Sharing of gis spatial data intransportation engineering

Geographic Information System (GIS) is classified as an information technology to solve various spatial problems in civil engineering. GIS provides spatial information to the system and therefore, complex spatial analysis of problem could be carried out. The objective of this paper is to promote the use of GIS as a tool for civil engineering problem solving. This paper describes the work undertaken to demonstrate the potential use of GIS in civil engineering via a prototype project. The presentation of this article is mainly focused on the applications of GIS in transportation engineering including transportation, highway and traffic. Moreover, this study could also contribute relevant and benefit guidance to the public and private sectors with techniques in determining potential activity using the GIS software. The utilisation of GIS can prepare and contributes towards a profitable cost and effective service. The end product should be an effective information system and a final potential GIS map. With GIS support, it could assist user to make a more effective and efficient decision on any difficulties that will arise. Compared to the conventional methods, the system provides a proper and an effective, update and accessible result of spatial analysis

GIS technology as a tools to predict landslide

This research had been carried out in Paya Terubung, Penang, Malaysia. The objective of the study is to determine and classify potential area for landslide, produce map for potential area and build a user interface. The research aims to monitor landslide using Geographical Information System (GIS). There are eight factors that contribute to landslide such as rainfall, river flow, soil type, slope, underground water, land use, erosion and mineral. A rating system with marks is given for each factor. The methodology of the study begin from data collection, transferring and processing, developing database, spatial analysis and finally result and discussion. The verification method is performed by a comparison of existing landslide. The validation result shows satisfactory between the susceptibility map and existing landslide location. Landslide Information System has been developing for user to access into the system. The proposed system will improve monitoring process and safety potential areas that involve landslide

Characterization of industrial by-products as asphalt paving material

Most of the recent research is focusing on the utilization of industrial by-products in road construction. The intention is not only to mitigate the problem of waste being dumped to the landfills but to encourage their use as construction material without compromising quality and performance of the road. Steel slag and bottom ash are the industrial by-products generated in large quantity by industry. This study investigates the characteristics of steel slag and bottom ash to be utilized as aggregate in asphalt pavement. Both materials were characterized in terms of physical, chemical and morphological characteristics compared to the conventional granite aggregate. The results revealed that both materials have much potential to be used as aggregate in asphalt mix. The bottom ash was observed weaker in terms of strength, but the steel slag was found much stronger than the granite. The morphological structure of bottom ash and steel slag disclosed that these are made up of porous and rough-edged granular particles with slightly higher water absorption

Rock bearing resistance of bored piles socketed into rock

In view of the large movement required to mobilise the base resistance of bored piles and difficulty in base cleaning, the end bearing resistance often ignored in current design practice that will result in excessive rock socket length. Many attempts have been made to correlate the end bearing resistance with the uniaxial compressive strength of intact rock and the RQD but it is uncertain how applicable they are to rock type in Malaysia. This paper attempts to review the applicability of the formulas from previous studies to rock type in Malaysia. A program of field tests for 13 bored piles with diameter varying from 1000 mm to 1500 mm constructed in granite was conducted to measure the axial response of bored piles, tested using static load test and high strain load dynamic test to verify its integrity and performance. The results were evaluated and compared to the predicted rock bearing resistance. Based on the result obtained, the method by AASHTO gives the best prediction of rock bearing resistance for granite in Malaysia. However the relationship between compressive strength and rock discontinuities with the rock bearing resistance showed scattered results

Strength behaviour of kaolin treated by demolished concrete materials

Kaolin has claynite structure in nature, presenting several properties which may justify in many engineering and industrial applications. However, this type of soil is categorised as problematic soil because the presence of claynite properties eventually resulting the kaolin to have low shear strength and high compressibility as other clay soil. Due to that weakness, kaolinite does not meet the requirements necessary for any construction purposes particularly at the preliminary stage. Hence, to overcome this issue, soil stabilisation process is needed prior any construction works. The aim of this study is to determine the strength characteristics of stabilised soft clay soil (Kaolin S300) with demolished concrete materials (DCM). The selection of DCM as the stabilizer for the purpose reutilisation of waste materials that currently has been a great concern for the environmental sustainability. The percentages of DCM content used were 5%,10%,15%20%,25%,30% with varying curing time of 7days, 14 days and 28 days, respectively. Based on the result it was reported that, the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) test shows that the highest strength value obtained of 595.6 kPa kaolin treated with 30% DCM at 28 curing days. It is equivalent to 92% increment from the untreated kaolin sample at 0 days. However, the optimum amount of DCM which provides significant strength improvement was found when more than 20% of DCM is presented after 14 curing days. Hence, it shows the possible usage of DCM as waste material to effectively stabilize kaolin at specific amounts sufficiently

Geochemistry characterisation of marine clay

In evaluating a suitable type of stabiliser, investigating geochemical characteristics is important for improving the properties of soil. This paper assessed the geochemistry of marine clay samples collected from Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia. The parameters investigated were pH, loss on ignition (LOI) and the quantities of sulphate, chloride, nitrate and carbonate ions. The results revealed that the clay was an acidic soil with pH of 3.25 and containing 8% of organic matter. The clay also contained 6,071 mg/l, 281 mg/l and 22 mg/l of sulphate, chloride and nitrate ions, respectively. Sulphate and chloride ions from acid rain and decomposed organic matters are the leading causes of acidity found in clay. Further investigation of the physical properties of the soil further indicated that it belonged to a group of clay having high plasticity (CH) and is unsuitable for construction purposes in its natural condition. The concentration of sulphate ions in the clay sample also advocated that the soil is not suitable to be stabilised using cement or lime due to the risk of the formation of a complex compound of calcium sulphoaluminate hydrate (ettringite). Additionally, the sulphate in the marine clay is likely to attack the concrete of the foundation of future infrastructures that may be built in the study area

Effect of voids in kaolin stabilised by ground granulated blast furnaces slag mixtures

Kaolin is known as problematic soil which has a low strength that needs to improve before construction. Chemical stabilization with cement is used widely to stabilize different clay types; however, using it comes with disadvantages associated with carbon dioxide emission and sustainability issues. As an alternative to cement, Ground Granulated Furnaces Blast Slag (GGBS) has been applied to stabilise kaolin. The increment in the strength is due to the formation of new products that fill the soil voids. The formation of those new products is verified using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). However, the changes in pore space cannot be quantified using FESEM. Thus, this study uses Image J to calculate voids area detected by (FESEM) for different kaolin-GGBS mixtures with different content of GGBS cured for different curing period. The book-like structure for the raw kaolin have changed slightly when mixed with GGBS. This is due to the formation of hydrate gels as a result of the pozzolanic reaction. The results from image J indicates that the void decreases as the content of GGBS increases as well as the curing period

Compaction characteristics of lime-treated tropical soil

Like soils of other regions in the world, some tropical soils are also associated with problems of low strength. To improve engineering characteristics of soils, several methods have been employed worldwide which are categorized as mechanical, chemical, thermal and electrical. The aim of this research is to compare the compaction characteristics of untreated and lime-treated soils. Soil samples obtained from three different points within a project site in Klang, Selangor were utilized in this study. Each sample was subjected to Eades and Grimm's test in accordance with ASTM D6276-99a to determine the appropriate lime dosage for soil stabilization. The required lime dosage was found between 1.3% and 3.4%. Then each untreated soil and soil sample mixed with 5% lime, higher than that obtained from Eades and Grimm's tests were compacted in accordance with BS 1377:1990. Generally, each soil sample achieved lower values of maximum dry density after treated with 5% lime than those of the untreated soils. Such observations were in good agreement with those obtained by previous researchers working on lime-treated soils. Nonetheless, the optimum moisture content of the lime-treated sample from Points 1 was slightly higher than that of the untreated sample. This finding was different from those obtained by previous researchers. Such contradicting observation might be due to the type and quantity of mineralogical contents of the soils studied

Isoprene hotspots at the Western Coast of Antarctic Peninsula during MASEC′16

Isoprene (C5H8) plays an important role in the formation of surface ozone (O3) and the secondary organic aerosol (SOA) which contributed to the climate change. This study aims to determine hourly distribution of tropospheric isoprene over the Western Coast of Antarctic Peninsula (WCAP) during the Malaysian Antarctic Scientific Expedition Cruise 2016 (MASEC′16). In-situ measurements of isoprene were taken using a custom-built gas chromatography with photoionization detector, known as iDirac. Biological parameters such as chlorophyll a (chl-a) and particulate organic carbon (POC) were compared to the in-situ isoprene measurements. Significant positive correlation was observed between isoprene and POC concentrations (r2 = 0.67, p < 0.001), but not between isoprene and chl-a. The hotspots of isoprene over maritime Antarctic were then were investigated using NAME dispersion model reanalysis. Measurements showed that isoprene mixing ratio were the highest over region of King George Island, Deception Island and Booth Island with values of ∼5.0, ∼0.9 and ∼5.2 ppb, respectively. Backward trajectory analysis showed that air masses may have lifted the isoprene emitted by marine algae. We believe our findings provide valuable data set of isoprene estimation over the under sampled WCAP

Elective Cancer Surgery in COVID-19-Free Surgical Pathways During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An International, Multicenter, Comparative Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19-free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19-free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS: Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19-free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19-free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score-matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION: Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19-free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks