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Adobe buildings are popularly used in different universe regions and comprise an important characteristic of the worldwide cultural heritage. Moreover, in recent years, ecological construction materials like bricks of adobe have become more economically vital. The advantages of using adobe as a main construction material include environment, economy, friendliness, good thermal with sound insulation, and perfect indoor air quality. Therefore, it is vital to investigate the adobe’s mechanical properties. This research aims to investigate the effect of different sizes of bamboo straw on adobe bricks, which is considered a process of seeking high-performance bricks in terms of compressive strength and flexural strength. The mixture utilized in this experimental research contains sand, clay, silt, and bamboo straw. Adobe bricks with bamboo straw were prepared along with a control mix. The brick size is 227 x 115 x 75 mm which consists of different percentages of bamboo straw 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5%. Meanwhile, the bamboo straw has different lengths of 30 mm, namely, short bamboo and 60 mm as long bamboo. 70 samples were tested out of which, 35 bricks samples were tested for compressive strength, whereas 35 bricks samples were tested for flexural test. By adding the bamboo straw reinforcement, the adobe compressive strength increased also the addition of short bamboo straw recorded the maximum compressive strength up to 3.41 MPa. A solid conclusion can be made that the samples constructed with short bamboo straw throughout the mix performed better than the samples with long bamboo straw in compressive strength test and for flexural strength short bamboo marked the best performance to the 1.0%.

Recently, microalgae have emerged as a promising feedstock for biorefineries, offering significant potential for producing high-value bio-based products in areas such as biofuels, nutraceuticals, and environmental management. This study, therefore, undertook an in-depth bibliometric review of 535 articles out of 736 publications published between 2010 and 2024 and sourced from the Scopus database. With the use of the VOS-viewer software, this work identified the major trends within significant research areas in terms of focus and global collaboration networks that pertain to microalgae-based bioproducts. Also, it explored cutting-edge techniques for bioproduct extraction and processing that are both efficient and eco-friendly. This analysis also showed a remarkable growth in output, with peaks in the year 2022, reflecting an interest in renewable energy and methods of sustainable production. The main keywords identified deal with subject areas such as energy, environmental science, and chemical engineering. The dominant technologies referred to dealing with lipid extraction, bio-crude production, and nutrient recycling. While addressing cost, scale-up, and environmental concerns, there is still a need to improve extraction techniques like ultrasonic treatment, supercritical fluid treatment, and enzymatic treatment. Other emerging areas of research include genetic engineering and integrated biorefinery models, which are expected to provide a roadmap for future advancements in the field. The challenges innate in meeting this through innovation and optimization will be the key to realizing the full potential of microalgae to contribute to the circular bioeconomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction sector is increasingly shifting towards sustainable and efficient methodologies, with the industrialized building system (IBS) playing a pivotal role in this transformation. Despite this, the adoption of total quality management (TQM) in IBS projects faces significant challenges, including a lack of comprehensive understanding of TQM standards and resistance to change within the industry. This study addresses these gaps by developing a comprehensive framework for implementing TQM in sustainable IBS construction projects. The objective is to enhance project quality and sustainability by addressing critical issues such as limited stakeholder awareness and opposition to TQM adoption. Using qualitative methodology rooted in phenomenology, this study explores the lived experiences of key stakeholders involved in IBS projects, including project managers, construction professionals, and government officials. Data were collected through in-depth interviews to capture their perspectives on TQM integration in the IBS context. The findings highlight the crucial role of TQM in fostering continuous improvement, enhancing stakeholder collaboration, and ensuring adherence to quality standards throughout the project lifecycle. The proposed framework incorporates essential TQM principles such as process optimization, employee engagement, and customer focus, providing a structured approach to overcoming the barriers to effective implementation. Furthermore, the framework promotes sustainability by reducing waste and improving energy efficiency in IBS projects. This study offers valuable insights for construction professionals, policymakers, and industry stakeholders, presenting practical solutions to improve the quality and sustainability of IBS construction. Leadership, cultural transformation, and continuous improvement are identified as key factors for successful TQM integration, ultimately leading to more efficient and sustainable building processes in the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing consumption of natural resources to meet the needs of road construction has become a significant challenge to environmental sustainability. Additionally, the increase in industrial by-products has raised global concerns due to their environmental impacts. The utilization of industrial by-products in asphalt mixtures offers an effective solution for promoting sustainable practices. The objective of this article is to conduct a bibliometric analysis and citation-based review to characterize and analyze the scientific literature on the use of steel slag aggregates, copper slag, phosphorus slag, bottom ash, fly ash, red mud, silica fume, and foundry sand in asphalt mixtures. Another aim is to identify research gaps and propose recommendations for future studies. The bibliometric analysis was conducted using VOSviewer software version 1.6.18, focusing on authors, co-authorship, bibliographic coupling, and countries. A total of 909 articles were selected for the bibliometric analysis. The findings indicate that more effort is needed to expand the application of industrial by-products in asphalt mixtures. Furthermore, these by-products should be utilized in different types of asphalt mixtures. The incorporation of industrial by-products into asphalt mixes also requires field validation and further laboratory investigations, particularly concerning aging and moisture resistance. In addition, the effects of chemical reactions involving industrial by-products on the long-term performance of asphalt layers should be evaluated. Finally, this article encourages engineers and researchers to intensify their efforts in utilizing industrial by-products for environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the attainment of digitization and sustainable solutions under Industry 4.0, effective and economical technology like photogrammetry is gaining popularity in every field among professionals and researchers alike. In the market, various photogrammetry tools are available. These tools employ different techniques and it is hard to identify the best among them. This study is an attempt to develop a methodology for the assessment of photogrammetry tools. Overall, 37 photogrammetry tools were found via literature review and open sources, out of which 12 tools were shortlisted. The evaluation process consisted of three steps, i.e., metadata and visual inspection, comparison with the ground truth model, and comparison with the averaged-merged point cloud model. In addition, a validation test was also performed on the final sorted photogrammetry tools. This study followed a sustainable construction progress monitoring theme for rebar and covered the maximum number of photogrammetry tools for comparison by considering the most authentic evaluation and validation techniques, which make it exclusive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-disaster reconstruction (PDR) is a dynamic, complex system that is chaotic in nature, and represents many challenges and issues. Recently, building information modelling (BIM) has been commonly utilized in the construction industry to solve complex and dynamic challenges. However, BIM has not been thoroughly considered for managing PDR, and there is a lack of comprehensive scientometric analyses that objectively examine the trends in BIM applications in PDR. A literature search was performed considering studies published from 2010 to March 2021 using the Scopus database. A total of 75 relevant studies were found to meet the inclusion criteria. The collected literature was analyzed using VOSviewer through scientific journals, authors, keywords, citations, and countries. This is the first study in its vital significance and originality that aims to investigate the current states of research on BIM applications in PDR and provide suggestions for potential research directions. The findings showed that "Reconstruction" and "Safety Management" have emerged as mainstream research themes in this field and recently attracted scholars' interest, which could represent the directions of future research. Five major research domains associated with BIM were identified based on the most frequently used keywords, namely "Disasters", "Earthquakes", "HBIM", "Damage Detection", and "Life Cycle". Moreover, a proposed conceptual framework of BIM adoption for PDR is provided. Accordingly, the outcomes of this study will help scholars and practitioners gain clear ideas of the present status and identify the directions of future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]