Towards the Circular Soil Concept: Optimization of Engineered Soils for Green Infrastructure Application

At conventional construction sites, the removal of soil and other excavated materials causes enormous mass movement, with a significant climate impact and contribution to global CO2 release. This study aimed to generate a Circular Soil concept for reusing excavated materials by creating engineered soils for landscape construction at large building sites. Engineered soils act as a substitute for natural soils and fulfill vital technical and soil functions when installing an urban green infrastructure (GI). In a field study, the vegetation performance on engineered soils was evaluated to establish a methodological approach, to assess the applicability of the Circular Soil concept. First, the technical specifications (grain-size distribution) were modeled for intensive green roof and turfgrass applications. Then, the soil components were optimized, mixed, installed and tested for greenery purposes, focusing on plant growth performance indicators (vitality, projective cover ratio and grass-herb ratio) to assess the vegetation performance. The results showed that the engineered soils match the performance of the reference soil alternatives. In conclusion, the Circular Soil concept has a high potential to contribute considerably to sustainable on-site soil management and the circular economy. It can be applied on a larger scale for urban GI development and sustainable resources management in the landscaping and construction sector.

INFLUENCE OF HUMAN RESOURCES ON THE INCOME OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN GALANG DISTRICT OF DELI SERDANG REGENCY

Rumah Makan Tenda Biru one of the largest restaurants in Galang district of Deli Serdang district, this restaurant provides Javanese and typical Minang cuisine. This business continues to grow over time, where at the beginning of the establishment of the building is only a small tent, and at this time already has a large building. The purpose of this study is to look at the influence of human resources on the income of Blue House, what problems are faced, and analyze consumer behavior. The results showed that, the location of human resources is very influential on the income of small and medium-sized businesses, by employing employees of graduates of High School (SMA) this business is able to reap profits of Rp. 105.000.000/month or Rp. 3.500.000 per day, when compared to when their employees graduated from Junior High School (SMP), the turnover obtained was only 60.000.000/month. In the time of the pandemic, there was a decrease in income, where before the pandemic profits reached Rp. 135.000.000/month. The obstacle experienced is the high PPH burden and must be paid every year for Rp 10.500.000. An analysis of consumer behavior states that 48% of consumers choose food as the main reason to visit the Tenda Biru Restaurant, 25% choose cleanliness, 15% choose service and 12% choose a vehicle parker place.

Humanising Te Papa: Transforming what Te Papa does to the public life of the city

<p>When a large public building is constructed within any landscape it is often found to create adverse affects on the public life surrounding it. This investigation focuses on Te Papa in Wellington, New Zealand. It employs design strategies that emerge from site observation, analysis and exploration of design and behaviour literature. Site observations are undertaken at various scales to determine the behaviours that occur in and around the site, and analysis of this provides an understanding of why such actions can happen and why others cannot. Exploration of the literature is employed to understand past approaches to this design problem and to inform the analysis process. Design testing allows ideas to be played out in hypothetical scenarios and the outcomes of which will be compared to past approaches. There is a strong focus on pedestrian movement as a catalyst of public life, in relation to the movement itself and the interactions people have with the surrounding environment when influenced by the movement flow. The overall goal of this thesis is to observe and analyse a large building in the public realm that, although is surrounded by movement, limits engagement in ways that results in a decrease of public life. The research leads to the exploration of how flows can be coordinated to generate eddies of interaction and pause and ways to activate and open up particular edges of this building in order to create new opportunities for the public to engage with the landscape. It finally attempts to find ways to not only create new public life, but also intensify the public life in this challenging situation.</p>

Humanising Te Papa: Transforming what Te Papa does to the public life of the city

<p>When a large public building is constructed within any landscape it is often found to create adverse affects on the public life surrounding it. This investigation focuses on Te Papa in Wellington, New Zealand. It employs design strategies that emerge from site observation, analysis and exploration of design and behaviour literature. Site observations are undertaken at various scales to determine the behaviours that occur in and around the site, and analysis of this provides an understanding of why such actions can happen and why others cannot. Exploration of the literature is employed to understand past approaches to this design problem and to inform the analysis process. Design testing allows ideas to be played out in hypothetical scenarios and the outcomes of which will be compared to past approaches. There is a strong focus on pedestrian movement as a catalyst of public life, in relation to the movement itself and the interactions people have with the surrounding environment when influenced by the movement flow. The overall goal of this thesis is to observe and analyse a large building in the public realm that, although is surrounded by movement, limits engagement in ways that results in a decrease of public life. The research leads to the exploration of how flows can be coordinated to generate eddies of interaction and pause and ways to activate and open up particular edges of this building in order to create new opportunities for the public to engage with the landscape. It finally attempts to find ways to not only create new public life, but also intensify the public life in this challenging situation.</p>

Rebar Worker Analysis Using a 3-Axis Accelerometer

The purpose of the present study is to grasp the situation of construction sites easily by distinguishing the movements of construction workers at construction sites from the accelerometer data attached to their waists. For the construction manager to accurately perceive the active or inactive state of his workers, their movements were classified into three distinct categories: walking, standing, and sitting. We tracked and observed two rebar workers for 5 days at a large building construction site. Their movements were classified by two-axis plots of (1) the difference between the maximum and minimum absolute values and (2) the value of acceleration at each second, and visualized by a heatmap among others for this trial. The results showed that despite the difficulty in distinguishing rebar work without a total body movement while sitting, the accuracy of discrimination was 60–80% in walking and sitting. From this analysis, we were able to identify repetitive tasks and the differences between morning and afternoon tasks. Furthermore, by applying simple visualization, we could concisely represent changes in work intensity over a relatively long period.

Correlation between military and domestic architecture: A tribune's house in Aquincum and its place in Roman architecture

The House of the Tribunus Laticlavius, a large building in the legionary fortress of Aquincum, has only been partially excavated, and this was in the 1970s. This short paper makes an attempt to understand its function and find its place in Roman architecture through a reconstruction of its floor plan and comparison with other prominent residential buildings of the period which share similar features. It appears very likely that the house is based on a loose adaptation of a Hellenistic model, tailored to the needs of high-ranking officers of the Roman army.

A line of best fit: Re-stitching earthquake prone buildings and re-connecting pedestrian networks in Wellington City

<p>A Line of Best Fit explores weakness and disconnection in the city. Weakness: There are over 600 earthquake prone buildings in Wellington. The urgency to strengthen buildings risks compromising the aesthetic integrity of the city through abrasive strengthening techniques, or losing a large portion of our built environment to demolition. The need for extensive earthquake strengthening in Wellington, Christchurch and other New Zealand cities provides an exciting opportunity for architecture. Disconnection: In Wellington pedestrian activity is focused around three main routes: Cuba Street, Lambton Quay and Courtney Place. The adjacent areas are often disconnected and lack vibrancy due to large building footprints, no-exit laneways and lack of public spaces. The Design proposes a strategy for earthquake strengthening, preserving and upgrading the built environment, and expanding and connecting the pedestrian realm. The site is two earthquake prone buildings on the block between Marion Street and Taranaki Street in central Wellington. A cut through the centre of the Aspro and Cathie Buildings ties the buildings together to strengthen and create a new arcade as public space. The cut aligns with existing pedestrian routes connecting the block with the city. The Design is divided into three components: Void, Curve, and Pattern and Structure. Void investigates the implications of cutting a portion out the existing buildings and the opportunities this provides for connection, urban interaction, and light. Curve discusses the unusual form of The Design in terms of scale, the human response and the surrounding spaces. Pattern and Structure considers the structural requirements of the project and how a void enveloped in perforated screens can strengthen the earthquake prone buildings. The importance of connection, providing strength in the city, a dialogue between old and new, and engagement with the unexpected are evaluated. Opportunities for further development and research are discussed, with particular reference to how the principles of The Design could be implemented on a larger scale throughout our cities. A Line of Best Fit is an architectural proposal that creates strength and connection.</p>

A line of best fit: Re-stitching earthquake prone buildings and re-connecting pedestrian networks in Wellington City

<p>A Line of Best Fit explores weakness and disconnection in the city. Weakness: There are over 600 earthquake prone buildings in Wellington. The urgency to strengthen buildings risks compromising the aesthetic integrity of the city through abrasive strengthening techniques, or losing a large portion of our built environment to demolition. The need for extensive earthquake strengthening in Wellington, Christchurch and other New Zealand cities provides an exciting opportunity for architecture. Disconnection: In Wellington pedestrian activity is focused around three main routes: Cuba Street, Lambton Quay and Courtney Place. The adjacent areas are often disconnected and lack vibrancy due to large building footprints, no-exit laneways and lack of public spaces. The Design proposes a strategy for earthquake strengthening, preserving and upgrading the built environment, and expanding and connecting the pedestrian realm. The site is two earthquake prone buildings on the block between Marion Street and Taranaki Street in central Wellington. A cut through the centre of the Aspro and Cathie Buildings ties the buildings together to strengthen and create a new arcade as public space. The cut aligns with existing pedestrian routes connecting the block with the city. The Design is divided into three components: Void, Curve, and Pattern and Structure. Void investigates the implications of cutting a portion out the existing buildings and the opportunities this provides for connection, urban interaction, and light. Curve discusses the unusual form of The Design in terms of scale, the human response and the surrounding spaces. Pattern and Structure considers the structural requirements of the project and how a void enveloped in perforated screens can strengthen the earthquake prone buildings. The importance of connection, providing strength in the city, a dialogue between old and new, and engagement with the unexpected are evaluated. Opportunities for further development and research are discussed, with particular reference to how the principles of The Design could be implemented on a larger scale throughout our cities. A Line of Best Fit is an architectural proposal that creates strength and connection.</p>

The Kalaureia Excavation Project. A preliminary report of the work carried out in Area L between 2015 and 2018

The report presents a summary and preliminary discussion on the work carried out by the Swedish Institute at ancient Kalaureia between 2015 and 2018 in Area L. The excavations were focused on this area with the hopes of gaining a better understanding of the settlement which was situated south of the Sanctuary of Poseidon in antiquity. The excavations show that a large building was constructed probably around the middle of the 4th century BC in the western part of Area L. The full outline and functional use of the building has not yet been fully established but the building seems to have been in use in several subsequent phases. The excavated remains further suggest that dining activities were carried out in the southern part of the building. A stone laid feature (Feature 3) excavated immediately to the east, together with charcoal deposits, also provide indications of cooking in the 3rd century BC at least. The feature was, however, covered by the 2nd century BC when a new wall was constructed which seems to connect the building with a broader structural complex to the south. During this period parts of Area L seem to have been used for olive oil production, identifiable through archaeobotanical remains, multiple pithoi, and a press installation excavated in the central part of Area L. In the Late Hellenistic to Early Roman phase (either in the 1st century BC or 1st century AD) much of the building complex was again covered by a new construction fill, raising the level of the building.