The reuse of waste heaps from extraction sites: An architectural methodology

This research was funded by the FCT-Funda??o para a Ci?ncia e a Tecnologia, under grant number SFRH/BD/133777/2017. The first author thanks the FCT-Funda??o para a Ci?ncia e a Tecnologia, under grant number SFRH/BD/133777/2017. The work of J. C. Kullberg was supported by national funds from Fundac?o para a Ci?ncia e a Tecnologia (FCT) through the research unit UID/GEO/04035/2013 (GeoBioTec).Nowadays, the rehabilitation of quarries is a widespread practice. It stems from the most significant environmental concern in the management of non-renewable resources. However, reusing quarry waste in the process of regeneration represents the aspect less prevalent. This procedure results from the non-commercialized material, accumulated in huge piles of waste, that constitute invasive elements of the landscape. Because of the intense industrial activity, the wastes further contribute to the degradation of the sites. The result of the waste abandonment could be reversed if this discarded material is considered as a product in the landscape requalification process. Mixing theoretical concepts with practical examples, this article proposes an application methodology to reuse the waste material in the landscape and architectural domains. This new contribution highlights the importance of considering scrap accumulations as an integral part of the architectural project, filling the existing gap in both architectural and theoretical domains. There is not any similar schematization in the literature and the idea of dealing with the mounds of wastes has been only slightly approached until now. The reached outcomes are demonstrative of the possibility of working with the waste heaps in architecture, creating a solid basis for further investigations not documented yet.publishersversionpublishe

Quarries: From abandoned to renewed places

This research was funded by FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, grant number SFRH/BD/133777/2017.Numerous industrial pits are discarded after their exploitation in every part of the world. Humanity both transforms the original morphology of the landscape, due to industrial activity in the territory, and, at the same time, rejects this "new" situation. This is to the detriment of the landscape, which is witness to this transfiguration, degradation, and abandonment. What is the future of these impersonal and empty areas? In this article, we present a general survey concerning the notion of quarry reuse to highlight the importance of this current and common problem. Our work approached the topic through a combination of the main concepts and a description of selected cases of study of quarry reconversions, sensitive to the environmental issues, climate changes, and sustainability. According to this premise, the research also provides an innovative matrix of schemes to classify the existing fundamental methods of recovery. For this effect, the investigation was proposed to be an instrument to improve the knowledge in the scientific and theoretical sectors, flanking the practical understanding, which has already started to move in this direction of reconversion, as the paper shows.publishersversionpublishe

The Reuse of Waste Heaps from Extraction Sites: An Architectural Methodology

Nowadays, the rehabilitation of quarries is a widespread practice. It stems from the most significant environmental concern in the management of non-renewable resources. However, reusing quarry waste in the process of regeneration represents the aspect less prevalent. This procedure results from the non-commercialized material, accumulated in huge piles of waste, that constitute invasive elements of the landscape. Because of the intense industrial activity, the wastes further contribute to the degradation of the sites. The result of the waste abandonment could be reversed if this discarded material is considered as a product in the landscape requalification process. Mixing theoretical concepts with practical examples, this article proposes an application methodology to reuse the waste material in the landscape and architectural domains. This new contribution highlights the importance of considering scrap accumulations as an integral part of the architectural project, filling the existing gap in both architectural and theoretical domains. There is not any similar schematization in the literature and the idea of dealing with the mounds of wastes has been only slightly approached until now. The reached outcomes are demonstrative of the possibility of working with the waste heaps in architecture, creating a solid basis for further investigations not documented yet

Landscape—A Review with a European Perspective

This article aims to act as a general literature review regarding the landscape, analyzing it through a synthesis of the main concepts and processes that have generated, and subsequently developed, the word “Landscape”. It is a versatile theme, because it has always been studied by various disciplines, through different theories, which sometimes even conflict with each other. Through the present text, we understand the importance and the unique value of the landscape, a value that has nowadays been transfigured by the strong industrialization and strong brand of man in the territory. Thus, the first part of the research is, to some extent, a reflection on current issues that are related to the landscape. It is also a tool for integration, including in the definition of “Landscape”, even those heavily humanized, exploited, degraded, abandoned, and residual; the so-called “Drosscape”, “Friche”, and “Terrain Vague”. The solution is not to negatively interpret these types of scenarios, but rather to enhance them as they are, filled with potential and creativity. This concept is achieved by means of an operation of recycling or reuse of waste, which is capable of germinating new life cycles within the “dead nature” of our increasingly cemented territories

The reuse of marble waste heaps in the Estremoz Anticlinal

Nowadays, the original image and structure of the territory havebeen permanently changed, by human action, due to the intenseindustrialization. The quarries represent the industrial activity that causes more transmutations in the landscape, modifying it in a more invasive manner. The present research describes a case study in Portugal where is located the highest concentration of marble quarries, flanked by escombreiras, large waste heaps. The work highlights the importance of the waste reuse concept in landscape and architecture, preserving the industrial memory and the identity of the place. The research, through an exhaustive analysis of real examples of quarries rehabilitation, investigates innovative methods to regenerate the Portuguese abandoned landscape. The investigationis expected to prompt the implementation of projects to revitalize the discarded spaces, and toreuse the local waste material for the creation, in situ, of architectonic and landscape elements, and to increase the knowledge on waste reuse procedures.Peer Reviewe

Landscape—A Review with a European Perspective

This article aims to act as a general literature review regarding the landscape, analyzing it through a synthesis of the main concepts and processes that have generated, and subsequently developed, the word “Landscape”. It is a versatile theme, because it has always been studied by various disciplines, through different theories, which sometimes even conflict with each other. Through the present text, we understand the importance and the unique value of the landscape, a value that has nowadays been transfigured by the strong industrialization and strong brand of man in the territory. Thus, the first part of the research is, to some extent, a reflection on current issues that are related to the landscape. It is also a tool for integration, including in the definition of “Landscape”, even those heavily humanized, exploited, degraded, abandoned, and residual; the so-called “Drosscape”, “Friche”, and “Terrain Vague”. The solution is not to negatively interpret these types of scenarios, but rather to enhance them as they are, filled with potential and creativity. This concept is achieved by means of an operation of recycling or reuse of waste, which is capable of germinating new life cycles within the “dead nature” of our increasingly cemented territories

The reuse of marble waste heaps in the estremoz anticlinal

Nowadays, the original image and structure of the territory have been permanently changed, by human action, due to the intense industrialization. The quarries represent the industrial activity that causes more transmutations in the landscape, modifying it in a more invasive manner. The present research describes a case study in Portugal where is located the highest concentration of marble quarries, flanked by escombreiras, large waste heaps. The work highlights the importance of the waste reuse concept in landscape and architecture, preserving the industrial memory and the identity of the place. The research, through an exhaustive analysis of real examples of quarries rehabilitation, investigates innovative methods to regenerate the Portuguese abandoned landscape. The investigation is expected to prompt the implementation of projects to revitalize the discarded spaces, and to reuse the local waste material for the creation, in situ, of architectonic and landscape elements, and to increase the knowledge on waste reuse procedures.Peer Reviewe

Determining the analytical specificity of PCR-based assays for the diagnosis of IA:What is Aspergillus?

A wide array of PCR tests has been developed to aid the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis (IA), providing technical diversity but limiting standardisation and acceptance. Methodological recommendations for testing blood samples using PCR exist, based on achieving optimal assay sensitivity to help exclude IA. Conversely, when testing more invasive samples (BAL, biopsy, CSF) emphasis is placed on confirming disease, so analytical specificity is paramount. This multicenter study examined the analytical specificity of PCR methods for detecting IA by blind testing a panel of DNA extracted from a various fungal species to explore the range of Aspergillus species that could be detected, but also potential cross reactivity with other fungal species. Positivity rates were calculated and regression analysis was performed to determine any associations between technical specifications and performance. The accuracy of Aspergillus genus specific assays was 71.8%, significantly greater (P < .0001) than assays specific for individual Aspergillus species (47.2%). For genus specific assays the most often missed species were A. lentulus (25.0%), A. versicolor (24.1%), A. terreus (16.1%), A. flavus (15.2%), A. niger (13.4%), and A. fumigatus (6.2%). There was a significant positive association between accuracy and using an Aspergillus genus PCR assay targeting the rRNA genes (P = .0011). Conversely, there was a significant association between rRNA PCR targets and false positivity (P = .0032). To conclude current Aspergillus PCR assays are better suited for detecting A. fumigatus, with inferior detection of most other Aspergillus species. The use of an Aspergillus genus specific PCR assay targeting the rRNA genes is preferential