Axial and Flexural Load Test on Untreated Bamboocrete Multi-Purpose Panel

In this study, the axial and flexural strength of lightweight concrete panel reinforced with untreated bamboo describe as bamboocrete multi-purpose panel was investigated. Bamboo is a low cost, abundantly ready available and sustainable material used to carry load.  In this research, bamboo is used to reinforce lightweight concrete to form a load bearing panel. From the test conducted, design axial strength of the panel can be up to 100kN (10 ton). The 1500 mm length, 500 mm wide, and 125 mm thick, bamboocrete panel then were subjected to four-point bending and achieved ultimate bending strength of at least 25 kN. The bamboo used in the concrete panel greatly contributed to the bending strength of the panel. Upon removal of the load, the bamboocrete panel return to almost its original form, showing flexibility and ductility of the panel

Risk Assessment of Wave Energy Converter At Kuantan Port, Pahang

Harvesting energy from ocean waves remains an untapped resource, and it is considered a new methodology in renewable energy, especially in Malaysia. This research is based on a project at Kuantan Port that used Wave Energy Converter (WEC) as a platform to generate energy from waves and convert it into electricity. The purpose of this research is to conduct a risk assessment before the execution of the project by referring to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 31000 and Risk Management Guidelines: Companion to AS/NZS 4360:2004. It started from risk identification and planned a mitigation way to reduce the grade of risk. These mitigations will be monitored throughout the project to avoid any accidents or harm during construction and installation in the future. The assessment will be using a qualitative analysis method that will gather all the possible risks that impact the project and propose the actions to mitigate the risk. The assessment will also consider the likelihood, seriousness, and weightage to determine the risk level. The risk assessment is divided into six clusters: project management, hydrography, mechanical, electrical, civil, and safety and security. After analysis, each cluster has given their feedback on the risk assessment and their cluster-s risk grade. This research has found that the risk grade is at grade C, which needs the risk assessment of this project to reduce the likelihood, seriousness, and required mitigation actions. Eventually, after the mitigation plan is applied to each risk, the grade of risk is reduced to N

Review of Big Data integration in construction industry digitalization

The 2030 agenda for sustainable development has embraced the importance of sustainable practices in the construction industry. Parallel to the Industry revolution 4.0, the construction industry needs to keep pace with technological advances in data management to keep pace with the revolution through the ability to process and extract value from data. This phenomenon attracts the requirement of Big Data (BD). The construction industry deals with large volumes of heterogeneous data, which is expected to increase exponentially following an intense use of modern technologies. This research presents a comprehensive study of the literature, investigating the potential application of BD integration in the construction industry. The adoption of such technologies in this industry remains at a nascent stage and lags broad uptake of these technologies in other fields. The Construction Industry is driving to boost its productivity through the implementation of data technologies, hence, significant research is needed in this area. Currently, there is a lack of deep comprehensive research on BD integration applications that provide insight for the construction industry. This research closes the gap and gives an overview of the literature. The discussion presented the current utilization, the issues, and ways for potential works along with the challenges companion with the implementation

Innovation in Lean Thinking to Achieve Rapid Construction

Lean thinking holds the potential for improving the construction sector, and therefore, it is a concept that should be adopted by construction sector players and academicians in the real industry. Bridging from that, a learning process for construction sector players regarding this matter should be the agenda in gaining the knowledge in preparation for their career. Lean principles offer opportunities for reducing lead times, eliminating non-value adding activities, reducing variability, and are facilitated by methods such as pull scheduling, simplified operations and buffer reduction. Thus, the drive for rapid construction, which is a systematic approach in enhancing efficiency to deliver a project using time reduction, while lean is the continuous process of eliminating waste, meeting or exceeding all customer requirements, focusing on the entire value stream and pursuing perfection in the execution of a constructed project. The methodology presented is shown to be valid through literature, interviews and questionnaire. The results show that the majority of construction sector players unfamiliar with lean thinking and they agreed that it can improve the construction process flow. With this background knowledge established and identified, best practices and recommended action are drawn

Strontium aluminate compound as road line materials application

Road line marking are used as a mean of controlling traffic and road user safety. It is very significant on any roads and intersections as they promote road safety. They highlight a harmonious flow of traffic along guided paths of travel. The objectives of this study are to investigate the properties of road line materials and examine the illuminance properties of glow in the dark powder applied in road marking materials. The use of photoluminescent glow-in-the-dark material was tested in the lab for its suitability (luminosity and the glow duration). The methods involved are selection of suitable type of glow in the dark materials, selection of optimum mixing ratio of the glow in the dark powder with thermoplastic powder, and finally analyzed for the properties of the type of the material chosen. The fine granular strontium aluminate compound, SrAl2O4 was selected as the most suitable type of glow in the dark material. Based on the laboratory analysis, the optimum ratio of the glow in the dark material to be used with thermoplastic powder is 55% of total mix volume. The average visible light emission period is in acceptable range of 20 m. This is a suitable distance to implement the road line because of the high visibility on the road during dark or night

Sustainable neighbourhood elements model (SNEs model)

In recent decade, the sustainability was emphasised to become the foundation of planning and design of building structures and infrastructures. Therefore, the land use development for neighbourhood construction should be protected from being overused and devastated. The main concern of this study is to introduce the Sustainable Neighbourhood Elements (SNEs) into the current practice of sustainable neighbourhood planning and design in Malaysia. The elements of sustainable neighbourhood were identified and analysed for them to be applied into the current planning and design system. Issues pertaining Malaysia's sustainable neighbourhood were discussed. A preliminary set of decision making model and evaluation framework has been developed based on the SNEs which urban designers can manipulate to suit the current need. It must be stressed that the model are preliminary and their role is to act as a catalyst in adapting new ideas into the planning and urban design process

Sustainable neighbourhood elements model (SNES model)

In recent decade, the sustainability was emphasised to become the foundation of planning and design of building structures and infrastructures. Therefore, the land use development for neighbourhood construction should be protected from being overused and devastated. The main concern of this study is to introduce the Sustainable Neighbourhood Elements (SNEs) into the current practice of sustainable neighbourhood planning and design in Malaysia. The elements of sustainable neighbourhood were identified and analysed for them to be applied into the current planning and design system. Issues pertaining Malaysia's sustainable neighbourhood were discussed. A preliminary set of decision making model and evaluation framework has been developed based on the SNEs which urban designers can manipulate to suit the current need. It must be stressed that the model are preliminary and their role is to act as a catalyst in adapting new ideas into the planning and urban design process. Sustainable Neighbourhood Elements Model (SNEs Model). Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/286508981_Sustainable_Neighbourhood_Elements_Model_SNEs_Model [accessed Jul 5, 2017]