INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAINABILITY IN SURGICAL EDUCATION
Developing a sustainability curriculum for surgical residents is crucial for integrating environmental awareness into medical practice. As healthcare contributes significantly to environmental impact, it's essential to educate future surgeons on sustainable practices that can reduce waste, conserve resources, and promote overall environmental responsibility within the medical field.
IDENTIFYING THE NEEDS OF SURGICAL RESIDENTS
A comprehensive needs assessment is vital to understand the specific requirements of surgical residents regarding sustainability. This assessment helps in identifying the knowledge gaps, skills needed, and the attitudes required to foster a culture of sustainability within surgical training programs. By addressing these needs, the curriculum can be tailored to meet the demands of modern healthcare.
DEVELOPING A SUSTAINABLE CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK
The development of a sustainability curriculum involves creating a structured framework that incorporates key elements of sustainability into surgical training. This includes modules on waste reduction, energy conservation, sustainable resource use, and the environmental impact of surgical practices. The curriculum must be designed to be both practical and applicable to the daily responsibilities of surgical residents.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES FOR THE CURRICULUM
Successful implementation of a sustainability curriculum requires strategic planning and collaboration among educators, healthcare institutions, and policy makers. This includes integrating sustainability topics into existing courses, offering specialized workshops, and providing hands-on training opportunities. Continuous assessment and feedback mechanisms are also essential to ensure the curriculum remains relevant and effective
EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION
Evaluating the effectiveness of the sustainability curriculum is crucial for measuring its impact on surgical residents. This involves assessing changes in knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to sustainability in the surgical field. Long-term evaluation will help determine the curriculum’s success in fostering a new generation of environmentally responsible surgeons.
Website: International Research Awards on Civil and Environmental Engineering.
A review of metal magnetic memory technology in civil engineering
INTRODUCTION TO METAL MAGNETIC MEMORY TECHNOLOGY
Metal Magnetic Memory (MMM) technology is an innovative non-destructive testing method used to evaluate the stress-strain state and detect early-stage defects in metal structures. Unlike traditional methods, MMM leverages the natural magnetic fields generated by the Earth's magnetic field interacting with stressed metal surfaces. This review explores the application of MMM in civil engineering, providing insights into its principles, benefits, and current usage.
PRINCIPLES OF MMM TECHNOLOGY
MMM technology is based on the principle that when a metal structure is subjected to mechanical stress, it experiences changes in its magnetic field. These magnetic changes, known as self-magnetic leakage fields (SMLF), are detectable on the surface of the metal. MMM sensors measure these SMLF variations, allowing engineers to identify areas of stress concentration and potential defects. This technique is particularly advantageous as it does not require external magnetization, making it simpler and more efficient than other methods.
APPLICATIONS IN CIVIL ENGINEERING
In civil engineering, MMM technology has proven to be highly effective in the inspection and maintenance of various structures, including bridges, pipelines, and buildings. Its ability to detect stress concentrations and defects at an early stage makes it a valuable tool for preventive maintenance and ensuring structural integrity. For instance, MMM can be used to monitor the condition of bridge components, identify corrosion in pipelines, and assess the structural health of buildings, thereby enhancing safety and extending the lifespan of these structures.
ADVANTAGES OF MMM TECHNOLOGY
One of the key advantages of MMM technology is its non-invasive nature. Unlike conventional methods that may require direct contact or even disassembly of components, MMM can be performed with minimal disruption to the structure. Additionally, MMM provides real-time data, allowing for immediate analysis and decision-making. This method is also cost-effective, reducing the need for extensive labor and equipment. The ability to conduct inspections without halting operations is particularly beneficial in industries where downtime can be costly.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS AND CHALLENGES
The future of MMM technology in civil engineering looks promising, with ongoing research aimed at enhancing its accuracy and expanding its applications. Advances in sensor technology and data analysis techniques are expected to improve the sensitivity and reliability of MMM measurements. However, challenges remain, such as the need for standardized testing protocols and further validation of the technology in diverse environmental conditions. Addressing these challenges will be crucial for the wider adoption of MMM technology in the civil engineering sector.
This review highlights the significant potential of Metal Magnetic Memory technology in transforming the approach to structural health monitoring and maintenance in civil engineering. By offering a non-destructive, efficient, and cost-effective solution, MMM technology is poised to play a pivotal role in the future of civil infrastructure management.
Innovations in construction waste management emphasize recycling and repurposing materials. New technologies and methods, such as additive manufacturing and the use of low CO₂ cement, are paving the way for more sustainable building practices. These advancements not only reduce waste but also enhance material performance and environmental sustainability (Tech Xplore).
2. Carbon Capture and Utilization
Efforts to capture and utilize CO₂ from construction waste are gaining traction. Techniques like carbon mineralization convert CO₂ into solid carbonates, which can be reused in construction or stored for long-term sequestration. This approach helps in reducing the carbon footprint of construction activities and promotes a circular economy (Tech Xplore).
3. Fullcircle™ Advanced Waste Lifecycle Program
Clean Earth's Fullcircle™ program offers comprehensive waste management solutions tailored to industrial needs. The program focuses on eliminating waste from the product design stage through to lifecycle completion, significantly reducing environmental impact. In 2022, it successfully diverted millions of pounds of waste from landfills to more sustainable uses (Clean Earth).
4. Improved Demolition Practices
Enhanced demolition techniques are crucial for better waste segregation and recovery. Practices that efficiently separate materials can facilitate the recycling of valuable elements like rare earth metals and industrial alkaline wastes. These improved methods contribute to significant reductions in waste sent to landfills and enhance the sustainability of construction projects (Tech Xplore).
5. Policy and Technological Support for Zero Waste Goals
The transition to a zero-waste construction industry requires both technological advancements and supportive policies. Growing supply chains, developing new manufacturing bases, and implementing policy changes are essential to achieve this goal. These efforts are crucial for creating a sustainable construction sector that minimizes waste and maximizes resource efficiency (Tech Xplore) (Clean Earth).
These are some of the reasons why CAD has become the industry standard in civil engineering. With powerful CAD software, one can create designs, plan a site, and make necessary changes in seconds. It is one of the most widely used tools in the engineering world and will continue to enhance.
Well, computer-aided drafting (CAD) has replaced manual drafting, allowing engineers or architects to create 2D or 3D designs quickly. With 2D and 3D modelling, engineers can make accurate representations of things and modify them without any hassles. CAD allows civil engineers to plan layout sites, roads, bridges, sidewalks, etc., more accurately, saving them a lot of time. Read on to know why CAD is so important for civil engineers. CAD software is a wonderful tool that helps engineers and draftsmen do their job quickly and accurately. Since you can look for poor designs and inefficiencies in the designs in the initial stage, it eliminates the need for redesigns or redraws.
Below are some more points that show the importance of CAD in civil engineering:
Planning, Designing, And Managing Civil Engineering Projects
Computer-aided drafting software helps civil engineers plan, design, and manage projects effectively. These projects can be divided into three categories, i.e., land development, water, or transportation projects. They also include road engineering, dams, canals, river development, construction area development, and many more!
With good CAD software, engineers can create 3D models of water or land development features while sourcing accurate data for other components, like corridors, contours, etc. This software allows you to perform multiple analytics to find any faults in the designs before you actually present the drafting to clients. Thus, your draft will be more likely to impress the viewers.
Accurate, Quick Designs Reduce Development Cost
As already discussed, CAD helps engineers to present accurate and quick designs. Earlier it was a long process and would delay the development process. Various tools were designed to simplify the process, but most had faults. Thus, they were not accepted in the engineering industry. With the introduction of CAD, work can be done speedily and with more accuracy.
To top it, CAD software is constantly upgraded to improve the features and help civil engineers. In addition, there are tools that help them get the work wiped out more effectively. All this results in a speedy strategic site that reduces the development costs significantly. Thus, it saves both time and money.
Drawings/Plans Can Be Stored In Cloud
Another great reason why CAD is important in civil engineering is, it allows engineers, architects, and everyone on the team to access CAD drawings whenever or wherever they want. They can save files anywhere in cloud-based CAD software, travel back anytime, find or edit the location.
Moreover, there are computer-aided drafting programs specifically for civil engineers with all the necessary tools. With this, they can design their entire site with the highest precision, keeping the public’s safety in mind. Once they are done with site planning, they can store it in the cloud. These plans are easily accessible to the contractors, sub-contractor, and the entire team. Everyone can check out the plan and make modifications. Such quick access to plans fosters collaboration and better communication.
CONCLUSION
These are some of the reasons why CAD has become the industry standard in civil engineering. With powerful CAD software, one can create designs, plan a site, and make necessary changes in seconds. It is one of the most widely used tools in the engineering world and will continue to enhance.
Duration: 4 minutes and 10 seconds.4:10Burj Khalifa animation of construction process0Duration: 29 seconds.0:29Shallow foundation construction example
Structural engineering is concerned with the structural design and structural analysis of buildings, bridges, towers, flyovers (overpasses), tunnels, off shore structures like oil and gas fields in the sea, aerostructure and other structures. This involves identifying the loads which act upon a structure and the forces and stresses which arise within that structure due to those loads, and then designing the structure to successfully support and resist those loads. The loads can be self weight of the structures, other dead load, live loads, moving (wheel) load, wind load, earthquake load, load from temperature change etc. The structural engineer must design structures to be safe for their users and to successfully fulfill the function they are designed for (to be serviceable). Due to the nature of some loading conditions, sub-disciplines within structural engineering have emerged, including wind engineering and earthquake engineering.[29]
Design considerations will include strength, stiffness, and stability of the structure when subjected to loads which may be static, such as furniture or self-weight, or dynamic, such as wind, seismic, crowd or vehicle loads, or transitory, such as temporary construction loads or impact. Other considerations include cost, constructibility, safety, aesthetics and sustainability. Surveying[edit] Main articles: Surveying and Construction surveying
Surveying is the process by which a surveyor measures certain dimensions that occur on or near the surface of the Earth. Surveying equipment such as levels and theodolites are used for accurate measurement of angular deviation, horizontal, vertical and slope distances. With computerisation, electronic distance measurement (EDM), total stations, GPS surveying and laser scanning have to a large extent supplanted traditional instruments. Data collected by survey measurement is converted into a graphical representation of the Earth's surface in the form of a map. This information is then used by civil engineers, contractors and realtors to design from, build on, and trade, respectively. Elements of a structure must be sized and positioned in relation to each other and to site boundaries and adjacent structures.
Although surveying is a distinct profession with separate qualifications and licensing arrangements, civil engineers are trained in the basics of surveying and mapping, as well as geographic information systems. Surveyors also lay out the routes of railways, tramway tracks, highways, roads, pipelines and streets as well as position other infrastructure, such as harbors, before construction.Land surveying
In the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and most Commonwealth countries land surveying is considered to be a separate and distinct profession. Land surveyors are not considered to be engineers, and have their own professional associations and licensing requirements. The services of a licensed land surveyor are generally required for boundary surveys (to establish the boundaries of a parcel using its legal description) and subdivision plans (a plot or map based on a survey of a parcel of land, with boundary lines drawn inside the larger parcel to indicate the creation of new boundary lines and roads), both of which are generally referred to as Cadastral surveying.BLMcadastral survey marker from 1992 in San Xavier, Arizona.Construction surveying
Construction surveying is generally performed by specialized technicians. Unlike land surveyors, the resulting plan does not have legal status. Construction surveyors perform the following tasks:Surveying existing conditions of the future work site, including topography, existing buildings and infrastructure, and underground infrastructure when possible; "lay-out" or "setting-out": placing reference points and markers that will guide the construction of new structures such as roads or buildings; Verifying the location of structures during construction; As-Built surveying: a survey conducted at the end of the construction project to verify that the work authorized was completed to the specifications set on plans. Transportation engineering[edit] Main article: Transportation engineering
Lake ChapultepecMunicipal engineering is concerned with municipal infrastructure. This involves specifying, designing, constructing, and maintaining streets, sidewalks, water supply networks, sewers, street lighting, municipal solid waste management and disposal, storage depots for various bulk materials used for maintenance and public works (salt, sand, etc.), public parks and cycling infrastructure. In the case of underground utility networks, it may also include the civil portion (conduits and access chambers) of the local distribution networks of electrical and telecommunications services. It can also include the optimization of waste collection and bus service networks. Some of these disciplines overlap with other civil engineering specialties, however municipal engineering focuses on the coordination of these infrastructure networks and services, as they are often built simultaneously, and managed by the same municipal authority. Municipal engineers may also design the site civil works for large buildings, industrial plants or campuses (i.e. access roads, parking lots, potable water supply, treatment or pretreatment of waste water, site drainage, etc.)
Water resources engineering is concerned with the collection and management of water (as a natural resource). As a discipline it therefore combines elements of hydrology, environmental science, meteorology, conservation, and resource management. This area of civil engineering relates to the prediction and management of both the quality and the quantity of water in both underground (aquifers) and above ground (lakes, rivers, and streams) resources. Water resource engineers analyze and model very small to very large areas of the earth to predict the amount and content of water as it flows into, through, or out of a facility. Although the actual design of the facility may be left to other engineers.
Hydraulic engineering is concerned with the flow and conveyance of fluids, principally water. This area of civil engineering is intimately related to the design of pipelines, water supply network, drainage facilities (including bridges, dams, channels, culverts, levees, storm sewers), and canals. Hydraulic engineers design these facilities using the concepts of fluid pressure, fluid statics, fluid dynamics, and hydraulics, among others.The Falkirk Wheel in Scotland
Civil engineering systems is a discipline that promotes the use of systems thinking to manage complexity and change in civil engineering within its wider public context. It posits that the proper development of civil engineering infrastructure requires a holistic, coherent understanding of the relationships between all of the important factors that contribute to successful projects while at the same time emphasizing the importance of attention to technical detail. Its purpose is to help integrate the entire civil engineering project life cycle from conception, through planning, designing, making, operating to decommissioning.[30][31]
Modeling the effect of autonomous vehicles (AVs) on the accessibility of the transportation network
Abstract
The utilization of autonomous vehicles (AVs) has emerged as a pivotal factor in addressing the rising costs and safety concerns associated with modern travel. As technology advances and traffic challenges intensify, enhancing accessibility stands out as a critical goal for transportation experts. Accessibility, constrained by factors like travel time, underscores the increasing need for AVs to mitigate these limitations. This study aimed to model the influence of AVs on the accessibility index within transportation networks and discuss system optimization based on user equilibrium (UE) and system optimum (SO) outcomes. The research conducted numerical analysis employing the Hearn network as a fundamental system to validate a mixed assignment model and ascertain baseline accessibility. Additionally, the Sioux Falls network, a medium-sized network, was employed for analysis. A hybrid heuristic assignment algorithm was introduced, concurrently assigning different percentages of AV presence alongside the remaining non-AV percentage in three distinct scenarios. These scenarios ranged from 0 to 100% AV presence: the first scenario maintained constant network capacity, the second scenario adjusted network capacity based on AV presence, and the third scenario incorporated capacity adjustments in the assignment stage. In all three scenarios, network accessibility was evaluated using gravity and accessibility index methods derived from the hybrid assignment model output. The findings demonstrated that as the percentage of AVs increased, accessibility improved in both Hearn and Sioux Falls networks across all scenarios. The second and third scenarios exhibited higher accessibility increases compared to the first, attributable to augmented capacity resulting from increased AV presence. In the Sioux Falls network, the first scenario showed enhanced SO and UE due to increased AV presence and enhanced system operator management. Conversely, the second and third scenarios, with increased AVs and subsequent capacity increments, displayed reduced UE and SO results. Despite the decline in UE and SO, traffic flow assignment and overall network accessibility improved. These findings highlight the positive correlation between AV presence, network capacity, and enhanced accessibility. The study underscores the potential benefits of AV integration in optimizing transportation networks and improving overall accessibility, albeit with nuances in capacity adjustments impacting traffic flow dynamics. Further research avenues could explore complex traffic flow scenarios and delve into more specific optimization strategies.
Introduction
Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are vehicles that can cover all aspects of driving in any environmental condition. According to Litman's research, the use of AVs started before 2020, and the expansion of their use will probably be realized in 20401. AVs promise a fundamental change in transportation. Travel is expected to be safer, cheaper, easier, and more sustainable through the use of AVs, and as a result, travel costs will also decrease2,3. According to estimations, AVs will have a special place in urban and intercity transportation in the next ten years. It is clear that with the application of these vehicles and their positioning, the planning horizons for the coming years will change. Modeling tools give researchers the possibility of impact measurement in transportation networks and make it possible to understand the future better. Among the effects of AVs, increasing safety, reducing fuel consumption, and creating a happier and more active life for people can be mentioned. The development of AVs can also be imagined under the influence of the desire of large companies to invest and take over the market share.
AVs can identify their surroundings and move safely alone or with little assistance4,5. Different autonomy levels are envisioned for such vehicles6,7. AVs make it possible for those who are unable or unwilling to drive to move by themselves without needing a driver. These people include the disabled and elderly, or young people without a certificate. As a result of this capability, more destinations are available to these groups and the number of trips they can make will increase8. On the one hand, cheap trips and the competition created between shared and private vehicles provide the opportunity to access more distant destinations, including the suburbans, for this group of users9. Studies in the field of people’s desire to use AVs in different categories indicate that the degree of desire depends on factors such as gender, income, age, etc.10. On the other hand, shared AVs provide the possibility of multiple trips at a low cost and without worrying about the costs of owning a vehicle (such as depreciation, insurance and taxes, and repairs)11. In addition, it is possible for the passengers of such vehicles to do other activities unrelated to driving. Such an approach will certainly cause more users to favor such vehicles, and as a result, it will lead a wave of people to use such vehicles12.
Each vehicle can benefit from information obtained from other vehicles in its vicinity, especially information about traffic congestion and safety hazards. Vehicular communication systems use vehicles and roadside units as communication nodes in a peer-to-peer network and provide information to each other13. In a cooperative approach, vehicular communication systems can cooperate with all vehicles to be more effective. According to a study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, vehicular communication systems can prevent up to 79% of traffic accidents14.
Significant research has supported both the potential benefits of AVs in enhancing travel efficiency and the possibility of increased travel demand resulting from their adoption. AVs are equipped with communication systems that allow them to communicate with other AVs and roadside units to provide them with information about the road or traffic congestion. In addition, scientists believe that the future will be accompanied by computer programs that will manage each private vehicle as it passes through the intersection. This type of connection can replace traffic lights and stop signs. These types of features also create and develop the ability of AVs to cooperate with other services (such as intersection computer systems) in the AV market. This issue can lead to creation of a network of AVs that all use the same network and the information in that network. Finally, the application of this problem can lead to more use of AVs in the network because the information is verified by the use of other AVs. Such movements strengthen the value of the network, and these movements are called external factors of the network15.
Civil engineers design, build, and maintain the foundation for our modern society – our buildings, roads and bridges, drinking water and energy systems, sea ports and airports, and the infrastructure for a cleaner environment, to name just a few.
The Augusta Canal initiated a transformation of the economy of the agrarian South by using civil engineering principles to create manufacturing capacity in a previously less developed region. It directly initiated this transformation in Augusta and thus provided a successful example that numerous other Southern cities subsequently followed.
The Augusta Canal was a bold economic development enterprise begun in 1844 that created the first multi-user, multi-purpose, industrial district in the agrarian South. It transformed the City of Augusta, Georgia and ultimately the entire region from a strictly agrarian economy to a more diversified employment base including manufacturing. Numerous civil engineers participated in its design and construction including William Phillips of Augusta and John Edgar Thomson, the latter of whom was later renowned as President of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Water power – The Augusta Canal promoters sought to establish a new cotton textile manufacturing industry close to the source of raw cotton, based on engineered water power. By the 1880s the Augusta industrial complex was a marvel of engineering industrial success that inspired the development of similar large-scale textile manufacturing based on water power across the southern region of the United States from Virginia to Alabama. Water supply – To furnish an abundant supply of pure water for the City, the Augusta Canal Water Works was a pioneering work of settling, filter, and clear water basins. A canal water turbine-powered pumping station lifted finished water to a cast iron elevated tank which then supplied sixteen miles of cast iron distribution pipes in the City. Transportation – Finally, the Augusta Canal was also built to accommodate the trade boats of the upper Savannah River knowns as Petersburg Boats. It allowed these boats to bypass river rapids through a seven-mile canal and terminated at wharfs in the industrial district along a cul-de-sac-like turning basin. The navigation lock included a unique counter-weighted, portcullis-style, guard lock gate on the upstream end that both admitted boats and guarded against the entrance of floods.
It was the first canal in the United States built for these three purposes and the only one that is still operated for all of its original purposes.
Visiting the landmark
The Augusta Canal National Heritage Area, managed by the National Park Service, provides trails, trailheads, and interpretive information along the seven-mile canal. The Augusta Canal Discovery Center at Enterprise Mill, 1450 Greene Street in Augusta provides interpretive displays about the construction, operation, and significance of the canal for an entry fee. A variety of boat tours are available.
