Wonseok Lee , Sejin Lee , Jooyeon Roh , Myoungsouk Yeo
{"title":"On-site measurement-based analysis of temporary negative-pressure isolation rooms in a general hospital","authors":"Wonseok Lee , Sejin Lee , Jooyeon Roh , Myoungsouk Yeo","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100737","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100737","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>During the COVID-19 pandemic, patient rooms in a South Korean hospital were converted into temporary negative-pressure isolation rooms (TNPIRs) using HEPA filtration units (PHFUs). We analyzed data from three multi-bed TNPIRs under four PHFU conditions, assessing airflow rates, room pressure differentials, HVAC terminals velocities, and sulfur hexafluoride (SF<sub>6</sub>) tracer gas diffusion paths. Results showed that variability in PHFU performance produced uneven air change rates and pressure imbalances, while unintended airflow persisted through diffusers and grilles despite the central air-handling unit remaining inactive (HVAC). Additionally, tracer gas migrated via multiple routes including the plenum space above the T-bar suspended ceiling system, and some exhausted air re-entered the rooms. To address these issues, we propose real-time monitoring with automated controls and backup PHFUs; testing, adjusting, and balancing (T.A.B.); sealing HVAC terminals or installing backdraft dampers; and improving architectural airtightness. These proposed measures aim to manage airflow, strengthen airborne transmission control, and ensure environmental safety during public health emergencies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100737"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144896680","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Christoph Heuer, Victoria Jung, Sigrid Brell-Cokcan
{"title":"A hardware-based RFID identification and tracking system for components in digitalised construction logistics","authors":"Christoph Heuer, Victoria Jung, Sigrid Brell-Cokcan","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100726","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100726","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Establishing a link between digital data and the construction site process is a key step towards digitising and automating construction logistics. So far, digitisation has only reached this area to a limited extent. A critical gap remains: the transport of materials from their storage location to the final installation site is not recorded. Modern construction cranes are present on almost every building site and are responsible for transporting materials to their installation points. By recording materials on the crane hook, a large part of on-site transport and installation locations can be captured. The project aims to demonstrate the suitability of RFID technology under real construction site conditions. For this purpose, a prototype will be developed to track components and processes transported by crane. The recorded time, object, and crane telemetry will be superimposed to analyse the data and evaluate the feasibility of using RFID in this context.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100726"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144886247","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Huakai Sun , Kai Zhu , Guannan Wang , Haihang Hu , Ping Guo , Ke Wu , Tianhang Zhang
{"title":"Experimental study on pedestrian evacuation characteristics through building bottleneck group structure","authors":"Huakai Sun , Kai Zhu , Guannan Wang , Haihang Hu , Ping Guo , Ke Wu , Tianhang Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100734","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100734","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this work, a series of controlled experiments with 119 participants were performed to study pedestrian evacuation behaviors through the bottleneck group structure consisting of two serially-connected bottlenecks. The impacts of bottleneck distance and width on pedestrian spatiotemporal features including density profiles, waiting time and time headway were analyzed. Results highlight that: 1) the first bottleneck is more significant in shaping the pedestrian flow since the crowd at the second bottleneck is a consequence of the diversion caused by the first bottleneck; 2) a funnel-shaped bottleneck group structure design could improve the overall efficiency; 3) the findings from previous single bottleneck studies may be inapplicable to individual bottleneck within the bottleneck group. Then this study quantitatively investigates the impact of bottleneck width and distance on spatiotemporal characteristics through model fitting analysis. This work provides reliable data and a scientific framework to guide bottleneck group design in buildings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100734"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144886246","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Corn waste-derived biochar as a sustainable fine aggregate in pervious concrete for climate-resilient urban pavement applications","authors":"Thanon Bualuang , Peerapong Jitsangiam , Nutchapon Chusai , Kritsadaporn Porninta , Ubolluk Rattanasak , Harn Wei Kua","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100735","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100735","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study introduces a novel pervious concrete incorporating corn waste-derived biochar as a partial replacement for natural fine aggregate. Unlike prior work that substitutes biochar for cement, this design uses biochar as a sustainable bio-fine aggregate, replacing 7.5–12 % of fine sand. The optimized mix (BPC3) achieved a 28-day compressive strength of 14.7 MPa, a total porosity of 27.3 %, and a water permeability of 4.21 mm/s. These values meet the functional requirements for permeable pavements. A cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment revealed a 21.6 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional pervious concrete. This environmental benefit arises from carbon sequestration in biochar and avoided CO<sub>2</sub> emissions from the open-field burning of corn residues. These results demonstrate that corn-biochar pervious concrete can deliver the necessary mechanical and hydraulic performance while substantially reducing embodied carbon, offering a low-carbon solution for sustainable pavement construction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100735"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144878301","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Applying LCA in early stages of timber construction projects — Potential and challenges to support decision-making","authors":"Yishu Niu, Gerhard Fink","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100731","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100731","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Construction sector has been noticed to be a major source of carbon footprint and energy consumption, which prioritizes life cycle assessment (LCA) in the decision-making process in pilot projects. However, little research has examined the limitations of LCA in such context. This paper addressed relevant aspects regarding variability in LCA, also noted potential benefits of applying LCA at early stages of construction projects. Selected parameters and the associated uncertainties in the LCA are investigated, focusing on timber structural components. Followed by a case study, which investigated the uncertainty of using LCA at the early stage of a timber project, with consideration of different scenarios. The investigation shows that the variation of global warming potential can be significantly reduced by introducing constraints at early design stage. In conclusion, when applying the LCA in early stages of projects to assist the decision-making, setting requirements or limits might help improving the efficiency and comparability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100731"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144893846","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Julia Harttunen , David Hästbacka , Harry Edelman , Joel Stenroos , Marko Kauppinen , Juha Röning
{"title":"UAV digital platform for first-response operations, daily transports, and data acquisition","authors":"Julia Harttunen , David Hästbacka , Harry Edelman , Joel Stenroos , Marko Kauppinen , Juha Röning","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100719","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100719","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The use of unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAVs) for various tasks and services has increased significantly in recent years. One of the most important application areas is first-response missions, which UAVs can enhance by speeding up both resource transportation and data acquisition. To support these critical operations, this paper introduces a UAV digital platform architecture. The digital platform integrates autonomous air operations, U-space management, and aerial services to meet stakeholders’ requirements and support the development of a multitenant UAV infrastructure. The architecture of the platform is validated using real-world urgent scenarios, including the delivery of a defibrillator and a search operation. These scenarios prove the microservices-based platform effectively performs the required functions, such as mission optimization, resource allocation, fleet management, contextual information sharing, and security assurance. The architecture can also be expanded to other drone services than the first response.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100719"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144842011","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Research on the influence and mechanism of recycled UHPC fine aggregates containing fibers on the performance of mortar","authors":"Xianliang Zhou , Xi Zhu , Xiaojun Zhou , Yingda Zhang , Ping Wu , Qingjun Ding","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100732","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100732","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The recycling and utilization of waste Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) is often overlooked due to its smaller quantity compared to traditional waste concrete. This study investigates the influence of recycled UHPC fine aggregate (R-UHPC-FA) replacement ratios (0 %, 25 %, 50 %, 75 %, and 100 %) on the physical, mechanical, shrinkage, and frost resistance properties of mortar. The results revealed that increasing R-UHPC-FA content reduced the flowability of mortar. The mortar density increased initially and then decreased, while water absorption followed an inverse trend. At 28 days, compressive and flexural strengths of the mortar containing 100 % R-UHPC-FA improved maximally by up to 8.43 % and 25.16 %, respectively, compared to mortars without R-UHPC-FA. Furthermore, a 100 % replacement ratio reduces drying shrinkage and enhances frost resistance, which is regarded as the best replacement rate. Microscopic analysis indicated that the improvements in mechanical properties and durability of mortar were attributed to the dual effects of steel fibers and highly active substances in R-UHPC-FA.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100732"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144763875","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Enhancing recycled aggregate concrete with graphene quantum dots (GQDs): Refining wastes from construction demolitions and out-of-service railway sleepers","authors":"Anand Raj , Papassara Yamkasikorn , Atichon Kunawisarut , Chayut Ngamkhanong , Pitcha Jongvivatsakul , Lapyote Prasittisopin , Joongjai Panpranot , Sakdirat Kaewunruen","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100729","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100729","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The disposal of construction and demolition waste (CDW) poses environmental challenges, whilst recycling CDW as coarse aggregate in concrete can help conserve natural resources. However, this often reduces strength and durability due to residues, increased porosity and the potential formation of ettringite. Recent studies have demonstrated the potential of Graphene Quantum Dots (GQDs) to enhance the performance of cement composites, particularly by improving strength and durability. This study examines the use of recycled coarse aggregates from CDW and dismantled railway sleepers, combined with GQDs, to enhance concrete performance. Never have such the investigations been delved into before elsewhere. Eighteen concrete mixes with 25–100 % recycled aggregates were tested, with and without 0.3 % GQDs (by weight of cement). Mechanical properties (compressive and flexural strength) and durability (water absorption, chloride penetration) were evaluated. Microstructural analysis via FESEM and EDS assessed concrete behaviour. Our new findings reveal that using recycled aggregates from random sources led to a reduction in both compressive and flexural strengths by 21.7 % and 18.2 % respectively, primarily due to increased porosity and ettringite formation. However, the addition of GQDs improved both compressive and flexural strengths by about 15 % by promoting the formation of calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) gel. Concrete incorporating recycled aggregates from used railway sleepers exhibited a smaller reduction in compressive strength, up to 11 %. The reduction in flexural strength was also lower, reaching up to 7 %. Microstructural analysis revealed that GQDs facilitated the formation of crystalline precipitates, thereby enhancing both the strength and durability of the concrete. Overall, our new insights suggest that incorporating GQDs into concrete with recycled aggregates not only helps conserve environmental resources but also enhances overall material performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100729"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144757896","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"An automated platform to detect, assess, and quantify deterioration in concrete structures","authors":"Ibrahim Odeh, Behrouz Shafei","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100728","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100728","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study was motivated by the critical need for accurate and fast damage detection in concrete structures, benefiting from significant advantages offered by automated condition assessment strategies compared to manual ones. To move toward reducing inspection time, cost, and human error, the current study developed a deep convolutional neural network model tailored for detecting and quantifying deterioration in concrete structures. The model improved existing architectures by accommodating representative image resolutions and implementing a region-growing algorithm for precise defect quantification. To provide a holistic platform, this study established additional transfer learning and fine-tuning steps. Results showed the platform's capability to detect cracks as narrow as 0.5 mm, while defect dimensions were accurately quantified with errors under 3 %. The damage assessments were then linked to industry-level standards for structural inspections, providing condition states for various defects. This led to an end-to-end workflow for automated condition assessment, facilitating data-enabled maintenance and repair actions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100728"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144860503","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Assessing the usability of biomass-derived sheep wool fibers in sustainable construction: A comprehensive review","authors":"Y.K. Kong , Dariusz Alterman , Hideyuki Murakami , Chiharu Tokoro","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100730","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100730","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Amid the growing awareness of climate change, the use of renewable resources has become essential for promoting sustainable and eco-friendly construction practices. Sheep wool fibers, known for their superior thermal insulation and acoustic properties, have gradually attracted the attention of researchers in civil engineering. However, owing to the relatively recent exploration of sheep wool in concrete, a systematic understanding of sheep wool fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (SWFRCC) remains limited, particularly in terms of its microstructure, which hinders its commercial application. This study presents a comprehensive review of the usability of sheep wool fibers in concrete, with a focus on workability, compressive strength, flexural strength, thermal insulation, acoustic performance, and durability. In addition, this study provides potential applications, highlights the current challenges, and proposes future research directions for SWFRCC. This review aims to enhance the understanding of sheep wool fibers and SWFRCC, offering valuable insights for advancing sustainable construction practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100730"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144810508","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}