Papers by Keyword: Safety

Abstract: Building Information Modeling (BIM) is revolutionizing the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industries worldwide by enhancing collaboration, efficiency, and safety. Despite its proven benefits, BIM adoption remains minimal in third-world countries like Pakistan, primarily due to infrastructure limitations, high implementation costs, and a lack of skilled professionals. This study focuses on leveraging BIM's potential in the local context through three dimensions: 3D modeling using Revit, 4D scheduling with Primavera, and 8D health and safety analysis in Quetta City. The study aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals 9, 11, and 12, aiming to demonstrate BIM's utility in promoting sustainable construction practices, reducing costs, and improving project outcomes. By addressing barriers to BIM adoption, this research aspires to lay the foundation for a transition from traditional workflows to BIM-based methodologies, setting a precedent for enhanced infrastructure development in emerging economies.

Abstract: This study investigates the prevalence of road traffic accidents and assesses passenger perceptions of safety within Akure's public transportation network over a 11-year period (2013–2023). The study employs a mixed-methods approach by combining accident data obtained from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) with primary data collected through structured passenger surveys. Quantitative analysis was conducted using SPSS, while ArcGIS was utilized to identify accident hotspots across major and minor roads in Akure. The findings revealed that the Akure-Owo and Akure-Ilesa highways are the most accident-prone, with the highest frequencies of fatal, serious and minor accidents. A total of 30 accident hotspots were identified. The passenger survey indicated 75.0% of respondents reported witnessing a safety incident on the Akure-Owo highway, corroborating that safety incidents are a significant concern, particularly on the Akure-Owo highway. There was strong support for better lighting, regular vehicle maintenance, and speed limit cameras, particularly on the Akure-Ondo and Akure-Ado highways. Safety perceptions were found to correlate strongly with actual accident statistics, highlighting gaps in enforcement, infrastructure and emergency response. This research emphasizes the need for targeted safety interventions, improved road infrastructure and the inclusion of commuter feedback in transport planning to enhance safety outcomes and restore public trust in Akure’s road transport system.

Abstract: Active shooter emergencies represent one of the most critical threats within the built environment. While numerous studies have aimed to enhance evacuation effectiveness, a comprehensive synthesis of existing research on evacuation systems for active shooter scenarios remains limited. This paper presents a systematic literature review of such studies, revealing that 1) current evacuation simulation systems lack real-time route optimization and rely on oversimplified floor plans, 2) evacuation facilitation systems overlook critical data such as shooter location and movement, and 3) evacuation training systems fail to offer scenario-specific guidance within actual building layouts. Based on these findings, this study outlines future research directions, including the development of IoT-enabled systems for real-time data sharing, advanced simulation models using detailed building spatial data, evacuation facilitation systems informed by active shooter dynamics, and training systems grounded in real-world building spatial data. These directions advance the understanding of active shooter evacuation by enhancing simulations, support systems, and training, ultimately helping reduce casualties in built environments.

Abstract: Safety, by definition, is a state of protection against hazards, which implies measures for reduction/evasion/exclusion of risks. Safety is relative, depending on the degree of implementation of measures in specific conditions. The concept of security should only be considered as a result of risk management. Modern risk management practice is the basic risk levels and balancing between the need to ensure a certain level of security and the economic feasibility of investment in security measures. In practice, despite the declared safety priorities, industries are balanced between investment in security and an acceptable level of risk, without considering the nature and degree of influence of security measures at the stage of their development. This method of balancing is characterized by the desire of business to formally meet the general standards of risk management in order to minimize costs, minimize social and other types of responsibility, for the sake of maximizing income, which is a common problem. This problem is particularly acute in the context of national and industrial security.

Abstract: The study assesses the efficiency of the heat-insulating coating on the surface of the PSV-250 steam-water heater, valves, and pipelines. The efficiency was evaluated using a non-contact method as part of a comprehensive study of heat losses through thermal imaging. During the inspection of the heater’s thermal condition, elements with surface temperatures ranging from +60 °C to +224.5 °C were identified, which poses a hazard from an occupational safety perspective. To prevent burns to maintenance personnel and reduce heat losses that lower the efficiency of thermal equipment, these surfaces must be insulated. To address the identified issues, it is recommended to install special removable insulation or apply a thermal insulation coating based on a liquid ceramic composite material.

Abstract: The aim of the work was to determine the possibility of not taking into account the orientation (vertical or horizontal) of the studied elements of steel-reinforced concrete slabs with a corrugated profile during their heating in a modular small-sized fire furnace. The work investigated the temperature distributions on the outer surface of the corrugated ceiling profile of a steel-reinforced concrete slab of horizontal orientation simulated in the fire furnace chamber. To create geometric models of the fire furnace chamber and the studied element, a CAD software complex was used. To solve the heat engineering problem, mathematical (numerical) methods were used, based on solving systems of differential equations of continuous media such as the Navier-Stokes equation and the Fourier heat conductivity equation. According to the results obtained, the temperature distribution on the outer surface of the steel profile of the reinforced concrete slab is uniform, the temperature deviation in different places on the surface does not exceed 7 %. The maximum temperature on the heating surface of the steel profile of the reinforced concrete slab in the last minute of computer simulation reached 921 °С and the average temperature at this time over the entire surface of the structure was 917 °С. To determine the appropriate orientation of the test sample during fire tests, a comparison of the obtained temperature distributions on the outer surface of the corrugated profile of a horizontally placed reinforced concrete slab with the temperature distributions on the outer surface of the corrugated profile of a vertically placed reinforced concrete slab, which were given in the previous work was made. Analysis of the average surface temperatures of the corrugated profile of a reinforced concrete slab of horizontal and vertical orientation showed that the temperature distribution over the surface of the profile was uniform in both cases and the results obtained show good reproducibility of the experiment during computer simulation. And the orientation of the tested elements does not affect the temperature distribution over the outer surface of the corrugated profile of a reinforced concrete slab in the simulated furnace.

Abstract: The integration of photovoltaic systems into energy grids has been very common in recent times since more renewable forms of energy are sought after. Reliability and safety are among the most essential concerns that have to be considered for the deployment and operation of such systems. There have been some very conspicuous failures of protective devices in recent installations, leading to huge damage to solar equipment and an estimation of millions of Naira in repair and maintenance costs. The said incidents further underscore the need for technical competency in PV system installations as well as good-quality protective component acquisition. This study examines the critical role of protective devices in photovoltaic (PV) systems, focusing on their impact on system reliability, operational safety, and financial implications. A survey of industry professionals revealed that the major causes of device failures are overvoltage and poor-quality devices. Similarly, Circuit Breakers and Surge Protectors top the list of devices affected by failures. Critical system shutdowns take up 50% of the resultant consequences of failures, deteriorated performance, and safety hazards. Surprisingly, 65% of those who responded reported financial losses due to the failures, estimated at 45% between N100,000 and N500,000, while 15% had losses above N500,000. The study recommends high-quality protective devices be installed, installation and maintenance be standardized, and predictive maintenance/remote monitoring technologies be adopted to improve reliability and early fault detection. The long-term performance of devices in varying environmental conditions and the economic benefit of using durable, high-quality components are to be focused on further for research. These findings also put forward actionable suggestions to better ensure the PV system resilience for all stakeholders, thereby reducing their financial risks and ensuring the continued growth of the solar energy infrastructure in a reliable manner.

Abstract: The assessment of bridge structures is not only relevant, but also an integral part of effective infrastructure management aimed at ensuring safety, convenience and comfort for citizens. Many bridges have been destroyed due to imperfect design, the use of low-quality materials, and inappropriate construction methods. Consideration of natural and human factors in the design, construction and operation of bridge structures is key to ensuring their safety, durability and long-term performance. Any defects require careful monitoring, assessment and timely repair to ensure the safety and reliability of bridges. Various methods are used to inspect bridge structures. Inspection methods can be used individually or in combination to obtain comprehensive information on the condition of bridge structures and take the necessary measures for their maintenance and repair. In work to determine the stresses in a bridge, we use the finite element method (LIRA 9.4 R3). The inspection of the bridge's structures revealed a number of defects resulting from corrosion processes, operational factors and certain structural deficiencies. To ensure the durability of the bridge structures, it is necessary to reconstruct the bridge.

Abstract: A construction building's structural integrity, material quality, workmanship, and conformity to design specifications were all assessed qualitatively. Potential problems like cracks, corrosion, or subpar construction techniques were found during the examination through visual inspections, material testing, and documentation analysis. Guidelines for upkeep, fixes, or structural improvements were offered to guarantee the building's longevity, security, and adherence to rules. The evaluation sought to improve the building's durability, functionality, and occupant safety while correcting any flaws to preserve structural integrity.

Abstract: Effective directions for ensuring safety of energy metering systems are automation and optimization of the process of diagnostics of metering channels. The aim of the research is to develop a mathematical support that allows to optimize the process of diagnostics of measuring channels in real conditions using any automated tool. The basis of the developed mathematical support is a network model of energy flows, a mathematical model for calculating energy losses at the network level and a mathematical model for calculating the power of the measuring channel. The method and algorithm of search of unreliable measuring channels allowing to minimize the labor intensity and time of professional activity in the zone of possible action of harmful factors are offered.