Capacity gaps in post disaster construction & demolition waste management

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to focus on the identification of the existing capacities of post disaster C&D waste management in developing countries, with a special emphasis on Sri Lanka to determine the capacity gaps and related influencing factors.

Design/methodology/approach – Multiple case studies and expert interviews were conducted to gather primary information on the existing capacities of disaster C&D waste management. Three case studies, including 15 individuals and six experts representing government, non-government institutions and others, were selected.

Findings – The results revealed the existing capacities, capacity gaps and influencing factors for post disaster C&D waste management in the areas of skills and confidence building, links and collaborations, continuity and sustainability, research and development, communication andcoordination, organisational implementation and investment in infrastructure.

Research limitations/implications – This study limited disaster C&D waste to debris generated from totally or partially damaged buildings and infrastructure as a direct impact of natural disasters orfrom demolished buildings and infrastructure at rehabilitation or at early recovery stages.

Originality/value – The research enabled an analysis of existing capacities and identified capacity gaps in post disaster C&D waste management with influencing factors developing countries.

Peripherally η1-Platinated Organometallic Porphyrins as Building Blocks for Multiporphyrin Arrays

The modification of peripherally metalated meso-η1-platiniometalloporphyrins, such as trans-[PtBr(NiDAPP)(PPh3)2] (H2DAPP = 5-phenyl-10,20-bis(3‘,5‘-di-tert-butylphenyl)porphyrin), leads to the analogous platinum(II) nitrato and triflato electrophiles in almost quantitative yields. Self-assembly reactions of these meso-platinioporphyrin tectons with pyridine, 4,4‘-bipyridine, or various meso-4-pyridylporphyrins in chloroform generate new multicomponent organometallic porphyrin arrays containing up to five porphyrin units. These new types of supramolecular arrays are formed exclusively in high yields and are stable in solution or in the solid state for extended periods. They were characterized by multinuclear NMR and UV−visible spectroscopy as well as high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Guidelines on building design and operation to minimize air quality impacts from major roads in transit oriented development

Poor air quality has a huge detrimental effect, both economic and on the quality of life, in Australia. Transit oriented design (TOD), which aims to minimise urban sprawl and lower dependency on vehicles, leads to an increasing number of buildings close to transport corridors. This project aims at providing guidelines that are appropriate to include within City Plan to inform future planning along road corridors, and provide recommendations on when mitigation measures should be utilised.