Applied Mechanics and Materials Vol. 747

Abstract: Soil arthropods have role as herbivores, decomposers, predators and bioindicators of the various functions on ecosystems. Soil arthropods have an important role in increasing and maintaining soil productivity through the decomposition process of organic matter. The research was conducted to investigate abundance and diversity of soil arthropods in Manggis Natural Reserve and Coffee Agroforestry System. Hand-shorting methods and pitfall traps were used to catch soil arthropods. The abundance of soil arthropods were analyzed into diversity index. The result showed that the Natural Reserve has higher family number of soil arthropod and diversity index than the Agroforestry System. Individual of Hymenoptera order is very abundant in both location.

Abstract: Building inspection is an important tool in determining building condition by detecting defects and their symptoms. A quick and practical approach is needed to perform periodic building inspection, as a screening process before conducting a more detailed inspection for severe defects. Based on previous research, it is important to establish a screening tool based on building rating. Hence, we developed Condition Survey Protocol (CSP) matrix as a standard for visual building inspection which based on two assessment; Condition Assessment and Priority Assessment. Later, an online system developed for analysis and reporting purposes. The system proved to be able to facilitate and accelerate the process of data analysis as well as to avoid any errors. Besides, the features of the systems are easy to access, flexible, user-friendly and systematic. However, some amendment should be made to improve the existing system in terms of matrix scale. The amendment should be helpful to identify the actual building condition in more details.

Abstract: Roof is among defect-prone building part as it exposed to natural factor especially rainfall and sunlight. Thus, the inspection on roof part must be done more frequent compare to other parts of building. However, roof is the most difficult part to inspect because of limited access and safety concern. This paper presents the result of preliminary condition survey for water ponding monitoring on flat roof surface and discussion on the solving method. The survey has been carried out on flat roof of an academic building in Penang, Malaysia on a rainy day. Based on the condition survey, we found that water ponding occurs on some parts of the flat roof. Water ponding on flat roof will cause moisture problem that trigger severe problem on building. Since water ponding problem ineffectively do monitor by traditional method, we proposed to design an intelligent system to monitor water ponding problem on flat roof. By using an intelligent system, water ponding existence can be detected at a real-time. Furthermore, the system is time saving, manpower saving and the data can be manage systematically without the presence of surveyor on site.

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to provide a brief of overview of building failures and building defects definitions with various terms from the previous researches and also to redefine the understanding of these definitions within the context of building maintenance management domain. Therefore, this article presents the insight of previous definition of building failures and building defects and provides their respective understanding in various aspects. It then provides the detail discussion on the building failures and defects definitions, understanding causes and effects in term of building maintenance management perspective. All the related onformatin has been gathered through secondary resources such as journal article, text book, report and others. The information and knowledge on the subject of building failures and building defects help in producing the building design with reliable, maintainability, and supporting for future building maintenance and building improvement. Finally, this paper has successed in describing a clear explanation regarding to the meaning of building failures and building defects.

Abstract: As an emerging country, the construction industry is one of the factors to the development growth of the national economy. In Malaysia, there are various types of construction projects such as office buildings, housing, houses of worship, public and private institutions as well as the construction of infrastructure such as roads, drainage, landscaping and so on. The development is considered as an asset that must be protected in order to maintain the function of the development. Moreover, to emphasis on good asset management can reduce high operating costs and has helped many companies to improve efficiently in the face of recession. In addition, maintenance costs can be improved by taking into account, the condition of the building and report on the performance of building maintenance costs before a decision is made. Development of a wide range of defects is not a new scenario in Malaysia. Whether new or old, each is exposed to different types of defects. This paper is to discuss the common maintenance problems and building defects on civil and structural elements at the floating mosques buildings across Malaysia due to various factors. It will also provide opportunities to improve understanding of the building surveying profession in our country, namely to understand the scope and work as a building surveyor.

Abstract: Higher education institutions (HEI) buildings are considered as key functional, as it generates environment, human and economic resources. Initially, growing students’ population with various learning activities has constituted risk emergence, green issues, inefficient of energy use and climate discomfort. To sustain the building efficiency, building performance evaluation plays a vital role to improve performance issues in HEI buildings. This paper presents the construct items of performance criteria, namely Building Performance-Risk Indicators (PRI) as the initial framework for the development of building performance rating tool. The framework considers three criteria as the main focus, i.e. performance element, risk frames and the indicators.

Abstract: The 26th December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami unleashed devastation in many countries causing fatalities and massive destruction of properties including a number of coastal communities along the west-coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The objective of this study is to explore the impact of the tsunami to the well-being of the affected coastal communities after a gap of a few years since the 2004 disaster. Close attention was given to the respondents' perceptions with regards to mitigation tools and practices that should be adopted in preparing for any future disasters. Data was collected through questionnaire in tsunami-impacted coastal communities within the area of Kuala Muda in the state of Kedah, Malaysia. It was found that the 2004 tsunami disaster left a significant mark on Malaysia's and the world's disaster management landscape but the tragedy had also scarred the victims in the study area physically, financially and psychologically. The heightened disaster awareness subsequent to the event has further empowered the communities in their involvement in disaster management and steps must be taken to ensure these vulnerable communities are well-equipped to face any eventualities.

Abstract: The purpose of this research is to anticipate problems with flooding in micro drainage system to study the response of land cover in Samarinda-Indonesia due to changes in land use may lead to changes in flood discharge plan. Hydraulics analysis has been performed to study the condition in evaluative objective drainage system Drainage Samarinda City Blocks 2 (116015'36'' - 117024'16 'E and 00021'18'' - 01009'16'' LS) located in a densely populated area where some have experienced a decrease in capacity and increased discharge resulting in a puddle on a rainy day. The results based on changes in rainfall regime (I) in block 2 showed most primary channel in Block 2 is sufficient to accommodate the runoff discharge unless the primary channel sub-system 2.4.1 Jl. Hasan Basri Left P62-P72. While based on changes in rainfall regime and changes in land use increased by 28% in 2012 compared to conditions in 2000 obtained the results of three of the eleven sub-system that is the primary channel 2.2.3 Hull Road Mangkurat left, sub-system 2.2.4 Roads and channel Gastric right Mangkurat sub-system 2.4.1 Roads declared Hasan Basri left insufficient to accommodate the runoff discharge

Abstract: To produce a quality bridge then it should be taken into account with the correct parameters and the condition of the bridge. One of the parameters is an important bridge natural frequency incurred due to dynamic loads. The purpose of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of the natural frequency of bridge girder value measurement results in the field of natural frequency calculation results using Midas Civil programs and manuals, as well as knowing the value of the condition value of natural frequency of bridge between the actual value of natural frequency measurement results on the field and the value of natural frequency calculation program results Midas Civil. In the analysis, use design bridge gelagar PCI with a span of 21,95 meters. And bridge specifications will be made from the analysis of the natural frequency of the load calculation of structures with Midas program manual and Civil that would then be compared with the results of field measurements to find out the condition of the bridge. The natural frequency obtained from calculation manual for a bridge girder single of 5,95 Hz, and multi girder of 5,72 Hz.While value natural frequency of program midas civil for singles girder of 6,16 Hz, and for multi girder of 5,93Hz.

Abstract: This paper presents the development of microcontroller based potentiometric transduction circuit for a continuous fluid level sensor. The purpose system involved the integration between hardware and software subsystem. For hardware subsystem, the design of potentiometric circuit was tested with theoretical computation, simulation on Proteus VSM software and breadboard circuit. This finding was then used to develop interface for the analog-to-digital converter. For software subsystem, the water level indicator system has been developed using ATMEGA2560 by converting the output from potentiometric circuit into water level with a look-up table. It computes the digital data conversion into desired reading and displays data through the second hardware subsystem which is liquid crystal display. A potentiometric indicator for a continuous fluid level sensor to detect level of water ponding on the flat roof was developed. It was comprised of a potentiometric transduction stage and follower stage. From the experiment, it was shown that the potentiometric circuit designed was able to report changes in the water in a different level. The integration of the continuous fluid level sensor with the potentiometric indicator system will have a significant impact on the practice of sensor integration.