Erratum to: 36th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13054-016-1208-6.]

Stability of outfalls during installation

Outfalls are built for the purpose ofdischarging sewage, storm runoff or cooling water into the sea. During the installation, outfalls are exposed to relatively large hydrodynamic forces compared to their own weight in case of adverse weather or high currents. To resist these forces, a heavy concrete weight coating has to be applied. With increasingly stringent environmental directives, it is important to situate the end of an outfall further offshore. This is possible by optimising the conservative schematisation of the offshore technology common practice of pipeline stability applied to outfalls. This optimisation can lead to a reduction of the outfall weight coating, which offers perspectives to the construction of longer outfalls and an improved economic design in general. Therefor, research into a less conservative approach of calculating the resultant hydrodynamic forces on outfalls has been carried out as a graduate project at Delft University of Technology. The graduate project concentrates on the most common situation of an outfall built in shallow water, approximately at right angles to the depth contours. Trenching and application of a heavy weight coating have to assure stability during installation. The impact forces on the outfall generated by breaking waves will not be considered.Hydraulic EngineeringCivil Engineering and Geoscience

The Workplace Game: Exploring end users' new behaviour

This paper describes the Workplace Game and its development. Changing the workplace layout alone appears to be insufficient to change office user behaviour. Through prototyping the game was designed as a tool to stimulate discussion and provide new and concrete insights into the behavioural consequences of innovative offices. As a communication tool, the game enables office workers to exchange ideas about their office environment and makes the implicit thoughts and norms about the office use, explicit. Following the three themes of the game, people discuss values and norms, information and knowledge, and attitude and behaviour in different innovative office spaces.Architecture and The Built Environmen

T-shaped competency profile for water professionals of the future

Global environmental changes introduce new challenges and expose future university graduates in hydrology and related fields to problems of unprecedented complexity and magnitude. The T-shape model is proposed as a generic competency profile guiding the design of university curricula. This model differentiates between cognitive competencies in a certain field (i.e. hydrology; vertical leg of the T), and other cognitive/knowledge competencies in neighboring fields (e.g. hydraulics, aquatic ecology, land use management etc.) and functional, personal and values competencies and meta-competencies (all summarized in the horizontal bar of the T). It is based on the holistic model of professional competencies by Cheetham and Chivers (1996) and related studies (Oskam, 2009). The T-shape profile should apply to all levels of higher education (1st degree till doctorate level) in hydrology and related fields. For the effectiveness of hydrologists as professionals, a variable mix of competencies is required and further discussed. Key aspects are an open attitude for learning, continuous professional development (lifelong learning), and integrative and team working skills. Furthermore, a stimulating learning environment that promotes active learning is essential. As examples that substantiate the proposed T-shape model, the post-graduate education programmes of UNESCO-IHE and the main outcomes from a university curriculum workshop to promote education for sustainable development are introduced.Water ManagementCivil Engineering and Geoscience

Risicomanagement bij huisvestingsprojecten: Innovaties voor een succesvolle implementatie

In de praktijk van infrastructuurprojecten wordt risicomanagement standaard toegepast bij projecten. Rijkswaterstaat heeft als professionele opdrachtgever ongeveer acht jaar geleden risicomanagement geïmplementeerd en onderdeel gemaakt van iedere uitvoerende projectorganisatie. Bij huisvestingsprojecten ligt dit anders. Opdrachtgevers van dergelijke projecten hebben slechts een enkele keer te maken met een dergelijk complex project. De eigenaar-gebruiker kan zich moeilijk verlaten op ervaring en intuïtie en dus lijkt risicomanagement een vanzelfsprekende aangelegenheid. Niets is minder waar.Real Estate and HousingArchitectur

Risicomanagement vraagt om innovatie

In de praktijk van infrastructuurprojecten wordt risicomanagement standaard toegepast bij projecten. Rijkswaterstaat als professionele opdrachtgever heeft ongeveer acht jaar geleden risicomanagement geïmplementeerd en onderdeel gemaakt van iedere uitvoerende projectorganisatie. Bij huisvestingsprojecten ligt dit anders.Real Estate and HousingArchitectur

Dynamic Axle Loads as a Main Source of Railway Track Degradation

During train operation, geometrical irregularities develop in soil-supported ballasted railway tracks as a function of born tonnage. This form of degradation is combatted by periodic maintenance in the form of tamping by specially equipped trains in order to guarantee predefined levels of structural performance. The growth of irregular settlements depends on one hand on track properties (such as sleeper spacing, rail bending stiffness, subsoil geotechnical properties) and the intensity of longitudinal stiffness variations (variations in soil profile, switches and crossings, transitions etc.). The latter stiffness variations include both the static and the dynamic, frequency-dependent stiffness. On the other hand also the nature of the loading has an important influence. Running trains exert – depending on their velocity – quasistatic loads on the infrastructure due to the passing axles with a constant loading. Apart from this a dynamic loading component may occur with different frequencies as a result of non-perfect wheels, as a function of the speed. In general, the structural design of a railway line can be optimised with respect to its structural performance for the whole lifecycle. However, for existing lines this is difficult, and the only way to limit degradation and associated costs is to influence the condition of the rolling stock. The present study discusses theoretical backgrounds of track degradation in the form of differential settlements. It then shows results of an analysis of the loading conditions on Dutch railway lines, with both mixed passenger and freight transport and with dedicated freight traffic, based on actual measurements. Conclusions are drawn regarding deterioration and the effects of different loading types. Results show that especially on freight lines huge improvements are possible, with reductions in geometrical degradation up to 52% of actual values. The main driver of excessive degradation appears to be the low-frequency dynamic axle loading component.Structural EngineeringCivil Engineering and Geoscience

Introducing a Dutch guideline on using the Observational Method

In the Netherlands research has been performed on the Observational Method, aiming at a wider use of the method in the design of underground and infrastructural construction works. This paper summarizes the guideline that was output of the research, providing a clear definition, an overview of obstacles and pre-conditions, practical recommendations on how to make a safe design while using the principles of Observational Method within the context of the Eurocode 7 and practical recommendations on how to organize the method during construction

A Typology of Strategic Behaviour in PPPs for Expressways: Lessons from China and Implications for Europe

In line with governance trends around the world, a growing number of expressways in the People’s Republic of China are managed as Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). The tremendous growth in demand for mobility in newly emerging economies has led to a gap between investment needs and available public funding. Using private funds is potentially helpful in closing this gap and accommodating the social and economic needs of motorization. By some, it is also hoped that contracting-out and involvement of the private sector will lead to higher transparency and accountability. However, in line with what has been found in various transport infrastructure modes, during uncertain and hazy transition periods that arise after infrastructure reforms, many forms of potentially pernicious strategic behaviour can pop up. Strategic behaviour emerges from information a-symmetry between private and public players, where the former act as agents and the latter as principals. In this article, China’s evidence on various types of strategic behaviour in the management of expressways is found. Several PPP projects for expressways in China are investigated empirically. And conclusions are drawn as to what possible cures are effective countermeasures of strategic behaviour, and what are the implications for Europe.Multi Actor SystemsTechnology, Policy and Managemen

Study of the behaviour of a catalytic ceramic candle filter in a lab-scale unit at high temperatures

Process and EnergyMechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineerin