Introduction: Transdisciplinary Urbanism and culture

This book originates from the contemporary research approach and ideology centred on inter-disciplinarity to examine issues in urbanism and culture. The crux of that research lies at the heart of academic institutions, in particular the way in which various disciplinary discourses are available and the manner in which researchers are currently trying to address issues in urbanism and culture with inter-disciplinary research methods and approaches. This introductory chapter opens up different aspects and dynamics in urban research. It shows how established and early-career researchers are conceptualising and attempting to address various urban research strands, which were discussed at the 9th Annual AHRA (Architectural Humanities Research Association) Research Student Symposium.

Interface modification of clay and graphene platelets reinforced epoxy nanocomposites: a comparative study

The interface between the matrix phase and dispersed phase of a composite plays a critical role in influencing its properties. However, the intricate mecha-nisms of interface are not fully understood, and polymer nanocomposites are no exception. This study compares the fabrication, morphology, and mechanical and thermal properties of epoxy nanocomposites tuned by clay layers (denoted as m-clay) and graphene platelets (denoted as m-GP). It was found that a chemical modification, layer expansion and dispersion of filler within the epoxy matrix resulted in an improved interface between the filler mate-rial and epoxy matrix. This was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscope. The enhanced interface led to improved mechanical properties (i.e. stiffness modulus, fracture toughness) and higher glass transition temperatures (Tg) compared with neat epoxy. At 4 wt% m-GP, the critical strain energy release rate G1c of neat epoxy improved by 240 % from 179.1 to 608.6 J/m2 and Tg increased from 93.7 to 106.4 �C. In contrast to m-clay, which at 4 wt%, only improved the G1c by 45 % and Tg by 7.1 %. The higher level of improvement offered by m-GP is attributed to the strong interaction of graphene sheets with epoxy because the covalent bonds between the carbon atoms of graphene sheets are much stronger than silicon-based clay

Simulation of Drilled Pier Behavior under Three-Dimensional Loading

A three-dimensional nonlinear finite element procedure is presented for analysis of drilled (concrete) piers. The procedure allows for tensile cracking and compressive crushing of concrete, nonlinear behavior of soil, and simultaneous application of axial and lateral loads. The procedure is employed to investigate the ultimate capacity of a 45° under reamed pier. The predicted results are compared with the field test conducted on a similar pier. Also, distribution of displacements and stresses in the soil-pier system and crack pattern in the pier are presented and discussed

Critical points at infinity in charged N-body systems

We define the notion of critical points at infinity for the charged N-body problem, following the approach of Albouy (1993). We give a characterisation of such points and show how they can be found in the charged 3-body problem. The symmetry group of the N-body problem and accompanying integrals play a key role. In fact critical points at infinity are indispensible in understanding the bifurcations of the integral map. Together with the critical points at infinity in the charged 3-body problem, we present the bifurcation values.</p

Reconceptualising Personas Across Cultures: Archetypes, Stereotypes & Collective Personas in Pastoral Namibia

The paucity of projects where persona is the research foci and a lack of consensus on this artefact keep many reticent about its purpose and value. Besides crafting personas is expected to differ across cultures, which contrasts the advancements in Western theory with studies and progress in other sites. We postulate User-Created Personas reveal specific characteristics of situated contexts by allowing laypeople to design persona artefacts in their own terms. Hence analysing four persona sessions with an ethnic group in pastoral Namibia –ovaHerero– brought up a set of fundamental questions around the persona artefact regarding stereotypes, archetypes, and collective persona representations: (1) to what extent user depictions are stereotypical or archetypal? If stereotypes prime (2) to what degree are current personas a useful method to represent end-users in technology design? And, (3) how can we ultimately read accounts not conforming to mainstream individual persona descriptions but to collectives

Evaluation and Performance Improvement of Antasari Intersection Banjarmasin City

The problem of signalized intersection is caused by the traffic volume continually increasing each year, automatically contributing high delay and frequent congestion and One indicator of traffic congestion at the roundabout is a decrease in vehicle speed [1]. Today's operated traffic lights have not yet capable of overcoming congestion which often occurs in the peak hours. The existing condition on intersection has not yet been able to accommodate the populous traffic volume; it can be seen from each of intersection foot while experiencing the vehicles daley. The imprecised existing condition on the Antasari intersection in Banjarmasin, is seen from the 4-phase control with the cycle time at 177 seconds, the degree of saturation is ≥ 0.85, and the delay is ≥ 60 seconds; making it categorized as the intersection with F-level of service (the worst). This research aims to analyse the existing condition of the Antasari intersection's performance, and to obtain some handling alternatives of Antasari intersection, with some approaches. To increase the performance of Banjarmasin's Antasari intersection, some handling alternatives are executed, such as: the control of Cycle Time, the control of phase direction (phase simulation), and the phase change by using KAJI program. Based on the field data, obtained the performance of Banjarmasin's Antasari intersection in existing condition: the cycle time is 177 seconds, degree of saturation is 2,879 or ≥ 0.85, delay is 963 seconds/pcu or ≥ 60 seconds/pcu, and the worst service level (F-level). In some intersection handling alternative results, there comes one alternative that is able to increase the intersection performance: through the phase simulation stages, with the phase adjustment of the north – south of KolonelSugiono streetamd the east – west of PangeranAntasari street, then the acquired results of the Service Level-C are: the delay value (D) is 23.33 seconds/pcu or ≤ 25 seconds/pcu, the degree of saturation (DS) is 0.671 or ≤ 0.85, and the cycle time (CT) is 67 seconds or ≤ 80 seconds

Pengaruh Jumlah Tumbuhan Typha Angustifolia Dan Ukuran Media Pasir Yang Berbeda Terhadap Penyisihan Bod Dan Cod Dalam Lindi Dengan Sub Surface Flow Constructed Wetland

Leachate is liquid waste arising as a result of water ingress into external middens,. Leachate contain organic and inorganic substances with high concentration. Therefore, the processing of leachate is very important before being dumped directly into the recipient's body of water. One of the technologies to manipulate the leachate i.e. using constructed wetlands. Artificial wetlands (constructed wetland) is a wastewater treatment system that is suitable for tropical and developing countries like Indonesia because it is cheap, easy to operate and cared for as well as sustainable (Meutia, 2000) this research aims to know the decrease in concentration of COD and BOD with the system sub surface flow constructed wetland was constructed using plant typha angustifolia. In addition, the impact of the number of varieties of plants and the size of the diameter of the sand will be analyzed. Laboratory research conducted for 15 days with 12 reactors. The reactor consists of A 3 diameter 0.2-sand reactor 0, 02mm the number of plants of the 1,3 and 5. The B reactor is made up of 3 sand reactor diameter 2 mm 2-0, the number of plants 1, 3, 5 and 5 C reactor, made up of three reactor sand 20-2 mm diameter, the number of plants of the 1,3 and 5. Each reactor is filled with as many as 4 liters of water lindi. Sampling done every 3 days and measure the concentration of COD and BOD. The amount of allowance in each reactor is as follows: Allowance for BOD reactor with A 13.69-25.83 mg/l, B reactor 35.95-19.76 mg/l, C reactor 42.03-33.93 mg/l. Allowance for COD reactor A with 101.60-54.11 mg/l, B reactor 145.82-68.85 mg/l, C 191.67-reactor 129.44 mg/l

Pemanfaatan Bottom Ash Batubara Menjadi Produk Briket Dengan Penambahan Arang Daun Jati

The use of coal as the primary fossil fuels in Indonesia are increasingly widespread. Now, the use of coal is not only used for the power plant but also a wide range of industries. Resulting from the use of coal bottom ash which can still be used because they save the calorific value for alternative fuel that is becoming briquette product. Through research it is known that the bottom ash can be processed into briquettes products with the addition of teak leaves charcoal to improve its quality.This study was conducted with a variety of compositions between bottom ash and teak leaves charcoal. The treatment uses ratio of coal bottom ash : teak leaves charcoal 0%:100%, 20%:80%, 40%:60%, 50%:50%, 60%:40%, 80%:20% and 100%:0%. The results showed that the optimum variation of briquettes is a variation of 20 % coal bottom ash and 80% teak leaves charcoal, this briquettes has a water content of 4,052 %,ash content of 36,358 %, calorific value of 4.520 cal/g, compressive stength of 2,383 kg/cm2,CO 54 ppm or 61,84 mg/Nm3,Cu 0,85 µg/g and Zn 1,21 µg/g.The result of the briquttes characteristics test showed that with increasing amounts of teak leaves charcoal can increase the moisture content and calorific value, and be able to lower ash content and compressive strength

PENGELOLAAN SAMPAH DI LINGKUNGAN PONDOK PESANTREN ATTAUHIDDIYAH GIREN TALANG KABUPATEN TEGAL

Kegiatan pengabdian kepada masyarakat program kemitraan masyarakat dilaksanakan pada mitra non-produktif yaitu pondok pesantren Attauihidiyyah Giren, Talang, Kabupaten Tegal sebagai bentuk kepedulian terhadap kesehatan lingkungan hidup pondok pesantren. Timbulan sampah yang dihasilkan lingkungan pondok Attauihidiyyah Giren belum dilakukan pengolahan tetapi langsung dikumpulkan dan dibuang ke TPA. Dalam proses pengumpulan sampah tersebut sering terjadi permasalahan baik dari estetika dan kenyamanan terutama dari bau. Hal tersebut berpotensi kurangnya kepedulian santri terhadap kesehatan lingkungan dan kurangnya melihat potensi nilai ekonomi dari sampah dengan potensi timbulan yang sangat besar. Untuk mengatasi permasalahan tersebut kegiatan pengabdian dilakukan melalui pembekalan kepada para santri tentang kepedulian terhadap kesehatan lingkungan berdasarkan sistem pengelolaan sampah yang ramah lingkungan. Pembekalan tersebut dilakukan di dalam dan di luar kelas yang berupa pemilahan sampah yang dihasilkan kemudian dilanjutkan dengan pengenalan teknologi pengolahan sampah dan potensi ekonominya. Praktek pengolahan sampah yang bernilai ekonomi dilakukan guna menumbuhkan wawasan dan penumbuhnan jiwa kewirausahaan. Sampah yang telah diolah akan dilakukan bantuan jaringan marketing sehingga diharapkan akan memperoleh pendapatan yang dapat meningkatkan ekonomi. Proses kegiatan tersebut juga menghasilkan lingkungan yang lebih bersih karena tidak terjadi penumpukan sampah di lingkungan pondok pesantren dan peningkatan kenyamanan dan estetika. Hasilnya kegiatan pengabdian ditunjukkan dengan telah adanya tim yang bertanggungjawab dalam pengelolaan sampah dari santriawan dan santriwati pondok Attauihidiyyah Giren yang dibina oleh pengelola pondok telah terbentuk dan berjalannnya proses pencacahan plastik serta berjalannya pemilahan dan pembuatan kompos sehingga diharapkan program yang direncanakan dapat berjalan sesuai dengan target