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The fundamental differences between the dimensions of sustainable development have been identified by researchers and many assessment tools have been developed in several countries. This paper introduces the development of a methodology for determining the weight of each dimension employed in sustainable construction assessment through the use of assessment tools that use the Brazilian indicators of sustainable development in accordance with the Commission on Sustainable Development, and also through the utilization of a database provided by the Brazilian Geography and Statistics Institute (IBGE). Firstly, the Sustainability Panel tool was employed to reveal separately the status of dimensions in sustainable development (environmental, social and economic) and then it was made a statistical analysis of the results for each region in Brazil (north, northeast, midwest, southeast and south). The solution presented in this paper aims to reduce the inconsistencies found in the adjustments of the assessment tools considering regional differences based on political actions included in governmental agencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article critiques the article "Dynamic Size Effect in Normal-and High-Strength Concrete Cylinders," by Motaz A. Elfahal and Theodor Krauthammer from the March-April 2005 issue. The author's of the critique comment that the paper have made and a considerable contribution to the size effect law applied to cylinders' concrete strength but some aspects of their study are unclear. They requested additional information in some parts that are unclear.