APCBEE Procedia最新文献

Occupation of buildings of high importance like hospitals and shelters after earthquake is a risky yet vital task for rescue workers. This paper presents a structural health monitoring system to ensure the safety and reliability of the buildings after earth quack. It is understood that ground motion and lateral displacement due to earthquack may cause deformation and thus excessive strain and stress at the main structural elements. Therefore, the building may suddenly goes to failure, requiring a reliable yet efficient health monitoring system. An array of piezoelectric sensors is mounted at desired location to measure the deformation and stress at critical points. The voltage generated by piezoelectric sensors is sent to computer via a data acquisition system. Measuring and monitoring the trend of changing sensors voltages indicate the probability of existing damages and the rate of propagation. The performance-based seismic is reported based on the nonlinear static analysis (pushover) under the influence of the lateral loading and structural behaviour through the Sap2000® software and FEMA356. The proposed model is verified for a three-story steel structure building. The effects of the lateral displacement caused by earthquake forces on strain and sensors voltage are investigated for each main element in each floor. Increasing the strain and displacements at selected elements increases the voltage generated at piezoelectric sensors. Continuous monitoring and analysis of generated signals helps the building manager to apply warning alarm or call for evacuation of the building.

This study was conducted in National Pingtung University of Science and Technology during winter season to determine the effect of vermicompost on productivity of muskmelon seedling (Cucumis melo L.). Vermicompost produced from rice waste, were mixed at rate of different concentration into rice hulls ash and coconut husk. The pH, electrolytic conductivity (EC), water holding capacity (WHC), concentration of macro-micronutrient in substrates, vegetative growth, plant biomass, concentration of total macro-micronutrient in shoot were recorded. The result showed that using substrate that mixture of vermicompost with rice hulls ash and coconut husk following rate 1:1:1 respectively gave highest value of germination rate, plant height, leaf area, plant biomass and the concentration of P, K, Ca and Fe. Factors contributed to the in increasing of muskmelon seedling growth may be result of an improvement of physical and chemical properties of the substrate when combination between vermicompost, rice hull ash and coconut husk.

The acrylonitrile butadiene styrene “ABS” resin is used in a variety of exterior and chassis electrical products, it have been contained brominated flame retardants to prevent fire accidients. If the resin (ABS) was thermally decomposed, the bromine compound was mixed in the pyrolysis oil. In this work, the fraction of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene “ABS” containing brominated flame retardants was pyrolyzed by using a reflux-condenser apparatus installation at 450 °C.And we used additives of sodium hydroxide “NaOH”, calcium hydroxide “Ca(OH)_2” and scallop shell. The total bromine compounds in product oil could be reduced from 296 mg/L to 27 mg/L by NaOH.

Focusing on a world class living environment, a good quality residential area can be highlighted as an important issue in creating a sustainable living environment. However, limited green spaces within the proximity of residential properties are not supporting the landscape space and are not conducive to living space. The aim of the paper is to investigate the impact of landscape design on house prices and values in residential development particularly in urban areas. The paper employed quantitative approaches which include i) a questionnaire survey; and ii) an observation. This empirical study is based on the findings of case studies conducted in several residential areas in Klang Valley. The findings show that the residents have very clear ideas on how much green space is really important in residential areas in order to create a sustainable residential environment. Despite the absence of public actions in terms of providing information, encouraging participations in the survey and promoting awareness of those interviewed have shown considerable interest in promoting landscape design to be applied in residential development. The perceptions of the quality and quantity of landscape designs in residential areas especially in Klang Valley can be further researched for future study.

We have viewed a business in Hungary from an economic point of view. The main activity there is pear growing and storage. Four varieties of different time of ripening and storing are grown there. We have measured all the relevant activities, worked out local normative and prepared a detailed technology. The economic evaluation was based on this data. Activities, like disinfection, pre-storage disinfection and selection, in-storing and out-storing, classification after storage, packaging, as well as loading trucks, were monitored by variety. Storage loss was determined and widely varied according to varieties, length of storage and time of out-storing. Different varieties resulted in different quality classes after storage. Price depended on the quality classes. Economic evaluation was carried out when all the relevant costs and revenues were known. Fixed and variable costs of storage were determined, break-even point was calculated and the market position of the product was evaluated.

In the face of increased demand and exposure to environmental effects, the condition of road pavements continues to decline while resources for their preservation remain limited. Thus, the task of managing pavements has to be done systematically and objectively. This paper outlines the steps involved in developing a multi-year pavement Maintenance and Rehabilitation (M&R) plan. These include: (1) condition assessment; (2) network inventory and database development; (3) identification of pavement sections requiring M&R; (3) needs analysis; and (4) impact analysis. As a case study, the project was performed on the road network inside the Texas A&M University campus that consists of 13.95 miles of roadway, 80% and 20% of which are concrete and HMA pavements respectively. Condition assessment was done according to ASTM D 6433-07 and using the Pavement Condition Index (PCI) as indicator of pavement performance. Data collected were then entered into a database which also contains information on traffic and roadway characteristics. PCI threshold values were established to identify sections that are in need of M&R and the most cost- effective treatment based on long-term performance benefit and life-cycle cost was proposed for each project. Candidate projects were then prioritized by ranking based on benefit-cost analysis. The needs estimate provides meaningful information on the total amount of budget required to correct all deficiencies in the network. Finally, the impact analysis is used to determine the impact of a reduced budget on network condition as well as the amount of backlog that needs to be addressed.

Contaminated soil and groundwater resulting from pyrite oxidation occur in coastal areas throughout the world, but do not pose an issue unless allowed to oxidise as a result of drainage or excavation. The exposure and oxidisation of these soils increase the concentration of iron and aluminium ions and cause adverse impact on flora and fauna and also water quality. Depending on the climate conditions and scale of areas contaminated by acid sulphate soil (ASS), several remediation techniques (e.g. fixed-level weirs, two-way modified floodgates, permeable reactive barriers, etc.) can be employed to increase the pH near to neutral and prevent the oxidation of pyrite and production of extra acid.

A case study of the East Trinity, the east of Cairns, Queensland, Australia is presented in this study. This region episodically discharges large amounts of acid resulting in periodic fish kills. To remediate the ASS issue, a lime-assisted tidal exchange strategy had been undertaken by the local government. As a result, the quality of water improved and the pH increased from 3.5 to 6-8 and also the rate of aluminium and iron reduced to neutral values.

Alternative medicine utilizing the therapeutic effects of plants is commonly used in the community. Contaminants in the raw materials, like lead, may lead to adverse health effects. This study aimed to determine the presence or absence of lead and specifically aimed to obtain its levels in plants and commercial tea utilized as herbal medicine in Manila, Philippines. The blood levels of the heavy metals were mathematically projected as well. The concentrations were compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Center for Disease Control (CDC) allowable standards for plants and blood, respectively. Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (FAAS) was used to analyze the heavy metals from the samples. All samples tested contained lead but conformed with the WHO limits at 10 ppm. However, only the tea preparation samples conformed with the CDC limit at 10 ug/dL but not the collected plants which went above the prescribed concentration. Herbs and its preparations must be decontaminated prior to use for better health provision to the Filipino people.

This study has focus specifically on the experience of Thailand's worst floods in Chao Phraya River Basin (CPRB). The economy was broadly affected by experiencing temporary halt in some production sectors of country. The study found that most of this was to the Thailand's agricultural products, as major agricultural products were Thai Rice, and Thailand was one of major rice producer and exporter in the world. In 2011, a total export value of Thai Rice was 210,527 million baht. However, the impact of tropical cyclone Nock-Ten on Thai Rice export was reinforced by an economic slowdown in Thailand during 2011-2012. Hence, this study diagnoses the impacts of flood on Thai Rice in CPRB, and recommends the guidelines for management of climate change impacts.

The management as well as the associated Environmental and health risks of medical waste are of global concern. There exist critical steps for safe and scientific management of medical waste which healthcare establishment can adopt. Medical waste may be disposed using different methods which many countries have adopted. However, the disposal of medical waste needs to be carried out in a way that neither the environment nor the health conditions of people are put at risk as they are hazardous. This paper focuses on the assessment of potential risks associated with medical waste management in Mauritius. Two medical institutions: one private and one public have been purposely chosen for proper analysis. Observations have been made on how they manage their medical waste through visits in those institutions. Results have demonstrated that both institutions manage their medical waste differently. Recommendations on how to improve the practices of these two medical institutions of Mauritius have also been made.