Diverse urban plantings managed with sufficient resource availability can increase plant productivity and arthropod diversity

Buildings structures and surfaces are explicitly being used to grow plants, and these ���urban plantings��� are generally designed for aesthetic value. Urban plantings also have the potential to contribute significant ���ecological values��� by increasing urban habitat for animals such as arthropods and by increasing plant productivity. In this study, we evaluated how the provision of these additional ecological values is affected by plant species richness; the availability of essential resources for plants, such as water, light, space; and soil characteristics. We sampled 33 plantings located on the exterior of three buildings in the urban center of Brisbane, Australia (subtropical climatic region) over 2, 6 week sampling periods characterized by different temperature and rainfall conditions. Plant cover was estimated as a surrogate for productivity as destructive sampling of biomass was not possible. We measured weekly light levels (photosynthetically active radiation), plant CO2 assimilation, soil CO2 efflux, and arthropod diversity. Differences in plant cover were best explained by a three-way interaction of plant species richness, management water regime and sampling period. As the richness of plant species increased in a planter, productivity and total arthropod richness also increased significantly���likely due to greater habitat heterogeneity and quality. Overall we found urban plantings can provide additional ecological values if essential resources are maintained within a planter such as water, light and soil temperature. Diverse urban plantings that are managed with these principles in mind can contribute to the attraction of diverse arthropod communities, and lead to increased plant productivity within a dense urban context.

Simulating reinforced concrete members. Part 2: displacement-based analyses

<p>A companion paper described the partial-interaction localised properties that require the development of pseudo properties. If the quantification through experimental testing of these pseudo properties could be removed by the use of mechanics-based models, which is the subject of this paper, then this would: (a) substantially reduce the cost of developing new reinforced concrete products by reducing the amount of testing; (b) increase the accuracy of designing existing and novel reinforced concrete members and structures, bearing in mind that experimentally derived pseudo properties are only applicable within the range of the testing from which they were derived; and (c) reduce the cost and increase the accuracy of developing reinforced concrete design rules. This paper deals with the development of pseudo properties and behaviours directly through mechanics, as opposed to experimental testing, and their incorporation into member global simulations. It also addresses the need for a fundamental shift to displacement-based analyses as opposed to strain-based analyses.</p>

Finite-element investigation of cold-formed steel portal frames in fire

This paper presents the results of a full-scale site fire test performed on a cold-formed steel portal frame building with semi-rigid joints. The purpose of the study is to establish a performance-based approach for the design of such structures in fire boundary conditions. In the full-scale site fire test, the building collapsed asymmetrically at a temperature of 714��C. A non-linear elasto-plastic finite-element shell model is described and is validated against the results of the full-scale test. A parametric study is presented that highlights the importance of in-plane restraint from the side rails in preventing an outwards sway failure for both a single portal and full building geometry model. The study also demonstrates that the semi-rigidity of the joints should be taken into account in the design. The single portal and full building geometry models display a close match to site test results with failure at 682��C and 704��C, respectively. A design case is described in accordance with Steel Construction Institute design recommendations. The validated single portal model is tested with pinned bases, columns protected, realistic loading and rafters subject to symmetric uniform heating in accordance with the ISO 834 standard fire curve; failure occurs at 703��C.

Caracter��stiques socioecon��miques i estructura f��sica del centre hist��ric de Lleida

Es presenta el gruix dels resultats producte de l���enc��rrec realitzat per l���Ajuntament de Lleida a la C��tedra de Geografia Humana de la Universitat de Lleida sobre l���an��lisi de les dades referides a poblaci��, activitat econ��mica i caracter��stiques de l���edificaci�� i de la f��brica urbana del centre hist��ric de la ciutat

Projecte d���ampliaci�� i acondicionament d���una nau industrial destinada a processos metal���l��rgics

El present projecte pret��n ampliar i condicionar una nau industrial existent, destinada a processos metal���l��rgics, propietat de l���empresa Muntatges Industrials Palafolls, SCP. L���establiment es troba situat al pol��gon Industrial de Can Baltasar, en el municipi de Palafolls. Per tal de dur a terme aquestes modificacions, s���enderrocaran els departaments existents i es dimensionaran en una nova ubicaci�� dintre del recinte de l���establiment. Es dimensionar�� una nova estructura per a sustentar un pont grua de 10 tn, situada a l���interior de la nau. A m��s a m��s, es dimensionaran les instal���lacions el��ctriques i contra incendis de l���establiment. El projecte contindr�� tota la documentaci�� necess��ria per a dur a terme l���ampliaci�� i remodelaci�� de la nau industrial i la instal���laci�� del pont grua.

Shanghai's western townscape and changing perceptions of cultural heritage in China

[No Abstract]

Parthenon's main design proportion and its meaning

Defines the geometrical proportion that was used to design the Classical Parthenon of Athens. Through the exploration of Pythagorean theories, the symbolism of the numbers 4, 6, and 9, which make up the temple's geometrical proportion, is unraveled in order to reveal the meaning of the temple's design.

Significance of Bendigo's Chinese architecture

This research shows something of the historic past of the Chinese in Bendigo and their impact on the built environment. The findings rediscover and preserve the past providing an avenue for future generations to learn and understand the Chinese and their significance to the architecture of Bendigo's past and future.

Views in Australia

Lithographs have the following titles: Agnes River, Corner Inlet, Gipps Land -- West side of Mt Arapiles -- Mitchell River -- Mt. Munda from St. Hubert, Yering -- McAlister Valley, Gipps Land -- Wentworth River

Diverse urban plantings managed with sufficient resource availability can increase plant productivity and arthropod diversity

Buildings structures and surfaces are explicitly being used to grow plants, and these "urban plantings" are generally designed for aesthetic value. Urban plantings also have the potential to contribute significant "ecological values" by increasing urban habitat for animals such as arthropods and by increasing plant productivity. In this study, we evaluated how the provision of these additional ecological values is affected by plant species richness; the availability of essential resources for plants, such as water, light, space; and soil characteristics. We sampled 33 plantings located on the exterior of three buildings in the urban center of Brisbane, Australia (subtropical climatic region) over 2, 6 week sampling periods characterized by different temperature and rainfall conditions. Plant cover was estimated as a surrogate for productivity as destructive sampling of biomass was not possible. We measured weekly light levels (photosynthetically active radiation), plant CO2 assimilation, soil CO2 efflux, and arthropod diversity. Differences in plant cover were best explained by a three-way interaction of plant species richness, management water regime and sampling period. As the richness of plant species increased in a planter, productivity and total arthropod richness also increased significantly likely due to greater habitat heterogeneity and quality. Overall we found urban plantings can provide additional ecological values if essential resources are maintained within a planter such as water, light and soil temperature. Diverse urban plantings that are managed with these principles in mind can contribute to the attraction of diverse arthropod communities, and lead to increased plant productivity within a dense urban context.

Zerbrochene Spiegel /1

Der Beitrag beschreibt eine doppelte, verfremdete und letztendlich tragische Spiegelung in der Wahrnehmung von Architektur zwischen Europa und Indien: zwischen 1780 und 1856 entstanden in der nordindischen Stadt Lucknow mehrere gro��e Baukomplexe, die von den indisch-islamischen Herrschern der Stadt in europ��isch-klassizistischen Formen gestaltet wurden. Nach dem indischen Aufstand, der in den Jahren 1857 und 1858 gegen die britische Herrschaft in Lucknow losbrach, wurden diese Bauten zum Gegenstand einer scharfen europ��ischen Architekturkritik. Der erste Abschnitt ��� "Das Eigene und das Fremde" ��� betrachtet die westliche Rezeption dieser europ��isch-klassizistischen Bauten, die ��ber Jahrzehnte durch ein Negativurteil bestimmt war, das sich aus der politischen Interpretation des indischen Aufstands erkl��rt. Der zweite Abschnitt ��� "Kopie und Synthese" ��� geht auf die Suche nach den Zusammenh��ngen f��r die positive Europarezeption in Lucknow und f��r die negative Kritik dieser Bauten in Europa. Es erweist sich, dass die Praxis von Architekturkopie und die Wahrnehmung europ��ischer Stilformen bei der ��bernahme klassizistischer Motive in Indien deutlich anders war als das exakte und moralisch ��berh��hte Verst��ndnis von Stilformen im Europa nach 1850.

Zerbrochene Spiegel /2

Der Beitrag beschreibt eine doppelte, verfremdete und letztendlich tragische Spiegelung in der Wahrnehmung von Architektur zwischen Europa und Indien: zwischen 1780 und 1856 entstanden in der nordindischen Stadt Lucknow mehre-re gro��e Baukomplexe, die von den indisch-islamischen Herrschern der Stadt in europ��isch-klassizistischen Formen gestaltet wurden. Nach dem indischen Auf-stand, der in den Jahren 1857 und 1858 gegen die britische Herrschaft in Lucknow losbrach, wurden diese Bauten zum Gegenstand einer scharfen europ��i-scher Architekturkritik. Der erste Abschnitt ��� "Das Eigene und das Fremde" ��� betrachtet die westliche Rezeption dieser europ��isch-klassizistischen Bauten, die ��ber Jahrzehnte durch ein Negativurteil bestimmt war, das sich aus der politischen Interpretation des indischen Aufstands erkl��rt. Der zweite Abschnitt ��� "Kopie und Synthese" ��� geht auf die Suche nach den Zusammenh��ngen f��r die positive Europarezeption in Lucknow und f��r die negative Kritik dieser Bauten in Europa. Es erweist sich, dass die Praxis von Architekturkopie und die Wahrnehmung europ��ischer Stilfor-men bei der ��bernahme klassizistischer Motive in Indien deutlich anders war als das exakte und moralisch ��berh��hte Verst��ndnis von Stilformen im Europa nach 1850.

T��cnica de localiza����o em ambientes fechados utilizando padr��es de redes sem fio.

Localizar objetos ou pessoas no interior de um edif��cio �� de grande interesse. Contudo, diferentemente do que ocorre no exterior de edifica����es, n��o h�� metodologia consagrada para a determina����o da posi����o desses entes nos edif��cios. Para o posicionamento em locais abertos existem tecnologias consolidadas, como GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), a dificuldade em faz��-lo em interiores �� maior. Nesses casos, o GNSS n��o pode ser utilizado, pois os sinais de r��dio dos sat��lites n��o conseguem penetrar atrav��s das estruturas, enquanto que outras tecnologias s��o apenas incipientes nesse quesito. Abordagens habituais para a resolu����o dessa demanda t��m se baseado na utiliza����o de propagadores das ondas de r��dio do GNSS, no uso da pot��ncia de sinais de redes sem fio ou, ainda, no emprego de transmissores infravermelhos. No entanto, uma t��cnica diferente pode ser empreendida para essa finalidade. Usando-se a assinatura das pot��ncias de r��dio das redes sem fio nas imedia����es e no interior da edifica����o, �� poss��vel criar um mapa com base nesses sinais, permitindo a determina����o da posi����o de um objeto. No presente trabalho foram desenvolvidos um sistema para gera����o do mapa de sinais, com crit��rio de parada e um m��todo de c��lculo de posicionamento. Procedeu-se, tamb��m, �� an��lise de quatro crit��rios para o c��lculo final da posi����o do objeto, baseados no uso da dist��ncia euclidiana com os conjuntos de roteadores dispon��veis. Concluiu-se que, quando o mapa de sinais �� pequeno, o posicionamento fracassou. Entretanto, quando a quantidade de sinais geradores do mapa aumenta, os resultados apresentaram melhora significativa, com resultados pr��ximos a 100% de assertividade. Desse modo foi poss��vel determinar uma estimativa boa para o n��mero m��nimo de roteadores presentes na base e estabelecer um crit��rio de parada para a fase de cria����o do mapa de sinais.