scholarly journals STRUCTURAL FIRE SAFETY OF EXISTING STEEL BUILDINGS, Possible general approach and application to the case of the intumescent coatings

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Bilotta ◽  
Donatella De Silva ◽  
Emidio Nigro
Keyword(s):  
Fire Safety ◽  
Structural Damage ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Existing Buildings ◽  
Steel Buildings ◽  
Civil Structures ◽  
Economic Point ◽  
Existing Structures ◽  
Intumescent Coatings

The fire safety of the existing structures is very important from the socio-economic point of view and has high social impact for civil, industrial, and commercial buildings. The verification of the minimum fire resistance of civil structures is done through some regulations, drafted to ensure occupant and rescue teams safety as well as a limited structural damage. These national fire rules are not always easily applicable to existing buildings. The purpose of this paper is to provide guidance about the structural analysis of existing buildings exposed to fire, with particular reference to steel buildings protected with intumescent coatings.

scholarly journals On BRT Spread around the World: Analysis of Some Particular Cities

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (10) ◽  
pp. 88
Author(s):  
Salvatore Trubia ◽  
Alessandro Severino ◽  
Salvatore Curto ◽  
Fabio Arena ◽  
Giovanni Pau
Keyword(s):  
Public Transport ◽  
Autonomous Vehicles ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Civil Engineering ◽  
Road Transport ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Transport Systems ◽  
Economic Point

The goal of civil engineering has always been the research and implementation of methods, technologies, and infrastructures to improve the community’s quality of life. One of the branches of civil engineering that has the strongest effect on progress is transport. The quality of transport has a profound economic and social impact on our communities regarding trade (freight transport) and city livability (public transport systems). However, innovation is not the only way to improve the features above-mentioned, especially public transport, considering that it is usually beneficial to enhance and repurpose vehicles with appropriate adjustments to offer more efficient services. Other perspectives that influence public transport systems are the costs and times of design and construction, maintenance, operating costs, and environmental impact, especially concerning CO2 emissions. Considering these issues, among the various types of existing public transport systems, those of the so-called Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) offer worthwhile results. The BRT system is a type of public road transport operated by bus on reserved lanes, and it is significantly profitable, especially from an economic point of view, in areas where there are existing bus routes. Nonetheless, for the construction of works minimization, it is closely linked to other features that improve its usefulness, depending on the vehicles’ quality such as capacity, but above all, the propulsion or driving autonomy that would guarantee high efficiency. This paper introduces an analysis of some BRT systems operating worldwide, presenting the background, general technical features, and the correlation with autonomous vehicles.

Bestandsschutz und Gefahr

2020 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 575-600
Author(s):  
Laura Lorena Wallenfels
Keyword(s):  
Fire Safety ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Existing Buildings ◽  
Binary Outcome ◽  
New Construction ◽  
The Common ◽  
Building Standards

In German building law, existing buildings are usually exempt from new construction standards. However, an exception can be made if a building presents a danger to life or health. The authorities may then demand the retrofitting of the otherwise grandfathered building. This article analyses the German jurisdiction in matters of retrofitted fire safety. It finds that the interpretation of the courts concerning the word ‘danger’ leads to an undermining of the grandfathering, ultimately rendering it void of meaning in the field of fire safety. In particular, three sometimes overlapping interpretations can be distinguished: First, some courts assume that any building that does not comply with current building standards poses a danger to life or health. As such, no grandfathered building would be able to benefit from its protected status and the notion of grandfathering is reduced to absurdity. Second, some courts argue that ‘danger’ in the context of fire safety requires an interpretation that is different from the common doctrine. The common interpretation assumes that ‘danger’ has a binary outcome (i. e. either ‘danger’ or ‘no danger’) and occurs when there is ‘sufficient probability’ of damage. In contrast, proponents of a deviating interpretation argue that danger should already be assumed to occur when damage is ‘not totally improbably’, i. e. applying an interpretation of the term ‘danger’ with fewer requirements. Third, other courts justify the retrofitting of grandfathered buildings by arguing that a danger of fire exists in every building at all times. The courts thereby dismiss their responsibility to prove the existence of a danger with respect to a particular building. The article shows that none of the justifications used in courts endure from a dogmatic point of view.

scholarly journals Economic Analysis and Evaluation of Energy-efficient Renovation of Existing Buildings Based on the Whole Life Cycle

2021 ◽  
Vol 251 ◽  
pp. 02093
Author(s):  
Han Xue
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Economic Evaluation ◽  
Energy Saving ◽  
Energy Efficient ◽  
Evaluation Model ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Existing Buildings ◽  
Economic Point ◽  
Economic Evaluation Model ◽  
Whole Life Cycle

There has long been a lack of understanding of the costs and benefits of energy-efficient renovation of existing buildings, which discourages the participation of stakeholders. This paper studied the energy-saving renovation of existing buildings, analyzed the incremental cost and incremental benefit based on the whole life cycle, and constructed the economic evaluation model of energy-saving renovation of existing buildings to provide a scientific theoretical basis for the economic evaluation of the energy-saving renovation of existing buildings and provide references for the decision-making of stakeholders, and promote the energy-saving renovation of buildings from an economic point of view.

scholarly journals The Rising of Fintech - How the Tech Revolution in Financial Services Represents A Paradigm Shift

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Financial Literacy ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
Banking Sector ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Economic Point ◽  
International Interaction ◽  
Long Term Impact ◽  
Globalized World

Finance is a field that shapes human relations not only from a purely economic point of view, but also has a strong influence on social structure, community development, prosperity, political or international interaction, which is even more relevant in a hyper-globalized world. The transformations began with the rising of the internet some decades ago and accelerated due to recent changes, such as increased computing power, the usage of financial apps etc. The scope of this paper is to present a short literature overview about the disruption brought in the finance sector by the recent technology developments. In addition to understand that technology is synonymous with innovation this paper shows examples of innovation drivers (including products and services). Finally, this paper highlights the long-term impact on social and geopolitical grounds with shifting power equilibriums, like the loosing banking monopoly of finances in favour of tech giants GAFA (Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple) or the recent announcements of global and official cryptocurrencies, e.g. LIBRA by Facebook or CBDC (Central Banks Digital Currencies) from China government. The main findings of this paper are that FinTech has the chance to revolutionize the financial sector because it is more than just payment, new players (BigTech) could enter into the traditional banking sector and rise a new form of competition and FinTech has social impact on financial inclusion and financial literacy. Keywords: Technology, Management, FinTech, Tech Innovation, Financial Technology

Emergency Health Services Plan for the Tuscan Region

1985 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 261-265
Author(s):  
Claudio Galanti ◽  
Piero Stratini ◽  
Sergio Boncinelli ◽  
Massimo Marsili ◽  
Paola Lorenzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Population Distribution ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Economic Point ◽  
Existing Structures ◽  
Emergency Situations ◽  
Planning Project ◽  
Time Space ◽  
Health Services Planning ◽  
Emergency Health Services

The aim of this planning project is to ensure prompt and efficient emergency health services to all people in the regional territory of Tuscany, and to establish suitable conditions for an efficient intervention by the National Health Service in situations brought about by unforeseen events which may have serious, often disastrous, consequences. This effort — quite demanding from an organizational and economic point of view — may be successful only if we assume that the time-space unpredictability of emergencies cannot be understood in absolute terms, but in relation to a series of conditions and situations present in everyday reality. Only by reducing to the minimum the unpredictability factor both quantitatively and qualitatively this purpose can be achieved. Risk factors should thus be accurately related to the territory's population distribution, geomorphology, and socio-health conditions.Since emergency medical care must be carried out without delay, each response must involve all components, concomitantly or in sequence so that the intervention is not regarded as concluded at any one stage. It must be open to integration best suited to the situation. There is need for a multidisciplinary approach to emergencies from the first response to definitive care.The model of health services planning necessary to achieve all this envisages a series of interventions — 1) to develop interconnections between intramural medicine and health services carried out in the field in order to allow rational use of existing structures, such as the emergency department; 2) to establish coordination focal points which can ensure, outside a hospital, the same level of treatment in emergency situations that will be carried out intramurally, despite the unavoidable changes in methodology; and 3) to activate information and self-training programs designed to encourage the development of a cultural and operative relationship between the health services and the needs of the community.

scholarly journals COMBINED ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING INVESTMENTS

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanna Kunttu ◽  
Minna Räikkönen ◽  
Teuvo Uusitalo ◽  
Teppo Forss ◽  
Josu Takala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Evaluation ◽  
Impact Assessment ◽  
Affordable Housing ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Social Aspects ◽  
Social Impact Assessment ◽  
Existing Buildings ◽  
Pros And Cons ◽  
Housing Investments

A method combining economic evaluation and social impact assessment creates information that can be applied when making decisions about a new tenement building or renovation of existing buildings. The aim of the economic evaluation is to ensure that economic aspects are adequately considered and investment is realizable from a monetary point of view. Social impact assessment reveals intangible pros and cons related to an investment or investments to be considered. This paper presents a framework that combines economic and social aspects and supports decision making related to affordable housing.

scholarly journals Abolishing cash in Europe: the benefits and drawbacks of electronic transactions

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-68
Author(s):  
Grigorios Gikas ◽  
Alina Hyz ◽  
Periklis Tagkas
Keyword(s):  
Exchange Rate ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Foreign Exchange Rate ◽  
Economic Point ◽  
The Past ◽  
Electronic Transactions ◽  
Efficiency Increase ◽  
European Economies ◽  
Benefits And Costs

Many proposals favouring cash abolition have emerged over the past few years. Their economic and social impact has not yet been analysed in depth. This paper aims to present the evolution of the means of payment during the last decades and to analyse the issue of cash abolition in European economies. The creation of a cashless economy would bring benefits, such as efficiency increase, as well as problems: the disturbance of money supply, instability of the foreign exchange rate, and so on. The paper discusses the reasons and arguments expressed by supporters and opponents of cash abolition and focuses on possible consequences, from the economic point of view. The advantages, disadvantages, benefits and costs associated with the possibility of removing cash from the economy are also described. Finally, a possible scenario for the future is analysed.

Sophie Laws, with Caroline Harper and Rachel Marcus. Research for Development: A Practical Guide. New Delhi: Vistaar Publications. 2003. xiii+475 pages. Paperback. Indian Rupees 450.00.

2003 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-172
Author(s):  
Mir Annice Mahmood
Keyword(s):  
Policy Research ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Basic Question ◽  
New Delhi ◽  
Economic Point ◽  
Scarce Resources ◽  
Is Research ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Development Workers

To implement any successful policy, research about the subject-matter is essential. Lack of knowledge would result in failure and, from an economic point of view, it would lead to a waste of scarce resources. The book under review is essentially a manual which highlights the use of research for development. The book is divided into two parts. Part One informs the reader about concepts and some theory, and Part Two deals with the issue of undertaking research for development. Both parts have 11 chapters each. Chapter 1 asks the basic question: Is research important in development work? The answer is that it is. Research has many dimensions: from the basic asking of questions to the more sophisticated broad-based analysis of policy issues. The chapter, in short, stresses the usefulness of research which development workers ignore at their own peril.

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