Search Results (6,490)

The construction industry remains among the most dangerous occupations in the world and safety management in this industry remains hierarchical in nature, being designed by engineers, regulatory agencies, and site managers and not by those who actually face the highest risk of danger. This paper argues that this asymmetry in who gets to design safety is systemic, arising from the intersection of organisational hierarchy, national power distance, and multi-tier subcontracting, all of which erode both accountability and worker voice. Drawing on a theoretical framework that integrates the safety-voice, power-distance, and systems-theoretic accident model and processes (STAMP) literatures with a structural analysis of Istanbul’s construction sector, the paper shows how legal, contractual, and cultural mechanisms suppress the feedback processes that resilience-oriented safety management depends on. Drawing on Turkish labour-law thresholds for union recognition, subcontracting data, and a case of worker protest during the construction of one of Istanbul’s largest infrastructure projects, the paper identifies three mechanisms of exclusion: statutory representation thresholds that structurally exclude construction workers, subcontracting chains that diffuse responsibility for safety outcomes away from the workers who bear the risk, and organisational hierarchies that discourage safety voice long before it reaches any formal channel. The paper concludes with a set of design principles for reintegrating worker feedback into safety control structures, offered as a contribution to resilience engineering practice. Full article

Woody biomass is often promoted as a low-carbon energy source in global decarbonization efforts. However, LCA (life cycle assessment) evaluations of woody biomass-to-energy systems show very different environmental performance. Variations in technology and methodology across investigations can cause these inconsistencies. This review paper analyzes methodologies of LCAs of woody biomass conversion routes such as combustion, combined heat and power, gasification, pyrolysis, torrefaction-assisted systems, and new bioenergy with carbon capture configurations. A systematic literature review was conducted using Scopus, SpringerLink, and ScienceDirect, identifying 4272 records, of which 98 studies were retained for detailed analysis following the application of defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Functional unit selection, from biomass mass per unit to power or heat per unit, is highly variable, affecting comparability. Forest carbon stock fluctuations, infrastructure, and end-of-life treatment are inconsistently included in cradle-to-grave system boundaries. Static GWP100 methods are often used in biogenic carbon removal without considering temporal carbon dynamics. The importance of pretreatment steps like drying, pelletizing, and torrefaction cannot be overstated, even though they have a direct impact on the quality of the fuel, the efficiency of transportation, and the effectiveness of the conversion process downstream. The large range of stated emission levels for comparable technologies is further influenced by logistics assumptions, plant scale, and allocation mechanisms in cogeneration systems. The review synthesizes these methodological differences and proposes a harmonization methodology to increase woody biomass LCA transparency and comparability. By identifying important sources of outcome variability, this study helps policymakers, project developers, and industry stakeholders evaluate biomass energy investments and bring clarity to environmental decisions. Full article

Steel production contributes significantly to global resource consumption and accounts for nearly 8% of worldwide CO₂ emissions. As the construction industry moves toward decarbonization, the reuse of structural steel has emerged as a highly impactful strategy for reducing embodied carbon and extending material life cycles. However, most end-of-life structures are still demolished using conventional methods that prioritize recycling for scrap value rather than recovering reusable steel components, resulting in the loss of high-quality material and reduced environmental and economic benefits. Despite growing interest in circular construction, systematic analyses of real-world structural steel reuse projects remain limited. This restricts the understanding of the practical conditions required for scalable implementation. Moreover, there is a lack of structured approaches for identifying the factors influencing deconstruction and large-scale structural steel reuse across reverse supply chains. This study addresses these gaps by developing a framework of factors affecting efficient deconstruction and structural steel reuse, identified through a thematic analysis of the literature and structured around structure attributes, business attributes, value chain activities, project management, and regulations. Fifteen case studies were analyzed: two from North America, twelve from Europe, and one from Asia. A structural steel reuse classification model is introduced to support cross-case comparison of coordination demands, implementation barriers, and scalability potential within reverse supply chains. The results demonstrate that reuse pathways differ substantially in coordination requirements, implementation complexity, and scalability outcomes. They further indicate that the dominant challenges to structural steel reuse are no longer primarily technical, but instead stem from system-level coordination gaps, limited information availability, and insufficient integration across reverse supply chains. Based on these findings, targeted solutions are identified, including improved dismantling strategies, enhanced documentation systems, dedicated storage infrastructure, and stronger regulatory alignment. This study provides a structured analytical approach and practical recommendations to support decision-making, stakeholder coordination, and the scalable implementation of structural steel reuse. Full article

This paper presents a pilot educational workflow that couples 3D remote sensing with heritage-driven pedagogy by engaging architecture master’s students in the documentation and digital archiving of Transylvanian cultural sites. Using terrestrial and mobile 3D scanning, students documented multiple typologies—wooden churches (Târgușor, Tioltiur), historical ensembles (Mociu, Coplean), industrial sites (1 Mai–Luduș, Vânătorilor–Luduș), and an urban street segment (Potaissa)—to generate dense point clouds that served as the basis for geometric reconstruction, semantic interpretation, and condition assessment. The study describes how the characteristics of different construction systems (timber, brick, stone, mixed structures) relate to point-cloud quality, survey coverage, and subsequent CAD/BIM drafting, with attention to the qualitative reading of minor deformations in wooden churches and of degradation patterns in masonry and industrial buildings. We also consider how artefacts in the data (noise, occlusions, registration errors) affect scene understanding and the interpretation of derived observations relevant to condition assessment and, prospectively, to monitoring. For the Tioltiur dual-sensor case, the TLS and SLAM datasets were compared through an internal CloudCompare registration check (final RMS 0.1121 on 50,000 points, fixed scale 1.0 and theoretical overlap 100%), surface-density displays (r = 0.005 for the Z+F dataset and for the GeoSLAM dataset), fitted-wall-plane readings (dip values around 89 deg. and 85 deg.) and a longitudinal section documenting roof/vault deformation. Beyond technical performance, the paper examines the self-reported formative impact on students’ digital skills and their understanding of cultural values, arguing that participation in 3D data acquisition, processing, and interpretation positions them as co-creators of a living digital archive. Pre- and post-workshop questionnaires (n = 13 each) are analysed descriptively—counts, percentages and medians with interquartile ranges—because the two instruments are unmatched and carry no shared identifier, so no paired test is applied; post-workshop self-ratings of technical competence, heritage understanding, archival awareness and collaboration were consistently high (medians 4–5), with uneven access to VR the main gap. By connecting point-cloud-based documentation workflows with heritage education, the project outlines a transferable, monitoring-ready baseline model in which 3D remote sensing supports both careful documentation and the transmission of regional identity and cultural meaning in architectural training. As an exploratory pilot with a small, self-reported sample, the study reports descriptive and qualitative findings rather than validated metric or statistical results. Full article

Lithium, as a Li-ion battery constituent, is pivotal for the transition to clean energy. Western Australia (WA) has become a global leader in hard-rock lithium mining, realising 10-fold growth from 2010 to 2024 and with royalty receipts to the WA government surpassing $1 billion AUD. Given the sector’s economic significance, we analyse key performance metrics including resource/reserve build, production growth, cumulative capital deployed, capital intensity, and development timelines for the new-generation lithium mines. Several enabling factors supported the rapid build-out of capacity. These include an efficient mine permitting process to manage environmental impacts and competing land use issues, a stable royalty regime, energy and logistics infrastructure, availability of a skilled workforce, and mining services capability. Contrary to the standard industry narrative that new mineral projects are constrained by legislative delay, the new lithium projects achieved development timelines of 7 years or less from first resource to production. This has broader implications for critical mineral projects where success is likely to depend less on strategic classification and more on project quality, financing, and regional capability. Full article

The development of nuclear fusion as a viable energy source will require the manufacturing of large-scale and complex components capable of withstanding extreme operational conditions. The RODAS project will address this challenge by developing and validating advanced manufacturing technologies, particularly additive manufacturing and Hot Isostatic Pressing, to fabricate demonstrator components representative of those needed in ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) and EU-DEMO (European Demonstration Power Plant) reactors. The project will focus on the production and qualification of fusion-relevant materials such as EUROFER97, CuCrZr, and AISI 316L (ITER-grade), using various additive manufacturing techniques adapted to large-scale applications. Through a coordinated effort among Spanish public research institutions and private technology centers and companies, RODAS will establish specifications, develop hybrid manufacturing routes, and implement non-destructive testing methods to ensure the integrity and performance of the produced components. Additionally, it will explore strategies for future in-service repair using remotely operated systems. The project will significantly strengthen the technological capabilities and international competitiveness of the Spanish industrial sector in the field of nuclear fusion. Full article

Context: The Agile methodology has been prevalent in the software industry for more than two decades, marking a shift from plan-driven to market-driven approaches and introducing various challenges. While the literature identifies numerous challenges in Agile development, little attention has been given to their ranking and prioritization, which are critical for effective project management and decision making. This study fills this gap by combining empirical evidence from the literature and practitioners. Objectives: This study aims to identify and hierarchically prioritize the most recent challenges faced by Agile practitioners during product development. To achieve this, a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was conducted using 115 published studies between 2010 and 2025 followed by empirical data collection from 30 Agile experts through semi-structured interviews conducted with practitioners from Agile companies and an online survey. This study applies Cumulative Voting (100-Dollar Test) and Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) techniques to rank and prioritize these challenges. Results: The SLR identifies several recurring Agile challenges; however, limited research has focused on their ranking and prioritization. The present study reveals new challenges, such as user interface complexities, lack of pre-development and pre-operational cost information, and lack of cost scalability at the module and feature levels. The current study identifies Inadequate Architecture (22%), Lack of Standardized Framework (18%), Communication and Coordination (16%), Poor Requirement Verification (13%), and Minimum Documentation (8%) as the most significant challenges. Conclusions: This study provides valuable insight for Agile practitioners and organizations, enabling more informed project planning, resource allocation, and strategic decision making. By focusing on the most critical challenges, teams can enhance software quality, streamline processes, and improve overall productivity in Agile environments. Full article

Against the dual strategic backdrop of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals and high-quality urbanization development, extant literature exhibits four prominent research gaps: oversimplified evaluation indicator systems, exclusive exploration of the unidirectional carbon impacts exerted by urbanization, a scarcity of long-time-series coupling analyses targeting the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YEB), and functional fragmentation between coupling coordination assessment and predictive simulation tools. Drawing on panel data covering 11 provinces and municipalities within the YEB spanning 2000 to 2021, this study constructs a comprehensive urbanization evaluation framework encompassing four dimensions: population, economy, society, and spatial layout. Meanwhile, an integrated carbon emission assessment system is established from the perspectives of population, economy, energy consumption, and carbon sinks. The entropy-weight method is adopted to assign indicator weights, and a combination of the coupling coordination degree model and system dynamics (SD) model is employed to analyze spatiotemporal evolutionary characteristics and simulate development trends from 2022 to 2032. By organically integrating the coupling coordination model and the SD model, this study establishes an integrated analytical framework that unifies static comprehensive evaluation and driving-mechanism decomposition, thereby compensating for the limitations of time-series forecasting models such as the grey prediction model and ARIMA, which only fit trends from historical data. Empirical results reveal that regional urbanization levels witnessed sustained growth across 2000–2021, with spatial urbanization acting as the core driving pillar. The overall coupling coordination degree maintained a steady upward trajectory, while the east–west regional disparity gradually narrowed. The simulation projections for 2022–2032 demonstrate continuous improvements in coordinated development across the entire basin: the coupling coordination degree ranges from 0.788 to 0.954 for the eastern region, 0.810 to 0.859 for the central region, and 0.752 to 0.865 for the western region. Such spatial differentiation corresponds to distinct practical development pathways: low-carbon stock optimization in the east, low-carbon industrial undertaking in the central zone, and clean energy transition acceleration in the west. All provincial-level administrative regions are projected to achieve an upgrade in their coupling coordination grades by 2032. This study acknowledges several limitations: missing raw data are supplemented via interpolation, only a single baseline scenario is simulated, predictive uncertainty is not quantitatively measured, and subjectivity persists in the weight assignment of coupling subsystems. Ultimately, differentiated low-carbon urbanization governance strategies are proposed for the three sub-regions, offering empirical references for the coordinated realization of dual carbon targets throughout the Yangtze River basin. Full article

The convergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) is reshaping how the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector manages projects across their lifecycle, yet the systemic uptake of this convergence remains poorly understood in developing-economy contexts such as Morocco. This study examines the state, opportunities, and barriers of BIM–AI integration in Morocco’s AEC sector through a PRISMA-guided scoping review combined with a bibliometric analysis. An initial global search of Scopus and Web of Science identified 1842 records; after successive screening for relevance to BIM–AI integration and to the Moroccan context, six core studies were retained for detailed synthesis. The bibliometric analysis, covering the broader filtered corpus, shows a publication trend with three distinct growth phases between 2015 and 2025 and reveals that Moroccan research output on digital construction is disproportionately concentrated on energy-efficiency applications rather than construction management or structural engineering. The synthesis of the six core studies further indicates that BIM–AI integration in Morocco remains at an early, largely 3D-focused stage, with significant conceptual and empirical gaps. Building on these findings, this study proposes a three-tiered strategic roadmap, targeting policy, industry, and academia, to accelerate digital transformation and innovation in Morocco’s construction sector. Full article

Faculty innovation is central to the long-term innovative capacity of higher education institutions, yet institutional support is often studied either as a single overall condition or as a set of separate factors. Using a 2024 survey of 649 faculty members from 25 public higher education institutions in Zhejiang and Jiangsu, China, this study examines perceived institutional innovation support (PIIS) as a broad perceived support environment organized into three interrelated descriptive domains, namely internal resource and institutional environment, innovation service infrastructure, and external industry connection. Regression models assess associations with faculty innovation capability (FIC), measured as an observed index combining reported innovation behavior, activity, and performance, while Necessary Condition Analysis examines upper-end bottleneck-like patterns. Overall PIIS was positively associated with FIC across alternative inferential specifications. In the joint-domain model, innovation service infrastructure and external industry connection retained statistically distinguishable incremental associations, whereas internal resource and institutional environment did not. Across the association-based sensitivity analyses, innovation service infrastructure was the most consistently supported domain. The upper-end analysis revealed a different pattern, with external industry connection producing the largest observed ceiling effect under both ceiling techniques and remaining the clearest and most persistent bottleneck-like candidate across sensitivity analyses. Its empirical boundary became more restrictive mainly near the highest observed FIC levels. The findings suggest that conditions associated with variation across faculty need not be the same as those that become difficult to bypass near the upper end, while all conclusions remain associational and sample-grounded. PIIS is used here as a project-specific organizing framework rather than as a newly validated construct empirically distinct from adjacent support or climate constructs. Full article

The transition to a circular economy requires professionals to adopt new strategies and a systemic approach to product development. This shift demands continuous learning and the development of new competencies to understand and apply circular economy principles. In this context, innovative educational approaches that foster engagement and lifelong learning (LLL) are essential. Gamification can support this process by enhancing motivation, creativity, problem-solving, and knowledge retention, while interactive tools help learners critically examine and operationalise circular economy principles. This article discusses the design and application of the “Circularity Deck of Cards,” a learning resource developed as part of a European-funded project Be@t, to facilitate the circular design of products and services. The study follows a mixed-methodological approach encompassing three phases: a systematic mapping of international tools and methodological approaches; the conceptual and visual development of the resource; and its implementation and evaluation through a workshop involving undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students and researchers in fashion design and textile engineering in Portugal. The data were collected using a questionnaire that combined quantitative and qualitative questions, designed to assess the receptiveness to, challenges of, and opportunities arising from gamification in the teaching of circular design. The findings indicate that participants responded positively to the tool, recognising its value as both a pedagogical resource and a professional instrument for promoting sustainability and circularity in the textile and clothing industry. Ultimately, gamification catalyses training students, designers, and industry professionals to address the challenges of circularity, fostering new perspectives on circular design in professional practice. Full article

Industrial polypropylene portfolios comprise multiple commercial grades differentiated by molecular architecture, phase morphology, processability, and performance. In this study, 81 industrial polypropylene grades, including 38 homopolymers, 21 random copolymers, and 22 impact copolymers, were analyzed to evaluate the chemometric organization and structure–property relationships of a complete commercial portfolio. The dataset integrated melt flow index, xylene-soluble fraction, total ethylene content, ethylene content of the rubber phase, rubber-phase fraction, and mechanical, thermal, and optical performance variables obtained from routine industrial quality-control and product-certification activities. Principal component analysis, partial least squares discriminant analysis, and variable importance in projection analysis were used to examine portfolio organization, evaluate consistency with the predefined polypropylene families, and identify the descriptors contributing most strongly to family-level discrimination. The first two principal components explained 83.8% of the total variance. They revealed a low-dimensional organization consistent with the molecular and morphological differences among homopolymer, random copolymer, and impact copolymer grades. The full-descriptor PLS-DA model achieved 98.8% cross-validated accuracy and correctly classified 80 of the 81 grades using two latent variables. This performance reflects the internal consistency between the descriptor matrix and the existing industrial family classification rather than independently validated predictive capability for unknown grades. Homopolymer differentiation was mainly associated with molecular-weight-related flow behavior, random copolymer organization with ethylene-induced modification of crystallinity, and impact copolymer differentiation with heterophasic rubber-phase characteristics. The results provide a portfolio-specific chemometric workflow for grade organization and structure–property interpretation. However, the numerical domain boundaries and their transferability require validation using independent polypropylene portfolios from other producers. Full article

The diversification of rural development actors in China has promoted a shift from state-centered governance toward collaborative approaches, with rural operation emerging as an important pathway for resource mobilization and value creation. While existing studies have examined multi-actor participation, less attention has been paid to the institutional and socio-economic mechanisms through which polycentric governance shapes rural operation, particularly regarding market rationalities, contractual arrangements, and local capacity formation. This study develops an analytical framework conceptualizing rural polycentric governance as the interaction of institutional support, market embedding, and local agency, and examines rural operation transformation through changes in actors, rights relations, and industrial structures. Drawing on a case study of Huashu Village in Nanjing, this study explores how polycentric governance reshapes rural operation over time. The findings reveal a transition from traditional collective operation to government-led project-based operation, and ultimately to market-embedded polycentric collaborative operation. Specifically, institutional support, through property-rights reforms, policy incentives, and normative arrangements, provides foundations for multi-actor collaboration. Market embedding, through external capital, market-oriented management rationalities, and contractual norms, reshapes resource allocation and cooperative relationships. Local agency, through grassroots organization building, local resource activation, and actor capacity development, transforms external resources into endogenous development capabilities. Through continuous interaction and feedback, these dimensions jointly promote diversified actors, clarified rights arrangements, and integrated industrial development. This study expands the theoretical boundaries of rural polycentric governance by incorporating implicit governance dimensions, refining theoretical explanations of how polycentric governance enables rural operation, and providing empirical evidence on its complexity and dynamics for policy formulation. Full article

Environmental noise is a major environmental and public health concern in rapidly urbanizing cities, yet integrated studies combining field measurements, GIS-based spatial analysis, and predictive modelling remain limited in Central Asia. This study assessed the spatial distribution of urban noise pollution in Samarkand (Uzbekistan) and explored its statistical association with selected public health indicators, forecasting future trends. Measurements were conducted at 50 georeferenced sites covering more than 300 streets. The measured data were processed and mapped using ArcGIS 10.5 (Esri, Redlands, CA, USA) to produce the spatial distribution of environmental noise across the study area. Official data on registered vehicles, industrial enterprises, and disease incidence (2014–2024) were analysed using Pearson correlation, Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA), and its extension incorporating exogenous variables (ARIMAX) models. Results revealed pronounced spatial heterogeneity in noise levels, highest along transport corridors and industrial zones. Industrial enterprises showed the strongest correlations with disease incidence; vehicle registrations were excluded from final models owing to collinearity with industrial activity. ARIMA projected continued industrial growth through 2030, while ARIMAX models identified significant associations between industrial activity and diseases of the ear and mastoid process and of the nervous system (MAPE 28.55% and 19.78%). As an ecological, exploratory study using infrastructural proxies rather than measured noise exposure, findings should be interpreted as associations rather than causation. The framework offers a transferable approach for environmental risk assessment and sustainable urban planning. Full article

Adaptive reuse research commonly evaluates completed projects, overlooking cases in which the design, program, and/or construction are not yet finished. This article examines the ongoing reuse of the Çırpıcı Meadow Textile Factory in Istanbul to investigate architectural continuity within a fragmented post-industrial complex. This qualitative single-case study combines three semi-structured interviews with the lead architect, two site visits, photographs, drawings, project visualizations, aerial images, and historical sources. Material, spatial, symbolic, and programmatic transformations are the connected analytical lenses. The findings reveal uneven and conflicting forms of continuity. Original reinforced-concrete structures remain in Blocks L, S, B, and C, whereas H and F have been reconstructed and R is under construction as of July 2026. The courtyard and selected footprints sustain spatial relationships despite material loss, while the surviving denim-washing pools and new steel tower provide references to the industrial past. The shift from a culture-oriented campus to municipal offices has altered the subdivision, circulation, servicing, and access control. Because the complex was unoccupied and its public landscape unbuilt, accessibility, adaptability, and symbolic reception could not be evaluated. The study shows that existing conditions, completed interventions, ongoing works, approved proposals, and abandoned concepts must be distinguished when interpreting continuity in unfinished adaptive reuse projects. Full article