Application of Artificial Neural Networks to Identify Earthquake-Induced Structural Damage in Residential Buildings

Structural damage in residential buildings can significantly compromise the safety of occupants, reduce the structural integrity of the building, and shorten its overall lifespan, potentially leading to costly repairs, decreased property value, and increased risk during natural disasters such as earthquakes or storms. Traditional methods for assessing structural damage primarily depend on manual inspections, which are not only time-consuming and labor-intensive but also susceptible to human error, subjectivity, and inconsistency. These limitations can lead to delayed detection of critical issues, inaccurate assessments, and increased risk of overlooking hidden or early-stage damage, ultimately compromising the effectiveness of maintenance and safety measures. By employing a comprehensive dataset that includes a range of structural characteristics and damage indicators, this study trains a neural network model to identify and learn patterns linked to structural damage. This study investigates earthquake-induced damage in different structural components of residential buildings, employing hundreds of feature sets including building height, number of floors, earthquake intensity, damping ratio, crack location, and material properties to train and validate a network for damage prediction. The performance of the ANN is evaluated, demonstrating superior accuracy and efficiency. The results highlight the potential of ANNs to revolutionize structural health monitoring by providing rapid, cost-effective, and reliable damage assessments, thereby enhancing preventative maintenance and mitigating risks associated with structural failures

Assessment of Weekday and Weekend Variations on Ground Level Ozone and Nitrogen Dioxide Concentration in Jeli, Kelantan

This study examines the variations in ground-level ozone (O₃) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) concentrations between weekdays and weekends in Jeli and their relationship with traffic volume. Data were collected over two weeks in August 2024 using the Aeroqual S500 device and manual traffic counting. The results showed that NO₂ concentrations were lower on weekends, with median values ranging from 20 to 40 parts per billion (ppb), while O₃ concentrations were higher (15–30 ppb) compared to weekdays (10–20 ppb). This trend was attributed to reduced nitrogen monoxide emissions and enhanced photochemical reactions under lower NO₂ conditions. Traffic volume was significantly higher on weekdays, peaking during morning (7–9 a.m.) and evening (4–6 p.m.) rush hours, with Class 1 vehicles averaging 400 vehicles/hour on weekdays and 300 vehicles/hour on weekends. Consequently, NO₂ concentrations were higher on weekdays (60–80 ppb median values, peaking at 140 ppb). Statistical analyses, including T-tests, indicated no significant differences in mean concentrations between weekdays and weekends. Pearson correlation analysis confirmed a moderate positive relationship between traffic volume and NO₂ (0.410), while O₃ levels were influenced by sunlight intensity and atmospheric chemistry. These findings highlight the impact of traffic emissions on NO₂ and the importance of photochemical processes in O₃ variations, emphasising the need for effective air quality management strategies

Dielectric Characterization Based On Complementary Split-Ring Resonator

Material characterization method based on radio frequency and microwave measurements is highly demanded. The dielectric properties is very important for electronic circuit design, food industry, medicine and health care. In this work, a complementary split-ring resonator (CSRR)-based sensor employed in the ground plane is proposed for dielectric measurement. This method enable the determination of both relative permittivity and relative permeability at the same time as well as simple sample preparation process. This project focuses on the design, simulation and the prediction formulae of the CSRR. This CSRR is resonating at 2.477 GHz with a quality factor of 128.91 in unloaded condition. Basically, there are shifting in the resonance frequency and the change of the quality factor when dielectric material is placed at the highest intensity of electric and magnetic fields in separate zones. Four predicted formulas are proposed, which they are depend on the dielectric constant, real permeability, normalized resonance frequency, inverse normalized quality factor, electric loss tangent and magnetic loss tangent of the materials. The prediction formulas are used to measure the permittivity and permeability of FR-4, Polyimide, and self-defined material. Based on the comparison, the percentage error between calculated result and reference data are 10% and 4.1% for electric and magnetic loss tangent respectively. The maximum percentage error in dielectric constant and real permeability are 4.5% and 4.29% respectively. Based on the percentage of error, it is convincing that the prediction formulas are reliable for dielectric measurement. Future work of this project should focus on verification of its actual performance through experimental measurement

Quantifying Rock Slope Stability with Kinematic and Limit Equilibrium Methods for KM29 of Karak Highway, Malaysia

The stability of rock slopes has been of great interest to engineering geology studies in ensuring a safe and functional cut slope along highways. Kinematic analysis is widely used as an assessment tool for rock slope stability in Malaysia. This method uses a stereograph plot to identify potential failure modes based on geological discontinuities. However, it does not quantify any forces that could influence the potential failure. To address this limitation, the Limit Equilibrium Method (LEM) is employed to calculate the slope’s factor of safety, providing a more comprehensive stability assessment. In this study, both kinematic analysis and LEM were applied to evaluate the stability of a rock slope located at KM29 near the Gombak Toll Plaza, along the Karak Highway, Malaysia. Parameters such as discontinuities and mechanical properties were used to analyse the slope. The Schmidt rebound hammer was employed to evaluate the surface hardness of the rock. The average rebound values for slope sections G1, G2, and G3 were 62, 60, and 54, respectively. These values were then correlated with uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), yielding estimated strengths of 163.97 MPa for G1, 150.65 MPa for G2, and 113.98 MPa for G3. The shear strength test indicated an average cohesion value of 20.56 kPa and a friction angle of 56.79°, derived from four rock samples. Kinematic analysis, conducted using Rocscience Dips software, revealed that slope sections G1, G2, and G3 were susceptible to wedge and planar failures. In contrast, the factor of safety (FOS) determined by LEM, simulated using Slope/W, confirmed that all slope sections are stable, with FOS values exceeding 1.5. The integration of kinematic analysis and LEM should be considered essential for evaluating rock slope stability and reinforcing the final decision-making process

Development of Engine Oil Maintenance and Battery Health Monitoring through Short Messaging Service (SMS)

With proper care and proper maintenance, vehicle can be maintained to work as it supposed to and has longer life cycle. Vehicle maintenance for new vehicle monitored using service booklet while for some of older vehicle, the maintenance totally depends on owner awareness and most cases, they are using service note provided by service centre which are sticked on the windshield. Prior to this situation, the owner may not be notified because sometimes the vehicle may exceed the recommended mileage and date for next service.  The aim of the project is to develop the vehicle maintenance monitoring through short messaging system (SMS) using Arduino Uno and GSM SIM900A module. The proposed project helps the vehicle user to monitor on the engine oil mileage and battery voltage on mobile phone. The vehicle owner can check and notified their vehicle next service using phone message. The project is developed using simple programming software and hardware. Arduino Uno as microcontroller to receive data from voltage sensor and send battery voltage through SMS. The push buttons used to represent the input from vehicle owner about the type of oil used during vehicle service to check the vehicle condition. The GSM module act as a message transmitter and receiver for user communication. The task was programmed into Arduino Uno using Arduino Integrated Development Environment (IDE). The development of this project helps the user to monitor vehicle condition especially for their maintenance schedule. The maximum percentage error was 3.2725% and lowest percentage error of 1.9787% of vot meter reading is measured. This project can be concluded that the device was successfully being developed and the functionality was observed

A Study on the Development of Soft Skills Among Hospitality Students at Vocational High School

Many Vocational High School graduates have difficulty getting jobs or developing their careers due to the lack of soft skills needed in the tourism industry. Soft skills such as communication, critical thinking in solving problems, and teamwork are essential in the current job market in Indonesia. This study aims to measure the level of soft skills among hospitality students at Vocational High Schools in Lombok Tengah, Indonesia. This study uses a quantitative approach, with a survey design using a questionnaire that was distributed to 265 hospitality students from seven Vocational High Schools in Lombok Tengah. The questionnaire will assess the level of student soft skills based on student perceptions. The findings found that the level of communication skills, critical thinking in problem-solving skills, and teamwork skills of students is at moderate level (3.62-3.65). In addition, there is no significant difference in soft skills between courses offered among hospitality students which p-value of 0.34. This research is expected to provide knowledge about the importance of mastering soft skills among hospitality students at vocational high schools in Lombok Tengah and assist schools in better preparing graduates to enter the tourism workplace, increasing their chances of getting a job relevant to their field of study

Bridging The Gap in Digital Twin Frameworks: A Comparative Analysis on Building Energy Consumption in The Malaysian Context

Buildings contribute to a substantial portion of global energy consumption, necessitating innovative technologies to enhance energy efficiency. Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Digital Twin (DT) technologies offer promising solutions, with BIM supporting energy-efficient designs and DT enabling real-time energy optimisation. However, DT adoption in Malaysia is limited, particularly in building energy management, due to the absence of tailored frameworks addressing local challenges such as infrastructure readiness, technical expertise, and policy support. Hence, this paper systematically reviews and compares ten existing DT frameworks, focusing on their applicability to building energy management and construction practices. Frameworks were selected based on their emphasis on energy optimisation, integration DT and its relevance to building operations. Content analysis was employed using Atlas.ti to categorise recurring themes, gaps, and limitations across these frameworks. The analysis reveals that existing frameworks often assume a high level of technological maturity and infrastructure readiness, making them less applicable to Malaysia’s developing context. This study highlights these gaps and proposes strategies, including targeted investments, capacity-building, and policy development, to support DT implementation tailored to Malaysia’s needs, advancing energy efficiency in its building sector

The Effect of High-Performance Concrete on the Strength and Durability of Double Tee Beams

This paper presented an experimental and analytical investigation of the behavior of a double tee beam under the influence of flexure by using High-performance concrete. double tee beams can play an effective role in the span challenges in structural engineering by making a balance between material strength, geometric design, and load-carrying capacity. Three beams were tested experimentally with f’c equal to 30 MPa for the first beam and 40 MPa for the other two beams by making a model according to the available capabilities and testing it up to failure, the first beam was subjected to normal external conditions, and the other one was subjected to the effect of MgSO4 salt for six months. The result of the test show that high-performance concrete can save the strength of concrete as possible and protect the beam from corrosion. The difference ratio between the two tested beams equals 4.47%. Increasing the amount of compressive strength which is obtained as a result of using High-performance concrete had an effect in reducing the amount of stresses that occurred, thus reducing cracks and controlling their expansion. The beams were analyzed theoretically by using a powerful program (ABAQUS 2019) using the same mechanism of loading, same compressive strength, and material properties. The behavior of the beams is similar to their behavior from the experimental test with a difference ratio equal to (2.67% and 2.89%) for Double Tee Beam with the symbol DTB1 and DTB2, respectively

Coastal Erosion Monitoring Along the Coast of Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

Coastal monitoring, mapping and analysis are comprehensive for various coastal studies, such as advancement of regression planning, geohazard identification, decomposition- enhancing research, and theoretical or predictive modelling or coastal characterization. The objectives of this research were to identify the overview of coastal erosion monitoring along the coast of Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. The coastal erosion assessment approach includes the creation of sediment cells for the coastal area, as well as the collecting and examination of secondary data related to the research areas. Categorization of erosion has been concluded based on locations of study area. Category 1 erosion was discovered along the coastline at the PD Waterfront, Batu 1, Jalan Pantai Port Dickson, The Regency Tanjung Tuan Beach Resort (Batu 5), Tanjung Gemok, Kampung Gelam, and Pantai Teluk Kemang (Batu 8). Pantai Tanjung Gemok, a prominent recreational beach, is currently experiencing groyne erosion downdrift. Apart from that, a groyne is being eroded downdrift in Pantai Regency Batu 5, Negeri Sembilan

Characterization of The Properties of South Lampung Clay as Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate

Bloating properties are essential to determine clay\u27s ability to expand and form pore structures for lightweight expanded clay (LECA) applications. South Lampung clay was taken from four different places: TN, TB1, TB2, and TJ. The clay was dried at 110oC until the water content was 7%, then ground using a ball mill to 200 mesh. The clay was formed into balls with a diameter of 10 mm and then heated at 1,050oC for 15 minutes. The chemical composition was analyzed by X-ray fluorescence. X-ray diffraction was used to analyze the crystal structure formed. Topography was analyzed using FESEM. The bloating coefficient (Cb) was calculated by comparing the volume before and after heating. Based on SiO2, TN and TB1 meet the self-bloating standard with 52.28 and 56.82% content, respectively. However, based on Al2O3, only TB1 meets the minimum standard with a value of 17.46%. Based on the total flux being below 10%, all clay has the potential for self-bloating. The type of clay is kaolinite with feldspar and kaolin phases. The bloated clay was found in TB1 and TJ with values ​​of 1.08 and 1.46. Additives are needed to increase an expansion. This study can be developed to obtain the composition of local clay, which can be applied to various fields