Building Stone Condition Monitoring Using Specially Designed Compensated Optical Fiber Humidity Sensors

This paper presents the design and implementation of a novel optical fiber temperature compensated relative humidity (RH) sensor device, based on fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) and developed specifically for monitoring water ingress leading to the deterioration of building stone. The performance of the sensor thus created, together with that of conventional sensors, was first assessed in the laboratory where they were characterized under experimental conditions of controlled wetting and drying cycles of limestone blocks, before being employed “in-the-field” to monitor actual building stone in a specially built wall. Although a new construction, this was built specifically using conservation methods similar to those employed in past centuries, to allow an accurate simulation of processes occurring with wetting and drying in the historic walls in the University of Oxford.

Design optimization of cold-formed steel portal frames taking into account the effect of building topology

Cold-formed steel portal frames are a popular form of construction for low-rise commercial, light industrial and agricultural buildings with spans of up to 20 m. In this article, a real-coded genetic algorithm is described that is used to minimize the cost of the main frame of such buildings. The key decision variables considered in this proposed algorithm consist of both the spacing and pitch of the frame as continuous variables, as well as the discrete section sizes.A routine taking the structural analysis and frame design for cold-formed steel sections is embedded into a genetic algorithm. The results show that the real-coded genetic algorithm handles effectively the mixture of design variables, with high robustness and consistency in achieving the optimum solution. All wind load combinations according to Australian code are considered in this research. Results for frames with knee braces are also included, for which the optimization achieved even larger savings in cost.

Recruitment and capacity-building challenges in participatory research involving young people in Northern Ireland

Consulting young people in social research is increasingly popular and is not confined to their recruitment as participants but extends to the design, delivery and dissemination of research. In this chapter we explore the recruitment and capacity building challenges involved in working with young people as researchers. We will introduce some of the theoretical issues around young people’s participation. Drawing on experiences from four separate participatory research projects with young people in Northern Ireland, we will highlight some of the difficulties encountered and give some practical approaches to managing the research process. Strategies for recruiting and training young researchers will be considered and we also reflect on what the benefits of young people’s involvement can be; not only enhancing the research process but also empowering young people and creating the potential for social agency.

Cities Ready for Energy Crises - Building Urban energy Resilience

Various sources indicate that threats to modern cities lie in the availability of essential streams, among which energy. Most cities are strongly reliant on fossil fuels; not one case of a fully self-sufficient city is known. Engineering resilience is the rate at which a system returns to a single steady or cyclic state following a perturbation. Certain resilience, for the duration of a crisis, would improve the urban capability to survive such a period without drastic measures.
The capability of cities to prepare for and respond to energy crises in the near future is supported by greater or temporary self-sufficiency. The objective of the underlying research is a model for a city – including its surrounding rural area – that can sustain energy crises. Therefore, accurate monitoring of the current urban metabolism is needed for the use of energy. This can be used to pinpoint problem areas. Furthermore, a sustainable energy system is needed, in which the cycle is better closed. This will require a three-stepped approach of energy savings, energy exchange and sustainable energy generation. Essential is the capacity to store energy surpluses for periods of shortage (crises).
The paper discusses the need for resilient cities and the approach to make cities resilient to energy crises.

Ratoath College - Building, 2007, 2015

Awards:
2007 Opus Architecture and Construction Awards - Highly Commended
2008 Architectural Association of Ireland - Selected for Exhibition
2008 RIAI Best Educational Building
2009 RIBA - Short listed International Award
2009 Imagine Inspirational School Design Compendium
2010 Irish Nomination to OECD Compendium of Exemplary Educational Facilities

Reviews and Publications:
2010 World Architecture News
2009 Perspective Vol 18/No 6
2009 Plan - Art of Architecture and Design
2008 Architecture Ireland, Dublin Volume 236
2007 World Architecture News
2008 Ratoath College, McGarry NÍ Éanaigh Architects ISBN 9780955914102

Ballyfermot Leisure and Youth Centre - Building, 2009

Awards:
Award Best Leisure Building - 2009 RIAI Irish Architecture Awards
Special Mention 2009 AAI Awards for Excellence in Architecture

Reviews:
2010/11 RIAI Irish Architecture Review, Dublin Volume 1
2009 AAI New Irish Architecture Cork Volume 24
2009 Architecture Ireland, Dublin Volume 245
2009 A+D Magazine, Brussels Issue No.32
2009 A10 Magazine, Amsterdam Issue 26, March April 2009
2009 PLAN Magazine, Dublin March 2009
2009 PLAN Irish Architecture, Dublin Review 2009
2008 The Irish Times, Dublin November 27th
2008 The Architects Journal, London Volume 228, November 13th

Dunshaughlin Parochial Centre - Building, 2010

Awards:
Dunshaughlin Pastoral Centre: Nominated Irish Entry, 2010 EU Prize for Contemporary Architecture : Mies van der Rohe Award
Dunshaughlin Pastoral Centre: Highly Commended, 2010 RIAI Irish Architecture Awards : Best Cultural Building Category
Dunshaughlin Pastoral Centre: Highly Commended, 2010 Opus Architecture and Construction Awards

Reviews:
2011 AAI New Irish Architecture Volume 26 Cork
2011 A+D Magazine Brussels, Issue No.36
2010 A10 Amsterdam 26th July 2010
2010 Architecture Ireland, Dublin Volume 251
2010 Plan Magazine, Dublin November December 2010
2010 The Architects Journal, London15 July 2010