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Aspects of Vibration-Based Methods for the Prestressing Estimate in Concrete Beams with Internal Bonded or Unbonded Tendons -
Assessment of the Effectiveness of Different Safety Measures at Tunnel Lay-Bys and Portals to Protect Occupants in Passenger Cars -
Impact of Incorporating NIR Reflective Pigments in Finishing Coatings of ETICS -
Jointed Plain Concrete Pavements in Airports: Structural–Economic Evaluation and Proposal for a Catalogue -
Axial Load Behavior of Ultrahigh Strength Concrete-Filled Steel Tube Columns of Various Geometric and Reinforcement Configurations
Journal Description
Infrastructures
Infrastructures
is an international, scientific, peer-reviewed open access journal on infrastructures published monthly online by MDPI. The journal collaborates with the Spanish Road Technology Platform /Plataforma Tecnológica Española de la Carretera (PTC). Infrastructures is affiliated to International Society for Maintenance and Rehabilitation of Transport Infrastructures (iSMARTi).
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, ESCI (Web of Science), Inspec, and many other databases.
- Journal Rank: CiteScore - Q2 (Building and Construction)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision provided to authors approximately 14 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 3.2 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the first half of 2021).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
Latest Articles
The Use of ICT-Based Applications to Support the Implementation of Smart Cities during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia
Infrastructures 2021, 6(9), 119; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures6090119 - 26 Aug 2021
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in compulsion and encouragement of actions that have enabled changes to occur globally that have then been adapted to current conditions. For their highly dense populations, it is difficult to control the spread of the virus in cities.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in compulsion and encouragement of actions that have enabled changes to occur globally that have then been adapted to current conditions. For their highly dense populations, it is difficult to control the spread of the virus in cities. As a result, activities that draw large crowds together so that people can access public services are inevitable. Several cities that have been declared as smart cities in Indonesia have made a breakthrough by making use of information and communication technology (ICT)-based applications. This can be of great help for societies during pandemics. ICT has been able to help citizens perform various activities from home with the help of applications. This study aims to identify various applications that support the implementation of the concept of a smart city. This applies particularly to those applications that are based on ICT that can tackle the unique conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic and make recommendations regarding future developments. The data collected for this study were analyzed using secondary sources obtained from various clusters of literature, the internet, and social media. In addition, primary data was gathered from discussion forums. This paper employs a qualitative approach with qualitative descriptive data analysis techniques and hierarchical cluster analysis. Qualitative descriptive analysis was utilized to explore the conditions of smart cities, the regional conditions of the pandemic, and smart city applications more generally. The results show that during the COVID-19 pandemic, cities and regions, including the 100 smart cities in Indonesia, have developed many innovative solutions through ICT-based applications that can help people maintain an active social life and access public services. In the future, when everything is allegedly back to normal, cities need to implement the use of various ICT-based applications to increase efficiency in their planning and management. Therefore, it has become increasingly necessary to improve people’s digital literacy and to develop a type of ICT infrastructure that enables more people to access the internet.
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(This article belongs to the Section Smart Infrastructures)
Open AccessArticle
The Main Impacts of Infrastructure Works on Public Roads
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, , , , and
Infrastructures 2021, 6(9), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures6090118 - 24 Aug 2021
Abstract
Infrastructure implementation and renovation in cities require work on public roads that impact the daily lives of road users and local population and commerce. Although the study of the impacts of infrastructure works in the researched literature has received various approaches, there is
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Infrastructure implementation and renovation in cities require work on public roads that impact the daily lives of road users and local population and commerce. Although the study of the impacts of infrastructure works in the researched literature has received various approaches, there is still a shortage of studies that identify the impacts of the implementation of infrastructure on public roads and the importance of each one. This study collaborates with this theme by researching the main impacts caused by infrastructure works on public roads based on extensive and detailed bibliographic research and based on a survey carried out toward residents of the areas impacted by these works, road users, and Brazilian professionals with experience in the concerned field. The results showed that fourteen impacts identified in the literature were considered important by survey respondents, of which seven were considered the most important.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart, Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructures)
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Comparing the Cost of Rigid and Flexible Aircraft Pavements Using a Parametric Whole of Life Cost Analysis
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Infrastructures 2021, 6(8), 117; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures6080117 - 20 Aug 2021
Abstract
The construction and maintenance costs, as well as the residual value, were calculated for structurally equivalent rigid and flexible airfield pavements, for a range of typical commercial aircraft, as well as a range for typical subgrade conditions. Whole of life cost analysis was
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The construction and maintenance costs, as well as the residual value, were calculated for structurally equivalent rigid and flexible airfield pavements, for a range of typical commercial aircraft, as well as a range for typical subgrade conditions. Whole of life cost analysis was performed for a range of analysis periods, from 40 years to 100 years. For the standard 40-year analysis period and a residual value based on rigid pavement reconstruction, the rigid pavements had a 40% to 105% higher whole of life cost than equivalent flexible pavements, although this comparison is limited to the pavement compositions and material cost rates adopted. However, longer analysis periods had a significant impact on the relative whole of life cost, although the rigid pavements always had a higher cost than the flexible pavements. The assumed condition of the rigid pavement at the end of the design life was the most influential factor, with a 60-year service life resulting in the rigid pavements having a lower whole of life cost than the flexible pavements, but assuming a requirement for expedient rigid pavement reconstruction resulted in the rigid pavements costing approximately 4–6 times the cost of the flexible pavements over the 40-year analysis period.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Developments in Pavements)
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Crumb Rubber in Concrete—The Barriers for Application in the Construction Industry
Infrastructures 2021, 6(8), 116; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures6080116 - 20 Aug 2021
Abstract
This state-of-the-art review was aimed to conduct a comprehensive literature survey to summarize experiences of crumb rubber (CR) application in concrete within the last 30 years. It shows that certain gaps prevent obtaining a coherent overview of both mechanical behaviour and environmental impact
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This state-of-the-art review was aimed to conduct a comprehensive literature survey to summarize experiences of crumb rubber (CR) application in concrete within the last 30 years. It shows that certain gaps prevent obtaining a coherent overview of both mechanical behaviour and environmental impact of crumb rubber concrete (CRC) to object to the stereotypes which prevent to use of CR in concrete in the construction industry. Currently, four major barriers can be distinguished for a successful CR application in the concrete industry: (1) the cost of CR recycling, (2) mechanical properties reduction, (3) insufficient research about leaching criteria and ecotoxicological risks and (4) recyclability of CRC. The application of CR in concrete has certainly its advantages and in general cannot be ignored by the construction industry. CR can be applied, for example, as an alternative material to replace natural aggregates and CRC can be used as recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) in the future. A certain diversity for the CR application can be introduced in a more efficient way when surface treatment and concrete mix design optimization are properly developed for each type of CR application in concrete for possible field applications. The role of CRC should not be limited to structures that are less dependent on strength.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Solutions for Concrete Applications)
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Image-Based Crack Detection Methods: A Review
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, , , and
Infrastructures 2021, 6(8), 115; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures6080115 - 14 Aug 2021
Abstract
Annually, millions of dollars are spent to carry out defect detection in key infrastructure including roads, bridges, and buildings. The aftermath of natural disasters like floods and earthquakes leads to severe damage to the urban infrastructure. Maintenance operations that follow for the damaged
[...] Read more.
Annually, millions of dollars are spent to carry out defect detection in key infrastructure including roads, bridges, and buildings. The aftermath of natural disasters like floods and earthquakes leads to severe damage to the urban infrastructure. Maintenance operations that follow for the damaged infrastructure often involve a visual inspection and assessment of their state to ensure their functional and physical integrity. Such damage may appear in the form of minor or major cracks, which gradually spread, leading to ultimate collapse or destruction of the structure. Crack detection is a very laborious task if performed via manual visual inspection. Many infrastructure elements need to be checked regularly and it is therefore not feasible as it will require significant human resources. This may also result in cases where cracks go undetected. A need, therefore, exists for performing automatic defect detection in infrastructure to ensure its effectiveness and reliability. Using image processing techniques, the captured or scanned images of the infrastructure parts can be analyzed to identify any possible defects. Apart from image processing, machine learning methods are being increasingly applied to ensure better performance outcomes and robustness in crack detection. This paper provides a review of image-based crack detection techniques which implement image processing and/or machine learning. A total of 30 research articles have been collected for the review which is published in top tier journals and conferences in the past decade. A comprehensive analysis and comparison of these methods are performed to highlight the most promising automated approaches for crack detection.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart, Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructures)
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Pollutant Emissions in Ports: A Comprehensive Review
Infrastructures 2021, 6(8), 114; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures6080114 - 14 Aug 2021
Abstract
In recent decades, maritime transport demand has increased along with world population and global trades. This is associated with higher pollution levels, including the emissions of GHG and other polluting gases. Ports are important elements within maritime transport and contribute themselves to pollutant
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In recent decades, maritime transport demand has increased along with world population and global trades. This is associated with higher pollution levels, including the emissions of GHG and other polluting gases. Ports are important elements within maritime transport and contribute themselves to pollutant emissions. This paper aims to offer a comprehensive yet technical review of the latest related technologies, explaining and covering aspects that link ports with emissions, i.e., analyzing, monitoring, assessing, and mitigating emissions in ports. This has been achieved through a robust scientific analysis of very recent and significant research studies, to offer an up-to-date and reliable overview. Results show the correlation between emissions and port infrastructures, and demonstrate how proper interventions can help with reducing pollutant emissions and financial costs as well, in ports and for maritime transportation in general. Besides, this review also wishes to propose new ideas for future research: new future experimental studies might spin-off from it, and perhaps port Authorities might be inspired to experiment and implement dedicated technologies to improve their impact on environment and sustainability.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inspection, Assessment and Retrofit of Transport Infrastructure)
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Microstructural, Mechanical and Physical Assessment of Portland Cement Concrete Pavement Modified by Sodium Acetate under Various Curing Conditions
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, , , , and
Infrastructures 2021, 6(8), 113; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures6080113 - 12 Aug 2021
Abstract
Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) pavement was studied with incorporation of an environmentally friendly eco-additive, sodium acetate (C2H3NaO2). This additive was added to PCC pavement in three different percentages of 2%, 4% and 6% of binder weight. For
[...] Read more.
Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) pavement was studied with incorporation of an environmentally friendly eco-additive, sodium acetate (C2H3NaO2). This additive was added to PCC pavement in three different percentages of 2%, 4% and 6% of binder weight. For a comprehensive elucidation of the eco-additive incorporation on the performance of PCC pavement, casted samples were cured in three different environments, namely: water, outdoors and pond water. Water absorption tests, flexural and compressive strength tests after 7 and 28 days of curing were conducted and results compared with the control samples without any addition of sodium acetate. Results demonstrated a significant improvement in the impermeability, compressive strength and flexural strength of PCC pavement when sodium acetate concrete is cured in a water bath and outdoors. However, no/little improvement in the impermeability, compressive strength and flexural strength was observed in sodium acetate samples that were cured in pond water. Microstructural analysis of treated samples by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) illustrated the strengthening effect that sodium acetate provides to the pore structure of concrete pavement.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Developments in Pavements)
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A Resilience-Based Model for the Seismic Assessment of the Functionality of Road Networks Affected by Bridge Damage and Restoration
Infrastructures 2021, 6(8), 112; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures6080112 - 12 Aug 2021
Abstract
Road network functionality after an earthquake is a crucial aspect for an already struck community. In particular, bridges are susceptible to earthquake-induced damages and to lengthy restoration works. This may lead to severe and unexpected disruption of traffic. In this paper, a model
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Road network functionality after an earthquake is a crucial aspect for an already struck community. In particular, bridges are susceptible to earthquake-induced damages and to lengthy restoration works. This may lead to severe and unexpected disruption of traffic. In this paper, a model for the assessment of the seismic resilience of a road network is presented. The proposed model permits us to evaluate the earthquake-induced perturbations to the functionality of a network in terms of transportation capacities, traffic congestion, and travel times due to bridge damages and subsequent restoration interventions. The evolution over time of the functionality of the network is studied by means of a multi-stage approach describing the evolution of the situation in terms of reducing the normal pre-earthquakes transportation capacities. The methodology has been illustrated with reference to a hypothetical case study, a road network composed of 14 nodes and 31 links.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structural Rehabilitation, Retrofitting and Strengthening)
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The Italian Guidelines on Risk Classification and Management of Bridges: Applications and Remarks on Large Scale Risk Assessments
Infrastructures 2021, 6(8), 111; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures6080111 - 09 Aug 2021
Abstract
Bridges are essential for guaranteeing the functioning of transportation systems since their failure can cause serious threats to the safety, well-being and economy of modern communities, especially in emergency conditions. Following recent bridge failures, among which include the Morandi bridge in 2018, specific
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Bridges are essential for guaranteeing the functioning of transportation systems since their failure can cause serious threats to the safety, well-being and economy of modern communities, especially in emergency conditions. Following recent bridge failures, among which include the Morandi bridge in 2018, specific guidelines on risk classification and management, safety assessment and monitoring of existing bridges have been issued in Italy by the Minister of Infrastructure as a mandatory code. They pay particular attention to the evaluation of the residual life span of critical transportation infrastructure dating back to the 1950s and 1960s of the last century. Being a newly issued tool, the Guidelines need to be applied and tested in order to find possible drawbacks and to point out the main factors influencing their results. Therefore, in this study, after a short description of the Italian Guidelines, pointing out some differences with other approaches adopted worldwide, some advantages and disadvantages are discussed by an application to a bridge stock located in the Basilicata region (Italy). Data needed to apply the Guidelines are gathered by a purposely set up procedure that exploits existing databases on road infrastructure (OpenStreetMap) complemented by additional data retrieved by means of public image repositories (Google Street View). By accounting for the qualitative nature of the risk classification results obtained by applying the lower analysis levels of the Guidelines, a prioritization method is proposed for ranking bridges for higher assessment levels and possible interventions, as well as consequent funds allocation. The application shows that the Guidelines’ approach tends to provide conservative results. In fact, even in case of bridges with low degradation levels, the final risk classification induces actions undertaken for preliminary or detailed assessment; thus, normal operation (with periodic inspections) would not be possible anymore.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Resilient Bridge Infrastructures)
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Enhanced Flexible Pavement Performance Using Treated Compared to Untreated Aggregate Bases: A Comparative Case Study in the Southern United States
Infrastructures 2021, 6(8), 110; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures6080110 - 06 Aug 2021
Abstract
One of the important aspects of highway design is aggregates. Aggregates strength and consistency has an effect on pavement structure’s overall performance. The consistency of the base material near the site of the construction doesn’t always match the requirements of pavement construction and
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One of the important aspects of highway design is aggregates. Aggregates strength and consistency has an effect on pavement structure’s overall performance. The consistency of the base material near the site of the construction doesn’t always match the requirements of pavement construction and carrying quality aggregate raises the cost of construction. Stabilizing agents such as asphalt cement, lime, fly ash were used to improve the strength of these materials in order to make greater use of locally available materials. Layer materials present in the pavements and the structure of them influence pavement performance. The compressive strain and the tensile strain in the layer of subgrade and asphalt layer respectively are influenced by the stiffness of the base layer. The important aspects causing rutting and fatigue cracking are compressive strain in the top region of the subgrade layer and tensile strain at the bottom of the asphalt layer, respectively. In this research study, field performance (cracking, rutting, and surface roughness) of pavement sections with untreated and treated bases were collated to assess the impact of the stabilizing agents. The treated sections performed well significantly compared to the untreated sections in terms of pavement surface roughness and fatigue cracking. The treated sections performed higher than the untreated sections in terms of the cumulative average values of all 3 distresses with fatigue cracking averaging 5 times lower than the untreated sections. The combined IRI and rutting of treated sections averaged about 1.5 times and 0.11 inches smaller, respectively than those of untreated sections.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nontraditional Stabilization of Base Course and Subgrade Soils)
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State of Conservation of Concrete Heritage Buildings: A European Screening
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, , , , , , , and
Infrastructures 2021, 6(8), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures6080109 - 03 Aug 2021
Abstract
Historic concrete buildings are at risk. Limited knowledge of concrete technology until the 1960s led to more sensitive buildings than modern concrete buildings. In addition, the lack of sensibility regarding their heritage value and insufficient protection is leading to remorseless demolition. Still, concrete
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Historic concrete buildings are at risk. Limited knowledge of concrete technology until the 1960s led to more sensitive buildings than modern concrete buildings. In addition, the lack of sensibility regarding their heritage value and insufficient protection is leading to remorseless demolition. Still, concrete has proved to be a resilient material that can last over a century with proper care. There is not yet an estimation of the status of historic concrete buildings in Europe. Until now, a few attempts have been done to secondarily, and subjectively, gauge their conservation status. This paper is the result of a joint investigation studying forty-eight historic concrete buildings distributed in four countries. They were surveyed by expert teams according to a predefined methodology. The study aims to identify recurrent damages and parameters affecting the conservation state. It also aims to serve as the first trial for an objective and measurable methodology, to apply it with a statistically significant number of cases. Damages related to the corrosion of reinforcement and moisture-related processes were the most recurrent. The use of plasters, flat roofs, and structural façade walls show a positive effect in protecting the concrete. The state of conservation has a great variability across countries.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Durability and Degradability of Construction Materials)
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Evolution of Additive Manufacturing in Civil Infrastructure Systems: A Ten-Year Review
Infrastructures 2021, 6(8), 108; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures6080108 - 30 Jul 2021
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As human beings, we have a moral responsibility to act in a manner that takes the wellbeing of humans and Earth into consideration. When building, we must consider two things: the health of the workforce associated with construction and the state of the
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As human beings, we have a moral responsibility to act in a manner that takes the wellbeing of humans and Earth into consideration. When building, we must consider two things: the health of the workforce associated with construction and the state of the planet after building. Many engineers in the past have made groundbreaking achievements to revolutionize the civil infrastructure systems (CIS) industry. However, additive manufacturing (AM) has yet to be significantly recognized throughout the CIS industry. In this review, the use of all fundamental materials utilized by AM in CIS like concrete, metals, and polymers, are discussed. The objective of this study is to expand upon the technology of AM, specifically in CIS and to provide a review on the evolution of AM from 2011 to 2021. The different AM techniques that are utilized to construct said structures are also included. The review study suggests that AM can be useful in the CIS industry, as homes, bridges, and benches were manufactured with this technique. To enhance the reader’s visualization, pictures of the related built structures are also presented. It can be concluded that adopting AM techniques in the CIS industry can save material, speed up the construction process, and create a safer environment for the people that work in the CIS industry. Since the research on this subject is limited, further research on polymer printing along with metal printing is recommended.
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Open AccessArticle
Characteristics of Crashes Caused by Distracted Driving on Rural and Suburban Roadways in Jordan
Infrastructures 2021, 6(8), 107; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures6080107 - 29 Jul 2021
Abstract
The objective of this study was to identify the most salient driver faults that cause crashes on some Jordanian rural and suburban roadway segments, to examine crashes with distracted driving as the driver’s fault, and to investigate the differences between crashes caused by
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The objective of this study was to identify the most salient driver faults that cause crashes on some Jordanian rural and suburban roadway segments, to examine crashes with distracted driving as the driver’s fault, and to investigate the differences between crashes caused by distracted driving. Data for more than 10,200 crashes on nine roadway segments (five rural and four suburban) were accessed from the relevant government agency, but only n = 2472 were used for analysis after controlling for crashes specified as being caused by drivers’ distracted driving. IBM SPSS version 22 was used to perform descriptive analysis and independent samples’ t-tests. The results revealed that distracted driving was the second most common driver fault to cause crashes and the second main cause of fatalities and injuries on both rural and suburban roadways. Distracted driving on rural highways appears to be more fatal, whereas it caused more crashes with severe injuries on suburban roads. The variables at junction, road grade, number of lanes, weather condition, crash type, and number of vehicles involved were found to be statistically significant but with a small effect size. The following categories showed high percentages of distracted driving crashes on rural and suburban roadways: males, drivers 25–39 years old, non-holidays, weekdays, tangent sections, two-way divided roads, not at junction, level roads, two-lane roads, clear weather, dry surface, daylight, and automobile vehicles showed high percentages of distracted driving crashes on rural and suburban roadways. Differences between crashes on rural and suburban roadways caused by distracted driving were found to be small.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transport Systems: Safety Modeling, Visions and Strategies)
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Barriers towards Resilient Performance among Public Critical Infrastructure Organizations: The Refugee Influx Case of 2015 in Sweden
Infrastructures 2021, 6(8), 106; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures6080106 - 29 Jul 2021
Abstract
During the autumn of 2015, Europe experienced a sharp increase in refugee influx, and many refugees arrived in the European Øresund Region. Refugees travelled through Denmark and over the Øresund Bridge, arriving in the third largest city in Sweden, Malmö. Private, public and
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During the autumn of 2015, Europe experienced a sharp increase in refugee influx, and many refugees arrived in the European Øresund Region. Refugees travelled through Denmark and over the Øresund Bridge, arriving in the third largest city in Sweden, Malmö. Private, public and voluntary organizations in Malmö had to change the way they worked to meet the new entry demands. Flexible adaptations to changing circumstances can be described as resilient performance and are supported or hindered by societal and organizational drivers and barriers. Qualitative interview data from Swedish organizations managing the refugee reception in Malmö were analyzed through the theoretical lens of Resilience Engineering (RE). The analysis results showed that necessary adaptations were not supported by the managerial design of the responsible public organizations. The analysis also showed that preconditions created from societal steering hinders value responsiveness at the public management level, i.e., the public management level has barriers towards becoming familiar with the organization’s value structures. Familiarity with the system value and goal structure is essential for an efficient prioritizing of conflicting goals, which is why it is suggested that this aspect be explicitly included in RE principles.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Infrastructure Resilience in Emergency Situations)
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Application of Fuzzy-TOPSIS Method in Supporting Supplier Selection with Focus on HSE Criteria: A Case Study in the Oil and Gas Industry
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, , , and
Infrastructures 2021, 6(8), 105; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures6080105 - 28 Jul 2021
Abstract
Supply chain management is an emerging topic in the oil and gas industry. There is higher exposure of contractors to undesirable incidents and supplier selection is a multicriteria decision problem (MCDM). A fuzzy-TOPSIS method was employed in the evaluation of three suppliers regarding
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Supply chain management is an emerging topic in the oil and gas industry. There is higher exposure of contractors to undesirable incidents and supplier selection is a multicriteria decision problem (MCDM). A fuzzy-TOPSIS method was employed in the evaluation of three suppliers regarding four HSE criteria. This method was applied in a case study of the oil and gas industry involving a contractor bidding process. Results reinforced that fuzzy-TOPSIS is a versatile and suitable method for supplier selection problems, with low computational complexity and promoting a better user experience. This method contributes to greater effectiveness and agility in the selection processes of suppliers regarding HSE management. The fuzzy-TOPSIS model is suitable for supplier selection problems and some of the benefits of applying this method are that it allows the attribution weights according to the level of importance of each criterion and considers the complexity, subjectivity, and uncertainty of the decision process. One has determined that it was essential to have a robust and consistent process for weighting the criteria and defining the most appropriate linguistic variables.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart, Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructures)
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Cradle-to-Gate Life Cycle and Economic Assessment of Sustainable Concrete Mixes—Alkali-Activated Concrete (AAC) and Bacterial Concrete (BC)
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, , , and
Infrastructures 2021, 6(7), 104; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures6070104 - 15 Jul 2021
Abstract
The negative environmental impacts associated with the usage of Portland cement (PC) in concrete induced intensive research into finding sustainable alternative concrete mixes to obtain “green concrete”. Since the principal aim of developing such mixes is to reduce the environmental impact, it is
[...] Read more.
The negative environmental impacts associated with the usage of Portland cement (PC) in concrete induced intensive research into finding sustainable alternative concrete mixes to obtain “green concrete”. Since the principal aim of developing such mixes is to reduce the environmental impact, it is imperative to conduct a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA). This paper examines three different types of sustainable concrete mixes, viz., alkali-activated concrete (AAC) with natural coarse aggregates, AAC with recycled coarse aggregates (RCA), and bacterial concrete (BC). A detailed environmental impact assessment of AAC with natural coarse aggregates, AAC with RCA, and BC is performed through a cradle-to-gate LCA using openLCA v.1.10.3 and compared versus PC concrete (PCC) of equivalent strength. The results show that transportation and sodium silicate in AAC mixes and PC in BC mixes contribute the most to the environmental impact. The global warming potential (GWP) of PCC is 1.4–2 times higher than other mixes. Bacterial concrete without nutrients had the lowest environmental impact of all the evaluated mixes on all damage categories, both at the midpoint (except GWP) and endpoint assessment levels. AAC and BC mixes are more expensive than PCC by 98.8–159.1% and 21.8–54.3%, respectively.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Solutions for Concrete Applications)
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Open AccessEditorial
Geomaterials for Transportation Infrastructures
Infrastructures 2021, 6(7), 103; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures6070103 - 12 Jul 2021
Abstract
The American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE) quadrennial report card exhibited the grim picture of nation’s transportation infrastructure [...]
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geomaterials for Transportation Infrastructures)
Open AccessArticle
Modern Urban Transport Infrastructure Solutions to Improve the Safety of Children as Pedestrians and Cyclists
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Infrastructures 2021, 6(7), 102; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures6070102 - 09 Jul 2021
Abstract
This article presents the issues and needs for modern solutions in building urban infrastructure, based on the smart city idea to improve the living standards of residents. Particular attention is paid to one of the most important aspects of life, related to road
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This article presents the issues and needs for modern solutions in building urban infrastructure, based on the smart city idea to improve the living standards of residents. Particular attention is paid to one of the most important aspects of life, related to road safety of children as pedestrians and cyclists. Pedestrian sidewalks and bicycle paths with high pedestrian traffic are classified as dangerous areas in many countries. More than 3% of the injuries and fatalities among pedestrian road users that are victims of accidents occur due to crossing the road. Therefore, it is necessary to apply various technical infrastructure solutions to improve the safety of this group of inhabitants. The scientific purpose of this article is the assessment of the safety level of children in pedestrian and bicycle traffic and the analysis of road solutions supporting the maintenance of high-level city safety. The research was based on the analysis of statistical data of accidents and the diagnostic survey method determining the safety of the inhabitants of southern Poland. As a result, an analysis of the level of child safety in urban traffic was developed, as well as key factors affecting the levels of road safety, based on the opinions of respondents. Potential places with the greatest risk of collision with minors have also been identified. There are also proposals for infrastructure solutions aimed at minimising accident risk levels in designated areas.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solutions for the Infrastructure and Transport of Smart City 4.0)
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Development of Warm In-Place Recycling Technique as an Eco-Friendly Asphalt Rehabilitation Method
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Infrastructures 2021, 6(7), 101; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures6070101 - 08 Jul 2021
Abstract
Cold In-place Recycling (CIR) has been widely used in the world since it is easy to apply it in the field at a low cost. However, it is not normally used as a surface layer as a result of its inconsistent quality due
[...] Read more.
Cold In-place Recycling (CIR) has been widely used in the world since it is easy to apply it in the field at a low cost. However, it is not normally used as a surface layer as a result of its inconsistent quality due to an excessive amount of fine aggregates pulverized during the milling process. Hot In-place Recycling (HIR) can retain the original shape of the aggregates, but it often produces a large amount of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Therefore, a third in-place recycling technique is introduced in this paper: Warm In-place Recycling (WIR). The WIR technique overcomes the limitations of both CIR and HIR techniques by lowering a heating temperature while adding a Tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA)/Soybean/SBS additive. To identify the effect of the additive on the RTFO-aged binder, viscosity and dynamic modulus values were measured at different temperatures. Based on Hamburg Wheel Tracking (HWT) and Disc-Shaped Compact Tension (DCT) tests, the additive improved the moisture susceptibility and low temperature cracking resistance. The indirect infrared heating equipment reduced the emission by lowering the pavement surface heating temperature by 20 °C from 140 to 120 °C. Compared with the heating at 140 °C, the LPG usage for heating at 140 °C was lowered by 21%. The proposed WIR equipment with an additive would revolutionize the in-place recycling practices.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pavement Sustainability)
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The Development of the Smart Cities in the Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs) Era: From Mobility Patterns to Scaling in Cities
Infrastructures 2021, 6(7), 100; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures6070100 - 08 Jul 2021
Cited by 2
Abstract
Smart cities aim to integrate technological development with different functions/components such as mobility, management of energy, natural resources, water, and the waste cycle, air quality, land use, service network, construction, but also the economy, social participation, increased employment, and citizen safety. It includes
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Smart cities aim to integrate technological development with different functions/components such as mobility, management of energy, natural resources, water, and the waste cycle, air quality, land use, service network, construction, but also the economy, social participation, increased employment, and citizen safety. It includes a series of coordinated and integrated social, environmental and economic interventions to enhance human capital, reduce environmental impacts and solve ecological emergencies. The holistic approach is particular to smart cities, including several mobility aspects in the main European classifications. In particular, the development of smart cities depends on several factors related to transport supply (i.e., mobility service, infrastructure details, ICT) and demand (socio-demographic aspects), and the size of the city. This paper provides an overview of the development of smart cities by defining a methodology that allows the identification of criteria for determining the optimisation of urban mobility with a particular interest in the development of future autonomous mobility. The analysis of current literature on the concept of smart cities and new mobility technologies made it possible to analyse the compatibility between them and possible criticalities. The definition of criteria lays the groundwork for future research steps focused on the application of multicriteria analysis.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Resilient and Smart Transport Infrastructure for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles)
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