more.
Reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) standard guidelines and industry practice have rather been disconnected from the end-users’ expectations. No genuine effort has so far been made to create synergy between the expertise gained and advances made around the world. With the advent of strong competition from flexible pipe products and changing end-user expectations, a critical look at the current state-of-the-art is needed. In the present paper, RCP standards from a study area representing a quarter of the world’s population (Canada, United States, United Kingdom, China, Australia and New Zealand) were critically analyzed. Comparisons were made in terms of product and material requirements, structural load testing, hydrostatic performance, and durability requirements. It is shown that the RCP sector lags modern developments in concrete technology, standard code advances and materials innovations. The analysis also revealed various knowledge gaps in terms of the mechanical, hydrostatic and durability performance of RCP. Recommendations emanating from this critical analysis aim at tailoring performance-based guidelines that can better capture current market needs and user expectations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers)
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