Recommender Thermometer for Measuring the Preparedness for Flood Resilience Management

A range of various thermometers and similar scales are employed in different human and resilience management activities: Distress Thermometer, Panic Thermometer, Fear Thermometer, fire danger rating, hurricane scales, earthquake scales (Richter Magnitude Scale, Mercalli Scale), Anxiety Thermometer, Help Thermometer, Problem Thermometer, Emotion Thermometer, Depression Thermometer, the Torino scale (assessing asteroid/comet impact prediction), Excessive Heat Watch, etc. Extensive financing of the preparedness for flood resilience management with overheated full-scale resilience management might be compared to someone ill running a fever of 41°C. As the financial crisis hits and resilience management financing cools down it reminds a sick person whose body temperature is too low. The degree indicated by the Recommender Thermometer for Measuring the Preparedness for Flood Resilience Management with a scale between Tmin=34,0° and Tmax=42,0° shows either cool or overheated preparedness for flood resilience management. The formalized presentation of this research shows how changes in the micro, meso and macro environment of resilience management and the extent to which the goals pursued by various interested parties are met cause corresponding changes in the “temperature” of the preparedness for resilience management. Global innovative aspects of the Recommender Thermometer developed by the authors of this paper are, primarily, its capacity to measure the “temperature” of the preparedness for flood resilience management automatically, to compile multiple alternative recommendations (preparedness for floods, including preparing your home for floods, taking precautions against a threat of floods, retrofitting for flood-prone areas, checking your house insurance; preparedness for bushfires, preparedness for cyclones, preparedness for severe storms, preparedness for heat waves, etc.) customised for a specific user, to perform multiple criteria analysis of the recommendations, and to select the ten most rational ones for that user. Across the world, no other system offers these functions yet. The Recommender Thermometer was developed and fine-tuned in the course of the Android (Academic Network for Disaster Resilience to Optimise educational Development) project

Editorial

„Editorial" Journal of Civil Engineering and Management, 15(1), p. 5-6 First Published Online: 14 Oct 201

Deformation analysis of fibre-reinforced polymer reinforced concrete beams by tension-stiffening approach

Fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) is free from corrosion problem and is a viable alternative reinforcement material for concrete structures in lieu of steel reinforcing bars. Since FRP has lower elastic modulus compared to steel, the serviceability aspect of FRP reinforced concrete (FRP-RC) members should be particularly considered in the structural analysis and design. This study addresses the deformation analysis of FRP-RC flexural members with thorough consideration of the tension-stiffening phenomenon in post-cracking state. The approaches for analyzing the tension-stiffening flexural response of FRP-RC beams are presented. These include the use of empirical or theoretical models to compute effective flexural stiffness, the use of finite element method in conjunction with nonlinear constitutive material models, and the use of tensile stress block in combination with member analysis. Among them, the latter is a relatively simple analysis approach. Aiming for serviceability assessment of FRP-RC beams in structural engineering practice to circumvent sophisticated theoretical approaches and constitutive models, parametrized tensile stress block is derived based on tension stress fields computed from finite element analysis, and is proposed for use in member analysis for prediction of deflections. Four FRP-RC beam specimens tested in the literature are analyzed to verify the proposed tensile stress block. Close agreement between the experimental and analytical results is achieved, thereby endorsing the applicability and reliability of the proposed method.European Social Fund (Project No. 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-01-0145) under a grant agreement with the Research Council of Lithuania (LMTLT)

MODELLING AND FORECASTING THE REAL ESTATE SECTOR IN LITHUANIA

Abstract. The model of an efficient real estate sector as suggested by this research is based on the presumption that the efficiency depends on many micro, meso and macrolevel variables. The presence of specific micro, meso and macrolevel variable factors imposes objective limitations for efficient activities the real estate sector. The real estate sector, in the presence of these limited objectives, tries to perform its functions within the boundaries with utmost efficiency. This research aims at producing the model of the rational real estate sector in Lithuania by undertaking a complex analysis of micro, meso and macro environment factors affecting real estate. Also it aims at making recommendations on the increase of the real estate competitive ability. In order to demonstrate the application of the above research for developing a model of efficient real estate sector a selection of rational housing investment instruments will be considered in this paper as a sample. It is possible to determine analogically and other factors of micro, meso and macrolevel, that increase the efficiency of real estate sector of the certain country. The suggested method of modeling of real estate sector it is possible to apply in other countries of Eastern and Central Europe. Keywords: real estate sector, micro, meso and macrolevel factors, conceptual and quantitative information, multiple criteria analysis, model. MAIN STAGES OF WORKING OUT A LITHUANIAN MODEL FOR REAL ESTATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT The research's aim was to develop a rational Lithuanian real estate sector model by undertaking a complex analysis of micro, meso and macrolevel variables in this paper include: legislation, taxes (tax bracket, tax deduction and tax deferred), liquid secondary market, market transparency, professional bodies, lending institutions, real estate finance, mortgage, the techniques of selling property (saleleaseback and lease with option to buy), insurance, information technology, education, valuer's liability, valuer's fee levels, contracts, investment instruments, housing subsidy system, credit access (use of low interest loans, waivers of closing costs, government and private mortgage insurance, reduced down payments, sweat equity, flexible debt-to-income ratios, lease-purchase arrangements and deferred second mortgage) variables affecting it as well as giving recommendations on the increase of it efficiency. Alternatives of micro, meso and macrolevel variables are being considered in developing the alternative versions of a real estate sector. The research was performed by studying the expertise of advanced industrial economies and by adapting information to Lithuania. Simulation was undertaken to provide insight into creating an effective real estate sector environment. To be efficient the real estate sector must operate within certain boundaries imposed by micro, meso and macrolevel factors. It is necessary to utilise this knowledge and related to real estate practices, so as to increase the efficiency of the real estate sector environment in the countr