Search Results (214)

Traditional playground settings are often less effective in fostering STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics)-related activities, as fixed play structures tend to restrict the diversity of play behaviors and inhibit children’s ability to engage in self-directed, imaginative exploration. Using a research-through-design methodology, this study investigated how playground design (temporary landscape interventions) influences children’s engagement in informal STEAM learning activities and enhances the STEAM learning affordances of the playground. Conducted at an early learning center in Lubbock, Texas, the research involved GIS-based Environment–Behavior Mapping (E-B Mapping) and video analysis of 21 preschool-age children to compare pre- and post-intervention STEAM learning behaviors. The intervention incorporated fourteen nature-based landscape elements—such as sand and water play areas, sensory gardens, loose parts, art areas, etc.—to enhance affordances for informal STEAM activities. The results showed a marked decrease in passive behaviors and a notable rise in constructive play; collaborative interactions; and STEAM-related activities such as building, hypothesizing, observing, and experimenting. Engagement shifted away from fixed play structures to more diverse and naturalized play settings. The findings underscore the critical role of integrating diverse landscape settings and elements into playgrounds in enriching STEAM learning experiences for young children. Full article

Global refugee flows’ increasing scale and complexity pose significant challenges to national education systems. Turkey, hosting one of the largest populations of refugees and individuals under temporary protection, faces unique pressures in ensuring equitable educational access for refugee students. Addressing these challenges requires a shift from linear, fragmented interventions toward holistic, systemic approaches. This study applies a Community-Based System Dynamics (CBSD) methodology to explore the systemic barriers affecting refugee students’ participation in education. Through structured Group Model Building workshops involving teachers, administrators, and Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) representatives, a causal loop diagram (CLD) was collaboratively developed to capture the feedback mechanisms and interdependencies sustaining educational inequalities. Five thematic subsystems emerged: language and academic integration, economic and family dynamics, psychosocial health and trauma, institutional access and legal barriers, and social cohesion and discrimination. The analysis reveals how structural constraints, social dynamics, and individual behaviors interact to perpetuate exclusion or facilitate integration. This study identifies critical feedback loops and leverage points and provides actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners seeking to design sustainable, systems-informed interventions. Our findings emphasize the importance of participatory modeling in addressing complex societal challenges and contribute to advancing systems thinking in refugee education. Full article

The addition of battery storage to solar plants enhances the ability of those plants to deliver electricity during high-value periods. However, the value proposition of storage improves over time due to falling battery costs and increasing volatility in electricity prices, making it unclear when storage adoption should occur. In this work, we consider a 100 MW solar plant constructed in the year 2022 and build a techno-economic model to determine the optimal system design and timing of storage additions in four locations (CAISO, NYISO, ERCOT, and PJM). We find that the optimal time to add storage is 5–10 years after solar plant construction and that the optimal storage quantity is much higher than the amount selected if storage is included during the initial plant construction. Additionally, the model suggests significant upscaling in inverter capacity, allowing storage to deliver electricity during brief high-price periods. We also consider the effects of temporary and permanent subsidies for batteries, showing that a long-term subsidy encourages economically optimal delays in storage adoption. Full article

Daylight Saving Time (DST), involving clock shifts forward in spring and backward in autumn, was introduced to promote energy savings. However, its effectiveness remains controversial, especially in buildings with temporary occupancy like academic institutions, which have high daytime use but low summer occupancy. This study investigates the impact of DST transitions on energy consumption across seven campuses of two higher education institutions (HEIs) in northern Portugal and Spain, located in different time zones, using measured data from 2023. The analysis accounted for the structural and operational characteristics of each campus to contextualize consumption patterns. Weekly electricity consumption before and after DST changes were compared using independent samples t-tests to assess statistical significance. Results show that the spring transition to DST led to an average energy saving of 1.7%, while the autumn return to standard time caused an average increase of 1.2%. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in five of the seven campuses. Descriptive statistics and confidence intervals indicated that only sites with intervals excluding zero exhibited consistent changes. Seasonal energy demand appeared more influenced by academic schedules and thermal comfort needs—particularly heating—than by DST alone. Higher consumption coincided with periods of intense academic activity and extreme temperatures, while lower demand aligned with holidays and longer daylight months. Although DST yielded modest energy savings, its overall impact on academic campus energy use is limited and highly dependent on local conditions. The findings highlight the need to consider regional climate, institutional policies, user behavior, and smart technology integration in future energy efficiency analyses in academic settings. Full article

Disasters can be defined as natural, technological, and human-induced events that cause loss of life and socio-economic impacts in societies and stop normal life. Türkiye faces many disasters. The loss of life and economic losses caused by these disasters vary according to the type of disaster. Earthquakes are the natural disasters that affect Türkiye the most. Described as the disaster of the century, the Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes occurred on 6 February 2023 at 04:17 and 13:24 Turkish time. These earthquakes, with epicenters in Pazarcık (Kahramanmaraş) and Elbistan (Kahramanmaraş) with magnitudes of Mw 7.7 and Mw 7.6, affected 11 provinces including Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, and Malatya, killing 50,399 people and damaging 1,279,727 buildings. One of the most significant challenges following earthquakes is the issue of housing, which is addressed through the implementation of temporary housing units. This study aimed to evaluate the temporary shelter areas created after the Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes within the framework of regulations and standards in Türkiye and internationally. The study data were collected through direct observation and participant observation. For this purpose, the “Vali Saim Çotur Tent City”, which is located in the central Onikişubat district of Kahramanmaraş and is the second largest tent city, was examined. As a result of the examination, it was concluded that the tent city did not comply with national and international standards. Based on the findings and results of this study, it is recommended that disaster plans are revised and training programs organized for practitioners in order to prevent similar mistakes in future disasters. Full article

Throughout human settlement history, the pursuit of durability has been a paramount objective in building construction. The emphasis on durability has resulted in the construction of buildings designed to outlast human lifespans. However, the lack of consideration for building demolition and disposal during the design and construction phases has created challenges for future generations. This oversight contributes to the environmental impact of structures after demolition, which is a significant concern given that the construction industry is a major contributor to energy consumption, CO₂ emissions, and solid waste production. In fact, in recent decades, there has been an increasing demand for temporary constructions, driven by factors such as migration phenomena, natural disasters, and the COVID-19 pandemic, but also in sectors like agriculture, where seasonality and annual variations in activities require adaptable structures such as warehouses, barns, livestock shelters, and food storage facilities. Unlike traditional constructions, these temporary buildings must be assembled and disassembled multiple times during their lifespan. The challenge lies in ensuring the structural integrity, adaptability to varying conditions, and compliance with specific requirements to extend their usability and postpone the disposal phase. This study focuses on the design of a novel type of temporary structures intended for temporary needs such as emergencies and planned agricultural activities, resulting in a European patent. The structure is based on a glulam frame inside two OSB panels—that work as structural bracing, creating a hollow, resistant, light structure—connected with external steel connections. This work reports results of mechanical simulations and thermal transmittance calculations. Specifically, it demonstrates the building maintains structural strength through multiple usages and its thermal characteristics can be easily adapted to the context. These are the first steps for a resilient and sustainable building. Full article

The indoor microbiome is a dynamic ecosystem including pathogens that can impact human health. In this regard, the school environment represents the main living space of humans for many years, and an unhealthy environment can significantly condition students’ health. School rooms can suffer from insufficient ventilation and the use of building materials that may favor pathogen contamination, mostly sanitized by conventional chemical-based methods, which can impact pollution, have temporary effects, and induce the selection of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in persistent microbes. In the search for sustainable and effective methods to improve the healthiness of the classroom environment, a pre–post case–control study was performed in an Italian high school. Over a year, different interventions were sequentially placed and evaluated for their impact on bioburden and air quality, including the introduction of plants, a mechanical ventilation system, and probiotic-based sanitation (PBS) in substitution for chemical sanitation. Through continuous microbial monitoring of the enrolled school rooms, via culture-dependent and -independent methods, a remarkable bioburden level was detected at baseline (around 12,000 and 20,000 CFU/m², before and after classes, respectively), composed mostly of Staphylococcus spp. and fungi. Some decrease in fungal contamination was observed following the introduction of plants. Still, the most significant decrease in pathogens and associated AMR was detected following the introduction of ventilation and PBS, which decreased pathogen level by >80% (p < 0.001) and AMR by up to 3 Log₁₀ (p < 0.001) compared to controls. Collected data support the use of combined strategies to improve indoor microbial quality and confirm that PBS can effectively control bioburden and AMR spread not only in sanitary environments. Full article

This paper presents experimental studies of the formation of thermal and humidity conditions in two wooden historic churches in southern Poland. The environmental and cultural changes taking shape are creating the need to modernize existing buildings to sustainable standards. The modernization of historic religious buildings is complicated by restrictions on the intrusion of vertical partitions, which are often covered with valuable wall paintings. The paper focuses on the important aspect of preserving historically valuable buildings in good condition and assessing the threat posed by vapor condensation on the surface of the partitions. The studied buildings differ in terms of their uses and heating systems. Building A is unheated, while building B is equipped with a heating system. The scope of the study includes continuous measurements of the temperature and relative humidity of the indoor air inside and outside the studied churches. The work presents a detailed analysis and comparison of the formation of thermal and humidity conditions inside the churches. A computational model of the buildings was created, and then a computational simulation of the risk of water vapor condensation on the surface of the external walls was carried out. The analysis presents the influence of the external climate on the formation of the thermo-humidity conditions inside the buildings, especially in the unheated church. Also shown is the effect of the temporary heating of the church on ensuring the optimal heat and moisture conditions for historic wooden buildings. The analysis shows that turning on the heating only during the use of the church slightly improves the thermal and humidity conditions compared to the unheated church. Additionally, the analysis shows that the occasional use of the unheated church contributes to significant cooling of the church (even to −8.4 °C in the winter half year). Another conclusion that the computational analysis reveals is that water vapor condensation on the surface of the external walls is impossible. However, the difference between the air temperature in the church and the dew point temperature, specifically in the unheated church, is 1.6 °C. Therefore, at lower outside air temperatures, there may be a risk of water vapor condensation. Full article

To address the challenge of repairing the damage to concrete box girder bridge piers on mountainous highways caused by falling rocks, this paper proposes an active underpinning technique that integrates a “井”-shaped cap system, graded preloading of the foundation, and synchronized beam body correction. The technique utilizes lateral beam preloading (to eliminate the inelastic deformation of the new pile foundation) and longitudinal beam connections (to form overall stiffness). The method involves building temporary and permanent support systems in stages. Through the two-stage temporary support system transition, the removal and in situ reconstruction of the old piers, a smooth transition from the pier–beam consolidation system to the basin-type bearing system is achieved while simultaneously performing precise correction of beam torsion. The structural safety during the construction process was verified through finite element simulations and dynamic monitoring. Monitoring results show that the beam torsion recovery effect is significant (maximum lift of 5.2 mm/settlement of 7.9 mm), and the pier strain (−54.5~−51.3 με) remains within a controllable range. Before the bridge was opened to traffic, vehicle load and impact load tests were conducted. The actual measured strength and vertical stiffness of the main beam structure meet the design requirements, with relative residual deformation less than 20%, indicating that the structure is in good, elastic working condition. The vehicle running and braking dynamic coefficients (μ = 0.058~0.171 and 0.103~0.163) are both lower than the theoretical value of 0.305. The study shows that this technique enables the rapid and safe repair of bridge piers and provides important references for similar engineering projects. Full article

It is unclear whether the COVID-19 pandemic has had consequences for common mental disorders (CMDs). This scoping review aims to examine direct infection-related (e.g., severe COVID-19 illness), psychosocial (e.g., social isolation), and indirect outcomes (e.g., changes in incidence) that have been particularly discussed so far. A literature search for clinically diagnosed adult CMDs was conducted using Pubmed, Web of Science, and PsycInfo (n = 5325). After completion of the screening process, 26 included studies remained for extraction. None of the included studies reported post-pandemic data. The effects appeared to be particularly pronounced for anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders in the first year of the pandemic. This was followed by a period of adjustment, during which rates of mental disease and its symptoms largely returned to pre-pandemic levels. Fluctuating rates of CMDs may have had COVID-related causes. Preventive temporary inpatient care could be a protective approach for those at risk or vulnerable, as well as establishing pandemic consultation and building resilience. A gap in the research is the lack of comparisons of CMD data before, during, and after the pandemic to distinguish transient disease rates from chronic disease requiring treatment. Full article

The research area of NILM exhibits a high heterogeneity regarding approaches and characteristics, especially in terms of the applied algorithms, measurement data, quantities, and features used, as well as congruent appliance event and state definitions. Therefore, performance evaluation and the establishment of comparability is not straightforward. The aim of the presented work was to address these challenges through the development of an application-oriented, general methodology for the parametrization, optimization, and performance evaluation of existing NILM algorithms. The methodology is based on the general NILM framework and applicable to a wide range of NILM approaches and measurement data. Temporary, individual appliance measurements are utilized to build an extended appliance database and for providing a reliable ground truth for common performance evaluation metrics. Therefore, a congruent event and state definition was also formulated. The application of the methodology focused on event-based NILM algorithms and the measurement data of a commercial building and for one significant appliance, in relation to the total energy demand of the building. The methodology proved to be suitable for the intended purpose. Two different event-detection algorithms could be optimized regarding their input parameters, to be able to identify the appliance operation behavior optimally. Full article

Relocatable modular buildings (RMBs) offer significant advantages, including flexibility, mobility, and scalability, making them ideal for temporary or rapidly changing scenarios. However, as the scale and quantity of RMB modules increase, their allocation across projects poses complex logistical challenges. Inefficiencies in traditional manual allocation methods, such as suboptimal module selection, increased transportation costs, and project delays, underscore the need for innovative solutions. This study develops a Digital Twin (DT)-based decision support system to optimize the allocation and management of RMB modules. The proposed framework integrates Building Information Modeling (BIM), Internet of Things (IoT), and Geographic Information Systems (GISs), enabling the real-time synchronization of physical assets with their digital counterparts. The DT framework incorporates real-time data acquisition, dynamic module condition assessments, and an algorithm-driven allocation process to streamline resource utilization and logistics planning. The system is validated through a case study of South Korea’s first relocatable modular school system project, demonstrating its capability to optimize module allocation, reduce costs, and enhance lifecycle management. This study advances RMB management by offering a practical, data-driven approach, empowering facility managers to leverage real-time data for preventive maintenance, asset optimization, and sustainable resource utilization. Full article

Temporary permeable structures of bamboo and brushwood have been implemented for mangrove restoration along retreating coastlines worldwide. However, deriving lessons from previous studies is inhibited by their lack of morphodynamic context, with missing bathymetric data or control comparisons. In this paper, we present a low-tech, low-cost, data collection methodology to support morphodynamic system understanding and modeling of mangrove coastlines. This method was applied to monitor a mangrove restoration project featuring temporary permeable structures of bamboo and PVC, installed in late 2021 on the subsiding muddy coast of Demak, Indonesia. Seabed level changes were regularly tracked with bathymetric surveys and monitoring poles across structures and at a nearby control site. Structures were positioned landward of a chenier, at −0.7 m to −0.9 m relative to mean sea level (MSL), and 30–70 m seaward of the mangrove fringe. Measurements from August 2021 to December 2022 revealed seabed erosion (−0.33 m to −0.4 m) seaward of the structures, with mixed responses landward: two sections eroded (−0.04 m to −0.05 m), one remained stable, and a creek-adjacent section eroded by −0.43 m. At the nearby control site, chenier migration and vertical growth promoted landward accretion, though elevations remained below MSL and thus unsuitable for mangrove colonization. The bathymetric and monitoring pole measurements presented in this study constitute valuable datasets for modeling studies aiming to unravel the dominant processes driving morphodynamic changes. Such models could also inform integrated approaches to mangrove restoration in subsiding coastlines, considering sediment supply, subsidence management, and structure integrity. Full article

The growing need for effective and sustainable solutions in humanitarian construction has prompted scholars and practitioners to explore technical approaches that address the challenges of natural disasters, health emergencies, armed conflicts and migratory flows. These solutions often encompass temporary shelters, durable shelters and multifunctional buildings designed to balance rapid deployment, cultural sensitivity and environmental sustainability. However, the assessment of sustainability in humanitarian construction remains insufficiently defined due to the complexities of crises, the variability of local materials and the impact of local climatic conditions. This study aims to bridge this gap by integrating Building Information Modeling (BIM) and simulation tools such as COMSOL Multiphysics 6.0 to study sustainable strategies for humanitarian housing. Using case studies aligned with IFRC, UNHCR and CRL (Red Cross of Luxembourg) family shelter standards, the research assessed a Climate and Local Skill-Centered Design (CLCD) by examining the performance of key design elements, including wall material emissivity and reflectance, natural lighting, and energy efficiency within the context of indoor thermal comfort. Simulation results revealed that wall finishing material reflectance significantly influences average daylight factors (D), with variations of 2% to 5% linked to lower reflectance values and changes in the window-to-floor ratio (WFR). Conversely, thermal comfort metrics indicated minimal variations in heat discomfort hours, maintaining indoor temperatures between 19 °C and 25 °C, consistent with ASHRAE Standard 55 thermal comfort criteria. This paper underscores the importance of integrating advanced IT tools and green local techniques and materials to optimize humanitarian housing for health, comfort and environmental performance, offering actionable insights for future humanitarian sustainable designs. Full article

In human-dominated landscapes, human activities shape prey spatial behavior, creating complex landscapes of risks. We investigated habitat selection of roe deer using resource selection functions in a human-dominated mountain system located in the southwestern Alps, characterized by a high presence of wolves and human disturbance. Our study aimed to assess how the interplay of hunting, presence of infrastructures, and recreational activities in the presence of wolves influenced roe deer spatial responses inside and outside a protected area. We documented that during the hunting period, roe deer increased selection of high-wolf-density areas, with the strongest effect observed during wild boar drive hunts, supporting the risk enhancement hypothesis, where avoiding one predator increases exposure to another, and highlighting the temporary yet significant impact of hunting on predator–prey dynamics. During the period of the wild boar drive hunt, roe deer also showed stronger selection for proximity to buildings, supporting the human shield hypothesis. Protected areas had an increased effect on roe deer avoidance of trails, where hiking and recreational activities are more concentrated. Our findings revealed the complex trade-offs that roe deer face in navigating multiple risks within human-modified landscapes, important for the development of effective conservation and human sustainability strategies. Full article